Maxtor Corporation

Texas Instruments Corporation

Paul Ray Tomlinson

Lance R Carlson

Larry G Hutsell

Kevin J Dropps

Herbert A Thompson

Ronald A Mancini

A disk drive system comprising a shock evaluator is disclosed. The shock evaluator includes a shock evaluation circuit and threshold logic and firmware that is capable of evaluating the level of physical shocks to the disk drive system. The shock evaluation circuit is capable of comparing the level of a physical shock to threshold shock values. The threshold logic and firmware is capable of periodically resetting the threshold shock values to account for the change in operating conditions experienced by the disk drive system. When the shock evaluator determines that a physical shock is present, communication between the read/write transducer and the disk is interrupted to prevent corruption of data stored on the disk.

Disk drive with shock evaluator

A disk drive system comprising a shock sensing circuit is disclosed. The shock sensing circuit includes a shock evaluation circuit and threshold logic and firmware that is capable of evaluating the level of physical shocks to the disk drive system. The shock evaluation circuit is capable of comparing the level of a physical shock to threshold shock values. The threshold logic and firmware is capable of periodically resetting the threshold shock values to account for the change in operating conditions experienced by the disk drive system. When the shock sensing circuit determines that a physical shock is present, communication between the read/write transducer and the disk is interrupted to prevent corruption of data stored on the disk.

Integrated shock sensing device

A solid state starting system for electric motors having main and start windings of the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run and split phase types uses a triac serially connected to the start winding. The system turns on the triac upon energization of the motor from an at rest condition and measures the locked rotor value of either the main winding current for any of the above motor types or start winding voltage for the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run motor types. The system stores that valve as a calibration value and then measures subsequent values and turns off the triac when the subsequent values reach a selected proportion of the calibration value. The system re-energizes the triac upon further subsequent measured values reaching a selected cut in value relative to the calibration value which is indicative of an overload or stall condition. The calibration value is retained for a given period of time following a loss of power to provide desired starting characteristics.

Growing community of inventors

Dallas, TX, United States of America

Paul Ray Tomlinson