Abstract: A multi-connector block device for retaining A/V cable plugs for easier insertion and removal from corresponding ports in electronic devices. The device may include a body portion with a cable end and a plug end. The cable end preferably has a cable hole therein, although the cable end may have individual holes for each A/V cable to be retained by the device. The plug end preferably has at least two plug holes therein. The body portion has a hollow which extends from the cable hole to the plug holes. The device also includes at least two plug-retaining sections formed by the hollow. The plug-retaining sections are each sized and shaped to retain an A/V cable plug, such that a connector prong of the plug extends from the corresponding plug hole of the body when the plug is retained by the corresponding plug-retaining section.

Abstract: A method for overcoming a stiction condition in a disk drive is disclosed.

Abstract: A spin up procedure for use with a DC brushless motor uses a variable rotor position sampling interval during the early stages of rotor acceleration. Prior to applying a drive current to the motor, the present position of the rotor with respect to the stator is sensed. Once the initial rotor position is known, a selected drive current state is applied to the stator coil windings to initiate motion of the rotor. While the rotor accelerates, rotor position samples are repeatedly taken to provide the needed position feedback for commutation purposes. The rotor position samples are taken using a decreasing sampling interval during the rotor acceleration phase. Preferably, the rotor position update rate roughly tracks the increasing rotational velocity of the rotor during the spin up operation.

Abstract: An integrated servo circuit that controls the spin motor and voice coil motor of a hard disk drive in response to digital commands that are generated by a microprocessor based controller chip. The servo chip contains a spin motor control circuit and a voice coil control circuit that control the speed of the spin motor and the position of the actuator arm, respectively. The spin motor and voice coil motor control circuits are coupled to a digital to analog converter which converts the digital commands from the controller chip into analog control signals which are utilized to control the spin motor and voice coil motor. Additionally, the servo chip has an analog to digital converter to convert analog signals, such as the servo burst signals, to digital bit strings that relayed to the controller chip. The controller chip and servo chip communicate through a 16 bit synchronous serial port.