Abstract: A method, and system configured to implement the method, are provided. The method includes the steps of identifying a last usable track on a surface as a function of a parameter, and defining a standoff band of tracks relative to the last usable track to obtain an achieved maximum track on the surface. The last usable track is, in exemplary embodiments, a track beyond a default maximum track on a surface of a data storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mounting a shock sensor to the printed circuit board (PCB) of a disc drive are provided. In particular, the present invention allows the shock sensor to be mounted at any location on the printed circuit board rather than being limited to placement adjacent a mounting screw. The present invention includes a clamping mechanism for rigidly clamping the PCB to the head disc assembly (HDA) so that any shock is properly transmitted from the HDA to the PCB and then to the shock sensor. In one exemplary embodiment, the PCB is clamped between a shield and the HDA. The shock sensor is then position near the point at which the PCB is clamped so that the point of clamping provides transmission of any shock in the Z-axis to the shock sensor. Shocks in the X-Y axis direction are transmitted via the normal mounting screws.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for errors in servo systems. An improved zero acceleration path (ZAP) correction technique is provided, wherein selected tracks of a data storage device are used for ZAP processing in order to reduce the overall time required to perform error compensation for a storage device. For a given selected track to be ZAPed, track profiles of adjoining tracks are used in addition to the track profile of the selected track as part of the ZAP correction determination for the selected track. Using adjacent track profiles as part of the ZAP correction determination assists in mitigating AC track squeeze issues that would otherwise occur when performing selective track ZAPing.

Abstract: Many parallel tracks on a storage surface of a data handling device are arranged in a longitudinal direction. Each track has a track center comprising reference points for fine lateral positioning. Each successive pair of track centers has a succession of lateral offset distance having an average. Because there are many successive pairs of tracks, there are many average lateral offset distances defining a statistical distribution having a variance. The device includes a laterally movable transducer head and a longitudinally movable data surface. A signal is received from the transducer head while the data surface moves past the head. Many values each indicative of a lateral offset distance between a corresponding pair of lateral reference points are derived from the received signal. These offset-indicative values are used to shift at least some of the latitudinal reference points laterally so as to reduce this variance.

Abstract: A disc drive includes an information storage disc and an actuator assembly. A retraction voltage and a retraction time interval are calculated based on the location of a transducer over a surface of the information storage disc. The retraction voltage is applied for the retraction time interval such that the actuator assembly reaches the park position at a predetermined velocity. A brake time interval is calculated when the disc drive is operating in seek mode while power to the disc drive is interrupted. A brake is applied for the brake time interval to halt movement of the actuator assembly before the retraction voltage is applied. The values of retraction voltage, retraction time interval and brake time interval are continually updated in data tables. The values are retrieved when power to the disc drive is unexpectedly interrupted such that the actuator assembly reaches the park position at the predetermined velocity.

Abstract: Linearizing hysteresis of a microactuator for a disc drive by modeling the microactuator with a first polynomial equation to provide a linear displacement response of the microactuator responding to an applied voltage, deriving a set of constants from a plurality of burst patterns for use with the first polynomial equation to provide a set of variables for use in resolving the second polynomial equation to provide a set of equations from which a set of constants can be derived for use by the second polynomial equation to provide a voltage to the microactuator to displace the microactuator by a predetermined incremental distance.

Abstract: Many parallel tracks on a storage surface of a data handling device are arranged in a longitudinal direction. Each track has a track center comprising reference points for fine lateral positioning. Each successive pair of track centers has a succession of lateral offset distance having an average. Because there are many successive pairs of tracks, there are many average lateral offset distances defining a statistical distribution having a variance.

Abstract: Linearizing hysteresis of a microactuator for a disc drive by modeling the microactuator with a first polynomial equation to provide a linear displacement response of the microactuator responding to an applied voltage, deriving a set of constants from a plurality of burst patterns for use with the first polynomial equation to provide a set of variables for use in resolving the second polynomial equation to provide a set of equations from which a set of constants can be derived for use by the second polynomial equation to provide a voltage to the microactuator to displace the microactuator by a predetermined incremental distance.