Abstract: A method includes generating a first control signal and a second control signal; blending the first control signal and the second control signal based, at least in part, on a velocity; and positioning a read/write head based on the blending of the first control signal and the second control signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for controlling the operation of a motor actuator for positioning a moveable element. Operational characteristics of the movable element over its operational range are determined. A first PWM signal to control the actuator over a first portion of the operational range of the movable element is generated. A second PWM signal to control the actuator over a second portion of the operational range of the movable element is generated. The first PWM signal is based on a linear transfer function having a first gain level and the second PWM signal is based on a linear transfer function having a second gain level. An output position of the moveable element is executed based the first PWM signal or the second PWM signal.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a signal relay apparatus having frequency calibration mechanism that includes a clock generation circuit, a frequency generation circuit, a clock measuring circuit, a frequency adjusting circuit and a transmission circuit. The clock generation circuit generates a source clock signal. The frequency generation circuit receives the source clock signal and generates a target frequency signal according to a conversion parameter. The clock measuring circuit measures a first frequency offset of a source frequency relative to a first predetermined frequency according to an external reference clock signal. The frequency adjusting circuit adjusts the conversion parameter according to the first frequency offset when the first frequency offset is not within a first predetermined range such that a second frequency offset of a target frequency relative to a second predetermined frequency is within a second predetermined range.

Abstract: A control device to perform feedback control based on a current value, and output a first voltage value includes a feedforward controller using an inverse model of a plant; a feedforward voltage corrector to correct a voltage disturbance due to a modeling error between the plant and a model of the plant; a repetitive controller to learn periodic current disturbances; and a switch. The switch is ON when the current response is in a steady state, and the repetitive controller learns the disturbances and corrects a command current value. A feedback controller outputs the first voltage value by performing the feedback control based on a current value from the corrected command current value, and inputs the command current value to the inverse model to generate a second voltage value. The control device outputs a sum of the first and the second voltage value as a command voltage value.

Abstract: An active noise cancellation system for reducing unwanted noise in a target area by attenuating a disturbance noise signal (d(n)), which is the remaining noise in the target area originated from an ambient noise signal (x(n)) present in the vicinity of the target area that is transferred to the target area via a main path described by a transfer function P(z)), the active noise cancellation system including a processing unit that implements an ANC-controller which is configured to provide a control signal (y?(n)) for controlling a speaker in the target area in order to generate an acoustic signal (y(n)) that destructively overlaps with the disturbance noise signal (d(n)) and thereby attenuates the same.

Abstract: A method includes performing a first seek operation using a first voice coil motor (VCM) control signal by utilizing a first drag component value. The method further includes determining a position error signal (PES) and a DC offset component of the PES measured during the first seek operation, and determining that the DC offset component is above a predetermined threshold. In response to determining that the DC offset component is above the predetermined threshold, the method further includes determining a second drag component value different than the first drag component value. The method further includes generating a second VCM control signal by applying the second drag component value.

Abstract: A storage device has a device body and a read/write head for reading and writing data in a data track of a storage medium. An actuator system is mounted on the device body for effecting movement of the read/write head relative to the data track to align the head with the data track. The actuator system has a plurality of degrees of freedom, and a controller controls the actuator system to effect the movement. A body vibration sensor provided on the device body generates a signal indicative of vibration of the body. An actuator vibration sensor generates a signal indicative of vibration of the actuator system. The controller is adapted to process the signals from the sensors to derive a coupling signal indicative of vibration coupling between the degrees of freedom, and to control the actuator system dependent on the coupling signal and the signal from the body vibration sensor.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus includes a reference model unit configured to generate a model output, a feedback unit configured to generate a feedback, and an adder configured to add up the model input and the feedback and generate a control input to the controlled object. The reference model unit includes a storing unit configured to retain, as a vector, a present value of the target value and one or a plurality of past values of the target value, a numerical model configured to simulate a characteristic of the controlled object and generate the model output and a state variable on the basis of the model input, a model controller configured to generate the model input and a controller determining unit configured to determine the model controller.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with a detector that processes signals read from a storage device are described. According to one embodiment, the detector includes a signal estimator configured to generate an estimate of a control signal by determining characteristics of the control signal from a read signal. The read signal includes the data signal and the control signal embedded together. The signal estimator is configured to generate the estimate of the control signal as a function of the characteristics. The detector includes a cancellation unit configured to produce the data signal by cancelling the estimate of the control signal from the read signal.

Abstract: A servo controller is provided. The servo controller includes a reference model unit which inputs a reference to generate a model output and a model input; a feedback control unit which generates a feedback input so that a control output of a plant follows the model output; and an adder which adds the model input and the feedback input. The reference model unit includes a mathematical model which simulates characteristics of the plant, and generates the model output and a state variable from the model input; a model input memory which outputs a past model input; a model controller which inputs the reference, the state variable, and the past model input to generate the model input; and a model controller determining unit which determines the model controller based on the reference, the state variable, and the past model input.

Abstract: A storage device has a device body and a read/write head for reading and writing data in a data track of a storage medium. An actuator system is mounted on the device body for effecting movement of the read/write head relative to the data track to align the head with the data track. The actuator system has a plurality of degrees of freedom, and a controller controls the actuator system to effect the movement. A body vibration sensor provided on the device body generates a signal indicative of vibration of the body. An actuator vibration sensor generates a signal indicative of vibration of the actuator system. The controller is adapted to process the signals from the sensors to derive a coupling signal indicative of vibration coupling between the degrees of freedom, and to control the actuator system dependent on the coupling signal and the signal from the body vibration sensor.

Abstract: There is provided with a method of identifying a frequency response of a controlled object at a sampling period of control input in a multiplexed-input multirate system in which a sampling period of control output is even “P” multiples of the sampling period of control input wherein the control object is represented by FIR filter, an M-series signal corresponding to an acquisition data length Mp×P?1 is generated, the Mp indicates a period of the M-series signal, an impulse response value of the controlled object is estimated based on the M-series signal and output data outputted from the controlled object by inputting the M-series signal thereto, and the frequency response of the controlled object is identified by performing a discrete Fourier transform on the impulse response value.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, and a voice coil motor (VCM) operable to rotate an actuator arm about a pivot to actuate a head radially over the disk. A voice coil voltage is measured across the voice coil, a velocity command of the VCM is set to substantially zero, an inductor compensation circuit is toggled at least once by enabling and disabling the inductor compensation circuit, the inductor compensation circuit is enabled, the velocity command of the VCM is adjusted, and a control signal is generated and applied to the voice coil in order to move the actuator arm, wherein the control signal is generated in response to the adjusted velocity command, the voice coil voltage, and the estimated inductance voltage.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a feedback controller receiving feedback from a position error signal of a hard drive read/write head. The feedback controller provides respective voice coil motor and microactuator control signals to a voice coil and microactuator that together position the hard drive read/write head in response to a position control signal. A rotational vibration feed-forward compensator receives vibration measurements via a sensor and providing a rotational vibration compensation signal in response thereto. A dynamic control allocator is coupled to the feedback controller and the rotational vibration feed-forward compensator. The dynamic control allocator is configured to combine a high frequency component of the rotational vibration compensation signal with the microactuator control signal; and to combine a low frequency component of the rotational vibration compensation signal with the voice coil motor control signal.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to actuate the head over the disk. A plurality of disturbance signals is generated in response to a vibration. A plurality of correlations is generated in response to each disturbance signal and an error signal of the servo control system. At least one of the disturbance signals is selected in response to the correlations. A feed-forward compensation value is generated in response to the selected disturbance signal, and the feed-forward compensation value is applied to the servo control system to compensate for the vibration.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk storage apparatus includes a servo system. The servo system includes a state observer and performs a seek operation up to a target position with a current position of a head undetermined. The servo system performs the seek operation based on initial values including a temporary position, while allowing the state observer to operate based on the initial values, until the current position is determined. The servo system determines the current position based on the servo data read from the plurality of servo areas by the read module and a result of estimation by the state observer.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device according to one embodiment includes: a disturbance vibration detector; a movement position controller; and a disturbance compensation module. The disturbance vibration detector detects a disturbance vibration component with respect to a fine-movement actuator. The movement position controller drives each of the fine-movement actuator and a coarse-movement actuator to control a movement position of a magnetic head. The disturbance compensation module corrects the movement position so as to suppress the disturbance vibration component detected by the disturbance vibration detector.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising tracks defined by servo sectors, a head, and control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to actuate the head over the disk based on the servo sectors. An estimated acceleration EstAccel of the head over the disk is generated based on at least one of the servo sectors. When the EstAccel is determined to be reliable, an estimated velocity EstVel of the head over the disk is generated based on the EstAccel. When the EstAccel is determined to be unreliable, the EstAccel is adjusted to generate an adjusted acceleration AdjAccel and the EstVel of the head over the disk is generated based on the AdjAccel.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes: magnetic heads; a magnetic disk in which servo patterns having different write frequencies from one another are divided and recorded into a plurality of zones; and a head controller configured such that, when performing seek control of the magnetic heads based on a model position and a model velocity obtained from a model which simulates the magnetic heads, the head controller corrects the model position and the model velocity, at the time of switching of the zones, so as to reflect variation of sampling time resulting from gaps between the zones.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes: magnetic heads; a magnetic disk in which servo patterns having different write frequencies from one another are divided and recorded into a plurality of zones; and a head controller configured such that, when performing seek control of the magnetic heads based on a model position and a model velocity obtained from a model which simulates the magnetic heads, the head controller corrects the model position and the model velocity, at the time of switching of the zones, so as to reflect variation of sampling time resulting from gaps between the zones.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head, a disk surface, and a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) servo loop comprising a VCM and a microactuator servo loop comprising a microactuator operable to actuate the head over the disk surface. A microactuator compensator processes a position error signal (PES) to generate a first control signal, and a disturbance sinusoid is injected into the first control signal to generate a second control signal, wherein the microactuator is controlled in response to the second control signal. Feed-forward compensation is generated corresponding to the injected disturbance sinusoid, and a third control signal is generated in response to the PES and the feed-forward compensation, wherein the VCM is controlled in response to the third control signal. A gain of the microactuator is estimated in response to the feed-forward compensation.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and control circuitry comprising a servo control system operable to actuate the head over the disk. A plurality of disturbance signals is generated in response to a vibration. A plurality of correlations is generated in response to each disturbance signal and an error signal of the servo control system. At least one of the disturbance signals is selected in response to the correlations. A feed-forward compensation value is generated in response to the selected disturbance signal, and the feed-forward compensation value is applied to the servo control system to compensate for the vibration.

Abstract: A servo control method in a seek retry condition includes determining whether the seek retry condition is generated, and terminating a servo control process that is currently performed and decelerating a voice coil motor such that a speed of the voice coil motor is minimized using a back electromotive force when the seek retry condition is generated.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head, a disk surface, and a dual stage actuator (DSA) servo loop comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) servo loop and a microactuator servo loop operable to actuate the head over the disk surface. A microactuator compensator in the microactuator servo loop is disabled, a sinusoid is injected into a control signal applied to the microactuator, and coefficients of a corresponding sinusoidal response in a DSA error signal of the DSA servo loop is measured. The sinusoid is injected into a model of the microactuator to generate a compensation signal. A gain of the microactuator is adjusted based on a VCM error signal and the coefficients of the sinusoidal response in the DSA error signal.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes systems and techniques relating to control of magnetic recording devices, such as disk drives. Systems and techniques include generating timing data based on a clock signal and a waveform produced by a head operated with respect to a rotating recording medium and the clock signal, determining model parameters based on the timing data to model deterministic disturbances associated with the rotating recording medium, predicting a frequency offset by a model-based technique for the compensation of the deterministic disturbances between two servo wedges, predicting a frequency offset associated with one or more nondeterministic disturbances by a loop filter, determining a clock adjustment based on the predicted deterministic and nondeterministic frequency offsets, and adjusting a clock frequency to read or write data within the area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a servo controller of a magnetic disk drive includes a microactuator (MA) estimator, VCM actuator (VCMA) controller, a filter and an adder. The MA estimator estimates a first displacement of an MA from a control input to be provided to the MA. The VCMA controller controls a VCMA based on a positioning error between a target track and a first position of the VCMA. The first position is estimated from a position of a head and the first displacement. The filter estimates a second position of the VCMA corresponding to a delay in a displacement of the MA caused by hysteresis of the MA, from a state of the VCMA in a seek operation, and estimates a second displacement that is the delayed displacement of the MA, from the second position. The adder adds the second displacement to an input to the MA controller.

Abstract: A method for determining gain of a back-electromotive force amplifier may include setting an electric motor into a tri-state function mode and storing a first quasi steady-state value for back-electromotive force from the difference signal, and forcing a reference current through the electric motor and determining a first value of the gain of the amplifier for equaling a difference signal to the first quasi steady-state value. The method may further include setting the electric motor into a tri-state function mode a second time and storing a second quasi steady-state value for back-electromotive force from the difference signal, and increasing the first value of the gain by an amount proportional to a difference between the second quasi steady-state value and the first quasi steady-state value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an estimation method comprises measuring and creating. The measuring is configured to measure a head velocity and a terminal voltage of a coil of a voice coil motor at least two times before unload in a control system eliminating an influence caused by a transient response of inductance of the voice coil motor. The calculating is configured to a calculate torque constant and a coil resistance based on command voltages and at least two measured head velocities and terminal voltages of the coil.

Abstract: Examples of the present invention relate to reduction in acoustic noise by tuning seek characteristics of a servo controller, depending on a radial position of a head relative to a disk. The servo controller can provide compensation for acoustic resonance modes.

Abstract: A method of self servo-writing servo information to a plurality of disk surfaces in a disk drive that includes writing servo information to a plurality of disk surfaces in a first direction, writing servo information to a plurality of disk surfaces in a second direction, and determining an amount of overlap to be written on a reference surface with the reference head that will produce an overlap of servo information on each of the surfaces in the disk drive to which servo information is to be written. The method also includes switching to different tables when seeking across the overlap or border areas.

Abstract: In a position control device having a disturbance suppression function, loop gain is calibrated without stopping disturbance suppression control. The position control device has, for disturbance suppression control, a feedback controller for changing the loop characteristic, a table for storing a target gain according to a disturbance frequency, and a gain calibration section for calibrating open loop gain. The gain is calibrated using a target gain in the table according to the change of the loop characteristic of the feedback controller. Open loop gain can be calibrated without interrupting the disturbance suppression control, so the open loop gain can be accurately calibrated without being affected by disturbance, and accurate position control is possible.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes: a driving section for moving a magnetic head recoding and reproducing information in a magnetic disk; and a controller for controlling the driving section. The controller includes: a position-error feedback control system having an integrator and a phase lead compensator and obtaining a position command based on difference between target position and detection position of the magnetic head to perform feedback control of the driving section; and a two-freedom-degree control system inputting a target move distance of the magnetic head and outputting a current command to the driving section by using a mathematic model of the driving section. The controller providing the driving section with an output of the integrator and therewith updating the mathematical model by using an output of the phase lead compensator, in each of the times of positioning control and seek of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed including a first disk surface comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a first plurality of data sectors, and a second disk surface comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a second plurality of data sectors. A first head is actuated over the first disk surface and a second head is actuated over the second disk surface. The first and second data sectors are accessed in a serpentine access pattern, wherein a plurality of refresh zones are defined relative to the serpentine access pattern. When a write command is received from a host, data is written to at least one of the refresh zones, and a refresh monitor associated with the refresh zone is updated.

Abstract: A hard disk drive control module has a feed-forward signal input port communicatively coupled with a reference model. The hard disk drive control module has a tracking error signal input port communicatively coupled with a magnetic transducer of the hard disk drive. The hard disk drive control module has an error calculator module configured for determining a difference between an estimated tracking error signal in response to a first feed-forward signal and an actual tracking error signal of the magnetic transducer in response to the first feed-forward signal. The hard disk drive control module has a feed-forward signal adjuster module configured for adjusting a gain and a phase for a second feed-forward signal based on the difference between the estimated tracking error signal in response to the first feed-forward signal and the actual tracking error signal of the magnetic transducer.

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 method for controlling the effects of seek-induced vibration of a component part in a hard-disk drive. The method includes determining a resonant frequency of seek-induced vibration of the component part and a reference amplitude of a frequency-component in a first voice-coil-motor signal (VCMS) at the resonant frequency. The method also includes synthesizing a second VCMS with an amplitude of a frequency-component attenuated below the reference amplitude of the frequency-component in the first VCMS at a frequency in a resonance-band bracketing the resonant frequency. The method also includes driving a voice-coil of a voice-coil motor with the second VCMS to reduce an amplitude of a frequency-component at the resonant frequency in a second PES of the seek of the data track associated with the second VCMS below a reference amplitude of a frequency-component at the resonant frequency in the first PES associated with the first VCMS.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a circuit that provides a control signal to a voice coil motor to move a head across a disk of the drive. The drive includes a flex circuit that applies a bias force onto an actuator arm coupled to the head. The circuit includes a state estimator that provides a plurality of estimation errors and a bias estimator that creates a bias estimate. The bias estimate includes an average of the estimation errors and is a function of the flex circuit bias force. The bias estimate is used to create the control signal provided to the voice coil motor. The bias estimate reduces seek time during a seek routine.

Abstract: A control system includes a difference generating module for a rotating storage system that generates a position error signal based on a target position signal and a current position signal. A control module of the control system generates an output response based on the position error signal. A noise equalizer module of the control system generates a noise equalization signal that is based on a sensor signal, the output response and the position error signal. A compensation module of the control system adjusts at least one of the current position signal, the position error signal, and the output response based on the noise equalization signal.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, and an actuator for actuating the head over the disk. The disk drive further comprises a state variable memory for storing a plurality of state variable sets, wherein each state variable set comprises a plurality of state variables and each state variable set corresponds to a task object. A coefficient memory for stores a plurality of coefficient sets, wherein each coefficient set comprises a plurality of coefficients and each coefficient set corresponds to a task object. A task object is executed by initializing a base state register to address a selected one of the state variable sets in the state variable memory, and initializing a base coefficient register to address a selected one of the coefficient sets in the coefficient memory.

Abstract: A disk drive assembly includes a disk drive, one or more accelerometers, a control circuit, and an adaptive feed forward circuit. The one or more accelerometers generate acceleration signals that are used to detect rotational vibration (RV) events on the disk drive. The control circuit is configured to: generate one or more control signals, which are based on a control signal from a host system and a compensation signal from the adaptive feed forward circuit, and generate a position error signal (PES) that indicates an error in a position of a disk drive head relative to a center of a track. The adaptive feed forward circuit generates the compensation signal, which compensates for the detected RV events based on the acceleration signals and the PES. The compensation signal accounts for self-induced RV events generated by a SEEK operation that repositions the head to a new track, wherein feed forward adaption is not disturbed by the SEEK operation.

Abstract: Bias force changes in a disk drive, including transient bias changes, are predicted and/or estimated. Bias compensation or change in bias compensation is calculated based on drive operating parameters such as seek length. Calculation can correspond to a modeled relationship of bias forces to seek length. Preferably, bias compensation calculation is adaptive and calculation parameters can be updated during normal read/write use of the disk drive.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed operable to generate an actuator control signal for actuating a head over a disk. A memory address is used to read a first state k variable from a first state variable memory SVM1. The first state k variable is stored in a second state variable memory (SVM2) while processing the first state k variable to generate a first state k+1 variable. The first state k+1 variable is stored in the SVM2, and the memory address is assigned to the SVM2 so that the first state k+1 variable becomes a second state k variable and the first state k variable becomes a first state k?1 variable.

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: A magnetic disk apparatus includes: a driving unit; and control part configured to control the driving unit. The control part includes: a position error feedback control system and a two-degree-of-freedom control system. The position error feedback control system has an integrator and a phase-lead compensator and is operative to determine a position command based on a target position and a sensed position of the magnetic head, thereby performs feedback control on the driving unit. The two-degree-of-freedom control system receives as input a target moving distance of the magnetic head and outputs a current command to the driving unit by using a mathematical model of the driving unit. The control part updates the mathematical model, and has a first update mode in which the mathematical model is updated using the output of the phase-lead compensator while the output of the integrator is provided to the driving unit.

Abstract: A seek control device controls the seek of a plant to prevent the position shift due to an error between a model for generating seek current and a model of the plant. When the seek trajectory is provided by seek trajectory generation for controlling the seek of a plant, the frequency characteristic of a feed back loop is changed according to the seek time and the gain of the position shift component due to the shift of the actual plant and the model of the plant is increased, so as to suppress the position shift by the feed back loop. Dispersion of the seek time can be decreased, and an overrun or underrun can be prevented.

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: Provided are a method, apparatus, and storage medium for controlling a track seek servo in a disk drive. Thus, a transducer is moved to a target track using a transformed Proximate-Time Optimal Servo (PTOS) velocity trajectory in which an acceleration duration is symmetrical to a deceleration duration in a track seek mode.

Abstract: In a position control device based on a current observer control for performing two degree of freedom control, calculation accuracy is improved using a fixed point processor. For a target position trajectory and position error, which are inputs of a two degree of freedom control system using an observer, relative values of which reference is the reference trajectory are used, so that the state variable of the observer can hold a relative distance from the reference position. Compared with the case of holding an absolute distance, a range where the value changes is smaller, and the number of effective digits of a decimal point can be increased, and calculation accuracy can be improved even if a fixed point method is used. As a consequence, control current becomes smooth and the generation of resonance and noise can be prevented in an acceleration period, and the generation of residual vibration can be prevented in a constant velocity period and deceleration period, and seek time can be decreased.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an actuator controller is discussed. The method includes using an open loop seek operation and compensating for a low frequency response to reduce the velocity at the end of the open loop seek operation.