Method and apparatus for moving a disk drive actuator away from a magnetic latch

A method and an apparatus for optimizing movement of a disk drive's head actuator arm away from a magnetic latch that holds the arm in a parked position at the Inner Diameter (ID) of a disk. Current energizing of the arm's actuator motor moves the arm away from the magnetic latch and is controlled to compensate for any change in magnetic holding force. When the disk drive is powered up, a current pulse of one polarity is applied to the actuator motor. This initial current pulse normally moves the arm away from the magnetic latch and is followed by a current pulse of the opposite polarity to decelerate movement of the arm. If this initial sequence fails to move the arm away from the magnetic latch, the magnitude of the two current pulses is increased, and the opposite polarity pulse is followed by a small magnitude current of the one polarity. The read signal from the head is monitored to indicate that the arm has moved into the disk's central databand area, and then into the disk's Outer Diameter (OD) area. At this point, the magnitude of current of the one polarity is increased in small steps to gently bring the arm into contact with the disk drive's OD crash stop. The current of the one polarity is then decreased in small steps, and the arm gently moves away from the OD crash stop. The head signal is monitored until the head is positioned at a selected track.