Seagate Technology Incorporated

YuNang Zai

JiaHong Shu

KianKeong Ooi

BengWee Quak

KianSoon Yeo

Lucas KongYaw Lee

ChoonHoe Koh

HengChang Guo

Kong Yaw Lucas Lee

WaiKhay Chan

PeiKoh Lee

James Chang

A motion pattern of an actuator supporting a head is monitored during/after a disc spin-up. The monitor's signal is configured to generate a digital indication of where the head was just before the spin-up. The digital indication is optionally a single-bit indicator that is used directly as a decision of whether to continue a start-up operation.

Sensing a prior transducer position by a motion pattern

A device for detecting an actuator assembly parking error when a disc drive is powered on includes a magnetic latch attached to the actuator assembly and a latch pin assembly electrically connected to a base plate in the disc drive, where the latch pin assembly is positioned to contact the magnetic latch only when the actuator's read/write head is positioned over a parking zone on the disc. A detection module is electrically connected to the magnetic latch and thus is able to detect whether or not the magnetic latch is contacting the latch pin assembly when the disc drive is powered on. A method for detecting an actuator assembly parking error includes powering on the disc drive, determining whether the magnetic latch has electrical contact with the latch pin assembly, and reporting a parking error if the magnetic latch does not have electrical contact with the latch pin assembly.

Disc drive actuator parking detector

Growing community of inventors

Singapore, Singapore

YuNang Zai