Shock load detection device

Claim 2

A shock load detection device mounted in a housing of a computer disk drive unit for measuring a mechanical shock imposed thereon and issuing a command signal to stop the writing of a read/write head should a predetermined g force be exceeded, the detection device comprising: sensor means for detecting a mechanical shock load imposed thereon and generating an electrical charge proportional to the mechanical shock load; amplifier means connected to the sensor means for producing a voltage signal proportional to the electrical charge received from the sensor means; and comparator means connected to the amplifier means for measuring the voltage signal and comparing the voltage signal within a predetermined range of g force values, a write-fault signal received from the comparator means when the voltage signal received by the comparator means falls within the predetermined range of g force for stopping the writing of the read/write head.

Claim 3

The detection device as described in claim 1 wherein the sensor means comprises a sensor characterized as a tri-axial orthogonal sensor for detecting a mechanical shock load imposed thereon along on x, y, and z axes.

Claim 4

The detection device as described in claim 1 wherein the amplifier means comprises a charge amplifier connected to the sensor means and a voltage amplifier connected to the charge amplifier.

Claim 5

The detection device as described in claim 1 wherein the comparator means comprises a positive comparator and a negative comparator, the positive and negative comparator connected to the amplifier means for measuring both a positive and a negative voltage signal corresponding to a positive and a negative mechanical shock within the predetermined range of g force values.

Claim 6

The detection device as described in claim 1 further including a low pass filter connected between the amplifier means and comparator means.

Claim 7

A shock load detection device mounted in a housing of a computer disk drive unit for measuring a mechanical shock imposed thereon and issuing a command signal to stop the writing of a read/write head should a predetermined g force value be exceeded, the shock load detection device comprising: tri-axial orthogonal sensor means for detecting a mechanical shock load imposed thereon along x, y, and z axes, the tri-axial orthogonal sensor means having an x electrical lead disposed along the x axis, a y electrical lead disposed along the y axis, and a z electrical lead disposed along the z axis; an x amplifier, a y amplifier, and a z amplifier connected to the x, y, and z leads respectively producing a voltage signal proportional to the electrical charge received from the tri-axial sensor means; and an x comparator connected to the x amplifier, a y comparator connected to the y amplifier, and a z comparator connected to the z amplifier, the x, y, and z comparators measuring the voltage signal and comparing the voltage signal within a predetermined range of g force, an x write-fault signal, a y write-fault signal, and a z write-fault signal received from the x, y, and z comparators respectively when the voltage signals received from the x, y, and z comparators fall within a predetermined range of g force values for stopping the writing of the read/write head.

Claim 8

A shock load detection device mounted in a housing of a computer disk drive unit for measuring a mechanical shock imposed thereon and issuing a command signal to stop the writing of a read/write head should a predetermined g force value be exceeded, the shock load detection device comprising: tri-axial orthogonal sensor means for detecting a mechanical shock load imposed thereon along x, y, and z axes, the tri-axial orthogonal sensor means having an x electrical lead disposed along the x axis, a y electrical lead disposed along the y axis, and a z electrical lead disposed along the z axis; an x amplifier, a y amplifier, and a z amplifier connected to the x, y, and z leads respectively producing a voltage signal proportional to the electrical charge received from the tri-axial sensor means; and an x comparator connected to the x amplifier, a y comparator connected to the y amplifier, and a z comparator connected to the z amplifier, the x, y, and z comparators measuring the voltage signal and comparing the voltage signal within a predetermined range of g force, an x write-fault signal, a y write-fault signal, and a z write-fault signal received from the x, y, and z comparators respectively when the voltage signals received from the x, y, and z comparators fall within a predetermined range of g force values for stopping the writing of the read/write head.

Claim 9

The detection device as described in claim 6 wherein the x, y, and z comparators include both a positive comparator and a negative comparator, the positive and negative comparators connected to the x, y, and z amplifiers respectively for measuring both positive and negative signals corresponding to both a positive and a negative mechanical shock with a predetermined range of g force received on the tri-axial orthogonal sensor.

Claim 10

The detection device as described in claim 6 wherein the tri-axial orthogonal sensor means comprises a base, an x piezo-electric crystal, a y piezo-electric crystal, and a z piezo electric crystal, the x, y, and z crystals attached to the base and orthogonally disposed thereon, and an x seismic mass, a y seismic mass, and a z seismic mass attached to the x, y, and z crystals respectively, the x, y, and z leads connected to the x, y, and z seismic masses respectively.