Iomega Corporation

Jeffery D Penman

Todd R Shelton

Gregory M Allen

Marvin R Deforest

Mark L Reimann

Kelly D Wright

Theodore J Smith

Hiromichi Oribe

A disk drive uses the integration of the instantaneous velocities of the heads to estimate the distance the heads travel while latched. The disk drive can then determine if the heads are properly parked based solely on the distance traveled, thus avoiding the use of costly sensors. In the event that the heads cannot be properly parked due to some malfunction, the disk drive may store a special code in a nonvolatile memory. The special code directs the controller not to spin up or attempt to load the heads on any disk, preventing the disk from being damaged by the heads.

Preventing damage to the heads and media in a removable cartridge and disk drive

An information storage device ( ) includes a cartridge ( ) removably inserted into a cradle ( ) that has a drive module ( ) releasably coupled to an interface module ( ). A drive electronics circuit ( ) in the drive module is coupled to a hard disk drive mechanism ( ) in the cartridge, and is coupled through a bus switch ( ) and a bus ( ) to a bridge circuit ( ) in the interface module. An auxiliary circuit ( ) in the drive module is coupled to the bus, is controlled by the bridge circuit, operates the bus switch, and handles considerations relating to removability of the cartridge. The interface module is one of several interchangable interface modules which each have a different bridge circuit to interface the bus to a respective different communication protocol.

Method and apparatus for providing extended functionality for a bus

An information storage device ( ) includes a cradle ( ) which can removably receive a cartridge ( ) that contains a rotatable hard disk ( ). The cartridge contains a pivotal actuator arm ( ), which supports a read/write head ( ) for movement adjacent the disk. Circuitry is provided within the sealed housing ( ), including a preamplifier ( ) for the head. A connector ( ) is provided on the exterior of the housing, and is coupled to electrical components within the cartridge, including the head and preamplifier. Structure is provided to prevent static electricity from damaging electrical components when the cartridge is not installed in a cradle. One approach is to provide an electrostatic discharge buffer ( ) between the connector and electrical components within the cartridge. An alternative approach is to provide a cover ( ) which has a conductive layer ( ) that shorts out terminals of the connector when the cartridge is not inserted in the cradle.

Method and apparatus for electrostatic discharge protection in a removable cartridge

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Ogden, UT, United States of America

Jeffery D Penman