A method and apparatus for collocating an interface circuit with a disk
drive read/write head is described. In one embodiment the interface
circuit is attached to the load arm on one side and the miniflex
interconnect on the other. The read/write head is mounted on the miniflex
directly below the interface circuit. The interface circuit comprises a
read signal preamplifier, a write driver, and head selection circuitry. A
common multiplexer circuit is used to perform the other conventional
read/write circuit functions. The common multiplexer circuit includes a
head selection block to determine which heads are activated, a head
driver block, and a read receiver block. The common multiplexer circuit
is mounted at the base of the miniflex.