Load/unload operation control method and storage apparatus

1. A load/unload operation control method for controlling a load/unload operation that loads/unloads a head which is provided on an arm with respect to a recording medium by a ramp load/unload mechanism, comprising:

a control step controlling a driving current that is supplied to a driving part which drives the arm so as to undergo a gradual change during at least one of a load operation for a head feed operation which feeds the head towards the recording medium, and an unload operation as the unload operation is completed,

wherein a gradual change in said driving current occurs at least during arbitrary times, other than a time when a speed control operation is carried out, said speed control operation controlling a speed of the head when the head is loaded to a desired track of the recording medium, and said arbitrary times including a time when said arm is released in a parking area by the head feed operation and/or when said arm is pushed in the parking area as the unload operation is completed.

2. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control step controls the driving current to undergo the gradual change during the load operation for at least one of a release operation which releases the arm which is held in an unloaded state, a circuit calibration operation, and the speed control operation.

3. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control step gradually changes the driving current by use of a lowpass filter.

4. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control step controls the driving current to change gradually only during a silent mode.

5. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

a mode judging step judging whether a mode is a silent mode or a normal mode,

said control step controlling the driving current to change sharply when said mode judging step judges the mode as being the normal mode.

6. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said control step controls the driving current to undergo a sharp change during the load operation for at least one of a release operation which releases the arm which is held in an unloaded state, a circuit calibration operation, a head feed operation which feeds the head towards the recording medium, and a speed control operation which controls a speed of the head when the head is loaded to a desired track of the recording medium.

7. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said control step controls the driving current to undergo a sharp change during the load operation for the head feed operation.

8. The load/unload operation control method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said controlling step initially moves the head toward an outer peripheral direction of the recording medium during the load operation.

9. A storage apparatus comprising:

a load/unload mechanism configured to carry out a ramp load/unload operation to load/unload a head that is provided on an arm with respect to a recording medium by a driving part which drives the arm; and

a controller configured to control a driving current that is supplied to the driving part so as to undergo a gradual change during at least one of a load operation for a head feed operation which feeds the head toward the recording medium, and an unload operation as the unload operation is completed,

wherein a gradual change in said driving current occurs at least during arbitrary times, other than a time when a speed control operation is carried out, said speed control operation controlling a speed of the head when the head is loaded to a desired track of the recording medium, and said arbitrary times including a time when said arm is released in a parking area by the head feed operation and/or when said arm is pushed in the parking area as the unload operation is completed.

10. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said controller controls the driving current to undergo the gradual change during the load operation for at least one of a release operation which releases the arm which is held in an unloaded state, a circuit calibration operation, and the speed control operation.

11. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said controller gradually changes the driving current by use of a lowpass filter.

12. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the lowpass filter has a filter characteristic such that the change in the driving current falls within a region of the filter characteristic excluding a mechanical resonance point of the storage apparatus.

13. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said controller controls the driving current to change gradually only during a silent mode.

14. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising:

mode judging means for judging whether a mode is a silent mode or a normal mode,

said controller controlling the driving current to change sharply when said mode judging means judges the mode as being the normal mode.

15. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 10 , wherein said controller controls the driving current to undergo a sharp change during the load operation for at least one of a release operation which releases the arm which is held in an unloaded state, a circuit calibration operation, a head feed operation which feeds the head towards the recording medium, and a speed control operation which controls a speed of the head when the head is loaded to a desired track of the recording medium.

16. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said controller controls the driving current to undergo a sharp change during the load operation for the head feed operation.

17. The storage apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the controller initially moves the head toward an outer peripheral direction of the recording medium during the load operation.