Abstract: A method of writing to a disk using a disk drive includes determining a first sensing value using a first output value output from a disturbance sensor during a writing operation for multiple servo sectors on the disk, and determining a second sensing value using a second output value output from the disturbance sensor during the writing operation for the multiple servo sectors. Discontinuance of the writing operation is determined based on the difference between the first sensing value and the second sensing value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to control a flying height of a head in a disk drive by detecting a flying state of the head just before it touches down to a disk. The method includes detecting approximate touch-down based on detecting a motion change of a head in a disk track direction by changing a flying height of the head on a rotating disk and determining that the head approaches a touch-down approximated flying height when the detected motion change of the head in the disk track direction exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for performing optimum transducer unloading in a data storage device according to circumstances. The method of unloading a transducer in a data storage device comprises: determining whether a condition that requires an unloading operation is detected while the transducer is positioned on a data area on a disk; selecting, when the condition that requires the unloading operation is detected, an unloading mode corresponding to the detected condition from among a plurality of unloading modes; and moving the transducer to an area other than the data area on the disk according to the selected unloading mode.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling a motor by compensating for recurring false speed errors generated in a direct current (DC) motor. The apparatus includes a learning control unit adapted to calculate recurring false speed errors related to a mechanical tolerance associated with the motor in each one of a plurality of controlling sections associated with a single rotation of the motor, and generate a corresponding reference speed for each controlling section, and a motor control unit adapted to control the rotational speed of the motor in relation to a speed error defined by a difference between the reference speed for each controlling section and an actual measured speed of the motor for each controlling section.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce abrasion of a disk via a dithering process that spreads a friction area between a magnetic head and the disk when a magnetic head lifts from the surface of the disk. In embodiments of the invention, the dithering process is executed only when the magnetic head is latched in a parking zone of the disk and when a disk spindle motor is in an acceleration mode.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling a motor which compensates for a mechanical tolerance of the motor in a case where a feedback sampling frequency increases in order to more precisely control a brushless DC motor. The apparatus for compensating the mechanical tolerance of the brushless DC motor includes: a speed controller calculating a speed error that is a difference between a motor speed measured in control sections and a reference speed using a back electromotive force generated by the motor, and generating a motor control input signal using the speed error of the control section; a moving average calculator calculating a moving average value of the motor control input signals in a predetermined moving average section including recently generated motor control input signal whenever the motor control input signals are generated; and a motor driver generating an electric current for driving the motor corresponding to the moving average value.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus for controlling a spindle motor of a disk drive. Particularly provided is a method, medium, and apparatus changing a current gain of a spindle motor driver according to the operating environment of the spindle motor. The method of controlling the spindle motor, using the current gain change of the spindle motor driver, includes monitoring a spindle drive control signal indicating the operating environment of the spindle motor and changing a current gain of the spindle motor driver based on the indicated operating environment.

Abstract: An open-loop driving method of a spindle motor includes determining of whether open-loop driving conditions for the spindle motor are met, and adjusting widths of driving pulses applied to the spindle motor according to a predictive speed variation of the spindle motor when it is determined that the open-loop driving conditions for the spindle motor are met.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce abrasion of a disk via a dithering process that spreads a friction area between a magnetic head and the disk when a magnetic head lifts from the surface of the disk. In embodiments of the invention, the dithering process is executed only when the magnetic head is latched in a parking zone of the disk and when a disk spindle motor is in an acceleration mode.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a spindle motor using adaptive feedforward control. The method includes: detecting a temperature of a drive; calculating a feedforward value corresponding to the detected temperature; and generating a first control signal that is a drive current according to a calculated feedforward value and applying the generated first control signal to the spindle motor.

Abstract: An adaptive spindle motor startup method includes applying an internal driving voltage to a disk drive, sensing an internal temperature of the disk drive, and controlling the startup of a spindle motor by adjusting a startup factor related to a startup current applied to the spindle motor corresponding to the sensed temperature. Thus, the delay of time to reach a target rotation rate is prevented in the spindle motor in an extreme environment, for example at temperatures lower or higher than 25° C. The overall startup time is efficiently optimized through the improvement of the startup method of the spindle motor.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling a motor which compensates for a mechanical tolerance of the motor in a case where a feedback sampling frequency increases in order to more precisely control a brushless DC motor. The apparatus for compensating the mechanical tolerance of the brushless DC motor includes: a speed controller calculating a speed error that is a difference between a motor speed measured in control sections and a reference speed using a back electromotive force generated by the motor, and generating a motor control input signal using the speed error of the control section; a moving average calculator calculating a moving average value of the motor control input signals in a predetermined moving average section including recently generated motor control input signal whenever the motor control input signals are generated; and a motor driver generating an electric current for driving the motor corresponding to the moving average value.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling a motor by compensating for recurring false speed errors generated in a direct current (DC) motor. The apparatus includes a learning control unit adapted to calculate recurring false speed errors related to a mechanical tolerance associated with the motor in each one of a plurality of controlling sections associated with a single rotation of the motor, and generate a corresponding reference speed for each controlling section, and a motor control unit adapted to control the rotational speed of the motor in relation to a speed error defined by a difference between the reference speed for each controlling section and an actual measured speed of the motor for each controlling section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a spindle motor using adaptive feedforward control. The method includes: detecting a temperature of a drive; calculating a feedforward value corresponding to the detected temperature; and generating a first control signal that is a drive current according to a calculated feedforward value and applying the generated first control signal to the spindle motor.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus for controlling a spindle motor of a disk drive. Particularly provided is a method, medium, and apparatus changing a current gain of a spindle motor driver according to the operating environment of the spindle motor. The method of controlling the spindle motor, using the current gain change of the spindle motor driver, includes monitoring a spindle drive control signal indicating the operating environment of the spindle motor and changing a current gain of the spindle motor driver based on the indicated operating environment.