Energy conserving disc drive
View Patent ↗A disc drive includes a disc mounted to a rotatable spindle, a motor coupled to the spindle, and motor control circuitry. The motor has a motoring mode in which it rotates the spindle and a braking mode in which is decelerates the rotating spindle and generates power. The motor control circuitry is adapted to control the modes of the motor. The disc drive also includes an auxiliary power output that is generated while operating the motor in the braking mode. The auxiliary power output is made accessible to electronic components that are collateral to the disc drive.
1. A data storage device comprising:
a rotatable spindle;
a motor coupled to the spindle, the motor having a braking mode in which it decelerates the rotating spindle and generates power;
motor control circuitry adapted to control the motor; and
a power output generated while operating the motor in the braking mode, the power output being accessible to an electronic component that is collateral to the data storage device.
2. The device of claim 1 , including:
a housing substantially enclosing the motor; and
a power output port electrically coupled to the power output and having a conductor that extends through the housing, whereby an electronic component external to the housing can access the power output.
3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the data device includes a magnetic disc drive storage system, an optical disc drive storage system, a compact disc (CD) drive, or a digital video disc (DVD) drive.
4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the data storage device includes:
a transducing head;
a suspension assembly having a distal end coupled to the transducing head and a proximal end; and
a head positioning component coupled to the proximal end of the suspension assembly and adapted to control the position of the head.
5. The device of claim 1 including an electronic component that is collateral to the disc drive and electrically coupled to the power output.
6. A digital processing system comprising:
a power supply;
a data storage device including:
a rotatable spindle;
a motor coupled to the spindle, the motor having a braking mode in which it decelerates the rotating spindle and generates power;
motor control circuitry adapted to control the motor; and
a power output generated while operating the motor in the braking mode, the power output being accessible to an electronic component that is located externally to the data storage device; and
a charger electrically coupled to the power output and adapted to charge the power supply therewith.
7. The system of claim 6 , further comprising data processing electronics including a microprocessor and memory, which are powered by the power supply.
8. The system of claim 6 , including a voltage regulator electrically coupled to the power supply and providing a regulated voltage output, wherein the disc drive is powered by the regulated voltage output.
9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the data storage device includes:
a housing substantially enclosing, the motor and the motor control circuitry; and
a power output port including a conductor extending through the housing and electrically coupled to the power output and the charger.
10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the data storage system includes a magnetic disc drive storage system, an optical disc drive storage system, a compact disc (CD) drive, or a digital video disc (DVD) drive.
11. The system of claim 6 , wherein the data storage system includes:
a transducing head;
a suspension assembly having a distal end coupled to the transducing head and a proximal end; and
a head positioning component coupled to the proximal end of the suspension assembly and adapted to control the position of the head.
12. A digital processing system comprising:
a data storage system including:
a rotatable spindle;
a motor coupled to the spindle, the motor having a braking mode in which it decelerates the rotating spindle and generates power;
motor control circuitry adapted to control the motor; and
a power output generated while operating the motor in the braking mode, the power output being accessible to an electronic component that is located externally to the data storage device; and
an electronic component that is collateral to the data storage device and electrically coupled to the power output.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic component includes a charger.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic component includes a microprocessor and memory.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the electronic component includes a voltage regulator, which includes a regulated power output that is produced in response to the power output.
16. The system of claim 15 , including a charger or data processing electronics coupled to the regulated power output.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the data storage system includes:
a housing substantially enclosing the motor control circuitry; and
a power output port including a conductor extending through the housing and electrically coupled to the power output and the electronic component.
18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the data storage system includes a magnetic disc drive storage system, an optical disc drive storage system, a compact disc (CD) drive, or a digital video disc (DVD) drive.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the data storage system includes:
a transducing head;
a suspension assembly having a distal end coupled to the transducing head and a proximal end; and
a head positioning component coupled to the proximal end of the suspension assembly and adapted to control the position of the head.
20. A method of shutting down a data storage system that includes a rotatable spindle and a motor coupled to the spindle, the method comprising steps of:
a) terminating a motoring mode in which the motor rotates the spindle;
b) braking the motor;
c) generating a power output in response to the braking of the motor; and
d) providing the power output to an electronic component that is collateral to the data storage system.
21. The method of claim 20 , including a step e) of regulating the power output for use by a charger or data processing electronics.
22. The method of claim 20 , the method includes a step e) of using the power output to charge a battery.
23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the terminating step a) is performed in response to a signal indicating loss of power from a power supply.
24. The method of claim 20 , wherein the braking step b) involves rapidly switching the motor between a generating mode and a current release mode.
25. A data storage system comprising:
a rotatable spindle;
a motor coupled to the spindle, the motor having a braking mode; and
a power output means for producing an power output that is generated when the motor is in the braking mode and is accessible by an electronic component that is collateral to the data storage system.
26. The data storage system of claim 25 including
a voltage regulator electrically coupled to the power output and adapted to produce a regulated power output in response thereto.
27. The data storage system of claim 26 including:
a battery; and
a battery charger adapted to charge the battery using the regulated power output.
28. The data storage system of claim 26 including digital processing electronics powered by the regulated power output and including a microprocessor and memory.
29. The data storage system of claim 25 including
an electronic component that is collateral to the disc drive and electrically coupled to the power output means, the electronic component being a voltage regulator, a battery charger, or digital processing electronics.