Abstract: An embodiment method includes rectifying a back electromotive force of a spindle motor in a hard disk drive and energizing a voice coil motor in the hard disk drive using the rectified back electromotive force of the spindle motor via a voice coil motor power stage to retract a head of the hard disk drive to a park position. The head is retracted by moving the head towards the park position during a first retract phase and retaining the head in the park position during a second retract phase by applying a bias voltage to the voice coil motor power stage during a bias interval of the second retract phase. The method also includes producing a saturation signal indicative of onset of saturation in the voice coil motor power stage and controlling the bias voltage during the second retract phase.

Abstract: A circuit includes a set of input nodes configured to be coupled to respective ones of the windings of a spindle motor in a hard disk drive to sense the voltages applied to the windings. A set of output nodes is configured to provide output signals indicative of direction of flow of the currents through the windings. Level shifters are coupled to respective input nodes in the set of input nodes and have level-shifted output nodes configured to provide down-shifted replicas of the voltages at the respective input nodes in the set of input nodes. Flip-flops have inputs coupled to respective ones of the level-shifted output nodes of the level shifters and outputs configured to provide the output signals coupled to respective output nodes.

Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising a first spindle motor configured to rotate one or more disks in a first stack of disks, a second spindle motor configured to rotate one or more disks in a second stack of disks, and one or more processing devices configured to detect back electromotive force (BEMF) voltages generated by the first spindle motor and the second spindle motor. In other aspects the one or more processing devices can control speeds of the first spindle motor and the second spindle motor based on the detected BEMF voltages.

Abstract: A storage device, and a method for operating a storage device. In some embodiments, the storage device includes storage media, and the method includes: determining, by the storage device, that the storage device is in a first fault state from which recovery is possible by power cycling the storage device or by formatting the storage media; determining, by the storage device, that the storage device is in a second fault state from which partial recovery is possible by operating the storage device with reduced performance, with reduced capacity, or in a read-only mode; and operating the storage device with reduced performance, with reduced capacity, or in the read-only mode.

Abstract: In an example, a device includes: a printed circuit board (PCB); at least one solid state drive (SSD) connected at a first side of the PCB via at least one SSD connector; at least one field programmable gate array (FPGA) mounted on the PCB at a second side of the PCB; and at least one connector attached to the PCB at a third side of the PCB, wherein the device is configured to operate in a first speed from a plurality of operating speeds based on a first input received via the at least one connector.

Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include (1) presenting, using a visual display, an artificial environment to a user, (2) determining whether a virtual contact is being initiated between a virtual object in the artificial environment and a surface location of the user served by a vibrotactile stimulator coupled to the user, and (3) actuating, in response to determining that a virtual contact is being initiated between the virtual object and the surface location, the vibrotactile stimulator to generate a vibrotactile signal to simulate initiation of the virtual contact at the surface location, where the vibrotactile signal includes a magnitude-varying signal having a frequency that is constant relative to a simulated rigidity of the virtual object as presented by the visual display. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for selectively disabling power to disk drives in a distributed storage network (DSN). In embodiments, a method includes: monitoring namespace health parameter data in a DSN including a plurality of storage disk drives, wherein the namespace health parameter data includes available disks of the plurality of storage disk drives; determining that power to a subset of the plurality of storage disk drives can be disabled without disrupting anticipated client access to a data collection based on the monitoring and stored power management rules; and sending instructions to at least one power manager within the DSN to disable power to the subset of the plurality of storage disk drives, resulting in at least one disabled storage disk, wherein the instructions are based on the determining that power to the subset of the plurality of storage disk drives can be disabled.

Abstract: A data storage rack may only have a subset of the HDDs therein operating in an active mode where read/write operations may be performed. Other HDDs may operate in an idle mode, which is a power-saving state that permits the HDDs to quickly change-over to the active mode, when needed. In storage racks containing numerous HDDs, a majority of the HDDs may be operated at idle mode for a majority of the time. Where a large number of HDDs are operated at idle mode, a fixed common idle speed shared by the numerous HDDs can cause unwanted excitation, vibration, and resonance. This can yield increased wear on rack components, decreased performance from the HDDs therein, and increased noise. Variable HDD idle spindle speeds mitigate the foregoing, which is caused by an idle spindle speed previously common to many, if not all HDDs within the data storage rack.

Abstract: A motor controller having low standby power consumption is provided. The motor controller includes a direct current (DC) bus. The motor controller also includes a low-power supply. The motor controller also includes an inverter configured to control a supply of current to stator windings of a motor. The motor controller also includes a switch circuit coupled between the DC bus and the low-power supply. The motor controller also includes a switch controller coupled to the switch circuit and configured to be coupled to a system controller. The switch controller is configured to control the switch circuit to electrically decouple, in response to detecting an absence of a control signal from the system controller, the DC bus from the low-power supply.

Abstract: One embodiment facilitates a write operation in a shingled magnetic recording device. During operation, the system receives, by the storage device, data to be written to the storage device and access-frequency information associated with the data, wherein the storage device includes a plurality of concentric tracks. The system distributes a plurality of spare sector pools among the plurality of concentric tracks. The system selects a track onto which to write the data based on the access-frequency information, wherein data with a highest access-frequency is written to an outer track. The system appends the data at a current write pointer location of the selected track, thereby facilitating an enhanced data placement for subsequent access in the storage device.

Abstract: An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator subsystem that includes a ball screw cam assembly wherein the number of starts of a multi-start screw equals the number of balls riding in a corresponding start. A stepper motor may be disposed within the screw, to drive rotation of the screw, which drives translation of an actuator arm assembly so that a corresponding pair of read-write heads can access different magnetic-recording disks of a multiple-disk stack. The actuator subsystem may further include a cam locking mechanism for coupling and decoupling the actuator arm with a coil support structure and corresponding voice coil, so that the cam mechanism is able to move under the control of a voice coil motor when input/output operations are performed and is able to move the actuator arm assembly during translation operations.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a sensing unit, a first control unit, and a second control unit. The sensing unit detects a parameter of the electronic device when the electronic device is tilted and sends a detection signal if the detected parameter exceeds the critical parameter. The first control unit and the second control unit receive the detection signal from the sensing unit. If the first control unit receives the detection signal before the second control unit, the first control unit controls the mechanical hard disk to power off and controls a magnetic head on the mechanical hard disk to reset from a working position to an original position. If the second control unit receives the detection signal before the first control unit, the second control unit controls the magnetic head on the mechanical hard disk to reset from the working position to the original position.

Abstract: An approach to a reduced-head hard disk drive (HDD) involves an actuator subsystem that includes a ball screw cam assembly wherein the number of starts of a multi-start screw equals the number of balls riding in a corresponding start. A stepper motor may be disposed within the screw, to drive rotation of the screw, which drives translation of an actuator arm assembly so that a corresponding pair of read-write heads can access different magnetic-recording disks of a multiple-disk stack. The actuator subsystem may further include a cam locking mechanism for coupling and decoupling the actuator arm with a coil support structure and corresponding voice coil, so that the cam mechanism is able to move under the control of a voice coil motor when input/output operations are performed and is able to move the actuator arm assembly during translation operations.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first actuator configured to actuate a head over a disk, a second actuator configured to rotate the disk, a first control circuit configured to generate a servo command, and a second control circuit configured to receive the servo command from the first control circuit, control the first actuator or the second actuator using the servo command, and override the servo command to avoid an overcurrent condition.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, wherein the spindle motor comprises a plurality of windings. During a power failure the head is unloaded by generating a periodic signal, shorting the windings of the spindle motor based on the periodic signal in order to generate a power voltage, and adjusting the periodic signal based on an amplitude of the power voltage.

Abstract: A periodic rotational vibration check for storage devices to compensate for varying loads is disclosed. A variable representing rotational vibration status is maintained in a rotational vibration log. The variable is processed to determine whether a storage device exhibits a rotational vibration issue. Workload analysis is performed to identify a change to the workloads run on physically separate hardware to resolve the rotational vibration issue and thus eliminate the need for more expensive hardware.

Abstract: An abnormality detecting device and method for detecting a symptom of a failure of a spindle of a machine tool before the spindle malfunctions. The abnormality detecting device for detecting an abnormality or malfunction includes a spindle motor and a motor controller. The motor controller includes a time measuring part which measures a spindle stopping time from when a free-run of the spindle motor accelerated to a predetermined number of rotations is started to when the spindle motor is stopped, a storing part which stores the spindle stopping time measured by the time measuring part, and a comparing part which compares a plurality of data with respect to the spindle stopping time stored in the storing part, and judges as to whether or not an abnormality exists in the spindle or the spindle motor.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion including a rotor magnet, and arranged to rotate about a central axis extending in a vertical direction; a bearing mechanism arranged to support the rotating portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable about the central axis; a stator portion arranged opposite to the rotor magnet; a housing arranged to accommodate the rotating portion, the bearing mechanism, and the stator portion therein; and a sealing member. The housing includes a base portion substantially in a shape of a plate and arranged to extend radially below the rotating portion. The base portion includes a first lower surface arranged to face downward, and a through hole arranged to pass through the base portion in the vertical direction and arranged to have a portion of the bearing mechanism arranged therein. The sealing member is arranged to cover a lower side of the through hole, and includes at least a metal layer.

Abstract: A computing system includes a processor that has a processor cache built-in, and a non-volatile memory, such as a non-volatile dual-inline memory module (NVDIMM), which is being used as system memory within the computing system. The processor processes a transaction. If the computing system is connected to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) (and the UPS is connected to a mains power source that is currently providing power), the transaction is committed without first flushing the processor cache to the non-volatile memory. If the computing system is not connected to a UPS (and is connected to a mains power source that is currently providing power), the transaction is not committed until the processor cache has been flushed to the non-volatile memory.

Abstract: A motor includes a rotating portion including a rotor magnet, and arranged to rotate about a central axis extending in a vertical direction; a bearing mechanism arranged to support the rotating portion such that the rotating portion is rotatable about the central axis; a stator portion arranged opposite to the rotor magnet; a housing arranged to accommodate the rotating portion, the bearing mechanism, and the stator portion therein; and a sealing member. The housing includes a base portion substantially in a shape of a plate and arranged to extend radially below the rotating portion. The base portion includes a first lower surface arranged to face downward, and a through hole arranged to pass through the base portion in the vertical direction and arranged to have a portion of the bearing mechanism arranged therein. The sealing member is arranged to cover a lower side of the through hole, and includes at least a metal layer.

Abstract: Embodiments generally relate to data storage in a computing system. The present technology discloses techniques that that can enable an optimized mechanism to change spinning speed of data storage disk drives. The present technology can use a service controller, e.g. a Baseboard Management Device (BMC), to communicate with a disk controller to change the spinning speed of disk drives. The present technology can improve energy efficiency by efficiently controlling the spinning speed of disk drives. It can also reduce data access latency by promptly spinning up a disk from a spun-down state.

Abstract: A motor control system is presented. The motor control system includes a motor controller and a motor driver. The motor controller and motor driver are coupled by an interface which includes a conductor configured to carry both a motor speed control signal from the motor controller to the motor driver and a motor feedback signal from the motor driver to the motor controller. The motor controller provides a motor speed control signal to the motor driver and the motor driver provides a motor feedback signal to the motor controller.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system, method, or computer program product for configuring multiple computing devices over a network using a single software application. Each of the multiple computing devices may be accessible over a network. The invention links each of the multiple computing devices to the single software application. The invention determines commands which are executable by each of the multiple computing devices to configure each of the multiple computing devices. The invention further communicates the commands based on receiving user input in the single software application. The invention then determines whether each of the multiple computing devices were correctly configured. The invention may further track the configuration process of the devices using tests and procedures. The invention tracks information related to the configuration of the devices and displays such information in report form as a result of receiving a report request in the single software application.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods for sequence power control. A number of embodiments include executing a number of sequences associated with a number of commands, wherein a number of logical unit (LUN) controllers execute the number of sequences by locating power consumption information and a starting address of the number of sequences stored in a data structure on the number of LUN controllers.

Abstract: Methods of extending runtime with battery ripple cancellation in a CPU based system by providing a CPU that includes an input pin capable of throttling the power consumed by the CPU responsive to the input of a throttling signal, sensing a ripple in the form of a decrease in voltage or an increase in current responsive to a load on a CPU power supply, and when the ripple exceeds a predetermined limit, providing a throttling signal to the input pin to throttle the CPU to reduce the ripple.

Abstract: The device for operating one or more optical display devices of a vehicle is configured to determine a three-dimensional model for a predefined environment of the vehicle depending on data sets provided and depending on a predefined latency time, wherein the data sets represent predefined vehicle information and/or driving information which is suitable for being signaled graphically and/or pictorially to a vehicle user.

Abstract: An isolation circuit is coupled between motor driver half bridge circuits and an electric motor. A motor controller circuit supplies motor drive signals to the motor driver half bridge circuits. The isolation circuit includes transistors coupled in series with the motor windings. Low to medium power diodes are coupled between a reference voltage source and control terminals of the transistors.

Abstract: In embodiments of adaptive idle timeout for storage devices, a computing device includes a storage device that stores data for read and write access on a rotating media. An operating system of the computing device maintains a device cycle number as an accounting of each time the storage device is powered on-off. The computing device implements a storage device driver that is implemented to obtain the device cycle number of the storage device from the operating system, and determine a projected cycle number over a duration of operational time of the storage device based on the device cycle number. The storage device driver can then determine whether the projected cycle number exceeds a maximum of power on-off cycles within a warranty period of the storage device, and control a frequency of the storage device being powered-off if the projected cycle number exceeds the maximum of power on-off cycles.

Abstract: A motor controller includes a motor, an encoder, and a control circuit. The motor drives a target object to be controlled. The encoder outputs a pulse signal synchronously with rotation of the motor. The control circuit rotates the motor based on a count value of the pulse signal. The control circuit switches to a sleep mode when making sure that a rotation position of the motor is stable after finishing rotating the motor or when a predetermined time necessary for the rotation position of the motor to be stable elapses after finishing rotating the motor. When a change in the pulse signal during a period of time where the control circuit is in the sleep mode is not smaller than a predetermined amount, the control circuit performs a learning process to learn a reference position of the motor when returning to a wakeup mode from the sleep mode.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated with protecting data during cold excursions are provided. A method for preventing unreliable data operations at cold temperatures may include determining whether a first internal temperature of a hard disk drive (HDD) is below a threshold temperature. The method may also include initiating an artificial seek operation if the first internal temperature is below the threshold temperature.

Abstract: A method is used in managing software errors in storage systems. It is detected that a first processor of a storage system has a problem performing an I/O on a logical object. The first processor has a first path to the logical object. The problem includes a software error. Whether responsibility of performing the I/O on the logical object is transferred to a second processor of the storage system is evaluated. The second processor has a second path to the logical object.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk, a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, wherein the spindle motor comprises a plurality of windings, and a head actuated over the disk. The windings of the spindle motor are commutated based on a commutation sequence while applying a periodic driving voltage to each winding, wherein the periodic driving voltage comprises an operating amplitude during normal operation. When a supply voltage falls below a threshold, the spindle motor is configured into a power generator by at least adjusting the amplitude and a phase of the periodic driving voltage so that a periodic current flowing through each winding is substantially opposite in phase from a sinusoidal back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage generated by each winding.

Abstract: Techniques for assigning applications to datastores in a virtual machine environment are disclosed. In an embodiment, applications exhibiting different I/O data access patterns are assigned to datastores by collecting data related to the input-output operations performed by the applications, analyzing the collected data to identify corresponding data access patterns, and assigning applications to datastores based on the identified data access patterns. In this way, applications can be segregated by data access pattern onto separate datastores. For example, random I/O apps and sequential I/O apps can be assigned to different datastores. Additionally, if random I/O apps are found to be comingled with sequential I/O apps on the same datastore, then data associated with the applications can be migrated as necessary to achieve segregation. In an embodiment, random I/O apps and sequential I/O apps are segregated onto datastores that rotate independent of each other.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a storage surface, a motor, a read/write had, and a number of regions into which the storage surface is divisible. Data is writable to and data is readable from the storage surface. The motor is to rotate the storage surface at a variable speed. The read/write head is to write data to and read data from the storage surface while the storage surface is rotated by the motor. Each region corresponds to a different speed at which the storage surface is rotated for the read/write head to write data to and read data from the region.

Abstract: Devices and methods for power management during media playback are provided. For example, an electronic device according to an embodiment may include storage, a decoder, an output buffer, and data processing circuitry. The storage may store compressed media data that may be decoded by the decoder. The output buffer may store the decoded media data before the decoded media data is played out. The data processing circuitry configured may measure a fullness of the output buffer and may set an operating frequency of the storage, the decoder, the output buffer, or the data processing circuitry, or a combination thereof, depending on a format of the compressed media data and the fullness of the output buffer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a disk; a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk; and control circuitry with a spindle motor control loop, coupled to the spindle motor, the control circuitry configured to: inject a bandwidth test frequency into the spindle motor control loop, measure an open loop gain of the spindle motor control loop, calculate, using coordinate transformations, an estimated loop bandwidth of the spindle motor control loop based at least on one iteration of the bandwidth test frequency injection and the open loop gain measurement, and generate optimum loop parameters of the spindle motor control loop.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk comprising timing data, a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, wherein the spindle motor comprises a plurality of windings, and a head actuated over the disk. A phase of a commutation controller is initialized based on the timing data on the disk, and a commutation sequence of the commutation controller is driven based on the timing data on the disk, wherein the commutation controller is configured to commutate the windings based on the commutation sequence. The phase of the commutation controller is re-initialized based on the timing data on the disk, thereby compensating for a cumulative phase error when driving the commutation sequence based on the timing data on the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor operable to rotate the disk. The disk drive comprises control circuitry configured to a rotation speed of the spindle motor, generate a gain as a function of the measured rotation speed, wherein the function comprises a polynomial having a degree greater than one, and spin-up the spindle motor based on the gain.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for controlling the acoustic noise generated by a spindle motor of a hard disk drive includes detecting vibrations of the hard disk drive, and distorting an input signal to the spindle motor based on the vibrations of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising control circuitry configured to measure a rotation speed of a disk over multiple revolutions of the disk to generate a measured range of rotation speeds, select a target rotation speed from the measured range of rotation speeds, and when the rotation speed of the disk substantially matches the target rotation speed, enable writing of servo data on the disk using a head.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of spiral seed tracks. The head is positioned at a first radial location over the disk, and the head is servoed over the disk in response to the spiral seed tracks starting from the first radial location in order to write a first spiral servo track on the disk. The head is positioned at a second radial location over the disk different from the first radial location, and the head is servoed over the disk in response to the spiral seed tracks starting from the second radial location in order to write a second spiral servo track on the disk.

Abstract: A torsion angle and rotation angle measurement device includes an input rotation disk, an output rotation disk, at least two torsion measuring modules and a rotation measuring module. The output rotation disk is coaxially and rotatably connected with the input rotation disk. At least two torsion measuring modules are disposed between the input rotation disk and the output rotation disk. Each torsion measuring module includes a rotary variable resistor and a torsion measuring arm. The rotary variable resistor is disposed on the output rotation disk. The torsion measuring arm is pivotally connected with the rotary variable resistor at a first end thereof, and is slidably connected with the input rotation disk at an second opposite end. When the input rotation disk rotates relative to the output rotation disk, the rotary variable resistor measures an angle indicating the input rotation disk rotating relative to the output rotation disk.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a media motor; a media mounted on the media motor; a head, over the media, the motion of the head controlled by a head actuation motor; a motor driver, coupled to the media motor, configured to adjust a media speed; and control circuitry configured to: coast the media motor in preparation for accelerating the head, and activate the head actuation motor including accelerating the head in a first direction for repositioning the head over the media.

Abstract: A mechanism is provided for determining storage device speed based on a ratio of data compression. A bandwidth (B) is identified between a storage device accessing storage medium and a host application requesting access to data on the storage medium. A host side transfer rate is identified, where the host side transfer rate (HSTR) is a rate of data transfer between the host application and the storage device. For each data set in a set of data sets of a record, a ratio of data compression (R) is identified for the data set; a compression considered host side transfer rate (CCHSTR) is determined; and the storage device speed is set to the compression considered host side transfer rate (CCHSTR) for transmitting the data set to the host application.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention are directed to a data storage system that includes a disk and solid-state non-volatile memory (NVM). During a power failure, the data storage system may use back EMF (BEMF) voltage from the spindle motor of the disk to park the heads of the disk and/or store data in the NVM. In one embodiment, a demand regulation circuit regulates loads that use voltage generated from the BEMF. The demand regulation circuit may be used to selectively cause a controller to adjust the rate of programming to the NVM in order to reduce the load. For example, the demand regulation circuit may assert a throttle signal to the controller upon detecting that the voltage generated from the BEMF is below a certain threshold. Programming rate may be throttled, programming cycles may be staggered, and/or programming time may be lengthened. Throttling may enable the use of smaller circuitry.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, wherein the spindle motor comprises a plurality of windings. A commutation controller is configured to commutate the windings based on a commutation sequence. Compensation values are generated based on: A1 sin ?1t+B1 cos ?lt where A1 and B1 are adaptable coefficients and ?1 represents a first frequency based on a first mechanical parameter of the spindle motor. The compensation values are used to drive the commutation sequence of the commutation controller.

Abstract: A control system for a group of hard disks includes a power supply and a connecting module. The power supply supplies power for the group of hard disks. The connecting module couples the power supply to the group of hard disks. The group of hard disks has a number of hard disks. When the connecting module is coupled between the power supply and the group of hard disks, a staggering spin-up function of the plurality of hard disks is activated.

Abstract: A back electromotive force monitoring circuit has a speed detection voltage generator which biases a back electromotive force generated by a voice coil motor with a predetermined reference voltage to generate a speed detection voltage, and a calculator which generates a motor control signal in accordance with the speed detection voltage. The calculator includes a subtracter which subtracts the reference voltage from the speed detection voltage prior to generation of the motor control signal.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor operable to rotate the disk. The spindle motor operates according to a plurality of electrical cycles over a single revolution of the spindle motor, where each electrical cycle spans a cycle period. A plurality of the cycle periods are measured, at least two of the cycle periods are combined, and a rotation speed of the spindle motor is measured based on the combined cycle periods.

Abstract: A control circuit for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a control chip, a connector connected between the control chip and a motherboard, and a function transform circuit connected between the control chip and the connector. A status pin of the control chip is connected to a status receiving pin of the connector through the function transform circuit, to send a working state signal of the hard disk drive to the status receiving pin of the connector. The status receiving pin shows a normal operation of the HDD through a light emitting diode connected to the status receiving pin. The function transform circuit provides a high level signal to a staggered spin-up pin of the control chip, to make the control chip control the hard disk drive to execute staggered spin-up function.