Disk drive with an actuator latch having fixed, latching, and latch arm portions being a single component

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk drive base;

an actuator that is rotatably coupled to the disk drive base, the actuator having an axis of rotation; and

a latch including:

a fixed portion that is firmly coupled to the disk drive base;

a latching portion configured to contact and latch the actuator with the latch in a closed position; and

a latch arm portion connecting the latching portion to the fixed portion, the latch arm portion including a hinge region, the latch arm portion being thinner in a direction normal to the axis of rotation in the hinge region than the latch arm portion is outside of the hinge region, the latch arm portion, the latching portion, and the fixed portion all being a single component having material continuity rather than being an assembly of sub-components; wherein the latching portion is at a closer radial distance from the axis of rotation with the latch in an open position than it is in a closed position.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the fixed portion, the latching portion, and the latch arm portion comprise a plastic material.

3. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the latch arm portion has a height in the hinge region in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation and a nominal thickness in the hinge region in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation, the height being at least five times the nominal thickness.

4. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the hinge region of the latch arm portion has substantially greater bending stiffness about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation than about an axis normal to the axis of rotation.

5. The disk drive of claim 1 further comprising a VCM magnet disposed adjacent the actuator, wherein the latch includes a biasing element coupled to the latch arm portion, the biasing element magnetically interacting with the VCM magnet resulting in a biasing force on the latch arm portion.

6. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the latching portion is in the shape of a pin that protrudes from the latch arm portion in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the actuator.

7. The disk drive of claim 6 wherein the actuator further comprises an actuator coil that is supported by a coil support that has a channel, the latching portion being disposed within the channel during rotation of the actuator with the latch in an open position.

8. The disk drive of claim 7 wherein the latching portion is radially beyond the channel in relation to the axis of rotation with the latch in a closed position.

9. The disk drive of claim 1 further comprising a latch post extending from the disk drive base, the fixed portion being coupled to the latch post.

10. The disk drive of claim 9 wherein the fixed portion is press-fit attached to the latch post.

11. The disk drive of claim 9 wherein the latch post and the disk drive base are a single component having material continuity rather than being an assembly of sub-components.

12. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the latch further includes a mass element, the mass element being formed of a material having a density greater than the fixed portion, the latch arm portion, and the latching portion.

13. The disk drive of claim 1 wherein the latch further includes a crash stop, the actuator contacting the crash stop with the actuator in an extreme rotational position, the contact with the crash stop preventing further movement of the actuator beyond the extreme rotational position.

14. The disk drive of claim 13 wherein the crash stop, the hinge region, the latch arm portion, the latching portion, and the fixed portion are all a single component having material continuity rather than being an assembly of sub-components.