US Patent 11308984 Retractable ramp for data storage devices

A data storage device includes a ramp that supports at least one head, and a retraction mechanism that moves the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position. The movement of the ramp is enabled by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism. The data storage device further includes a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism. The ramp retraction control module provides the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position.