Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the described technology, a retract controller capacitor is charged using a back electromagnetic force voltage to produce a backup power source voltage, the retract controller capacitor is discharged to power a retract controller circuit, and an actuator arm of a storage drive is driven toward a desired location concurrently with the discharging operation.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the described technology, a retract controller capacitor is charged using a back electromagnetic force voltage to produce a backup power source voltage, the retract controller capacitor is discharged to power a retract controller circuit, and an actuator arm of a storage drive is driven toward a desired location concurrently with the discharging operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated methodology for retracting a first member in relation to a second member. The first member may be selectively moveable by a first motor and the second member may be selectively moveable by a second motor that operably generates a back electromagnetic force (BEMF) voltage VBEMF. In an embodiment a retract control circuit may control movement of the first member via the first motor in response to a loss of supply power to the second motor. An embodiment of the apparatus may include a backup power source storing a voltage VB after the loss of supply power. Another embodiment of the apparatus may include retract logic operative on the retract control circuit to divide the VB from the VBEMF to energize the first motor by the VBEMF and not the VB when the VB is greater than a predetermined threshold voltage and a loss of the supply power to the second motor is detected.

Abstract: A storage medium format is provided having a first band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having user data stored thereto, a second band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having other user data stored thereto, and a guard track medially disposed therebetween the first band and the second band and having system data stored thereto.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to protecting a device from damage due to an impact event at the conclusion of a free fall condition through the use of a biasing signal that maintains a retention force until the impact event is completed.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to protecting a device from damage due to an impact event at the conclusion of a free fall condition through the use of a biasing signal that maintains a retention force until the impact event is completed.

Abstract: A storage medium format is provided having a first band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having user data stored thereto, a second band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having other user data stored thereto, and a guard track medially disposed therebetween the first band and the second band and having system data stored thereto.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for errors in servo systems. An improved zero acceleration path (ZAP) correction technique is provided, wherein selected tracks of a data storage device are used for ZAP processing in order to reduce the overall time required to perform error compensation for a storage device. For a given selected track to be ZAPed, track profiles of adjoining tracks are used in addition to the track profile of the selected track as part of the ZAP correction determination for the selected track. Using adjacent track profiles as part of the ZAP correction determination assists in mitigating AC track squeeze issues that would otherwise occur when performing selective track ZAPing.

Abstract: A data storage medium and data storage system with improved efficiency of formatting are provided. One illustrative embodiment of the present invention pertains to a data storage medium. The data storage medium includes a first zone having servo information written with a first frequency, a second zone having servo information written with a second frequency, and a guard band disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The use of different frequencies in different zones contributes to optimizing the properties of the data storage medium, and the guard band contributes to optimizing the usage of the different zones.

Abstract: A reverse torque, forward commutation motor driver system for a phased motor rapidly decelerates or “brakes” the motor by exciting, in sequence, a complementary excitation signal in each normal commutation state of the forward state machine, thereby providing an active braking effect. After active braking reduces the rotational velocity of the motor below a threshold, a dynamic braking technique can replace the active braking, wherein high-side drivers are set to an opposite voltage as compared to low-side drivers.

Abstract: A data storage medium and data storage system with improved efficiency of formatting are provided. One illustrative embodiment of the present invention pertains to a data storage medium. The data storage medium includes a first zone having servo information written with a first frequency, a second zone having servo information written with a second frequency, and a guard band disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The use of different frequencies in different zones contributes to optimizing the properties of the data storage medium, and the guard band contributes to optimizing the usage of the different zones.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a shock sensor to the printed circuit board (PCB) of a disc drive are provided. In particular, the present invention allows the shock sensor to be mounted at any location on the printed circuit board rather than being limited to placement adjacent a mounting screw. The present invention includes a clamping mechanism for rigidly clamping the PCB to the head disc assembly (HDA) so that any shock is properly transmitted from the HDA to the PCB and then to the shock sensor. In one exemplary embodiment, the PCB is clamped between a shield and the HDA. The shock sensor is then position near the point at which the PCB is clamped so that the point of clamping provides transmission of any shock in the Z-axis to the shock sensor. Shocks in the X-Y axis direction are transmitted via the normal mounting screws.

Abstract: A method, and system configured to implement the method, are provided. The method includes the steps of identifying a last usable track on a surface as a function of a parameter, and defining a standoff band of tracks relative to the last usable track to obtain an achieved maximum track on the surface. The last usable track is, in exemplary embodiments, a track beyond a default maximum track on a surface of a data storage medium.

Abstract: A system for hardware intelligent speed monitoring and auto-retract is disclosed. The system contains a monitoring device that monitors the TACH (Tachometer) output of motor driver. The device provides a trigger to the signal processor and a retract mechanism to retract the actuator when the spindle motor speed is unexpectedly much higher or lower than normal speed. The system DSP (Digital Signal Processor) is unaware of such occurrence.