Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for in situ detection of high-flying sliders over customer data. A sampled and digitized readback sequence x(n) from a logical data block of customer data is received. Bandpass filtered data of the readback sequence x(n) is generated and processed for generating a predefined harmonic ratio. The generated predefined harmonic ratio is compared with a predefined threshold value to identify a high-flying slider. Bandpass filtered data of the readback sequence x(n) is generated with a digital comb filter and a digital resonator. The bandpass filtered data of the readback sequence x(n) is either squared or the absolute value is taken for a predefined number of samples and then accumulatively summed for the predefined number of samples and the harmonic ratio is calculated. The generated predefined harmonic ratio is compared with a predefined threshold value that is determined as a function of head and disk parameters.

Abstract: A method for producing a response to driving conditions ahead of a land vehicle such as an automobile includes a second vehicle using information received from a first vehicle traveling ahead of it to adjust vehicle mechanisms such as the suspension to cancel adverse effects of road anomalies sensed by the first vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the flyheight of an airbearing slider in a storage device using variable spindle velocity. The slider floats on an airbearing over a rotating storage disk. The storage disk includes a washboard-sequence having washboard-sections each comprising surface profile variations having a different pitch. The pitches are selected from within a range of values likely to excite an airbearing resonance of the slider as the storage disk rotates at a plurality of discrete velocities. For each of the washboard-sections and at each of the velocities, a maximum amplitude of flyheight modulation of the slider resulting from the slider floating over that washboard-section is measured as the storage disk rotates at that velocity. A determination is made of the velocity/washboard-section combination that caused the largest measured flyheight modulation.

Abstract: In a rigid magnetic disk drive data storage device, the protective lubricant coating on the magnetic disk migrates toward the outer diameter during operation with the result that the radially inward portions of the data surface become depleted. Further, the depletion is nonlinear across the band of data tracks. Since most of the operating time in a typical application is consumed by idle periods between read and write commands, it is necessary that the slider be positioned during such periods where device life shortening head-disk contacts are least likely. The present invention adaptively allocates the idle position to the outermost data tracks where the most robust lubricant film remains. However, to avoid a contaminant buildup that could lead to a catastrophic head crash, it is necessary to periodically sweep the disk surface by accessing the innermost diameter of the surface and progressively moving the transducer carrying slider to the outermost diameter track to sweep any debris radially outward.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for a disk drive includes an actuator arm, a suspension having one end connected to the actuator arm, and flexure at the other end of the suspension for supporting a slider having a magnetic head to access and record data on a rotating magnetic disk. The suspension is manufactured from a flat sheet of resilient spring material, such a stainless steel. The side edges of the suspension are formed into longitudinal stiffeners that have aerodynamic cross-sections, so that the transverse airflow across the top and bottom of the suspension, generated by the rotating magnetic disk, is laminar and substantially free of turbulence.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for head crash predictive failure analysis based upon slider track misregistration measurement using the readback signal. A transducer head is selected. Then the transducer head is positioned off-track. A readback signal is obtained from the transducer head positioned off-track. The readback signal is processed and compared with historical values to identify head disk interference. The processing of the readback signal includes amplifying the readback signal using arm electronics. The amplified readback signal is demodulated to provide a demodulated signal that is proportional to its amplitude. The demodulated signal is bandpass filtered using a bandpass filter having a selected center frequency for the selected transducer head.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method, apparatus and program product for improving reliability in RAID/Server systems by monitoring the RAID/Server system at the system level for predictive failure analysis (PFA) triggering events. Examples of PFA triggering events include: rebuild operations, addition of new disk drives, a change in usage patterns, and suspected handling damage. Once a triggering event is detected, the RAID/Server system issues a command to the disk drives in the system to begin performing PFA. If a PFA error is detected on any of the drives, the error is reported to the RAID/Server system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced, high speed updating and storing of electronic-commerce orders in a server computer system. A received electronic-commerce order is stored in a predetermined temporary read/write cylinder of a disk drive. Responsive to identifying that the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder is full, the stored electronic-commerce order is read. A customer type for the electronic-commerce order is identified. Responsive to identifying a predefined first customer type for the electronic-commerce order, the electronic-commerce order is transferred from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder to a selected cylinder within a set number of cylinders from the predetermined temporary read/write cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of controlling an actuator of a data storage device detect and/or correct narrowband mechanical excitations such as due to spindle bearing defects through sensing and/or rejecting disturbance frequencies associated with such narrowband mechanical excitations in an actuator control signal generated by a data storage device controller. A narrowband filter may be used to reject, from an actuator control signal generated by a data storage device controller, a disturbance frequency associated with a spindle bearing defect in a data storage device, and disposed in proximity to a zero crossover frequency associated with the data storage device controller. In addition, a peak filter disposed in a control loop of a data storage device controller may be configured to detect a spindle bearing defect in a data storage device by detecting an amplitude of a control signal in the control loop in proximity to a disturbance frequency associated with the spindle bearing defect.

Abstract: In cold weather, the higher torque required for normal spinning operation of a spindle motor assembly in a direct access storage device due to the increased viscosity of the grease, is overcome by localizing the heating to the spindle motor assembly to reduce the viscosity of the grease, and then let a disk driven self heat during and after spin-up of the spindle motor assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the reliability of hot spare disk drives in disk arrays and storage networks is provided. The invention analyzes commands issued to active disk drives in a disk array/storage network, and issues commands to the hot spare drives which attempt to emulate the track usage patterns of the active drives. The track usage patterns can be inferred from examining logical block addresses (LBA) of data stored to the active drives, and/or the ratio of read versus write commands issued to the disk drives. By emulating track usage patterns of the active drives, the spare drives have a roughly equivalent lubricant distribution to that of the active disk drives. This provides increased reliability when the hot spare drives are called into active service.

Abstract: A method of burnishing a rear pad of a slider within a disk drive. The rear pad is formed of a burnishable material and maintains elements for reading and writing. The disk drive further includes a spindle motor rotatably driving a disk and an actuator assembly positioning the slider over a surface of the disk. With this in mind, the method includes rotating the disk. The slider is moved in a radial fashion relative to the disk surface in a reciprocal fashion, causing the rear pad to rock. As the rear pad rocks, contact between the rear pad and the disk surface burnishes the rear pad. As a result, a positive camber is imparted in the rear pad relative to the MR element. The above-described method can be practiced following initial manufacture of the disk drive, or at various times over the life of the disk drive. Regardless, the method is practiced in-situ and is therefore very fast, cheap, and adapts quickly to the particular disk in which the slider is flying.

Abstract: A position error signal amplitude indicative of the distance between an expected position of a magnetic head relative to the track centerline of a magnetic data storage and retrieval system and an actual position of the magnetic head relative to the track centerline is detected and filtered. The signal is filtered to generate a sway mode signal amplitude indicative of an oscillation of the actual position of the magnetic head relative to the track centerline in the frequency range of the filter. The absolute value of the sway mode signal amplitude is then determined. If the absolute value of the sway mode signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value that correlates to a high probability of impending a head-disk crash, a warning signal is propagated.

Abstract: As a mobile unit approaches a communication dead zone, a call is automatically disconnected in an orderly fashion. The call can be automatically reconnected when the mobile unit exits the communication dead zone. As part of the orderly disconnection, parties to the call are given an audible and/or visual message and/or sensual tactile stimulus letting them know that a dead zone is being approached. The message can also indicate the time before entering the dead zone, and/or what actions will be taken. Similarly, when the mobile unit is about to exit the dead zone, the parties can be given an indication prior to being reconnected.

Abstract: A disk drive includes at least one disk having a disk surface and at least one transducer head for writing and/or reading data from the disk surface. The disk drive performs a power-saving idle operation including reducing a rotational speed of the disk, and continuously moving the transducer head at varying radial velocity components relative to the disk surface in a repeating sweeping pattern between a selected inner disk diameter and a selected outer disk diameter. The radial velocity components are varied as a function of the transducer head's radial position in relation to the disk surface, such as with a radial velocity idle sweep profile representing a relationship between the radial velocity component of the transducer head and its radial location relative to the disk surface that optimizes head-disk interaction (HDI) when the disk is rotating at a given reduced rotational speed.

Abstract: A computer hard disk drive has a drive controller that monitors the condition of the head-disk interface within the drive. The drive normally operates under ambient or relatively low internal pressure. However, when the drive is in imminent risk for a head-disk interface failure, the drive is pressurized to allow the air bearing surfaces of the heads to achieve a greater flying height above the surfaces of their respective disks, thereby delaying the onset of a catastrophic head-disk interface failure. In addition, the spindle rotation rate and/or the slider head access rate are decreased to avoid hastening the imminent failure. Measurements of the condition and stability of the head-disk interface inside the drives are made by monitoring data error rates, head flying height, and other performance variables.

Abstract: A slider for a disk drive has an air bearing surface that opposes a rotatable disk of recordable media. The air bearing surface includes one or more interior cavities to reduce van der Waals and electrostatic forces that attract the slider to the disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for enhanced performance in the presence of stationary position error signal (PES) outliers in a direct access storage device (DASD). A plurality of PES samples are obtained from a plurality of servo sectors around a track. Utilizing the PES samples, a normalized outlier value is computed for each of the plurality of servo sectors around the track. The computed normalized outlier values are sequentially stored and compared with a set threshold value. A stationary PES outlier is identified responsive to each stored outlier value being greater than the set threshold value. Each identified stationary PES outlier is utilized during predefined operations of the DASD. During a recalibration mode of the DASD, a different track for feedforward generation is selected to avoid an identified stationary PES outlier.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing in situ low flyheight warning in a direct access storage device (DASD). For each head in the DASD, a readback amplitude ratio is identified from two different disk radii. The initial ratio value is stored for each head in the DASD. During operation of the DASD, readback amplitude is monitored and an operating readback amplitude ratio is identified from two different disk radii. A change between the initial ratio value and the operating readback ratio is calculated and compared with a threshold value to identify a low-flying slider. A warning is generated responsive to the change value being greater than the threshold value.

Abstract: A method of burnishing a rear pad of a slider within a disk drive. The rear pad is formed of a burnishable material and maintains elements for reading and writing. The disk drive further includes a spindle motor rotatably driving a disk and an actuator assembly positioning the slider over a surface of the disk. With this in mind, the method includes rotating the disk. The slider is moved in a radial fashion relative to the disk surface in a reciprocal fashion, causing the rear pad to rock. As the rear pad rocks, contact between the rear pad and the disk surface burnishes the rear pad. As a result, a positive camber is imparted in the rear pad relative to the MR element. The above-described method can be practiced following initial manufacture of the disk drive, or at various times over the life of the disk drive. Regardless, the method is practiced in-situ and is therefore very fast, cheap, and adapts quickly to the particular disk in which the slider is flying.