System, method, and apparatus for monitoring stray magnetic fields and protecting disk drives therefrom
US7538963B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 2006 |
| Grant date | May 26, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 6, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B19/04
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A disk drive that protects stored data from stray magnetic fields is disclosed. Sensors for sensing stray magnetic fields are mounted to the base and/or cover of the drive and aligned with the trajectory of the movement of the read/write head. If the sensors, which have memory such as a toggle switch, are exposed to a high stray magnetic field, operation of the drive is suspended until a follow-up algorithm or protocol is implemented. The sensors can sense specific direction of stray fields. The sensor can change resistance if a high stray field is detected. The information in the sensors is collected and processed by the drive controller.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.