Seagate Technology Incorporated

LeeLing Tan

KianKeong Ooi

Xiong Liu

MingZhong Ding

YangQuan Chen

Qiang Bi

Wenxiang Xie

ChoonKiat Lim

BengWee Quak

WeiLoon Ng

KokHoe Chia

Wing Kong Chiang

MuiChong Chai

LinCheng Xiu

KokHiang Cheong

Wen-Jun Cao

ChoonKit Lim

WeeMeng Yio

A method of preventing a write operation to a disc in a disc drive during a shock event without the use of a separate shock sensor comprises steps of monitoring an actuator voice coil motor (VCM) control plant output signal, generating an actuator voice coil motor (VCM) plant model module output signal, comparing the VCM plant model module output signal to the VCM control plant module output signal to produce a difference signal, and triggering a write protect gate if the difference signal exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The system comprises a voice coil motor (VCM) control plant module sensitive to a shock event providing a VCM control plant module output, a voice coil motor (VCM) plant model module initially insensitive to the shock event producing a VCM plant model module output, a first comparator module coupled to receive the VCM control plant module output and the VCM plant model module output, operable to generate a difference signal between the model plant module output and the VCM control plant module output, and a triggering module receiving the difference signal for generating a write protect gate signal if the difference signal exceeds a predetermined shock threshold.

Soft sensor for operating shock in a disc drive

Method and apparatus for generating a random number, such as for use in a security protocol to control access to a data processing system. A processor generates the random number in relation to a back electromotive force (BEMF) value. The BEMF value is preferably obtained in response to application of current to a circuit. The circuit preferably comprises a coil and the application of current preferably induces a relatively small movement of the coil. The random number is preferably a multi-bit digital value, and each bit of the random number is determined in relation to whether the corresponding BEMF value is even or odd. The coil preferably comprises a coil of a voice coil motor (VCM) used to position a transducer adjacent a rotatable storage medium, and the random number is preferably generated while the medium is in a non-rotatable state.

Random number generation using back electromotive force (BEMF) values

An apparatus and method of measuring a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage of a disc drive voice coil motor (VCM) is provided in which a temperature of the VCM is obtained. The BEMF voltage of the VCM is computed as a function of the temperature of the VCM.

Method and apparatus for measuring the back EMF of a disc drive VCM

A method of handling multiple resonance frequencies in a disc drive includes monitoring a position error signal (PES) for an actuator arm, generating a plurality of feedforward compensation signals from the PES using a plurality of bandpass filters, and applying the compensation signals to a servo control signal. Each filter has a center frequency that is set to a problematic resonance frequency. The method may also include identifying the problematic frequencies by, for example, commanding a movement of the actuator arm, collecting data points for the PES that are associated with the movement, and performing a digital fourier transform of the data points to identify resonant frequencies. Other methods of identifying problematic frequencies include analyzing PES zero-crossing data, or using principal component analysis.

Method and apparatus for handling multiple resonance frequencies in disc drives using active damping

A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to said base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm and a transducer head in a transducing relationship with respect to the disc. The transducer is attached to the actuator arm. A method for screening disc drives for resonant frequencies associated with the actuator arm includes the steps of following a track within the disc drive, and selectively boosting the servo control signal. The method further includes a step of monitoring a position error signal from a transducer attached to an actuator arm of a disc drive. The position error signal is monitored by filtering the position error signal using a bandpass filter. Boosting the servo control loop includes tuning the magnitude of the booster signal gain.

Resonance screen with varying frequency and controllable gain booster

A repetitive learning compensator for a servo system of a disc drive includes a memory buffer having a length N/m where N is the number of servo sectors in a track, m is a parsing factor greater than 1 and N/m is an integer. A down sampler supplies servo signals containing error signals to the repetitive learning compensator at a frequency of f /m, where f is a sampling frequency based on N and a fundamental frequency f of the spindle motor. An up sampler supplies filtered signals from the repetitive learning compensator to the actuator assembly at the sampling frequency f . One aspect of the disclosure includes tuning the repetitive learning compensator with a phase advance represented by N and a cutoff frequency f , where N and f are selected as a pair to provide the greatest transfer function amplitude at the harmonic frequencies for the repetitive learning compensator.

Optimally designed parsimonious repetitive learning compensator for hard disc drives having high track density

A method and apparatus for compensating for written-in repeatable runout in a disc drive is provided. Compensation values are determined through an iterative learning process in which parameters of the learning process such as learning gain, servo loop gain, etc. are functions of the iteration number. The learning process also employs a nominal double integrator model of an actuator of the disc storage system. The learning process is also a function of a zero-phase low-pass filter.

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Singapore, Singapore

LeeLing Tan