Abstract: A hard disk drive, its use and production are described. A read/write disk stores digital data. A spindle motor supports the read/write disk for controlled rotation thereof. A head arrangement moves to selectively access the read/write disk in a data access mode and moves to a parked position. A dedicated input is receives a first sensor related input signal. A processing arrangement executes the data access mode by cooperatively controlling the spindle motor and the head arrangement, monitoring the sensor related input signal for a predetermined characteristic thereof, and responsive to detection of the characteristic, at least moves the head arrangement to the parked position. A hard disk drive multi-sensor group, monitoring technique and interface are described.

Abstract: A computerized system is described (i) which includes an interface connected with a peripheral device and (ii) which is incapable of dynamically extending bus cycle timing if required by the peripheral device to carry out a particular current operation. This computerized system includes a given peripheral device which, during normal operation of the device, can require an extension of bus cycle timing to carry out the current operation. This device generates a specific signal when the extension is required. The device is connected with the interface of the computerized system and the system is configured to cause the system (i) to recognize the specific signal and (ii) to instruct the peripheral device to retry the current operation responsive to the specific signal. In a particular embodiment, the peripheral device is a disk drive having an ATA interface and the specific signal generated by the disk drive is an IORDY signal.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments providing one or more improvements include a media system which connects to multiple media demodulation devices through a cable infrastructure and to a digital media content provider to allow a user to purchase, download and play media content by interacting with a remote control located at any given one of the media demodulation devices.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining whether the flying height of a read/write head above a disk in a disk drive is within an acceptable range, in substantially real time. The system relies on variations in read signal resolution with flying height to make the determination. In one embodiment, read signal resolution is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the present flying height is in the desired range. In another embodiment, the number of peaks in a read signal that are detected (and/or not detected) by a detector is used to determine whether the head is in the proper flying height range. Because of read signal resolution effects, the number of detected peaks will decrease as the flying height of the head is increased. Means are also provided for postponing a transfer of data to/from the disk when it is determined that the head is not within the acceptable range.

Abstract: An electromechanical data storage arrangement is interfaced with a host. The interface may include a conductor that carries read and write gate signals. Another conductor carries both a servo sync mark and an error signal. The storage arrangement includes an external serial interface connected to a host serial interface applying a device identification to a portion of serial control-related data that travels over the interface. A serial router in the storage arrangement uses the device identification to manage the control-related data between the interface and a number of serial devices and associated interfaces within the storage arrangement. The serial router is in selective data communication with each of the device serial interfaces, for using the device identification to direct a host-asserted command to a targeted device where each device is controlled by a different command set such that the system can be customized for different command sets of different devices.

Abstract: A disk drive system corrects run-out errors without substantial PES transients and without significant response time. The disk drive system includes a servo compensation system coupled to a read/write head. The servo compensation system is adapted to generate a run-out correction waveform for a track in a disk. The run-out correction waveform includes one or more sinusoidal component waveforms, each of which is defined by a phase and an amplitude. The method includes measuring an amplitude and a phase of one or more sinusoidal component waveforms for a set of specified tracks in a disk. The method also includes determining a phase and an amplitude of one or more sinusoidal component waveforms for a destination track based on a measured amplitude and a measured phase of the one or more measured sinusoidal component waveforms. The sinusoidal component waveforms for the destination track are adapted to substantially correct a run-out error in the destination track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining whether the flying height of a read/write head above a disk in a disk drive is within an acceptable range, in substantially real time. The system relies on variations in read signal resolution with flying height to make the determination. In one embodiment, read signal resolution is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the present flying height is in the desired range. In another embodiment, the number of peaks in a read signal that are detected (and/or not detected) by a detector is used to determine whether the head is in the proper flying height range. Because of read signal resolution effects, the number of detected peaks will decrease as the flying height of the head is increased. The system also provides for postponing a transfer of data to/from the disk when it is determined that the head is not within the acceptable range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining whether the flying height of a read/write head above a disk in a disk drive is within an acceptable range, in substantially real time. The system relies on variations in read signal resolution with flying height to make the determination. In one embodiment, read signal resolution is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the present flying height is in the desired range. In another embodiment, the number of peaks in a read signal that are detected (and/or not detected) by a detector is used to determine whether the head is in the proper flying height range. Because of read signal resolution effects, the number of detected peaks will decrease as the flying height of the head is increased. The system also provides for postponing a transfer of data to/from the disk when it is determined that the head is not within the acceptable range.

Abstract: A disk drive system having a disk used to store information is disclosed. In one embodiment, the disk includes a servo track having a servo track pitch and a data track having a data track pitch. The servo track pitch and the data track pitch are unequal to one another. A method of reading data from a disk is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of: (1) providing a plurality of servo tracks, each having a track number; (2) providing a plurality of data tracks each having a data track number, wherein the number of servo tracks within a particular region of a disk are related to the number of data tracks within the particular region by a ratio defined as a TPI scale factor; (3) obtaining instructions from a host to read from a particular data track number; and (4) determining which servo track number should be used to access the particular data track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining whether the flying height of a read/write head above a disk in a disk drive is within an acceptable range, in substantially real time. The system relies on variations in read signal resolution with flying height to make the determination. In one embodiment, read signal resolution is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the present flying height is in the desired range. In another embodiment, the number of peaks in a read signal that are detected (and/or not detected) by a detector is used to determine whether the head is in the proper flying height range. Because of read signal resolution effects, the number of detected peaks will decrease as the flying height of the head is increased. The system also provides for postponing a transfer of data to/from the disk when it is determined that the head is not within the acceptable range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for determining whether the flying height of a read/write head above a disk in a disk drive is within an acceptable range, in substantially real time. The system relies on variations in read signal resolution with flying height to make the determination. In one embodiment, read signal resolution is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the present flying height is in the desired range. In another embodiment, the number of peaks in a read signal that are detected (and/or not detected) by a detector is used to determine whether the head is in the proper flying height range. Because of read signal resolution effects, the number of detected peaks will decrease as the flying height of the head is increased. The system also provides for postponing a transfer of data to/from the disk when it is determined that the head is not within the acceptable range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a disk drive seek control system which is capable of rapidly moving a transducer from an initial position to a target position above a data storage medium. The system applies control to an actuator motor means based on projected transducer velocity at a future servo sample time rather than velocity at a previous servo sample time. This allows the system to significantly reduce transducer velocity errors relative to a desired velocity profile. In addition, the system utilizes dynamically adapted feed forward deceleration current during a deceleration portion of the seek cycle to further reduce velocity errors during this period. By reducing velocity error during the seek cycle, the system significantly reduces the length of time required for settling the transducer on the target track of the disk after the seek cycle has ended.

Abstract: A disk drive system comprising a shock evaluator is disclosed. The shock evaluator includes a shock evaluation circuit and threshold logic and firmware that is capable of evaluating the level of physical shocks to the disk drive system. The shock evaluation circuit is capable of comparing the level of a physical shock to threshold shock values. The threshold logic and firmware is capable of periodically resetting the threshold shock values to account for the change in operating conditions experienced by the disk drive system. When the shock evaluator determines that a physical shock is present, communication between the read/write transducer and the disk is interrupted to prevent corruption of data stored on the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive system comprising a shock sensing circuit is disclosed. The shock sensing circuit includes a shock evaluation circuit and threshold logic and firmware that is capable of evaluating the level of physical shocks to the disk drive system. The shock evaluation circuit is capable of comparing the level of a physical shock to threshold shock values. The threshold logic and firmware is capable of periodically resetting the threshold shock values to account for the change in operating conditions experienced by the disk drive system. When the shock sensing circuit determines that a physical shock is present, communication between the read/write transducer and the disk is interrupted to prevent corruption of data stored on the disk.