Nrz to rll encoder circuit in disk drive read/write channel

Abstract

An encoder circuit in the read/write channel of a disk drive encodes NRZ data from a host computer into RLL data to be stored in the disk drive even at high frequencies of the RLL clock. Serial NRZ input data is first converted into two parallel NRZ data signals. The second NRZ signal is delayed by one clock cycle with respect to the first NRZ signal. A clock derived from the NRZ clock signal clocks the parallel NRZ signals through a first stage of flip-flops. An RLL clock signal then drives the parallel data signals through the remaining stages of flip-flops into a block of combinational encoding logic, where the NRZ data signals are converted into RLL data output to be stored on the disk surface. By splitting the serial NRZ input into two parallel signals and clocking the signals with a clock derived from the NRZ clock, the NRZ data is made valid for a longer period of time, making the encoder circuit less susceptible to the problem of clock drift which might cause asynchronous circuit operation.