Apparatus and method for slider-disk contact indication by monitoring the spindle control signal in a hard disk drive
US7599142B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 3, 2008 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 3, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/581
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A hard disk drive including an electrical property meter sensing a spindle control signal to create an electrical property reading. Spindle control signal stimulates spindle motor to rotate at least one disk, creating rotating disk surface accessed by slider. Control circuit receives electrical property reading to create contact indication of slider contacting rotating disk surface, which may further include determining contact indication as spike in electrical property history of the readings. The electrical property meter may include ammeter and/or voltmeter. The control circuit, printed circuit board assembly, and/or motor control interface may include the electrical property meter. The control circuit may also include processor receiving electrical property reading to create contact indication. The hard disk drive may update contact log when contact indicated and may further update access parameter list for the slider accessing the rotating disk surface based upon the contact log.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.