Patents by Inventor Richard M. Ehrlich

Richard M. Ehrlich has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11960760
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling the execution of disk access commands in a split-actuator hard disk drive are provided. In some embodiments, while a first actuator of the split actuator is in the process of performing a first disk access command (a victim operation), a second disk access command (an aggressor operation) is selected for and executed by a second actuator of the split actuator. The aggressor operation is selected from a queue of disk access commands for the second actuator, and is selected based on being the disk access command in the queue that can be initiated sooner than any other disk access command in the queue without disturbing the victim operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Eric R. Dunn
  • Patent number: 11862196
    Abstract: A method reduces the effect of accelerating/decelerating an “aggressor actuator” in a multi-actuator drive on a “victim actuator” in the drive. Measurements of fractional-wedge timing-offsets for an aggressor head are used to adjust the aggressor actuator commands that are inputted to a victim disturbance feedforward signal generator when a timing offset exists between the currently-used aggressor head and the aggressor head that was used to measure transfer functions for determining victim feedforward signals. When such a timing offset is equivalent to a specific fraction of the time period separating servo wedges, values of the aggressor actuator commands that are inputted to the victim disturbance feedforward signal generator may be modified based on the specific fraction. Feedforward signals may be modified when a timing offset exists between and the current timing of the currently-used victim head and an original timing of the currently-used victim head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Publication number: 20230280935
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling the execution of disk access commands in a split-actuator hard disk drive are provided. In some embodiments, while a first actuator of the split actuator is in the process of performing a first disk access command (a victim operation), a second disk access command (an aggressor operation) is selected for and executed by a second actuator of the split actuator. The aggressor operation is selected from a queue of disk access commands for the second actuator, and is selected based on being the disk access command in the queue that can be initiated sooner than any other disk access command in the queue without disturbing the victim operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Inventors: Gary W. CALFEE, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT, Eric R. DUNN
  • Publication number: 20230238024
    Abstract: A seek operation of a first actuator in a multi-actuator drive is modified, so that one or more disturbance-generating portions of the seek operation do not adversely affect operation of a second actuator in the drive. Radial motion of the aggressor actuator is controlled by limiting a slew rate of the first actuator during one or more portions of the seek operation to be less than or equal to a threshold value. Because slew rate of the first actuator is the rate of change of radial acceleration of the aggressor actuator with respect to time, limiting the slew rate of the first actuator prevents or reduces mechanical disturbances caused by jerk associated with motion of the first actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Publication date: July 27, 2023
    Inventors: Siri S. WEERASOORIYA, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11688423
    Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Gabor Szita
  • Patent number: 11615811
    Abstract: A seek operation of a first actuator in a multi-actuator drive is modified, so that one or more disturbance-generating portions of the seek operation do not adversely affect operation of a second actuator in the drive. Radial motion of the aggressor actuator is controlled by limiting a slew rate of the first actuator during one or more portions of the seek operation to be less than or equal to a threshold value. Because slew rate of the first actuator is the rate of change of radial acceleration of the aggressor actuator with respect to time, limiting the slew rate of the first actuator prevents or reduces mechanical disturbances caused by jerk associated with motion of the first actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation
    Inventors: Siri S. Weerasooriya, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230061685
    Abstract: A seek operation of a first actuator in a multi-actuator drive is modified, so that one or more disturbance-generating portions of the seek operation do not adversely affect operation of a second actuator in the drive. Radial motion of the aggressor actuator is controlled by limiting a slew rate of the first actuator during one or more portions of the seek operation to be less than or equal to a threshold value. Because slew rate of the first actuator is the rate of change of radial acceleration of the aggressor actuator with respect to time, limiting the slew rate of the first actuator prevents or reduces mechanical disturbances caused by jerk associated with motion of the first actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Siri S. WEERASOORIYA, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT
  • Patent number: 11514939
    Abstract: A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator, where the victim feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to a victim head caused by assertion of the aggressor VCM control signal. Each aggressor VCM control signal is asserted at a specific time by the aggressor actuator, for example in response to the aggressor head passing over a first servo wedge. A feedforward signal that compensates for the effect of the aggressor VCM control signal is then determined based on the aggressor VCM control signal, stored, and asserted via the victim microactuator at a predetermined time relative to when the aggressor VCM control signal is asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 11422710
    Abstract: In a magnetic recording drive that includes a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) region and a conventional magnetic recording (CMR) region, the quantity of validation data that is stored by the CMR region is reduced. In the magnetic recording drive, verification data stored in the CMR region is invalidated under certain circumstances, including when an SMR band is closed, when an SMR band is indicated by a host to be reused, when an SMR band is indicated to be finished, and when a last data track of an SMR has data stored therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Richard M. Ehrlich, Eric R. Dunn, Fernando A. Zayas, Shoichi Aoki
  • Publication number: 20220246172
    Abstract: A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator, where the victim feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to a victim head caused by assertion of the aggressor VCM control signal. Each aggressor VCM control signal is asserted at a specific time by the aggressor actuator, for example in response to the aggressor head passing over a first servo wedge. A feedforward signal that compensates for the effect of the aggressor VCM control signal is then determined based on the aggressor VCM control signal, stored, and asserted via the victim microactuator at a predetermined time relative to when the aggressor VCM control signal is asserted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2021
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Inventor: Richard M. EHRLICH
  • Publication number: 20220115038
    Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: April 14, 2022
    Inventors: Gary W. CALFEE, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT, Gabor SZITA
  • Publication number: 20220050602
    Abstract: In a magnetic recording drive that includes a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) region and a conventional magnetic recording (CMR) region, the quantity of validation data that is stored by the CMR region is reduced. In the magnetic recording drive, verification data stored in the CMR region is invalidated under certain circumstances, including when an SMR band is closed, when an SMR band is indicated by a host to be reused, when an SMR band is indicated to be finished, and when a last data track of an SMR has data stored therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Richard M. EHRLICH, Eric R. DUNN, Fernando A. ZAYAS
  • Patent number: 11205450
    Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Gabor Szita
  • Patent number: 11189310
    Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal for a particular head of the victim actuator is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the particular head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Gabor Szita
  • Patent number: 11189309
    Abstract: A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator, where the victim feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to a victim head caused by assertion of the aggressor VCM control signal. Each aggressor VCM control signal is asserted at a specific time by the aggressor actuator, for example in response to the aggressor head passing over a first servo wedge. A feedforward signal that compensates for the effect of the aggressor VCM control signal is then determined based on the aggressor VCM control signal, stored, and asserted via the victim microactuator at a predetermined time relative to when the aggressor VCM control signal is asserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Publication number: 20210366511
    Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal for a particular head of the victim actuator is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the particular head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Gary W. CALFEE, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT, Gabor SZITA
  • Publication number: 20210366512
    Abstract: In a multi-actuator drive, the effect of moving a first actuator (the so-called “aggressor actuator”) in on a second actuator (the so-called “victim actuator”) is reduced or compensated for. A victim feedforward signal is added to a microactuator control signal of the victim actuator in response to a voice-coil motor (VCM) control signal that is applied to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is configured to compensate for disturbances to the victim microactuator caused by VCM commands provided to the aggressor actuator. The feedforward signal is based on a transfer function that models commands added to the victim microactuator, which is coupled to the head of the victim actuator, as a function of the aggressor VCM control signal applied to the aggressor actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Gary W. CALFEE, Richard M. EHRLICH, Thorsten SCHMIDT, Gabor SZITA
  • Patent number: 11062733
    Abstract: In a disk drive, when an off-track error occurs during a sequential disk access operation that spans multiple contiguous data tracks, efficient recovery is performed. In an embodiment, the disk access operation (e.g., reading from or writing to a disk) is attempted for all sectors of the sequential disk access operation. The disk access operation is then attempted again for sectors associated with any off-track errors that occurred during the disk access operation. In another embodiment, when an off-track error occurs during a sequential write operation in a shingled magnetic recording drive, the data originally targeted to be written to a first portion is written to a second portion of the data track that follows the first portion. Since no additional revolutions of the disk are needed for data associated with the sequential write operation to be written to the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Richard M. Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 11036436
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling the execution of disk access commands in a split-actuator hard disk drive are provided. In some embodiments, while a first actuator of the split actuator is in the process of performing a first disk access command (a victim operation), a second disk access command (an aggressor operation) is selected for and executed by a second actuator of the split actuator. The aggressor operation is selected from a queue of disk access commands for the second actuator, and is selected based on being the disk access command in the queue that can be initiated sooner than any other disk access command in the queue without disturbing the victim operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Eric R. Dunn
  • Publication number: 20210096769
    Abstract: Systems and methods for scheduling the execution of disk access commands in a split-actuator hard disk drive are provided. In some embodiments, while a first actuator of the split actuator is in the process of performing a first disk access command (a victim operation), a second disk access command (an aggressor operation) is selected for and executed by a second actuator of the split actuator. The aggressor operation is selected from a queue of disk access commands for the second actuator, and is selected based on being the disk access command in the queue that can be initiated sooner than any other disk access command in the queue without disturbing the victim operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventors: Gary W. Calfee, Richard M. Ehrlich, Thorsten Schmidt, Eric R. Dunn