IP Library Granted Patent US 8,149,528
Granted Patent B1
US 8,149,528 · App. 12/552,912 · Granted Apr 3, 2012

Disk drive connecting defect shapes to preempt data loss

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,149,528
App. No.
12/552,912
Granted
Apr 3, 2012
Kind
B1
Abstract

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks. A first defect shape is detected during a manufacturing defect scan of the disk. A second defect shape is detected while the disk drive is deployed in-the-field. Whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape is determined, and when the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape, data sectors along a trajectory between the first defect shape and the second defect shape are relocated.

Claims (70)

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks;

a head actuated over the disk; and

control circuitry operable to;

detect a first defect shape during a manufacturing defect scan of the disk;

detect a second defect shape while the disk drive is deployed in-the-field;

determine whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape; and

when the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape, relocate data sectors along a trajectory between the first defect shape and the second defect shape,

wherein the control circuitry is further operable to detect a spiral shape defect associated with one of loading the head off a ramp and unloading the head onto the ramp.

2. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to determine whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape based on a distance between the first defect shape and the second defect shape.

3. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to:

detect a first center of the first defect shape;

detect a second center of the second defect shape; and

determine that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first center substantially matches the second center.

4. The disk drive as recited in claim 3 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to:

detect a first radius of the first defect shape relative to the first center;

detect a second radius of the second defect shape relative to the second center; and

determine that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first radius is consistent with the second radius.

5. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to detect the spiral shape defect relative to a rotational velocity of the disk.

6. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to detect the spiral shape defect relative to a radial velocity of the head.

7. A method of operating a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, the method comprising:

detecting a first defect shape during a manufacturing defect scan of the disk;

detecting a second defect shape while the disk drive is deployed in-the-field;

determining whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape; and

when the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape, relocating data sectors along a trajectory between the first defect shape and the second defect shape,

the method further comprising detecting a spiral shape defect associated with one of loading the head off a ramp and unloading the head onto the ramp.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , wherein determining whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape is based on a distance between the first defect shape and the second defect shape.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising:

detecting a first center of the first defect shape;

detecting a second center of the second defect shape; and

determining that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first center substantially matches the second center.

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

detecting a first radius of the first defect shape relative to the first center;

detecting a second radius of the second defect shape relative to the second center; and

determining that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first radius is consistent with the second radius.

11. The click drive method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising detecting the spiral shape defect relative to a rotational velocity of the disk.

12. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising detecting the spiral shape defect relative to a radial velocity of the head.

13. A disk drive comprising:

a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks;

a head actuated over the disk; and

control circuitry operable to;

detect a first defect shape during a manufacturing defect scan of the disk;

detect a second defect shape while the disk drive is deployed in-the-field;

determine whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape; and

when the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape, relocate data sectors along a trajectory between the first defect shape and the second defect shape,

wherein the control circuitry is further operable to:

detect a first center of the first defect shape;

detect a second center of the second defect shape; and

determine that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first center substantially matches the second center.

14. The disk drive as recited in claim 13 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to:

detect a first radius of the first defect shape relative to the first center;

detect a second radius of the second defect shape relative to the second center; and

determine that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first radius is consistent with the second radius.

15. The disk drive as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first defect shape comprises an arc shape and the second defect shape comprises an arc shape.

16. The disk drive as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first defect shape comprises a spiral shape and the second defect shape comprises a spiral shape.

17. A method of operating a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, the method comprising:

detecting a first defect shape during a manufacturing defect scan of the disk;

detecting a second defect shape while the disk drive is deployed in-the-field;

determining whether the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape; and

when the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape, relocating data sectors along a trajectory between the first defect shape and the second defect shape,

the method further comprising:

detecting a first center of the first defect shape;

detecting a second center of the second defect shape; and

determining that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first center substantially matches the second center.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 , further comprising:

detecting a first radius of the first defect shape relative to the first center;

detecting a second radius of the second defect shape relative to the second center; and

determining that the first defect shape is connectable to the second defect shape when the first radius is consistent with the second radius.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first defect shape comprises an arc shape and the second defect shape comprises an arc shape.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the first defect shape comprises a spiral shape and the second defect shape comprises a spiral shape.

Assignments (5)
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 →