Western Digital Ventures, Inc.

Western Digital Corporation

Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

International Components Corporation

Charles W Frank, Jr

Thomas D Hanan

Wally Szeremeta

Raffi Codilian

Marc B Goldstone

Karl M Lofgren

Gerald W Shearer

Robert W Warren, Jr

Ejaz Afzal

Bradley E Bylund

Darrel W Pontius

The present invention may be embodied in a method for adjusting a servo sector detection delay time between detection windows in a disk drive. The disk drive includes a magnetic disk with a spiral track having contiguous storage segments. Each storage segment has a servo sector and a predetermined number of uniformly-sized data sectors. The storage segments are written at a relatively constant linear density along the spiral track. In the method, the magnetic disk is rotated at a constant angular velocity. A servo sector is detected. An adjustable delay time is provided for opening a window to detect a next servo sector. The window is opened after the adjustable delay time expires. A next servo sector is detected in the window. A time between the servo sector detections is measured and the adjustable delay time is adjusted based on the measured time.

Method for adjusting a delay time for opening a servo sector detection window in a disk drive having a spiral track

A system and method are disclosed for managing information storage among plural disk drives. In accordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the system includes plural host interfaces and first and second elements. The first and second elements each comprise a set of disk drives for storing information. Each of the first and second elements is associated with an element frame. Each disk drive included in the first element is connected to a different one of the plural host interfaces during the element frame of the first element. The system includes a switch controller, configurable by at least one of the plural host interfaces, for selecting among the first and second elements, and for directing information from a first one of the plural host interfaces to a selected disk drive within the first element. The system also includes a frame controller for controlling a duration of each element frame.

System and method for managing information storage among plural disk drives

A method is disclosed for seeking from first radial position on a spiral track of a magnetic disk drive to a second radial position. The disk having the spiral track rotates at a constant angular velocity. The servo sectors on the spiral track may not be aligned along a radius. A head transit time is determined for moving the head to the second radial position. A first control current pulse is applied to an actuator to move the head toward the second radial position. A timer is commenced for measuring the expiration of the head transit time after applying the first control current pulse. After expiration of the head transit time, a second control current pulse is applied to the actuator to terminate the head movement. At least one servo sector along the spiral track is then read to locate the position of the head.

Method for seeking in a magnetic disk drive having a spiral track

A computer system having a host computer is connected to a disk drive for providing a key to enable a feature controlled by the disk drive. The disk drive validates the key using private validation means which are accessed by a disk drive microprocessor. The validation means include drive-dependent identification means which are used to derive a seed for generating an internal key to validate the key provided by the host computer. An exemplary feature enabled by the key validation is an expansion area of the disk drive which is enabled to provide extended user data storage without requiring internal physical access by the user.

Computer system with disk drive having private key validation means for enabling features

A disk drive provides head position information as position status variables to a host. The position status variables are derived from information formatted on a disk and processed by a media controller for storage in a position register set. The position information includes both radial and circumferential position references. The disk drive is connected to the host over a host interface which enables the position information to be stored automatically in a host memory so that the host can scan the position information to determine an optimum order of data transfer commands to be sent to the disk drive. A method for selecting a next command to transmit to a disk drive employs the position variables to optimize the command selection. In an alternative method, a host selects a command to be executed by one of an array of disk drives and then determines the disk drive to receive the command based on position information variables which have been stored and updated by the disk drives in the array.

Disk drive having a register set for providing real time position variables to a host

A computer system comprises a host computer having a memory array and a host microprocessor, and a disk drive having a drive microprocessor. The disk drive provides a secure boot load of the host computer by causing the host microprocessor to remain in an inactive state while a template for loading host computer memory is read by a drive microprocessor from a protected area of the disk and loaded into host memory via the host interface. The host computer may then be activated with a memory image source whose source is impervious to virus attack or inadvertent corruption. A method is disclosed for creating and updating the secure template. The host interface may be an I/O interface or a memory referenced interface.

Disk drive which provides a secure boot of a host computer system from a protected area of a disk

An integrated computer module having an EMI shielding plate which doubles as a mechanical retainer for a disk drive within the module and as an shield to insulate the disk drive's electronics from electromagnetic interference (EMI) emanating from a main PCBA located nearby. The module is adapted for removable insertion into a docking bay within a host assembly, and upon such insertion for connecting to a host connector and thereby controlling a display device. The preferred module has an enclosure, a main PCBA in the enclosure including a microprocessor generating EMI; a module connector electrically connected to the main PCBA and supported at the enclosure's back wall for connection to the host connector upon insertion of the integrated module into the docking bay in the host assembly; a disk drive including a casting and a controller PCBA mounted on one side of the casting; a conductor assembly electrically connecting the main PCBA to the controller PCBA; and an intermediate plate located above the disk drive, between the disk drive's controller PCBA and the main PCBA, and attached to the enclosure to capture the disk drive in the enclosure and to insulate the controller PCBA from EMI generated by the main PCBA.

Integrated computer module with EMI shielding plate

The invention is an integrated computer module (ICM) for connection to a host connector means in a host assembly that has a DC voltage supply and that is connected to or contains a display. The ICM uniquely includes an EMI enclosure, a fan, a computing subsystem, and a module connector. In more detail, the computing subsystem includes a microprocessor, a hard disk drive for storing an operating system, a main memory array, a video memory array for storing digital display descriptor data in a video memory array; and a video controller for converting the digital display descriptor data to a time-based display data stream suitable for driving the display. The host connector, moreover, includes first conductors for coupling the time-based display data stream to the display via the host connector means; second conductors for receiving the DC voltage from the DC voltage supply in the host assembly via the host connector means to power the computing subsystem; and third conductors for exchanging data with an I/O device via the host connector means.

Integrated computer module

The invention is an integrated computer module having a cooling tunnel which efficiently cools a microprocessor or other heat generating component on a main PCBA inside of the module. The module includes its own cooling fan so that the module can safely and effectively operate with high power microprocessors which generate significant amounts of heat. A heat sink bonded to the microprocessor extends up into the cooling tunnel. A tapering section accelerates air leaving the cooling fan into the cooling tunnel such that the module may use a quieter, more cost effective cooling fan. The tapering section may be formed from a folded section of a ribbon cable which connects the main PCBA to the disk drive.

Integrated computer module with airflow accelerator

A host assembly having a docking bay for receiving an integrated computer module is disclosed. The docking bay includes a cavity for receiving and grossly aligning the module, a host connector located at a back end of the cavity at a position where it is aligned with the module connector when the module is received in the cavity, and a projecting member located at an XY location at the back end of the cavity for helping to align the module connector with the host connector. The projecting member may also provide a locking function and may be located at an asymmetric XY location for ensuring that the cavity only receives an un-keyed module that is in the correct orientation.

Host assembly for an integrated computer module

The invention is an integrated computer module adapted for removable insertion into a docking bay in a host assembly wherein such module includes an enclosure, a main printed circuit board assembly, a module connector for connection to a host connector, a disk drive, and a locking mechanism for automatically engaging a projecting member in the docking bay to secure the module therein to prevent loss of data due to a surprise removal of the module. The preferred locking mechanism involves a solenoid and a latch plate with a downwardly-opening notch that engages a recess on the projecting member. The preferred locking mechanism is biased closed such that the locking mechanism locks the module in by default and must be energized for removal. The preferred circuitry for operating the locking mechanism has two parallel circuits, a software controlled circuit for programmatically energizing the solenoid and unlocking the module when power is present and it is safe to do so and a manual override circuit for energizing the solenoid and unlocking the module in the absence of power using energy stored in low-leakage capacitors.

Integrated computer module having a data integrity latch

The invention is a method of assembling an integrated computer by successively placing various components into an open-top weldment or 'tub.' The assembly method is particularly suited to rapidly and cost-effectively assembling an integrated computer module in an automated, assembly line environment. The preferred method involves providing the open-top tub, depositing a lower shock mount in the tub, depositing a disk drive on the lower shock mount, depositing an upper shock mount onto the disk drive, depositing an intermediate plate onto the upper shock mount, securing the intermediate plate relative to the tub to hold the disk drive within the tub between the upper and lower shock mount, depositing a main PCBA into the tub above the intermediate plate, electrically connecting the main PCBA to the disk drive; locating a module connector at a desired location at the tub's back wall for connection to the host connector upon insertion of the integrated module into the docking bay in the host assembly; and depositing a ceiling wall onto the tub.

Method of assembling an integrated computer module

A modular battery system for a portable device including a charging module with a retractable plug and charging circuit for converting an AC line voltage to a DC battery charging current. The charging module combines with a battery module and optional fuel gauge (if present) to form a single unit for recharging, preconditioning the battery, and connection to the portable device. The modules are releasably connected, preferably involving conductive fasteners, so that a user may connect a new battery module to an old charging module. The releasable connection serves as both the mechanical and the electrical interface between the battery module and the charging module. The conductive fasteners may be located in different positions on the modules to accommodate different connector geometries. The charging module may also combine with a battery mounting module, rather than the battery module, so that the system works with conventional battery packs. The preferred charging module incorporates a PWM charging circuit having a transformer with a primary winding, a secondary winding, and a control winding. The control winding has two purposes, it provides feedback information and it provides operating current for the continued operation of the PWM charging circuit. The transformer is designed so that the primary winding has a better magnetic coupling with the secondary winding than with the control winding so that the charging circuit will run in a safe low-power 'standby' mode in the event of a short circuit in the secondary circuit. The feedback circuit from the control winding is preferably filtered through a low-pass filter to remove 'flyback' transients.

Modular battery system having a pluggable charging module

A voltage controlled oscillator includes automatic adjust circuitry to achieve and maintain desired operating characteristics such that for a predetermined output frequency the oscillator will have a predetermined input voltage. The oscillator may advantageously be incorporated into a phase locked loop circuit. The phase locked loop will lock onto the frequency of an input signal. Automatic adjust circuitry monitors the input to the voltage controlled oscillator in the phase locked loop and varies the amount of a bias voltage applied to the oscillator so that the input voltage to the oscillator will change until it reaches the desired level. The provision of the automatic adjust circuitry enables the desired operating characteristics of the oscillator to be maintained in spite of long term changes in the circuit operation.

Growing community of inventors

Irvine, CA, United States of America

Charles W Frank, Jr