Disk drive comprising an actuator driver circuit for retracting a head independent of a servo microprocessor when a spindle speed fault mode is detected
US6476996B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 15, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 5, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 15, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B21/12
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A disk drive comprising a disk having a data area, a head, a spindle motor for spinning the disk, and an actuator for positioning the head over the data area during a spindle speed control mode, and retracting the head away from the data area during a spindle speed fault mode is disclosed. A servo microprocessor executes steps of a servo control program to generate a first control signal. An actuator driver circuit is responsive to the first control signal for controlling the actuator during the spindle speed control mode. A spindle speed detector generates a spindle speed signal representing a spin rate of the spindle motor, and a spindle speed fault detector is responsive to the spindle speed signal for detecting the spindle speed fault mode and generating a second control signal in response to the detected spindle speed fault mode. The actuator driver circuit is responsive to the second control signal so that the actuator retracts the head away from the data area independent of the servo microprocessor during the spindle speed fault mode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.