IP Library Granted Patent US 8,922,940
Granted Patent B1
US 8,922,940 · App. 14/287,550 · Granted Dec 30, 2014

Data storage device reducing spindle motor voltage boost during power failure

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,922,940
App. No.
14/287,550
Granted
Dec 30, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, and control circuitry configured to perform a power fail operation by boosting a power voltage generated based on the spindle motor to generate a boosted voltage, controlling an operation of the data storage device using the boosted voltage, and when the power voltage falls below a threshold, reducing the boosting so as to reduce the boosted voltage.

Claims (35)

1. A data storage device comprising:

a head actuated over a disk;

a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk; and

control circuitry configured to perform a power fail operation by:

boosting a power voltage generated based on the spindle motor to generate a boosted voltage;

controlling an operation of the data storage device using the boosted voltage; and

when the power voltage falls below a threshold, reducing the boosting so as to reduce the boosted voltage.

2. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the power voltage is generated based on a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage generated by the spindle motor.

3. The data storage device as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) configured to actuate the head over the disk, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to perform the power fail operation by controlling the VCM based on the power voltage.

4. The data storage device as recited in claim 3 , wherein reducing the boosting increases an available current to drive the VCM using the BEMF voltage.

5. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the boosted voltage is reduced based on a linear function of the power voltage.

6. The data storage device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the boosted voltage is reduced based on:

V BOOST =M*V PWR

where:

V PWR is the power voltage;

V BOOST is the boosted voltage; and

M is a non-zero scalar.

7. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the boosted voltage is reduced by at least one step decrement based on the power voltage.

8. The data storage device as recited in claim 7 , wherein the boosted voltage is reduced by a staircase of decrements based on the power voltage.

9. A method of operating a data storage device, the method comprising performing a power fail operation by:

boosting a power voltage generated based on a spindle motor to generate a boosted voltage;

controlling an operation of the data storage device using the boosted voltage; and

when the power voltage falls below a threshold, reducing the boosting so as to reduce the boosted voltage.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the power voltage is generated based on a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage generated by the spindle motor.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , further comprising performing the power fail operation by controlling a VCM based on the power voltage.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 , wherein reducing the boosting increases an available current to drive the VCM using the BEMF voltage.

13. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the boosted voltage is reduced based on a linear function of the power voltage.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the boosted voltage is reduced based on:

V BOOST =M*V PWR

where:

V PWR is the power voltage;

V BOOST is the boosted voltage; and

M is a non-zero scalar.

15. The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising reducing the boosted voltage by at least one step decrement based on the power voltage.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , further comprising reducing the boosted voltage by a staircase of decrements based on the power voltage.

Assignments (7)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
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 →