Method and apparatus providing variable spin pad lengths
A data storage device includes a track layout having three data sections. A first spin pad having a first length is located between a first and second data section. A second spin pad having a length that is different from the first length is located between the second data section and a third data section. A method for determining the lengths of the spin pads is also provided.
1. A data storage device for storing and accessing data in tracks on a medium, each track having a data layout comprising:
a first data section;
a reference mark before the first data section;
a second data section;
a third data section;
a first spin pad located between the first data section and the second data section and having a first length wherein the first length is a function of the distance from the reference mark to a beginning of the first spin pad and is further based on a worst case delay in detecting the reference mark; and
a second spin pad located between the second data section and the third data section and having a second length that is different from the first length but that is based on the first length.
2. The data storage device of claim 1 wherein the second length is a function of the distance from the reference mark to a beginning of the second spin pad.
3. The data storage device of claim 1 wherein the first data section comprises a data block.
4. The data storage device of claim 3 wherein the first data section further comprises a gap.