Iomega Corporation

Harold Lin Woods

Allen T Bracken

Edward L Rich

David E Jones

Carl F Nicklos

Clark C Bruderer

Hong Tan

A data storage device for reading and writing information to and from a storage medium and having an actuator for moving a read/write head over a surface of the storage medium comprises an optical sensor mounted on either a surface of the data storage device or a surface of the actuator, and a gray-scale pattern provided on the other of these surfaces, opposite the optical sensor. The gray scale pattern provides an amount of reflected light at the optical sensor that varies with the position of the actuator. The optical sensor receives the reflected light and generates therefrom an output signal indicative of the position of the actuator. A control system processes the position signal output from the optical sensor for controlling the velocity of the actuator.

Velocity control for a disk drive actuator

A disk drive for writing and reading data to and from a disk contained in a cartridge which is inserted through an opening into the disk drive comprises a motor ring rotatably mounted in the disk drive and a spindle motor for rotating the disk. The spindle motor is mounted in the motor ring such that rotation of the motor ring moves the spindle motor into and out of engagement with the hub of the disk cartridge. A position transducer provides an output signal indicative of the rotational position of the motor ring. A load/eject motor controls the rotation of the motor ring in response to the output signal from the position transducer.

Disk drive having an automatic spindle motor loading mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Ogden, UT, United States of America

Harold Lin Woods