Disk drive implementing a read channel optimization process

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk comprising a plurality of tracks;

a head actuated over the disk; and

control circuitry operable to:

write a target track including a plurality of data wedges;

determine optimization metrics for the data wedges of the plurality of data wedges as the data wedges are read;

store the optimization metrics for the data wedges from the target track;

remove a first portion and a second portion of the optimization metrics such that a remaining portion of the optimization metrics remains, wherein the first portion of the optimization metrics removed is below the standard deviation of the optimization metrics and the second portion of the optimization metrics removed is above the standard deviation of the optimization metrics; and

calculate an average optimization metric value for the remaining portion of optimization metrics for use in read channel optimization.

2. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry includes an accumulator, the accumulator being reset each time a data wedge is read.

3. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optimization metrics for the data wedges are determined during one revolution of reading the target track.

4. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optimization metrics comprise a Viterbi margin metric (VMM).

5. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optimization metrics comprise a means square error (MSE) metric.

6. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the optimization metrics for the data wedges are stored in a table.

7. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein a track is read a plurality of times and for each track reading an average optimization metric for the data wedges is determined.

8. The disk drive as recited in claim 7 , wherein an optimal average optimization metric is selected from the plurality of track reads for use in a continuous time filter.

9. A method of optimizing read channel operation for a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a disk and a head actuated over the disk, the method comprising:

writing a target track including a plurality of data wedges to the disk;

determining optimization metrics for the data wedges of the plurality of data wedges as the data wedges are read;

storing the optimization metrics for the data wedges;

removing a first portion and a second portion of the optimization metrics such that a remaining portion of optimization metrics remains, wherein the first portion of the optimization metrics removed is below the standard deviation of the optimization metrics and the second portion of the optimization metrics removed is above the standard deviation of the optimization metrics; and

calculating an average optimization metric value for the remaining portion of the optimization metrics for use in read channel optimization.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein determining the optimization metrics for the data wedges comprises accumulating data for each data wedge that is read and resetting an accumulator each time a data wedge is read.

11. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the optimization metrics for the data wedges are determined during one revolution of reading the target track.

12. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the optimization metrics comprise a Viterbi margin metric (VMM).

13. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the optimization metrics comprise a means square error (MSE) metric.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising storing the optimization metrics for the data wedges in a table.

15. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising reading a track a plurality of times and for each track reading determining an average optimization metric for the data wedges.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising selecting an optimal average optimization metric from the plurality of track reads for use in a continuous time filter.

17. A disk drive comprising:

a disk comprising a plurality of tracks;

a head actuated over the disk; and

control circuitry operable to:

write a target track including a plurality of data wedges;

determine optimization metrics for the data wedges of the plurality of data wedges as the data wedges are read;

store the optimization metrics for the data wedges from the target track;

remove a first portion and a second portion of the optimization metrics such that a remaining portion of the optimization metrics remains, wherein the first portion of the optimization metrics removed is approximately 15% of the highest value optimization metrics or wherein the second portion of the optimization metrics removed is approximately 15% of the lowest value optimization metrics; and

calculate an average optimization metric value for the remaining portion of optimization metrics for use in read channel optimization.

18. A method of optimizing read channel operation for a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a disk and a head actuated over the disk, the method comprising:

writing a target track including a plurality of data wedges to the disk;

determining optimization metrics for the data wedges of the plurality of data wedges as the data wedges are read;

storing the optimization metrics for the data wedges;

removing a first portion and a second portion of the optimization metrics such that a remaining portion of optimization metrics remains, wherein the first portion of the optimization metrics removed is approximately 15% of the highest value optimization metrics or wherein the second portion of the optimization metrics removed is approximately 15% of the lowest value optimization metrics; and

calculating an average optimization metric value for the remaining portion of the optimization metrics for use in read channel optimization.