Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems related to operations for managing the quality of an input signal received by a device and for providing feedback in real-time. A controller can provide a reference signal to the device for the input quality check. The memory can implement the input quality check by counting the number of transitions of the reference signal for a set time period and store the resulting count value(s). The memory can use the count value(s) to determine a condition or a quality for the reference signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device which includes two or more independently drivable actuator blocks and performs seek control with a low jerk in which a jerk that is a derivative of acceleration is limited, wherein in a state where a first actuator block is not accessing a data sector of a disk, a second actuator block that is not the first actuator block accesses the data sector of the disk by seek control with a high Jerk.

Abstract: Aspects of a storage device are provided which apply advanced thermal throttling in response to temperature changes based on multiple thermal power states for different types of cells, such as SLCs and MLCs. Initially, a controller determines that a temperature of the memory meets a thermal throttling threshold of a plurality of thermal throttling thresholds. Subsequently, the controller transitions into a thermal power state of a plurality of thermal power states when the temperature meets the thermal throttling threshold. The controller applies a thermal mitigation configuration associated with the thermal power state. The controller then determines that the temperature of the memory has reached a thermal equilibrium in the thermal power state based on the thermal mitigation configuration. Storage device performance is thus improved through advanced thermal throttling without compromising data integrity.

Abstract: Aspects of a storage device are provided that apply history-based prediction modeling in advanced thermal throttling. Initially, a controller determines a temperature prediction based one or more thermal mitigation parameters using a history-based prediction model. Subsequently, the controller determines whether the temperature prediction indicates that an actual temperature of the memory is expected to meet a thermal throttling threshold of a plurality of thermal throttling thresholds. The controller then transitions into a thermal power state of a plurality of thermal power states when the temperature prediction indicates that the actual temperature of the memory is expected to meet the thermal throttling threshold. The controller applies a thermal mitigation configuration associated with the thermal power state and determines that the temperature of the memory has reached a thermal equilibrium based on the thermal mitigation configuration.

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.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first actuator configured to actuate a first head over a first disk surface, and a second actuator configure to actuate a second head over a second disk surface. A first seek of the first head over the first disk surface is initiated during a first seek time based on a first seek profile. A second seek of the second head over the second disk surface is initiated during a second seek time based on a second seek profile. When the second seek time at least partially overlaps the first seek time and at least the second seek profile is a de-rated seek profile, the second seek profile is adjusted to avoid an overcurrent condition.

Abstract: Described is storage system and method for reducing power consumption. The storage system has first and second physical disks configured to provide mirroring. The first physical disk is placed into a power-saving mode of operation, while the second physical disk is in an active mode of operation responding to read and write requests. The first physical disk transitions from the power-saving mode of operation to an active mode of operation for destaging writes pending from cache to the first physical disk, while the second physical disk responds to read and write requests. The second physical disk transitions from the active mode of operation to the power-saving mode of operation, while the first physical disk responds to read and write requests.

Abstract: A lens driving apparatus for a lens includes a voice coil motor. A coil position of a coil is detected. A table memory stores a correction factor for each one of plural values of the coil position according to flux density distribution. The correction factor is read from the table memory according to the detected coil position. A coil current is corrected by use of the correction factor for each coil position. The corrected coil current is caused to flow through the coil, with which the lens is moved together along an optical axis. Consequently, changes in a moving speed of the lens can be prevented.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, and a load/unload ramp. When seeking the head a seek length from a starting track to an ending track, control circuit is configured to adjust a seek profile when the seek length is greater than a first threshold and the ending track is within a second threshold of the load/unload ramp.

Abstract: A control system for achieving high-speed torque for a joint of a robot includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a collocated joint processor and high-speed communication bus. The PCBA may also include a power inverter module (PIM) and local sensor conditioning electronics (SCE) for processing sensor data from one or more motor position sensors. Torque control of a motor of the joint is provided via the PCBA as a high-speed torque loop. Each joint processor may be embedded within or collocated with the robotic joint being controlled. Collocation of the joint processor, PIM, and high-speed bus may increase noise immunity of the control system, and the localized processing of sensor data from the joint motor at the joint level may minimize bus cabling to and from each control node. The joint processor may include a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

Abstract: A content reproducing apparatus is disclosed which includes: a sensor; a discrimination circuit configured to discriminate whether a movement of a user is a first movement or a second movement based on a detection output from the sensor; a storage configured to store contents; a reproduction circuit configured to reproduce the contents; and a control circuit configured to supply the reproduction circuit with contents retrieved from the storage in accordance with a discrimination output from the discrimination circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing titles are discussed. According to an embodiment, the method includes determining if at least one title satisfies a criterion, using an average length information of a plurality of titles recorded on a recording medium; and reproducing the at least one title if the determining step determines that the at least one title satisfies the criterion.

Abstract: An information storing device and an information processing device having a memory for registering a plurality of working modes at recording/reproduction and a switching circuit for selecting one of the plurality of working modes, which select the optimum working mode automatically or by an instruction of an operator according to power supply capacity of a device of higher rank to effect recording/reproduction.

Abstract: There is provided a method for generating acceleration data used in feed-forward control of head seeking, wherein, a seek distance and one of a seek period and the count of samples are received; a weighting factor for the change rate of acceleration between adjacent sample times is determined respectively; and an optimum acceleration at each sample time is obtained by performing an optimization calculation that minimizes an objective function under a constraint condition based on variables representing accelerations at each sample time, either the seek period or the count of samples, and the seek distance.

Abstract: A head position control method controls the position of a head by correcting components synchronizing rotation of a disk based on the head control amount. A correction signal for components synchronizing rotation is generated by using a filter function. The filter function that integrates the sine and cosine terms of DFT and inverse DFT and forms multiply of the complex values a(m) and b(m) and sine and cosine for frequency conversion, is measured in advance. The complex values are the m degree of RRO frequencies having frequency characteristics to be multiplied (1+C(z)P(z)) or ?(1+C(z)P(z)/P(z)).

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent destabilization in voice coil motor (VCM) velocity control. According to one embodiment, a hard disk controller/multiprocessing unit (HDC/MPU) calibrates a correction operational coefficient of a detected back electromotive force (EMF) voltage before unloading. The calibration is carried out in a state that an actuator is pivoting. The HDC/MPU calibrates the correction coefficient according to a motion equation of the actuator using VCM current applied to a VCM and a detected value of a back EMF voltage detection circuit.

Abstract: a seek procedure for a hard disk drive which provides a significant reduction in acoustic noise as well as high performance fast seek times is described. The seek procedure lowers the peak acceleration for short seeks and imparts a smooth transition from a sine seek to an exponential arrival at the target track. The seek procedure provides an error free feedforward signal derived from a single sine table. The procedure which contains a time domain sinusoid acceleration feedforward combined with a phase-plane trajectory controlled velocity which, near seek completion. The procedure is constructed so that the acceleration begins at zero and, in the fashion of a sine, increases to a maximum, decreases to a minimum and then increases again until a computed switchpoint is reached. The switchpoint is determined in-situ, to provide a smooth and continuous velocity transition from sinusoid to exponential. The velocity trajectory is computed from a look-up table.

Abstract: A feedback controller performs a feedback control based on an error between a target position and an actual position of a head. A model controller obtains a control command, a model position to be output as a command for the target position to the feedback controller, and a model velocity for the head to follow a target velocity, by using a preset control equation model, and obtains the control command and the model position with the target position as an input, based on a differential value of the target velocity corresponding to a remaining distance from the model position to the target position.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive with reduced noise during seek operation without causing any delay in control response. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a control circuit of a magnetic disk drive controls the drive power supplied to a voice coil motor during a seek operation adapted to move a magnetic head over a target track formed on a magnetic disk so as to bring the travel speed of the magnetic head close to a predetermined target speed. The control circuit determines a provisional current according to the difference between the predetermined target speed and an actual travel speed in an acceleration zone adapted to accelerate the magnetic head to the predetermined target speed. If the provisional current exceeds a limit specified in relation to an elapsed time from the start of acceleration, the control circuit sets the limit as the current of the drive power supplied to the voice coil motor to control the motor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk device and a method of controlling the device which is capable of suppressing peak current, even for serial communication, that is required when initiating rotation of a spindle motor down to a level equivalent to that of parallel communication, without prolonging elapsed time before reaching the steady rotation speed. In one embodiment, an HDD includes a serial communication circuit which executes serial communication with a host, an SPM which rotates a disk, an HDC/MPU which controls the SPM and the serial communication circuit. The HDC/MPU, after shutting down the serial communication circuit once, starts up the serial communication circuit again when rotation speed of the SPM reached the specified standard value, and establishes serial communication with the host by means of the serial communication circuit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of the present invention allow for interpolated Just in Time (iJIT) seek command control of hard drive actuators.

Abstract: Apparatus and related methods are described for adjusting servo gain. In an exemplary apparatus, a circuit determines a bias force error that occurs between an estimated bias force and an actual bias force on an actuator during movement by a servo motor. The circuit adjusts a servo gain in response to the bias force error, and regulates movement of the actuator by the servo motor in response to the servo gain.

Abstract: Controlling seeking of a transducer includes accelerating the transducer to a seek velocity, generating a linearized switching curve defining a position and velocity of the transducer at which deceleration should begin, and controlling the velocity of the transducer in response to the current position and seek velocity of the transducer relative to the linearized switching curve. The linearized switching curve has a slope and an offset that are determined in response to the seek velocity and a current position of the transducer relative to a nonlinear switching curve.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention allow for controlling a microactuator based at least in part on an output of a temperature sensor. Also, embodiments of the present invention allow for adjusting a control of a microactuator so as to compensate for changes in a gain of the microactuator due to changes in temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides a positioning control device and a disk device for shortening a calculation delay time. Upon detection of a position signal from a demodulation circuit, an MCU of the disk device calculates a position error, and following calculation of a control amount, executes determination and correction processing. A variable value prior to the start of calculation is stored in a save area of a memory (or a save memory) such that when the variable value is to be reset as a result of the determination and correction processing, the variable value is read from the save area, the reset variable value is stored in an overwrite area of the memory (or an overwrite memory), and calculation of the control amount is re-executed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive is disclosed in which servo information is written in tracks on a disk surface, the track width performance of the associated read/write transducer is measured, the track width performance is analyzed and a data track pitch is established. Based on the data track pitch established, a track location formula for data tracks on the surface is defined. For a disk drive with a plurality of read/write transducer-media surface combinations, a track location formula for data tracks is established for each combination.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a position and velocity demodulating circuit. In the position and velocity demodulating circuit, a difference calculating unit demodulates a moving velocity of a magnetic head based on a phase difference in servo signals as servo data in the same sector. An overflow detecting unit detects an overflow of the demodulated moving velocity and calculates a correction value for the overflow. The overflow is corrected based on the correction value. The corrected overflow is further corrected by a correction value of a repeatable velocity error for the demodulated velocity to output an accurate demodulated velocity.

Abstract: The invention applies to servo controllers for at least the voice coil motor of a hard disk drive. Today, many control algorithms require 80 to 90 percent of the sampling period to complete their calculation of the next control, making computation time delay no longer negligible. The invention accommodates the transport delay, such as computation time delay, into the state estimator and into the whole control system. Experimental results using a commercial hard drive, as well as simulation results, show that the invention's method effectively improves the hard disk drive control system stability by increasing the phase margin and gain margin. The invention includes the method of operating the servo-controller, as well as the apparatus implementing that method. The invention also includes hard disk drives containing servo-controllers implementing the method, and program systems residing in accessibly coupled memory to a computer within the servo controller implementing the method.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive is disclosed in which servo information is written in tracks on a disk surface, the track width performance of the associated read/write transducer is measured, the track width performance is analyzed and a data track pitch is established. Based on the data track pitch established, a track location formula for data tracks on the surface is defined. For a disk drive with a plurality of read/write transducer-media surface combinations, a track location formula for data tracks is established for each combination.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a slider assembly and a controller that directs current to the slider assembly to dynamically adjust the head-to-disk spacing. In one embodiment, the slider assembly includes a write element having a first end, a second end and an intermediate section, a conductor that is connected to the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the controller directs electrical current through the conductor to heat the write element without writing data to a storage disk. The electrical current can be directed through the conductor at any time prior to data transfer or during data transfer. Heating the write element causes a deformation of the slider assembly to decrease the head-to-disk spacing. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a separate slider deformer. Electrical current is selectively directed to the slider deformer to cause a deformation of the slider assembly to obtain a desired head-to-disk spacing.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a voice coil motor controlled by a servo. The servo provides a driving signal that has multiple sinusoidal waveforms. The multi-sinusoidal waveforms minimize seek time and vibrations in the drive.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a voice coil motor circuit that provides a current to a voice coil motor to perform a seek routine in a seek time. The disk drive includes a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the disk drive and a voltage sensor to sense the voltage of the voice coil motor. The circuit adjust the seek time dependent upon the sensed temperature and voltage. By way of example, the circuit will increase the seek time if there is an increase in temperature and/or a decrease in voltage.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a disk drive is disclosed in which servo information is written in tracks on a disk surface, the track width performance of the associated read/write transducer is measured, the track width performance is analyzed and a data track pitch is established. Based on the established track pitch, a track location formula for data tracks on the disk surface is defined. For a disk drive having a plurality of read/write transducers, a track location formula is established for each transducer. A method for measuring track width performance of a read/write head is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive with reduced noise during seek operation without causing any delay in control response. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a control circuit of a magnetic disk drive controls the drive power supplied to a voice coil motor during a seek operation adapted to move a magnetic head over a target track formed on a magnetic disk so as to bring the travel speed of the magnetic head close to a predetermined target speed. The control circuit determines a provisional current according to the difference between the predetermined target speed and an actual travel speed in an acceleration zone adapted to accelerate the magnetic head to the predetermined target speed. If the provisional current exceeds a limit specified in relation to an elapsed time from the start of acceleration, the control circuit sets the limit as the current of the drive power supplied to the voice coil motor to control the motor.

Abstract: A rate of occurrence of off-track write events is determined. A seek function control parameter for a head is adaptively adjusted based on the determined rate of occurrence of the off-track write events. Related circuits and devices are also discussed.

Abstract: A method of controlling a track seek servo in a hard disk drive and an apparatus therefor. A method of controlling a track seek servo includes moving a transducer to a track with an acceleration trajectory generated by a convolution operation, a rate of change of acceleration of the transducer being zero at a beginning and an end of a track seek operation in a track seek mode.

Abstract: A method for generating a velocity command for an actuator assembly is provided. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm, which is to move over a plurality of surfaces. The method begins by providing a compensation torque for each of the plurality of surfaces. A position of the actuator arm is determined so that it may be mapped to one of the plurality of surfaces, which is the present surface over which the actuator arm is moving. A target velocity is then provided for the actuator arm and input to a controller, which generates a velocity command from the target velocity and a selected compensation torque, which is the compensation torque of the present surface.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and apparatus for controlling the arrival of a disc drive actuator arm assembly using a time-linear arrival profile are disclosed. A reference velocity is calculated as a function of the current position of the arm assembly and the amount of time left to complete the seek operation, where the first derivative of the reference velocity function with respect to time varies linearly with respect to time. This reference velocity is used to control the actual velocity of an arm assembly. In a preferred embodiment, this time-linear arrival is utilized in the second stage of a two-stage arrival sequence, in which the arm assembly follows a constant-acceleration profile during the first stage.

Abstract: A head positioning control system which is applied to a disk drive is disclosed. The system includes a feedback control system which performs head positioning control of a head and a feedforward control system. The feedforward control system detects the amplitude and phase of a disturbance based on the position error between the position of the head and a target position. The feedforward control system computes a disturbance compensation value for eliminating the disturbance to output the disturbance compensation value to the feedback control system based on each detection result of the amplitude and the phase.

Abstract: A head positioning method and device positions a head which reads a disk-type storage medium at a specified location, and accurately estimates a bias value during settling control. A disk device includes a disk medium, a head, an actuator, and a control circuit, and settling control is performed based on a detected position after coarse control without integral compensation or bias compensation having been performed. The position of the head for a next sample is estimated, and an initial bias value is estimated from the difference between the detected position and the estimated position. This initial bias value is then used to perform settling control together with integral compensation of bias compensation. Since the accurate initial bias value at the start of settling is estimated, it is possible to reduce the time for correcting the shift in the bias during settling control, and greatly reduce the time required for settling control.

Abstract: A technique for adaptively and stably updating the feed forward value required to drive the head of a rotational recording apparatus. A trajectory of a target position is generated for each seek command by using a compound function comprising a ramp function and a sine-wave function. The sine-wave element of the target position is transmitted to an adaptive filter for updating coefficients of the compound formula. All elements other than the sine-wave element are removed to provide a smooth update of the compound function's coefficients.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to compensate for a difference between an actual torque constant and a modeling torque constant used for servo design in a disc drive. The method has operations of: performing predetermined test seeks with respect to test seek positions into which a disc is divided; obtaining torque compensation constants from the test seeks; storing the torque compensation constants in a torque compensation constant table; and compensating for a gain of a seek control loop at a position where a seek is performed in a seek mode, using the torque compensation constants stored in the torque compensation constant table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing seek acoustics in a disk drive using feedback during large current transitions is provided. A desired transition profile, which uses feedback, is followed in order to smoothen transitions of a commanded current profile that is supplied to a VCM for moving a head relative to a disk surface during a seek operation. Linear interpolation is used to provide feedback for following the desired transition profile.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and a voice coil motor (VCM) for actuating the head over the disk. The disk drive executes a rotational position optimization (RPO) algorithm to select a next command to execute relative to an estimated seek time computed for each command in a command queue. A seek time parameter is estimated and a seek time delta computed in response to the estimated seek time parameter. The seek time delta is added to a nominal estimated seek time to generate a modified estimated seek time for each command in the command queue, thereby optimizing the RPO algorithm.

Abstract: The invention applies to servo controllers for at least the voice coil motor of a hard disk drive. Today, many control algorithms require 80 to 90 percent of the sampling period to complete their calculation of the next control, making computation time delay no longer negligible. The invention accommodates the transport delay, such as computation time delay, into the state estimator and into the whole control system. Experimental results using a commercial hard drive, as well as simulation results, show that the invention's method effectively improves the hard disk drive control system stability by increasing the phase margin and gain margin. The invention includes the method of operating the servo-controller, as well as the apparatus implementing that method. The invention also includes hard disk drives containing servo-controllers implementing the method, and program systems residing in accessibly coupled memory to a computer within the servo controller implementing the method.

Abstract: Methods relating to compensating a pre-defined seek profile for use in a data storage device, such as a disc drive, to manage the internal temperature of the device are disclosed. One embodiment disclosed is related to determining a seek profile compensation value that can be used to compensate the pre-defined seek profile for temperature. Another embodiment is a method of using a seek profile compensation value during device operation to maintain the data storage device operating temperature below an operating temperature threshold. Yet another embodiment of the present invention may be thought of as a controller for a data storage device. The controller comprises a microprocessor having a pre-determined seek profile and a means for compensating the pre-determined seek profile based on a current operating temperature.

Abstract: When a head passes over a track with a projected item in a seek operation, the CPU delays a seek start time to conduct the seek by changing a period of time from a seek start position to a position of the track with a projected item. Or, the CPU conducts seek control by changing a speed table. Or, the CPU changes a sequence of items of a tag queue to obtain a seek locus not passing the projected item. By the control operation, a seek error due to thermal asperity is prevented and the head is not damaged. This also prevents appearance of a new projected item produced by contact between the magneto-resistive head and the projected item on the recording medium.

Abstract: There is disclosed a disk drive using a disk medium in which a non-servo range exists. In order to position a head at a target track, a CPU executes a seek operation by normal velocity control using servo data. At this positioning, when the head passes the non-servo range from which no servo data can be obtained, the CPU executes a seek operation by special velocity control to move the head at a velocity calculated based on a moving distance of the non-servo range.

Abstract: Provided are a method, system, and program for initializing a storage device. A pulse response profile is determined for a storage system in response to a series of signals generated to seek to a location in the storage system. A determination is made of a desired response trajectory for the storage system that optimizes seek performance. An adjustment vector is calculated based on the pulse and step response profiles and the desired response trajectory to optimize the pulse response profile. The adjustment vector is stored in the storage device for use during storage device operations to apply to control signals generated to perform one seek operation.

Abstract: Systems and methods in a disc drive improve data transfer performance by interrupting disc write operations to service read commands.