Abstract: When the format control circuit detects bit synchronization information in a sector to be reproduced on a magnetic disk, the format control circuit activates a read gate signal for commanding to read out the sector from the magnetic disk. When symbol synchronization information on the magnetic disk is detected, a SYNC detection circuit produces a synchronization information detection signal. The format control circuit calculates an end position of the sector on the magnetic disk on the basis of the synchronization information detection signal to inactivate the read gate signal. The data correction circuit and the decoding circuit reproduce data and ECC in the sector read out from the magnetic disk during the period that the read gate signal is active on the basis of the synchronization information detection signal to produce the data and ECC to a data bus.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to suppress adverse effects on the host computer operation caused by saving a segment table. According to one embodiment, a hard disk drive (HDD) creates a segment table to associate addresses of user data in a flash memory with LBAs in a magnetic disk. The HDD updates the segment table in a DRAM and saves it to the flash memory at a specific timing. The HDD creates a journal indicating an update of the segment table and saves it to the flash memory. The segment table and the journal in the flash memory enable the latest segment table to be restored. If the HDD receives a predetermined command from a host computer, it saves the segment table in the DRAM into the flash memory.

Abstract: The electromagnetic noise radiated from a magnetic disk system comprising two or more magnetic disk drives is reduced so as not to exceed a certain level although the electromagnetic noise from each magnetic disk drive is added up. This is achieved by setting a different operation clock frequency for each SCSI-ID so that the electromagnetic noise radiated from each magnetic disk drive has a different frequency band.

Abstract: The electromagnetic noise radiated from a magnetic disk system comprising two or more magnetic disk drives is reduced so as not to exceed a certain level although the electromagnetic noise from each magnetic disk drive is added up. This is achieved by setting a different operation clock frequency for each SCSI-ID so that the electromagnetic noise radiated from each magnetic disk drive has a different frequency band.