Novel method for minimizing track seeking residual vibrations of hard diskdrives

Track access time is an important parameter for high-performance hard disk drives (HDDs). Presently, the resonances of the head actuator caused by the pivot-bearing stiffness are an even more urgent problem, since these reson ances have become the main design factor that limits further reduction of t rack access time and improvement of the servo control bandwidth in HDDs, Ou r objective in this paper is to investigate, from a mechanics and dynamics viewpoint, the influence of the driving force waveforms on residual vibrati ons and to identify the characteristics of the waveform, which will lead to zero or very low residual vibrations. Using a simplified model of a head a ctuator assembly and finite-element simulation, we show that the residual v ibration of the head actuator assembly depends strongly on the waveform and the time duration of the driving impulse force. If suitable waveform and t ime duration of the seeking impulse force are appropriately chosen, very lo w track seeking residual vibrations and quick track access can be achieved.