Abstract: A method of determining radial position of a magnetic head that includes a first read sensor and a second read sensor includes: with the first read sensor, detecting a servo spiral formed on a disk; with the second read sensor, detecting the servo spiral; measuring a time interval between when the servo spiral is detected by the first read sensor and when the servo spiral is detected by the second read sensor; and based on the time interval, determining a radial position of the magnetic head relative to the disk.

Abstract: In a disk drive that includes a magnetic head and a flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) coupled to an actuator for the magnetic head, a method of writing servo information includes: receiving a signal based on an electrical property of a material included in the FPCB, wherein the electrical property of the material changes as the actuator moves; determining a radial position of the magnetic head relative to a disk of the disk drive based on the signal; and controlling a radial velocity of the magnetic head relative to the disk of the disk drive based on the radial position.

Abstract: A method for positioning a magnetic head having first and second read sensors and one write head includes: while the magnetic head is at a first position relative to a disk medium, reading first magnetic servo information written on a first surface of the disk medium, with the first read sensor, and reading second magnetic servo information written on the first surface of the disk medium with the second read sensor; determining a position error of the magnetic head based on the first and second magnetic servo information; and repositioning the magnetic head to a second position relative to the disk medium to compensate for the determined position error of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A method for positioning a magnetic head having first and second read sensors and one write head includes: while the magnetic head is at a first position relative to a disk medium, reading first magnetic servo information written on a first surface of the disk medium, with the first read sensor, and reading second magnetic servo information written on the first surface of the disk medium with the second read sensor; determining a position error of the magnetic head based on the first and second magnetic servo information; and repositioning the magnetic head to a second position relative to the disk medium to compensate for the determined position error of the magnetic head.

Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.

Abstract: A method for collecting position information in a disk drive having a read head and a disk with a set of spirals formed thereon includes: while the read head crosses a first spiral included in the set of spirals, opening a first frame integration window; while the first frame integration window is open, generating first signals with the read head as the read head crosses over a first set of magnetic transitions; closing the first frame integration window; after closing the first frame integration window, generating second signals with the read head as the read head crosses over a second set of magnetic transitions; and determining a radial position of the read head by integrating amplitudes of the first signals, wherein the first set includes magnetic transitions having a first polarity, and the second set includes two or more magnetic transitions having a second polarity.

Abstract: Motion of a first actuator in a multi-actuator drive is prevented from affecting a second actuator in the drive or from being affected by the second actuator. A coupling coordinator generates a hold command for the second actuator based on an operation to be carried out using the first actuator, where the hold command is generated before commands to carry out the operation are issued. The hold command may cause an aggressor actuator in the drive to halt a disturbance-generating operation being performed by the aggressor actuator or delay initiation of such an operation that is to be performed by the aggressor actuator. The hold command may cause a victim actuator in the drive to pause the execution of a sensitive operation being performed by the victim actuator or delay initiation of such an operation that is to be performed by the victim actuator.

Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.

Abstract: A self servo-write process in performed on two or more recording surfaces simultaneously. In a dual-stage servo system, a first fine positioning servo system that includes a first microactuator independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface of a hard disk drive, while a second fine positioning servo system that includes a second microactuator independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.

Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal for a particular head of the victim actuator is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the particular head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.

Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.

Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal for a particular head of the victim actuator is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the particular head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.

Abstract: A self servo-write process in performed on two or more recording surfaces simultaneously. In a dual-stage servo system, a first fine positioning servo system that includes a first microactuator independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface of a hard disk drive, while a second fine positioning servo system that includes a second microactuator independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A self servo-write process in performed on two or more recording surfaces simultaneously. In a dual-stage servo system, a first fine positioning servo system that includes a first microactuator independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface of a hard disk drive, while a second fine positioning servo system that includes a second microactuator independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A self servo-write process in performed on two or more recording surfaces simultaneously. In a dual-stage servo system, a first fine positioning servo system that includes a first microactuator independently controls the position of a first read/write head over a first recording surface of a hard disk drive, while a second fine positioning servo system that includes a second microactuator independently controls the position of a second read/write head over a second recording surface of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A repeatable runout (RRO) is accurately compensated for while moving a magnetic head radially across a disk surface. An iterative learning control algorithm is employed to determine appropriate feed-forward coefficients for an RRO compensation signal for each of a plurality of radial locations across the disk surface. The feed-forward coefficients are determined by performing multiple iterations of continuously moving the magnetic head across the disk surface along a target path while measuring a position error signal that indicates the radial error between the magnetic head and the target path. With each iteration, the iterative learning control algorithm computes new feed-forward coefficients for each of the plurality of radial locations, where the new feed-forward coefficients are selected to reduce the measured position error signal when employed to move the magnetic head along the target path.

Abstract: A repeatable runout (RRO) is accurately compensated for while moving a magnetic head radially across a disk surface. An iterative learning control algorithm is employed to determine appropriate feed-forward coefficients for an RRO compensation signal for each of a plurality of radial locations across the disk surface. The feed-forward coefficients are determined by performing multiple iterations of continuously moving the magnetic head across the disk surface along a target path while measuring a position error signal that indicates the radial error between the magnetic head and the target path. With each iteration, the iterative learning control algorithm computes new feed-forward coefficients for each of the plurality of radial locations, where the new feed-forward coefficients are selected to reduce the measured position error signal when employed to move the magnetic head along the target path.

Abstract: A method of writing servo spirals for spiral-based self-servo writing includes determining control parameters for controlling movement of a write head between a first and a second disk radial location at a first velocity, writing a first spiral while controlling the movement of the write head between the first and the second disk radial location at the first velocity according to the determined control parameters, writing a second spiral while controlling movement of the write head between the first and the second disk radial location at a second velocity that is different from the first velocity, based on timing and location information from the first spiral, and writing a third spiral while controlling movement of the write head between the first and the second disk radial location at the first velocity according to the determined control parameters and based on timing and location information from the second spiral.

Abstract: A reference spiral is written on a recording surface of a hard disk drive. By launching writing of fine guide spirals from a launch point that is disposed on a pre-existing coarse guide spiral, writing of the fine guide spiral can be launched in response to a write head crossing the pre-existing coarse guide spiral, rather than in response to a precisely timed event. To enable launch points being disposed on pre-existing coarse guide spirals, launch points are not all located at the same radial position on the recording surface.