load/unload ramp - technical definition

A small ramp in a disk drive that the read/write head moves to when the drive is turned off. Located off the edge of the platters or in the middle, these ramps were first used with laptop drives to withstand shock and later migrated to desktop drives. Load/unload ramps have improved areal density by allowing the head to fly lower over the disk. The traditional constant start-stop (CSS) method parks the head in a textured landing zone. The texture prevents stiction, but requires that the head fly high to avoid the rougher surface.