A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk surface, a first actuator arm, a first head connected to a distal end of the first actuator arm, an actuator, and a first coupler configured to couple the first actuator arm to the actuator. The first coupler is actuated in order to couple the first actuator arm to the actuator during at least part of a seek interval, and while the first actuator arm is coupled to the actuator, the actuator is moved in order to seek the first head over the first disk surface.

A data storage device is disclosed wherein an elevator actuator is controlled to move a head along an axial dimension toward a first disk surface of a first disk while processing a proximity signal generated by a proximity sensor. A first actuator position is detected when the actuator arm is proximate the first disk surface of the first disk based on the proximity signal.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk comprising a first disk surface, a second disk comprising a second disk surface, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, and a ramp for loading/unloading the head. A first elevator actuator is configured to actuate the actuator arm along an axial dimension relative to the first and second disks, and a second elevator actuator is configured to actuate at least part of the ramp along the axial dimension, wherein a simultaneous movement of the first and second elevator actuators is synchronized.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk comprising a first disk surface, a second disk comprising a second disk surface, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, and a ramp for loading/unloading the head. A first elevator actuator is configured to actuate the actuator arm along an axial dimension relative to the first and second disks, and a second elevator actuator is configured to actuate at least part of the ramp along the axial dimension, wherein a simultaneous movement of the first and second elevator actuators is synchronized.

A hard disk drive includes a disk having a servo region and data tracks. The servo region has servo data for formatting some of the data tracks for high capacity storage and others of the data tracks for low capacity storage. A head writes user data to the high capacity tracks in response to vibration less than a threshold value, and otherwise writes the user data to the low capacity tracks.

A magnetic disk device includes a control circuit, and a disk unit including a plurality of magnetic disks, a plurality of magnetic heads configured to read or write data from or to the magnetic disks, a first actuator configured to move the magnetic heads, a plurality of second actuators each configured to move the corresponding magnetic head, and a switch circuit configured to connect the control circuit and one of the second actuators. The control circuit is configured to transmit to the disk unit an instruction in which one of the magnetic heads is specified, control one of the second actuators corresponding to the specified magnetic head to move the magnetic head via the switch circuit, and based on a signal from the one of the second actuators, determine whether an error occurs in the one of the second actuators.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising an elevator actuator configured to actuate a head along an axial dimension, and a position sensor configured to generate a sinusoidal sensor signal representing a position of the head along the axial dimension, wherein the position sensor comprises a sensor element and an encoder strip comprising a pattern having at least one region that causes a disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal. The elevator actuator is controlled to move the head in a first direction along the axial dimension to detect the disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal, and when the disturbance in the sinusoidal signal is detected, the elevator actuator is controlled to move the head in a second direction along the axial dimension opposite the first direction in order to measure a zero crossing of the sinusoidal sensor signal.

A magnetic disk device includes a control circuit, and a disk unit including a plurality of magnetic disks, a plurality of magnetic heads configured to read or write data from or to the magnetic disks, a first actuator configured to move the magnetic heads, a plurality of second actuators each configured to move the corresponding magnetic head, and a switch circuit configured to connect the control circuit and one of the second actuators. The control circuit is configured to transmit to the disk unit an instruction in which one of the magnetic heads is specified, control one of the second actuators corresponding to the specified magnetic head to move the magnetic head via the switch circuit, and based on a signal from the one of the second actuators, determine whether an error occurs in the one of the second actuators.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head that writes data to the disk and reads data from the disk, an actuator including a voice coil motor that moves the head over the disk, and a controller that increases a second current value applied to the voice coil motor during deceleration of the head in a seek according to a first current value that is maximum value capable of being applied to the voice coil motor during acceleration of the head in the seek on the disk.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk surface, a first actuator arm, a first head connected to a distal end of the first actuator arm, an actuator, and a first coupler configured to couple the first actuator arm to the actuator. The first coupler is actuated in order to couple the first actuator arm to the actuator during at least part of a seek interval, and while the first actuator arm is coupled to the actuator, the actuator is moved in order to seek the first head over the first disk surface.