IP Library Granted Patent US 7,486,466
Granted Patent B2
US 7,486,466 · App. 11/584,720 · Granted Feb 3, 2009

Ramp-position detecting device, ramp-position detecting method, and storage device

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,486,466
App. No.
11/584,720
Granted
Feb 3, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A storage medium (magnetic disk) in a storage device (magnetic disk device) includes a disk that stores therein data, a head that reads and writes data, a voice motor coil (VCM) that controls the head, and a ramp where the head is retracted. The storage device detects a current used for speed control during unloading of the head, and determines whether the current exceeds a predetermined value. The storage device detects a head position where the current exceeds a predetermined value as a ramp position, stores the ramp position, and unloads the head based on the ramp position.

Claims (25)

1. A ramp-position detecting device that detects a position of a ramp where a head of a storage medium is retracted, the ramp-position detecting device comprising:

a current detecting unit that detects a current used for speed control for unloading of the head;

a current determining unit that determines whether the current detected by the current detecting unit exceeds a predetermined value; and

a ramp detecting unit that detects a position of the head where the current exceeds the predetermined value as the position of the ramp.

2. The ramp-position detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein

the head is controlled to move at a constant speed during unloading operation, and

the current detecting unit detects the current used for the speed control of the head.

3. The ramp-position detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the ramp detecting unit detects as the position of the ramp an average head position calculated from positions of the head detected by a plurality of unloading operations.

4. A method for detecting a position of a ramp where a head of a storage medium is retracted, the method comprising:

detecting a current used for speed control for unloading of the head;

determining whether detected current exceeds a predetermined value; and

detecting a position of the head where the current exceeds the predetermined value as the position of the ramp.

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising controlling the head to move at a constant speed during unloading operation, wherein

the detecting a current includes detecting the current used for the speed control of the head.

6. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the detecting a position includes detecting as the position of the ramp an average head position calculated from positions of the head detected by a plurality of unloading operations.

7. A storage device in which a head of a storage medium is retracted to a ramp when data reading or writing is not taking place, the storage device comprising:

a current detecting unit that detects a current used for speed control for unloading of the head;

a current determining unit that determines whether the current detected by the current detecting unit exceeds a predetermined value;

a ramp-position detecting unit that detects a position of the head where the current exceeds the predetermined value as the position of the ramp;

a ramp-position storing unit that stores the position of the ramp detected by the ramp-position detecting unit; and

an unload control unit that unloads the head based on the position of the ramp stored in the ramp-position storing unit.

8. The storage device according to claim 7 , wherein

the head is controlled to move at a constant speed during unloading operation, and

the current detecting unit detects the current used for the speed control of the head.

9. The storage device according to claim 7 , wherein the ramp detecting unit detects as the position of the ramp an average head position calculated from positions of the head detected by a plurality of unloading operations.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 26, 2009
From: FUJITSU LIMITED
To: TOSHIBA STORAGE DEVICE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023861/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 20, 2006
From: HARA, TAKESHI; OBARA, YOSHIFUMI
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 018446/0029 →