IP Library Granted Patent US 7,688,534
Granted Patent B1
US 7,688,534 · App. 12/333,016 · Granted Mar 30, 2010

Extracting repeatable phase error from a spindle motor back EMF signal to generate a servo write clock

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,688,534
App. No.
12/333,016
Granted
Mar 30, 2010
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of writing servo data onto a disk is disclosed. A spindle motor spins the disk, and a back electromotive force (BEMF) signal is measured from the spindle motor. A repeatable phase error (RPE) is extracted from the BEMF signal to generate an adjusted BEMF signal. A servo write clock is synchronized in response to the adjusted BEMF signal, and the servo data is written to the disk using the servo write clock. In one embodiment, the servo data comprises spiral seed patterns that are processed to write concentric servo sectors to the disk.

Claims (39)

1. A method of writing servo data onto a disk, the method comprising:

spinning the disk with a spindle motor;

measuring a back electromotive force (BEMF) signal from the spindle motor;

extracting a repeatable phase error (RPE) from the BEMF signal to generate an adjusted BEMF signal;

synchronizing a servo write clock in response to the adjusted BEMF signal; and

writing the servo data to the disk using the servo write clock.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the servo data comprises a spiral seed pattern.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein measuring the BEMF signal comprises comparing a BEMF voltage from the spindle motor to a threshold.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein extracting the RPE from the BEMF signal to generate the adjusted BEMF signal comprises:

measuring a cycle of the BEMF signal;

comparing the measured cycle to a target cycle to generate a timing offset; and

delaying the BEMF signal in response to the timing offset to generate the adjusted BEMF signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , further comprising generating the target cycle by synchronizing a first phase-locked loop.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising generating the target cycle by synchronizing the first phase-locked loop to the BEMF signal.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 , wherein synchronizing the servo write clock comprises synchronizing a second phase-locked loop to the adjusted BEMF signal.

8. The method as recited in claim 5 , further comprising generating the target cycle by synchronizing the first phase-locked loop to the adjusted BEMF signal.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising:

configuring the first phase-locked loop to operate with a first bandwidth while learning the RPE in the BEMF signal; and

configuring the first phase-locked loop to operate with a second bandwidth while writing the servo data to the disk using the servo write clock, wherein the second bandwidth is higher than the first bandwidth.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein synchronizing the servo write clock comprises synchronizing a phase-locked loop to the adjusted BEMF signal.

11. A servo data writer for writing servo data onto a disk, the servo data writer comprising:

a spindle motor for spinning the disk;

a back electromotive force (BEMF) detector operable to detect a BEMF signal from the spindle motor;

timing circuitry operable to extract a repeatable phase error (RPE) from the BEMF signal to generate an adjusted BEMF signal, and synchronize a servo write clock in response to the adjusted BEMF signal; and

write circuitry operable to write the servo data to the disk using the servo write clock.

12. The servo data writer as recited in claim 11 , wherein the servo data comprises a spiral seed pattern.

13. The servo data writer as recited in claim 11 , wherein the BEMF detector detects a BEMF voltage from the spindle motor to a threshold.

14. The servo data writer as recited in claim 11 , wherein the timing circuitry is operable to:

measure a cycle of the BEMF signal;

compare the measured cycle to a target cycle to generate a timing offset; and

delay the BEMF signal in response to the timing offset to generate the adjusted BEMF signal.

15. The servo data writer as recited in claim 14 , wherein the timing circuitry is operable to generate the target cycle by synchronizing a first phase-locked loop.

16. The servo data writer as recited in claim 15 , wherein the timing circuitry is operable to generate the target cycle by synchronizing the first phase-locked loop to the BEMF signal.

17. The servo data writer as recited in claim 16 , wherein the timing circuitry is operable to synchronize the write clock by synchronizing a second phase-locked loop to the adjusted BEMF signal.

18. The servo data writer as recited in claim 15 , wherein the timing circuitry is operable to generate the target cycle by synchronizing the first phase-locked loop to the adjusted BEMF signal.

19. The servo data writer as recited in claim 18 , wherein the timing circuitry is further operable to:

configure the first phase-locked loop to operate with a first bandwidth while learning the RPE in the BEMF signal; and

configure the first phase-locked loop to operate with a second bandwidth while writing the servo data to the disk using the servo write clock, wherein the second bandwidth is higher than the first bandwidth.

20. The servo data writer as recited in claim 11 , wherein the timing circuitry is operable to synchronize the servo write clock by synchronizing a phase-locked loop to the adjusted BEMF signal.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038744 FRAME 0481 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0556 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 045501/0714 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038722/0229 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0281 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 17, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0481 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2009
From: MCCORNACK, MARK R.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 022122/0265 →