IP Library Granted Patent US 8,873,190
Granted Patent B1
US 8,873,190 · App. 13/593,374 · Granted Oct 28, 2014

Disk drive generating fly height measurement from servo burst and adjusting by position error signal

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,873,190
App. No.
13/593,374
Granted
Oct 28, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts. The servo bursts in a servo sector are read to generate a read signal, and a position error signal (PES) is generated in response to the read signal, wherein the PES represents a position of the head over the disk. A fly height measurement (FHM) is generated in response to the read signal, and the FHM is adjusted based on an adjustment value generated in response to the PES.

Claims (27)

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts;

a head actuated over the disk; and

control circuitry operable to:

read the servo bursts in a servo sector to generate a read signal;

generate a position error signal (PES) in response to the read signal, wherein the PES represents a position of the head over the disk;

generate a first fly height measurement (FHM) in response to the read signal; and

adjust the first FHM based on an adjustment value generated in response to the PES.

2. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to calibrate the adjustment value by scanning the head over a servo track while generating a FHM for a plurality of different PES values.

3. The disk drive as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to generate the adjustment value as a function of the PES.

4. The disk drive as recited in claim 3 , wherein the adjustment value comprises a scalar computed as a function of the PES.

5. The disk drive as recited in claim 4 , wherein the control circuitry is further operable to multiply the first FHM by the scalar.

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

measure a first harmonic and a second harmonic of the read signal; and

generate the first FHM based on a ratio of the first and second harmonics.

7. A method of operating a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts, the method comprising:

reading the servo bursts in a servo sector to generate a read signal;

generating a position error signal (PES) in response to the read signal, wherein the PES represents a position of the head over the disk;

generating a first fly height measurement (FHM) in response to the read signal; and

adjusting the first FHM based on an adjustment value generated in response to the PES.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising calibrating the adjustment value by scanning the head over a servo track while generating a FHM for a plurality of different PES values.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 , further comprising generating the adjustment value as a function of the PES.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the adjustment value comprises a scalar computed as a function of the PES.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising multiplying the first FHM by the scalar.

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

measuring a first harmonic and a second harmonic of the read signal; and

generating the first FHM based on a ratio of the first and second harmonics.

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 →