US5053892A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin film head read recovery
Assignee: Maxtor Corp
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Filing: 1990-03-13
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Granted: 1991-10-01
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Expires: 2010-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A thin film magnetic read/write head is conditioned by (i) causing the head to perform a first operation (e.g., a read operation), (ii) determining if the first operation was performed acceptably, and (iii) if not, causing the head to perform a second operation (e.g., a write operation) that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to perform the first operation acceptably.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis Supino, Jr.
- 👤 Joseph M. Rinaldis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:37
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B5/00; G11B5/455; G11B19/00; G11B19/02; G11B19/04; G11B2005/0002; G11B2005/0005; G11B2005/0008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of conditioning a magnetic read/write head adapted for a storage medium on which data is recorded, comprising the steps of causing said head to perform a first operation on selected data on a storage medium, determining if the first operation was performed acceptably, and if not, causing said head to perform a second, different operation that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the first operation and that does not include performing an operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
91 words
A method of conditioning a magnetic read/write head adapted for a storage medium on which data is recorded, comprising the steps of causing said head to perform a first operation on selected data on a storage medium, determining if the first operation was performed acceptably, and if not, causing said head to perform a second, different operation that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the first operation and that does not include performing an operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first operation comprises a read operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said second operation comprises a write operation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, after said second operation, causing said head to perform said first operation again.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 1 adapted for a magnetic medium on which data is recorded in a manner that permits detection of errors in data read from the medium, and wherein said step of determining whether said operation was performed acceptably comprises detecting the existence of errors in data read from said medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 adapted for a magnetic medium on which data is recorded in a data region of said medium and wherein the second operation is performed in a region separate from the data region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the sequence of steps of said method is repeated more than once.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for conditioning a magnetic read/write head adpated for a storage medium on which data is recorded, comprising a controller for causing said head to perform a first operation on selected data on a storage medium, and circuitry for determining if the first operation was acceptably performed, said controller being connected to cause said head to perform a second, different operation that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the first operation and that does not include performing an operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
Apparatus for conditioning a magnetic read/write head adpated for a storage medium on which data is recorded, comprising a controller for causing said head to perform a first operation on selected data on a storage medium, and circuitry for determining if the first operation was acceptably performed, said controller being connected to cause said head to perform a second, different operation that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the first operation and that does not include performing an operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of conditioning a magnetic thin film read/write head, comprising causing said head to perform a read operation on selected data on a storage medium, determining if the read operation was performed acceptably, and if not, causing said head to perform a write operation that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the read operation and that does not include performing either a write operation or a read operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of conditioning a magnetic thin film read/write head, comprising causing said head to perform a read operation on selected data on a storage medium, determining if the read operation was performed acceptably, and if not, causing said head to perform a write operation that is capable of increasing the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the read operation and that does not include performing either a write operation or a read operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 9 adapted for use with magnetic medium on which data is recorded in a data region of said medium and wherein the write operation is performed in a region separate from the data region.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for conditioning a read/write head so as to be able to recover a segment of information at a given track location from a disk after a read operation in which the segment of information was not recoverable, comprising the sequential steps of (a) causing the head to perform a write operation on a diagnostic track without reproducing segments of information stored at locations adjacent to said given location, (b) repositioning the head at said given location, and (c) causing the head to attempt to read said segment of information at said given location.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for conditioning a read/write head so as to be able to recover a segment of information at a given track location from a disk after a read operation in which the segment of information was not recoverable, comprising the sequential steps of (a) causing the head to perform a write operation on a diagnostic track without reproducing segments of information stored at locations adjacent to said given location, (b) repositioning the head at said given location, and (c) causing the head to attempt to read said segment of information at said given location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising repeating steps (a) and (b) a plurality of times, and if the segment remains unrecoverable for a given number of times, designating the block to be unrecoverable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising repeating said read operation after said write operation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of conditioning a magnetic read/write head adapted for a storage medium on which data is recorded, comprising the steps of causing said head to perform a read operation that is on selected data on a storage medium, said read operation being subject to errors caused by a temporary defect in said head, determining, based on the presence of said erors, if the read operation was performed acceptably, and if not, causing said head to perform a write operation that is capable correcting said defect to increase the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the read operation and that does not include performing either a write operation or a read operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of conditioning a magnetic read/write head adapted for a storage medium on which data is recorded, comprising the steps of causing said head to perform a read operation that is on selected data on a storage medium, said read operation being subject to errors caused by a temporary defect in said head, determining, based on the presence of said erors, if the read operation was performed acceptably, and if not, causing said head to perform a write operation that is capable correcting said defect to increase the likelihood that the head will be able to acceptably perform the read operation and that does not include performing either a write operation or a read operation on data adjacent to said selected data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-30 | 1995-04-01 | 1995-10-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-30 | 1999-04-01 | 1999-10-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-30 | 2003-04-01 | 2003-10-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |