Patent US5612845A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5612845A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for in-situ detection of data storage system spindle motor performance degradation
Assignee: HGST Netherlands BV
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Filing: 1994-12-27
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Granted: 1997-03-18
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Expires: 2014-12-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for detecting degradation in data storage system spindle motor performance is disclosed. A read/write transducer is oriented over a centerline location of a test track on the data storage disk. A data pattern is read from the test track centerline location and the amplitude of the on-track readback signal is determined. The transducer is oriented over a test track location off-set from the centerline location, and the data pattern is read. The amplitude of the off-track readback signal is determined. A deviation of a predetermined magnitude between the on-track and off-track readback signal amplitudes preferably results in the production of a warn signal indicative of degraded spindle motor performance. The off-track readback signal amplitude may alternatively be compared to a predetermined on-track readback signal amplitude stored in the data storage system.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon J. Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 13:31
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B25/00; G11B25/04; G11B25/043; G11B33/00; G11B33/10; G11B33/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for detecting degradation in the performance of a data storage system having a data storage disk for storing data, a spindle motor having bearings and adapted for rotating the data storage disk, a transducer for transferring data to and from a track of the disk, an actuator for moving the transducer across the disk, and a controller for coordinating the transfer of data to and from the disk, the performance degradation detection method comprising the steps of: sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a test location on a track of the data storage disk, the test location being a location of the track other than a centerline location of the track; filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and an on-track readback signal; and using the magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for detecting degradation in the performance of a data storage system having a data storage disk for storing data, a spindle motor having bearings and adapted for rotating the data storage disk, a transducer for transferring data to and from a track of the disk, an actuator for moving the transducer across the disk, and a controller for coordinating the transfer of data to and from the disk, the performance degradation detection method comprising the steps of: sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a test location on a track of the data storage disk, the test location being a location of the track other than a centerline location of the track; filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and an on-track readback signal; and using the magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of retrieving the on-track readback signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of: computing a root mean square of the off-track readback signal; and the step of determining the magnitude difference includes the step of comparing the root mean square of the off-track readback signal with a root mean square of the predetermined on-track readback signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the off-track readback signal includes the step of sensing a data pattern disposed on the track.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the off-track readback signal includes the step of sensing servo burst data disposed on the track.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of comparing an amplitude of the off-track readback signal with an amplitude of the predetermined on-track readback signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filtering step includes the step of filtering off-track readback signal frequencies to pass a frequency range of approximately 3 to 10 kilohertz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steps of claim 1 are repeated for a plurality of tracks on the disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, including the further step of producing a warn signal in response to the magnitude difference between the on-track readback signal and the filtered off-track readback signal exceeding a predetermined threshold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for detecting degradation in the performance of a data storage system having a data storage disk for storing data, a spindle motor having bearings and adapted for rotating the data storage disk, a transducer for transferring data to and from a track of the disk, an actuator for moving the transducer across the disk, and a controller for coordinating the transfer of data to and from the disk, the performance degradation detection method comprising the steps of: sensing an on-track readback signal from a centerline location of a track of the data storage disk; sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a track location other than the centerline location of the track; filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal; and using the magnitude difference between the on-track readback signal and the filtered off-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for detecting degradation in the performance of a data storage system having a data storage disk for storing data, a spindle motor having bearings and adapted for rotating the data storage disk, a transducer for transferring data to and from a track of the disk, an actuator for moving the transducer across the disk, and a controller for coordinating the transfer of data to and from the disk, the performance degradation detection method comprising the steps of: sensing an on-track readback signal from a centerline location of a track of the data storage disk; sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a track location other than the centerline location of the track; filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal; and using the magnitude difference between the on-track readback signal and the filtered off-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, including the further steps of: computing a root mean square of the on-track readback signal; and computing a root mean square of the off-track readback signal; and the step of determining the magnitude difference includes the step of comparing the root mean square of the on-track readback signal with the root mean square of the off-track readback signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the steps of sensing the on-track and off-track readback signals each include the step of sensing a data pattern disposed on the track.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, including the further step of: filtering the on-track readback signal to pass a range of frequencies associated with defective spindle motor bearings; wherein the step of determining the magnitude difference includes the step of comparing the filtered on-track and the filtered off-track readback signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the steps of claim 11 are repeated for a plurality of tracks on the disk.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, including the further step of producing a warn signal when the magnitude difference between the on-track readback signal and the filtered off-track readback signal exceeds a predetermined threshold.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for detecting degradation in the performance of a spindle motor disposed in a data storage system, the apparatus comprising: a data storage disk having a track; means for sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a location of the track other than a centerline location of the track; means for filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; means for determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and an on-track readback signal; and means for using the magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
130 words
An apparatus for detecting degradation in the performance of a spindle motor disposed in a data storage system, the apparatus comprising: a data storage disk having a track; means for sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a location of the track other than a centerline location of the track; means for filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; means for determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and an on-track readback signal; and means for using the magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: means for computing the amplitude of the filtered off-track readback signal; and means for computing the amplitude of the filtered off-track readback signal with the amplitude of the on-track readback signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising: memory disposed in the data storage system; and the determining means comprises means for retrieving the on-track readback signal from the memory.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for storing data comprising: a housing; a data storage disk having a track; a spindle motor having bearings, the spindle motor being mounted to the housing and adapted for rotating the data storage disk; an actuator movably mounted to the housing; a transducer mounted to the actuator; and a spindle motor degradation detection apparatus comprising: means for sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a location of the track other than a centerline location of the track; means for filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; means for determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and an on-track readback signal; and means for using the magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for storing data comprising: a housing; a data storage disk having a track; a spindle motor having bearings, the spindle motor being mounted to the housing and adapted for rotating the data storage disk; an actuator movably mounted to the housing; a transducer mounted to the actuator; and a spindle motor degradation detection apparatus comprising: means for sensing an off-track readback signal having a range of frequencies associated with degradation of the spindle motor, the off-track readback signal being sensed from a location of the track other than a centerline location of the track; means for filtering the off-track readback signal to pass the range of frequencies associated with the degradation of the spindle motor; means for determining a magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and an on-track readback signal; and means for using the magnitude difference between the filtered off-track readback signal and the on-track readback signal to indicate degradation in spindle motor performance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising: means for computing the amplitude of the filtered off-track readback signal; and means for comparing the amplitude of the filtered off-track readback signal with the amplitude of the on-track readback signal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further comprising: memory disposed in the data storage system; and the determining means comprises means for retrieving the on-track readback signal from the memory.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-03-17 | 2000-09-16 | 2001-03-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-03-17 | 2004-09-16 | 2005-03-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-03-17 | 2008-09-16 | 2009-03-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |