Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for hysteresis in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may use an inverse hysteresis model to linearize effects of hysteresis of a microactuator in the disc drive. The hysteresis model may be a Coleman-Hodgdon hysteresis model. The hysteresis of the microactuator may be characterized, and the inverse hysteresis model may be based at least in part on the characterization. The inverse hysteresis model may be used to implement a digital filter. The digital filter may be employed in series with the microactuator to linearize the effects of hysteresis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for hysteresis in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may use an inverse hysteresis model to linearize effects of hysteresis of a microactuator in the disc drive. The hysteresis model may be a Coleman-Hodgdon hysteresis model. The hysteresis of the microactuator may be characterized, and the inverse hysteresis model may be based at least in part on the characterization. The inverse hysteresis model may be used to implement a digital filter. The digital filter may be employed in series with the microactuator to linearize the effects of hysteresis.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for hysteresis in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may use an inverse hysteresis model to linearize effects of hysteresis of a microactuator in the disc drive. The hysteresis model may be a Coleman-Hodgdon hysteresis model. The hysteresis of the microactuator may be characterized, and the inverse hysteresis model may be based at least in part on the characterization. The inverse hysteresis model may be used to implement a digital filter. The digital filter may be employed in series with the microactuator to linearize the effects of hysteresis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an actuator assembly, a dampening assembly coupled to the actuator assembly, and a vibration sensor assembly coupled to the dampening assembly and coupled to the actuator assembly by way of the dampening assembly. A method includes attaching a dampening assembly to an actuator assembly and attaching a vibration sensor assembly to the dampening assembly. The dampening assembly is positioned between the vibration sensor assembly and the actuator assembly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for hysteresis in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may use an inverse hysteresis model to linearize effects of hysteresis of a microactuator in the disc drive. The hysteresis model may be a Coleman-Hodgdon hysteresis model. The hysteresis of the microactuator may be characterized, and the inverse hysteresis model may be based at least in part on the characterization. The inverse hysteresis model may be used to implement a digital filter. The digital filter may be employed in series with the microactuator to linearize the effects of hysteresis.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an actuator assembly, a dampening assembly coupled to the actuator assembly, and a vibration sensor assembly coupled to the dampening assembly and coupled to the actuator assembly by way of the dampening assembly. A method includes attaching a dampening assembly to an actuator assembly and attaching a vibration sensor assembly to the dampening assembly. The dampening assembly is positioned between the vibration sensor assembly and the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for positioning a transducer over a magnetic recording medium having a plurality of tracks. The method includes positioning the transducer over a first track using a voice coil motor (VCM) and a microactuator. The method further includes applying a feedforward voltage profile to the microactuator to position the transducer over a second track.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for hysteresis in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may use an inverse hysteresis model to linearize effects of hysteresis of a microactuator in the disc drive. The hysteresis model may be a Coleman-Hodgdon hysteresis model. The hysteresis of the microactuator may be characterized, and the inverse hysteresis model may be based at least in part on the characterization. The inverse hysteresis model may be used to implement a digital filter. The digital filter may be employed in series with the microactuator to linearize the effects of hysteresis.

Abstract: Compensation for repeated runout (RRO) error, such as in a data storage device servo circuit, is preferably carried out by obtaining a population distribution of RRO error values from at least selected ones of a subset of tracks. An RRO error compensation value is determined for each one of the subset of tracks when a variance characteristic of said population distribution meets a selected criterion. Preferably, a first track of a storage medium has a servo field at a first angular position on the medium, a repeated runout (RRO) error compensation field at a second angular position on the medium, and a user data field at a third angular position on the medium. An immediately adjacent second track preferably has a servo field at the first angular position and a user data field at the second angular position in lieu of an RRO error compensation field.

Abstract: Compensation for repeated runout (RRO) error, such as in a data storage device servo circuit, is preferably carried out by obtaining a population distribution of RRO error values from at least selected ones of a subset of tracks. An RRO error compensation value is determined for each one of the subset of tracks when a variance characteristic of said population distribution meets a selected criterion. Preferably, a first track of a storage medium has a servo field at a first angular position on the medium, a repeated runout (RRO) error compensation field at a second angular position on the medium, and a user data field at a third angular position on the medium. An immediately adjacent second track preferably has a servo field at the first angular position and a user data field at the second angular position in lieu of an RRO error compensation field.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for tracking radially-dependent repeatable run-out in a disc drive having a servo loop for positioning a head over a rotating disc is provided. The disc includes multiple tracks. Radially-dependent repeatable run-out control components for at least a subset of the multiple tracks are first determined. Data representative of the radially-dependent repeatable run-out control components for the subset of the multiple tracks is then stored. The stored data representative of the radially-dependent repeatable run-out control components is retrieved before settling on the target track, and subsequently used to follow the selected track.

Abstract: The present invention relates to repeatable runout (RRO) compensation of servo control systems that can be used in disc drives or spin-stands. The RRO relates to eccentricity between servo tracks, which were written onto a disc prior to the installation of the disc into the disc drive or spin-stand, and an axis of rotation of the disc. The present invention compensates the servo control loop by canceling the RRO and controlling a head to follow virtual tracks which are eccentric to the data tracks defined by the servo tracks and concentric with the axis of rotation of the disc.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for variation in sample rate in a disc drive having a rotating disc and a head that is positioned over the rotating disc is provided. The disc includes at least one track that has multiple consecutive sectors. A sample rate value between timing marks of each pair of consecutive sectors of the multiple consecutive sectors is computed to obtain a sequence of sample rate values. A sequence of timing error values is computed as a function of the sequence of sample rate values and a nominal sample rate value. Data related to the sequence of timing error values is utilized to compensate for variation in sample rate values.

Abstract: A disc drive including a rotatable data track, a dual-stage actuator with a primary actuator motor supporting an actuator arm, a read/write head supported by the actuator arm and communicating with a secondary actuator motor, and steps for controlling range of motion of the secondary actuator motor. The controlling steps include supplying and sustaining a bias signal to a single-sided unipolar device driver that then apply a bias voltage the secondary actuator motor to induce the secondary actuator motor to expand substantially one half of its expansion capabilities. And, confining correction signals provided by a control circuit of the disc drive, used in correcting mechanical position of the secondary actuator motor, to a voltage ranging substantially between a positive “+” and negative “−” voltage substantially equal to the applied bias voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for variation in sample rate in a disc drive having a rotating disc and a head that is positioned over the rotating disc is provided. The disc includes at least one track that has multiple consecutive sectors. A sample rate value between timing marks of each pair of consecutive sectors of the multiple consecutive sectors is computed to obtain a sequence of sample rate values. A sequence of timing error values is computed as a function of the sequence of sample rate values and a nominal sample rate value. Data related to the sequence of timing error values is utilized to compensate for variation in sample rate values.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for tracking radially-dependent repeatable run-out in a disc drive having a servo loop for positioning a head over a rotating disc is provided. The disc includes multiple tracks. Radially-dependent repeatable run-out control components for at least a subset of the multiple tracks are first determined. Data representative of the radially-dependent repeatable run-out control components for the subset of the multiple tracks is then stored. The stored data representative of the radially-dependent repeatable run-out control components is retrieved before settling on the target track, and subsequently used to follow the selected track.

Abstract: A disc drive including a rotatable data track, a dual-stage actuator with a primary actuator motor supporting an actuator arm, a read/write head supported by the actuator arm and communicating with a secondary actuator motor, and steps for controlling range of motion of the secondary actuator motor. The controlling steps include supplying and sustaining a bias signal to a single-sided unipolar device driver that then apply a bias voltage the secondary actuator motor to induce the secondary actuator motor to expand substantially one half of its expansion capabilities. And, confining correction signals provided by a control circuit of the disc drive, used in correcting mechanical position of the secondary actuator motor, to a voltage ranging substantially between a positive “+” and negative “−” voltage substantially equal to the applied bias voltage.

Abstract: In a vehicle suspension control in which the output of a vehicle body mounted absolute vertical acceleration sensor is integrated to provide an absolute vertical velocity signal, the sensor output is high pass filtered to remove DC components but pass components in the frequency range 1-2 Hz. The filter comprises a second order digital all-pass filter embodied recursively on a 16 bit, fixed point, digital signal processor (DSP). A first stage normalized lattice two-pair network reduces to a unity gain stage; and a second stage single multiplier two-pair lattice network minimizes computational time. The 32 bit internal accumulators of the 16 bit DSP are used advantageously to prevent errors due to internal overflow of the recursive variable.

Abstract: A full vehicle suspension control for a wheeled vehicle includes a suspension actuator and an absolute accelerometer at each corner of the vehicle body. The actuators are controlled in response to vehicle body pitch and roll velocity signals which are derived from nominally vertical acceleration signals from the accelerometers by first deriving vehicle body pitch and roll acceleration signals and then integrating these signals into vehicle body roll and pitch velocity signals. The process of converting the body corner acceleration signals to pitch and roll acceleration signals reduces any non-vertical error of the signals before integration to reduce saturation of the integrator.

Abstract: In a suspension control comprising a damper having a valve switchable at frequencies within a desired activation frequency range between high and low damping modes, an unfiltered damper signal is repeatedly derived from vehicle suspension related variables at a range significantly greater than the desired activation frequency range. An output filter derives a filtered damper signal from each successive binary actuator force signal by (1) resetting a timer each time the unfiltered damper signal changes value, (2) causing the filtered damper signal to be the same value as the unfiltered damper signal while the timer is inactive, and (3) maintaining the filtered damper signal value unchanged while the timer is active. The damper is controlled in response to the filtered damper signal, whereby unnecessary high frequency switching of the valve is reduced but the damper responds without unnecessary delay to signals within the desired activation frequency range.