The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jun. 04, 1985

Filed:

Nov. 08, 1982
Applicant:
Inventors:

Gary L Dix, Rochester, MN (US);

Lloyd S Heim, Oronoco, MN (US);

Robert F Herald, Longmont, CO (US);

William P Quinlan, Boulder, CO (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
371 15 ; 364900 ;
Abstract

Error information is passed across a limited interface from a disk drive to its using system by making use of the read data line during a fault mode operation. Fault mode operation is detected by a pulse width detector in an adapter between the using system and the disk drive. The pulse width detector detects the presence of a fault signal on the read data line and inhibits the passage of the spindle motor on (MTR ON) signal from the using system to the disk drive. The step signal normally used to index the recording head is passed to the disk drive during fault mode operation. A microcomputer at the disk drive detects the absence of the MTR ON signal and the presence of the step signal and outputs a fault data bit. Thereafter, the fault data word is gated onto the read data line at the rate of one bit per step of the step signal so long as the MTR ON signal is absent.


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