Abstract: Embodiments of the invention efficiently conduct servo corrections for preventing error propagation during SSW. In an example of the present invention, a servo position signal generator generates a servo position signal indicative of the current position of a read element on the basis of a servo signal from a servo channel. A target position generator generates correction data from multiply and add operations between the PES generated when the track that the read element is following is written, and pre-registered correction coefficients. A correction target position is generated from the correction data and a reference target position, and then output to a position error calculator. The position error calculator generates a position error signal (PES) from the servo position signal and the target position signal, and outputs PES to a servo controller.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to suppressing effects of the rotational jitter of a rotating medium during self-writing of patterns on the medium. In one embodiment, patterns are written on a track TE first. While a clock frequency is modulated using the difference between the readout time and target time of each pattern PE on the track TE, patterns PF are written on a track TF after a calculated delay time from the readout of each pattern PE. During pattern writing on the track TF, any timing errors of the patterns PE are stored into memory. While the target time for each pattern PF on the track TF is being corrected using the stored timing errors of the patterns PE and the clock frequency is being modulated using the difference between the readout time and corrected target time of each pattern PF, patterns PG are written on a track TG after a calculated delay time from the readout of each pattern PF.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce the effect of the rotational jitters to write a pattern in more accurate timing in self-writing a pattern on a magnetic disk. In an embodiment of the invention, respective patterns in N sectors are first written on an inner circumferential side track as reference patterns with a default clock frequency and a default clock number (a writing interval clock number between respective patterns). The respective reference patterns are then read out plural times for measuring intervals thereof to determine an average value of intervals between the respective sectors. Using the value, a target value is calculated in each sector, which is used in wiring new patterns on the outer circumferential side at even intervals. Then, the respective reference patterns on the inner circumferential side track are read out while the new patterns are written on the outer circumferential side.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention efficiently conduct servo corrections for preventing error propagation during SSW. In an example of the present invention, a servo position signal generator generates a servo position signal indicative of the current position of a read element on the basis of a servo signal from a servo channel. A target position generator generates correction data from multiply and add operations between the PES generated when the track that the read element is following is written, and pre-registered correction coefficients. A correction target position is generated from the correction data and a reference target position, and then output to a position error calculator. The position error calculator generates a position error signal (PES) from the servo position signal and the target position signal, and outputs PES to a servo controller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent erroneous writing/readout onto/from magnetic disks or other recording disks, even when data transfer between a controller such as an HDC, and a channel such as an R/W channel, and the read/write operation performed by the channel do not match each other in timing. In one embodiment, an HDC/MPU outputs to an R/W channel a starting instruction for data transfer to/from a head, and data that indicates data length of data to be transferred. In response to the data transfer starting instruction from the HDC/MPU, the R/W channel starts transferring, to/from the head, recorded data of the data length notified from the HDC/MPU.

Abstract: A correction mechanism for use in a data storage system that allows data to be read even if the recorded data has been phase shifted.

Abstract: A servo system wherein a read head R detects a servo pattern that is written on a magnetic disk by a write head W. Position control of the write head W is exercised in accordance with the detected servo pattern, and the read head R detects a propagation pattern that is written on the magnetic disk by the write head W. Position of the write head W is corrected in accordance with the detected propagation pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to writing servo patterns having aligned phases onto a recording disk in a process to write the servo patterns onto the disk. In one embodiment, time aligned patterns are written onto a magnetic disk on the basis of time intervals between base patterns with timings aligned to each other throughout tracks on the disk. The time aligned patterns are written onto typically servo tracks at time intervals Ts with aligned timings. Then, on the basis of these time aligned patterns, product servo patterns are written onto the disk. A time aligned pattern is written onto the disk after the lapse of a predetermined write time period since detection of a base pattern corresponding to the time aligned pattern. The write time period is determined on the basis of time intervals between base patterns on adjacent tracks.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to measuring characteristics of a head with an actuator put in a state of being pushed against a crush stop. In one embodiment, with a head placed on an innermost ID side or with the current of a VCM sustained at a magnitude I_mid, a burst pattern is written onto a recording disk. At this stage, the gain of a VGA is equal to its maximum value Gmax. Then, while the current of the VCM is being changed gradually, the gain of the VCA is measured. As the current of the VCM becomes equal to a magnitude I_center, a read element of the head is positioned right above the burst pattern. At that time, the gain of a VGA is equal to its minimum value Gmin. As the read element is further moved to the OD side, the gain of the VGA again becomes equal to the maximum value Gmax. A read/write offset of the head is identified by the magnitudes I_center and I_mid.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to writing servo patterns onto a recording disk with a high degree of accuracy and with correct phases in a servo-pattern-writing process. An In-Drive SSW (TSSW) process is processing to write product servo patterns onto a recording disk on the basis of time aligned patterns. In the processing to write product servo patterns onto a recording disk, time intervals between time aligned patterns already written on an ID-side track are measured, and timings to write the product servo patterns onto the recording disk on the basis of the measured time intervals are determined. Product servo patterns are then written onto an OD-side track with the determined timings relative to detections of the time aligned patterns used as references. In this way, circumferential-direction positions of product servo patterns written on a track may be aligned to the corresponding circumferential-direction positions of product servo patterns written on an adjacent track.

Abstract: To improve the probability of error correction, thereby generating correct read data. Data is read from the same sector by a number of times and a majority decision is done in the same address, thereby the most frequently read value is regarded as the true data value in the address. For example, for an address 00, “00” is handled as a true data value.

Abstract: The data possessed by a parent hard disk drive is exported to a baby hard disk drive, which is connected to the parent hard disk drive, and thus, the baby hard disk drive executes by itself an optimization/inspection process including writing of servo information. A hard disk drive is reproduced by incorporating “DNA” used for reproduction into each hard disk drive, and then, by performing self-optimization and/or self-inspection by a new hard disk drive (baby hard disk drive), according to information supplied by a finished hard disk drive (parent hard disk drive).

Abstract: A servo system wherein a read head R detects a servo pattern that is written on a magnetic disk by a write head W. Position control of the write head W is exercised in accordance with the detected servo pattern, and the read head R detects a propagation pattern that is written on the magnetic disk by the write head W. Position of the write head W is corrected in accordance with the detected propagation pattern.

Abstract: A correction mechanism for use in a data storage system that allows data to be read even if the recorded data has been phase shifted.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide a retract circuit that can correspond to the tendency toward miniaturization and low supply voltage. When drive supply voltage Vcc is applied, a retract circuit charges a retract condenser Cr with boosted voltage Vup, equal to three times Vcc, generated by a booster circuit. Then, if the drive supply voltage Vcc is cut off and a VCM driver stops, the retract circuit detects power-off with a power OFF sense circuit, and provides retract delay time by a retract delay circuit. Furthermore, when the retract delay time elapses after the drive power supply is turned off, the retract driver switches the switching circuits on, discharges the retract condenser, charged at the boosted voltage, supplies discharge current to a voice coil, and retracts the head assembly.

Abstract: To improve the probability of error correction, thereby generating correct read data. Data is read from the same sector by a number of times and a majority decision is done in the same address, thereby the most frequently read value is regarded as the true data value in the address. For example, for an address 00, “00” is handled as a true data value.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) having a control unit that reduces the number of control signals required to control the operation of the channel and amplifier. The HDD includes a control unit for controlling reading or writing data from or to a magnetic head, a preamplifier for amplifying the data from the magnetic head, and a channel module which is controlled by the control unit. The channel module converts digital data signals to data write signals and also converts analog signals from the preamplifier to digital signals. Control information is transmitted to the channel module over the data bus which is used to transmit or receive data read/write signals. The channel module performs control in response to transmitted control information.

Abstract: A disk drive with means to prevent accidental landing of a head/slider on the disk surface is described. In one embodiment a shock sensor is provided to sense external shocks received by the mechanism. During loading (positioning) of the actuator bearing the head/slider over the disk, if a shock is sensed, loading is stopped and an immediate unloading is performed to return the actuator to the withdrawn position. In another embodiment the unload operation is performed when the rotational speed of the disk is changed. In another embodiment the unload operation is performed when the rotational speed of the disk drops below a threshold. A circuit and method for detecting when the rotational speed of the disk drops below a threshold is also provided. The unloading in the various embodiments may be performed using velocity control or without velocity control.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive, a loading/unloading apparatus, and a method for controlling the apparatus, capable of improving the reliability of data by performing stable speed control.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic recording device which can be used at a reduced atmospheric pressure without having the head/slider assembly stick to the disk. A method of the present invention for controlling the operation of a disk drive device in reduced atmospheric pressure where a read/write head mounted on a head support arm flies above the surface of a rotating recording disk. The head support arm is moved along a radial direction of the recording disk to position the read/write head to one of cylinder positions of the recording disk.