Abstract: A voltage-mode VCM controller is provided comprising an Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter that modifies a servo control voltage signal to a voltage driver in response to an adaptive compensator that configures the IIR filter in relation to an observed VCM velocity and an actual VCM velocity. An associated method is provided comprising modeling a velocity response of a VCM to a voltage input; inputting the observed velocity and an actual VCM velocity to an adaptive compensator that computes a gain and a VCM response pole frequency in relation to the VCM resistance and inductance; configuring an IIR filter in relation to the computed gain and pole frequency values; and using the IIR filter to modify a voltage command from a servo controller to a power driver.

Abstract: A data storage device adapted to compensate for physical disturbances has a storage medium, a read-write mechanism positionable relative to the storage medium, and a disturbance observer. The read-write mechanism is adapted to read and write data. The disturbance observer compensates a position of the read-write mechanism according to low-frequency components of physical disturbances.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for the asymmetrical phases of a spindle motor in a disc drive are provided. With the apparatus and method, compensation values are learned by sampling speed data during a period of operation of the disc drive where the speed is stable and only one control operation is performed per revolution of the disc. The sampled speed data is used to generate the compensation values for each of the phases of the spindle motor. The compensation values are stored in a compensation mechanism which is used by the spindle motor speed controller to provide compensation for the asymmetrical phases of the spindle motor. During Normal operation, the actual speed output of the spindle motor is measured and is subtracted from a reference speed to generate a difference speed value. Based on the corresponding electrical phase, the correct compensation value is fetched and is subtracted from the difference speed value to obtain a compensated difference speed value.

Abstract: A voltage-mode VCM controller is provided comprising an Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter that modifies a servo control voltage signal to a voltage driver in response to an adaptive compensator that configures the IIR filter in relation to an observed VCM velocity and an actual VCM velocity. An associated method is provided comprising modeling a velocity response of a VCM to a voltage input; inputting the observed velocity and an actual VCM velocity to an adaptive compensator that computes a gain and a VCM response pole frequency in relation to the VCM resistance and inductance; configuring an IIR filter in relation to the computed gain and pole frequency values; and using the IIR filter to modify a voltage command from a servo controller to a power driver.

Abstract: A method of determining and monitoring head polarity of data heads comprises performing a head polarity detection routine. The head polarity detection routine comprises the step of setting a read gate period duration to a first value. The routine also comprises searching for a good address mark signal during a first read gate period with a channel polarity set to a first polarity. The routine further comprises identifying a polarity of a data head based upon the channel polarity when the good address mark is detected.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for improving servo loop performance in a disc drive storage system are provided. The servo loop includes a voice coil motor actuator that moves the head in response to a received servo control signal. A sensor, located in the head, senses servo information located on the disc and produces a servo signal therefrom. The servo signal is combined with a reference signal to produce a position error signal. A servo controller receives the position error signal and responsively produces the servo control signal. The servo controller includes a drive signal generator that receives the position error signal and responsively produces a driving energy signal. A vibration damping circuit receives the driving energy signal and responsively produces the servo control signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for the asymmetrical phases of a spindle motor in a disc drive are provided. With the apparatus and method, compensation values are learned by sampling speed data during a period of operation of the disc drive where the speed is stable and only one control operation is performed per revolution of the disc. The sampled speed data is used to generate the compensation values for each of the phases of the spindle motor. The compensation values are stored in a compensation mechanism which is used by the spindle motor speed controller to provide compensation for the asymmetrical phases of the spindle motor. During Normal operation, the actual speed output of the spindle motor is measured and is subtracted from a reference speed to generate a difference speed value. Based on the corresponding electrical phase, the correct compensation value is fetched and is subtracted from the difference speed value to obtain a compensated difference speed value.

Abstract: Methods relating to compensating a pre-defined seek profile for use in a data storage device, such as a disc drive, to manage the internal temperature of the device are disclosed. One embodiment disclosed is related to determining a seek profile compensation value that can be used to compensate the pre-defined seek profile for temperature. Another embodiment is a method of using a seek profile compensation value during device operation to maintain the data storage device operating temperature below an operating temperature threshold. Yet another embodiment of the present invention may be thought of as a controller for a data storage device. The controller comprises a microprocessor having a pre-determined seek profile and a means for compensating the pre-determined seek profile based on a current operating temperature.

Abstract: A method of determining and monitoring head polarity of data heads comprises performing a head polarity detection routine. The head polarity detection routine comprises the step of setting a read gate period duration to a first value. The routine also comprises searching for a good address mark signal during a first read gate period with a channel polarity set to a first polarity. The routine further comprises identifying a polarity of a data head based upon the channel polarity when the good address mark is detected.

Abstract: A location within a cycle is determined by reading a portion of a cyclic bit sequence, the bit sequence containing several interspersed bit-group sets that each contain a plurality of series that each consist of several consecutively-placed identical bit-groups. On a data surface in a disc drive, each bit group can be stored and accessed in unused bits of each servo sector's digital portion.

Abstract: For runout compensation in a data handling system, a servo feedback loop is configured to control a head position relative to a corresponding disc surface. Operation of the feedback loop is complicated by a repeatable error in the head position having energy at harmonics of the spindle rotation frequency. Also, the feedback loop has a gain with a frequency sensitivity in a target frequency range. A feedforward controller generates an output injected into the feedback loop based on an error-indicative input. This defines a feedforward closed-loop transfer function, between the loop output and the feedforward controller input. The feedforward controller prevents the frequency sensitivity from substantially varying the feedforward closed-loop transfer function gain and phase within the target frequency range, thus reducing computational burden.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for compensating variations in motor torque in a control system that employs a motor to accelerate a control object, such as a data transducing head in a data storage device. During acceleration of the control object, a plurality of distances successively traveled by the control object are measured, and the measured distances are combined to compensate for said variations in motor torque. Preferably, a constant control input is applied to accelerate the control object at a constant rate of acceleration less than a maximum rate of acceleration that can be obtained by the motor. A coarse adjustment routine is preferably applied to arrive at a first compensation value that compensates for said variations at a first resolution, after which a fine adjustment routine is performed using the first compensation value to arrive at the final compensation value at a second resolution greater than the first resolution.

Abstract: Methods relating to compensating a pre-defined seek profile for use in a data storage device, such as a disc drive, to manage the internal temperature of the device are disclosed. One embodiment disclosed is related to determining a seek profile compensation value that can be used to compensate the pre-defined seek profile for temperature. Another embodiment is a method of using a seek profile compensation value during device operation to maintain the data storage device operating temperature below an operating temperature threshold. Yet another embodiment of the present invention may be thought of as a controller for a data storage device. The controller comprises a microprocessor having a pre-determined seek profile and a means for compensating the pre-determined seek profile based on a current operating temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for the asymmetrical phases of a spindle motor in a disc drive are provided. With the apparatus and method, compensation values are learned by sampling speed data during a period of operation of the disc drive where the speed is stable and only one control operation is performed per revolution of the disc. The sampled speed data is used to generate the compensation values for each of the phases of the spindle motor. The compensation values are stored in a compensation mechanism which is used by the spindle motor speed controller to provide compensation for the asymmetrical phases of the spindle motor. During Normal operation, the actual speed output of the spindle motor is measured and is subtracted from a reference speed to generate a difference speed value. Based on the corresponding electrical phase, the correct compensation value is fetched and is subtracted from the difference speed value to obtain a compensated difference speed value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling acoustic noise generated by a seek operation in a disc drive by using a feedback control system to control the seek operation. The feedback control system is excited by a feed-forward signal during execution of the seek operation. An acoustic factor, which defines a seek operation noise level, is selected. The feed-forward signal is generated based, at least in part, upon the selected acoustic factor. The feed-forward signal has a first derivative having a maximum value. The selected acoustic factor is used to select the maximum value of the first derivative of the feed-forward signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for writing a product information code (PIC) to a head-disc assembly (HDA) of a disc drive data handling system to facilitate subsequent identification of the HDA. The PIC is configured as a sequence of n multi-bit encoded words. Servo data are written to a disc of the HDA as a number of p angularly spaced apart servo data fields, the servo data used by a servo control circuit to effect head positional control. The n encoded words are distributed across a subset n of the p servo data fields so that the n encoded words replace at least a portion of the servo data in the n servo data fields. Preferably, the n encoded words are written to Gray code (track address) fields of the n servo data fields and are provided with error detection and correction capabilities.

Abstract: A filter for attenuating a resonance mode without substantial phase margin loss. The filter comprises a transfer function having an additional pole, such that the phase of the input signal is advanced. The phase-advanced filter substantially attenuates all frequencies above a selected center frequency while avoiding substantial phase margin loss.

Abstract: A method of implementing an automatic acoustic management feature for a disc drive includes receiving an acoustic/performance compromising factor from a host, tuning disc drive performance by applying the factor to a control parameter to generate a modified control parameter, and executing a loop for controlling a disc drive operation using the modified control parameter. In another embodiment, a disc drive has a base, a rotatable disc, an actuator assembly with an arm for carrying a head in transducing relation to the disc in response to a control signal, a receiver for receiving an acoustic/performance compromising factor, and a controller that monitors the position of the arm and generates the control signal. The controller executes a seeking control loop having a control parameter modified by applying a compromising factor to the parameter to tune the acoustic performance of the drive.

Abstract: A method of handling multiple resonance frequencies in a disc drive includes monitoring a position error signal (PES) for an actuator arm, generating a plurality of feedforward compensation signals from the PES using a plurality of bandpass filters, and applying the compensation signals to a servo control signal. Each filter has a center frequency that is set to a problematic resonance frequency. The method may also include identifying the problematic frequencies by, for example, commanding a movement of the actuator arm, collecting data points for the PES that are associated with the movement, and performing a digital fourier transform of the data points to identify resonant frequencies. Other methods of identifying problematic frequencies include analyzing PES zero-crossing data, or using principal component analysis.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to said base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm and a transducer head in a transducing relationship with respect to the disc. The transducer is attached to the actuator arm. A method for screening disc drives for resonant frequencies associated with the actuator arm includes the steps of following a track within the disc drive, and selectively boosting the servo control signal. The method further includes a step of monitoring a position error signal from a transducer attached to an actuator arm of a disc drive. The position error signal is monitored by filtering the position error signal using a bandpass filter. Boosting the servo control loop includes tuning the magnitude of the booster signal gain.