Temperature monitoring method of a disk drive voice coil motor from a traveled distance
US6369972B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 14, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/5565
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for controlling the current applied to a voice coil motor (VCM) prevents overheating of a coil in the VCM. The method includes the steps of defining an acceleration interval for measuring the distance traveled by a head moved by the VCM. The method also defines a distance traveled during the acceleration interval which can be used as a reference for indicating that the coil is being overheated. The VCM is driven for the acceleration interval and the distance traveled during the interval is measured and compared to the reference distance. If the difference exceeds a threshold, then the current being applied to the coil is controlled to maintain the coil temperature within a limit. If, however, the difference does not exceed the threshold, the current being applied to the coil is controlled to meet a performance requirement.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.