Minimizing power dissipation in a disk file actuator

The ability to improve a disk file´s access-time performance is severely limited by an inverse fourth-power increase in actuator-power dissipation. Two areas are germane to the actuator-power problem: the design of the actuator coil and the design of the control trajectory. Design considerations for optimal solutions in both of these areas are presented. Utilization of power-optimal control in concert with a power-optimized actuator makes possible a head/disk assembly with improved seek-time performance.