Abstract: A disk drive system includes a fixed output voltage regulator including an output terminal that provides a substantially fixed output voltage. A plurality of loads, each includes a voltage supply terminal. A programmable resistor bank which is adapted to selectively provide a plurality of different resistances, is connected in series between the output terminal of the voltage regulator and the voltage supply terminals of the plurality of loads. One of the plurality of different resistances can be selected to adjust a voltage provided to the voltage supply terminals of the plurality of loads.

Abstract: A method and device for parking heads of a disk drive device involves receiving a command to immediately park the heads. A first pulse is provided to a voice coil motor causing the heads to move toward a parked position. After the first pulse, the VCM current is reduced substantially (e.g., close to zero) and back EMF in the voice coil motor is measured to determine speed of the heads. The voice coil motor is iteratively pulsed, and back EMF is measured between pulses to track a desired velocity profile to park the heads.

Abstract: A disk drive device has a shock sensor that detects mechanical shocks to a disk drive device to provide a shock output signal representative of such mechanical shocks. The shock output signal may be filtered to pass signals having a low frequency component of approximately between 1 and 4 KHz. Low frequency mechanical disturbances may be compensated for during writing to a track on the disk drive as a function of such low frequency component. In one embodiment, higher frequency shocks may be processed on a separate shock channel to inhibit or allow write operations. Different filters may be used on each of the shock channels.

Abstract: A method and circuit for powering a disk drive device involves determining an operating condition of the disk drive device. A power mode is selected consistent with the determined operating condition of the disk drive. Different components of the disk drive device are selectively powered consistent with the selected power mode. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator is provided different adjusting voltages to provide different desired target voltages for powering the different components.

Abstract: A method of determining a correction factor for a voice coil motor of a disk drive device is performed by driving a relatively low current through the voice coil motor during a seek operation. Actuator velocity is then measured. A correction factor is calculated as a function of the actuator velocity to allow estimation of velocity as a function of back EMF.

Abstract: A disk drive system includes an adjustable output (linear or switching) voltage regulator including an output terminal that provides an output voltage. A plurality of loads each include a voltage supply terminal that receives the output voltage. A controller dynamically adjusts the output voltage based, e.g., based on which of the loads are active.

Abstract: A method is applied to reduce a range in variation of a target spin speed for a rotatable medium in a data storage device. The method includes rotating the rotatable medium at the target spin speed, determining an initial position of a head relative to a surface of the rotatable medium, determining a target position of the head relative to the surface of the rotatable medium, calculating an adjusted spin speed based on the initial position and the target position, sending a signal to rotate the rotatable medium at the adjusted spin speed, repositioning the head from the initial position to the target position, and sending a signal to rotate the rotatable medium at the target spin speed.

Abstract: Methods and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can provide for reduced power consumption in rotatable media data storage devices. A voice coil motor or spindle motor driver configured to operate as a linear driver can be operated in a quasi-switch mode, for example when idle, or linear mode, for example during read/write operations and seeks, thereby achieving power savings along with accurate current control. Alternatively, a voice coil motor or spindle motor driver configured to operate as a switched driver can be operated at a reduced limit cycle, for example when idle, or a higher limit cycle, for example during read/write operations and seeks, thereby achieving power savings.

Abstract: Methods and systems in accordance with embodiments of the present invention can provide for reduced power consumption in rotatable media data storage devices. A voice coil motor driver configured to operate as a linear driver can be operated in a quasi-switch mode, for example when idle, or linear mode, for example during read/write operations and seeks, thereby achieving power savings along with accurate current control. Alternatively, a voice coil motor driver configured to operate as a switched driver can be operated at a reduced limit cycle, for example when idle, or a higher limit cycle, for example during read/write operations and seeks, thereby achieving power savings.

Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.

Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.

Abstract: The power consumed by a data storage device having at least one disk connected with a spindle can be reduced by reducing the rotation rate of the spindle to a rotation rate greater than zero. In one method in accordance with the present invention, wherein a head is in communication with each disk, the spindle can be rotated at a first rotation rate. The head can be parked and the rotation of the spindle can then be reduced to a rotation rate greater than zero. By reducing the rotation rate of the spindle, the power consumed by the spindle can be reduced by approximately the ratio of spin speeds to the exponential power of 1.5. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.

Abstract: The power consumed by a data storage device having at least one disk connected with a spindle can be reduced by reducing the rotation rate of the spindle to a rotation rate greater than zero. In one method in accordance with the present invention, wherein a head is in communication with each disk, the spindle can be rotated at a first rotation rate. The head can be parked and the rotation of the spindle can then be reduced to a rotation rate greater than zero. By reducing the rotation rate of the spindle, the power consumed by the spindle can be reduced by approximately the ratio of spin speeds to the exponential power of 1.5. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention. Other features, aspects, and objects of the invention can be obtained from a review of the specification, the figures, and the claims.

Abstract: Temperature of the disk drive is measured using components of the disk drive without the need of including a separate temperature sensor to optimize performance of the spindle motor during startup. To measure temperature, the resistance of the VCM winding is measured and used to estimate the spindle bearing temperature. Back emf is measured from VCM windings and used during startup to accurately determine actuator position. Because the VCM coil resistance varies significantly with temperature, coil resistance variations with temperature are determined to enable compensation for inaccuracies in determination of actuator velocity. This inferred temperature is then used to optimize the start up procedure for the spindle motor to accommodate the increased frictional loading of the spindle bearing. In this way an improved performance in the reliability and spin up operation time can be realized without the addition of a separate temperature measurement hardware element.