Method and apparatus for estimating micro-actuator stroke sensitivity in a hard disk drive

1. A method comprising the step of estimating the stroke sensitivity of a micro-actuator, consisting of the steps:

using a micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator to induce noise into the lateral positioning of a read-write head near a track by the voice coil motor to create the Position Error Signal;

deriving the lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise induced by said micro-actuator stimulus signal as a Direct Current gain of a frequency response of the Error Sensitivity Function of said voice coil motor within an operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator;

and determining said operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator;

wherein said micro-actuator is coupled to a slider including said read-write head near a rotating disk surface containing said track.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step using said micro-actuator stimulus signal, further comprises the step:

generating said micro-actuator stimulus signal with a first amplitude at a first frequency;

wherein the step deriving said lateral position noise, further comprises the step:

deriving said lateral position noise at said first frequency from said Position Error Signal at said first frequency; and

wherein the step estimating said stroke sensitivity, further comprises the step:

estimating said stroke sensitivity at said first frequency based upon said lateral position noise at said first frequency and upon said first amplitude.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step estimating said stroke sensitivity at said first frequency, further comprises the step:

said lateral position noise at said first frequency divided by said first amplitude to create said stroke sensitivity at said first frequency.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the step estimating said stroke sensitivity at said first frequency, further comprises the step:

said lateral position noise at said first frequency, multiplied by a scaling constant, and divided by said first amplitude to create said stroke sensitivity at said first frequency.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step: using said micro-actuator signal, further comprises the step:

generating said micro-actuator stimulus signal with a first amplitude at a second frequency;

wherein the step deriving said lateral position noise, further comprises the step:

deriving said lateral position noise at said second frequency from said Position Error Signal at said second frequency; and

wherein the step estimating said stroke sensitivity, further comprises the steps:

estimating said stroke sensitivity at said second frequency based upon said lateral position noise at said second frequency and upon said first amplitude;

estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said stroke sensitivity at said first frequency and upon said stroke sensitivity at said second frequency.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step using said micro-actuator stimulus signal, further comprises the step:

generating said micro-actuator stimulus signal with said first amplitude sweeping through a frequency range to determine at least one vibration mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step using said micro-actuator stimulus signal, further comprises:

amplifying a first spreading signal by a first weight to create said micro-actuator stimulus signal;

wherein the step deriving said lateral position noise, further comprises the steps:

demodulating said Position Error Signal by said first spreading signal to create a PES weight; and

generating a lateral position noise weight from said PES weight;

wherein the step estimating said stroke sensitivity, further comprises the step:

estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise weight and upon said first weight.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the step using said micro-actuator stimulus signal, further comprises:

amplifying a second spreading signal by a second weight to create said micro-actuator stimulus signal;

wherein the step deriving said lateral position noise, further comprises the steps:

demodulating said Position Error Signal by said second spreading signal to create a second PES weight; and

generating a second lateral position noise weight from said second PES weight;

wherein the step estimating said stroke sensitivity, further comprises the steps:

estimating a second stroke sensitivity based upon said second lateral position noise weight and upon said second weight; and

estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said first stroke sensitivity and upon said second stroke sensitivity.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the bandwidth of said first spreading signal is contained in the bandwidth of said second spreading signal.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step determining said operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator further comprises the steps:

determining a first distance between said lateral position noise and said first spreading signal amplified by said first weight;

determining a second distance between said second lateral position noise and said second spreading signal amplified by said second weight; and

determining said operational bandwidth for said micro-actuator based upon said first distance for said bandwidth of said first spreading signal, and based upon said second distance for said bandwidth of said second spreading signal.

11. A method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the steps:

initializing a servo-controller with said stroke sensitivity, with said servo-controller configured to drive said micro-actuator based upon said micro-actuator stimulus signal;

calibrating said servo-controller to use said stroke sensitivity;

manufacturing an embedded circuit by initializing/calibrating said servo-controller included in said embedded circuit to create said embedded circuit configured to use said stroke sensitivity; and

manufacturing said hard disk drive with said stroke sensitivity, said hard disk drive including said embedded circuit, said voice coil motor, said micro-actuator, said slider, and said rotating disk surface.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step manufacturing said embedded circuit further comprises the steps:

installing a servo computer and a memory into said servo-controller; and

programming said memory with a program system to support means for estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise induced by said micro-actuator stimulus signal as said Direct Current gain of said frequency response of said Error Sensitivity Function of said voice coil motor within said operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said servo controller, includes:

means for using said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator to induce noise into the lateral positioning of said read-write head near said track by the voice coil motor to create the Position Error Signal;

means for deriving said lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

means for estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise and upon said micro-actuator stimulus signal;

wherein the step manufacturing said servo controller, comprises the steps:

installing means for using, means for deriving, and means for estimating to create said servo-controller.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said embedded circuit configured to use said stroke sensitivity is a product of the step manufacturing said embedded circuit.

15. A The method of claim 11 , wherein the step manufacturing said hard disk drive, comprises the steps:

coupling said embedded circuit to said voice coil motor, providing said micro-actuator stimulus signal to drive said micro-actuator, and a read differential signal pair from said read-write head to said servo-controller to generate said Position Error Signal, to create said hard disk drive;

using said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator to induce noise into the lateral positioning of said read-write head near said track by the voice coil motor to create said Position Error Signal;

deriving said lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise as said single noise source and upon said micro-actuator stimulus signal as said Direct Current gain of said frequency response of said Error Sensitivity Function of said voice coil motor within said operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator to create said hard disk drive with said stroke sensitivity.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said hard disk drive with said stroke sensitivity is a product of the step manufacturing said hard disk drive.

17. A servo-controller for estimating a stroke sensitivity of a micro-actuator, comprising:

a micro-actuator driver;

a micro-actuator stimulus signal;

said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator driver providing a lateral control signal to said micro-actuator to induce a noise into a lateral positioning of a read-write head near a track by a voice coil motor to create a Position Error Signal;

said stroke sensitivity;

means for deriving said lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

means for estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise induced by said micro-actuator stimulus signal as a Direct Current gain of a frequency response of an Error Sensitivity Function of said voice coil motor within an operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator coupled to a slider including said read-write head near a rotating disk surface near said track.

18. The servo-controller of claim 17 , comprising: a servo computer accessibly coupled to a memory and instructed by a program system including program steps residing in said memory to control said micro-actuator stimulus signal and to estimate said stroke sensitivity;

wherein said program system, comprises the program steps:

using said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator to induce noise into the lateral positioning of said read-write head near said track by the voice coil motor to create the Position Error Signal;

deriving said lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise and upon said micro-actuator stimulus signal.

19. The servo-controller of claim 18 , wherein said program system, further comprises the program step:

controlling said voice coil motor to laterally position said read-write head near said track on said rotating disk surface.

20. The servo-controller of claim 17 , further comprising at least one of:

means for controlling said voice coil motor to laterally position said read-write head near said track on said rotating disk surface; and

means for using said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator to induce said noise into said lateral positioning of said read-write head near said track by said voice coil motor to create said Position Error Signal.

21. The servo-controller of claim 20 ,

wherein at least one member of a means group includes, at least one member of the group consisting of:

a computer accessibly coupled to a memory and instructed by a program system including at least one program step residing in said memory;

a finite state machine; and

an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC);

wherein said members of said means group, consist of: said means for controlling, said means for using, said means for deriving, and said means for estimating;

wherein said computer includes at least one instruction processor and at least one data processor; and

wherein each of said data processors is directed by at least one of said instruction processors as instructed by said program system.

22. The servo-controller of claim 17 , means for using said micro- actuator stimulus signal, comprises:

said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving a micro-actuator driver providing a lateral control signal to said micro-actuator;

wherein said micro-actuator responds to said lateral control signal to induce said noise into said lateral positioning of said read-write head near said track by said voice coil motor.

23. The servo-controller of claim 22 , wherein the said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator driver, further comprises:

said micro-actuator stimulus signal feeds a digital to analog converter providing a first micro-actuator driving signal contributing to said lateral control signal.

24. The servo-controller of claim 23 , wherein said micro-actuator stimulus signal drives a micro-actuator driver, further comprises:

said micro-actuator stimulus signal feed a digital to analog converter providing a first micro-actuator driving signal contributing to said lateral control signal.

25. The servo-controller of claim 24 , wherein said micro-actuator stimulus signal feeding said digital to analog converter, further comprises:

said first micro-actuator driving signal is presented to a first amplifier providing a first amplified signal further contributing to said lateral control signal.

26. The servo-controller of claim 25 , wherein said first amplifier providing said first amplified signal further comprising:

said first amplified signal is presented to a first filter to provide said lateral control signal.

27. The servo-controller of claim 23 , wherein said micro-actuator stimulus signal drives said micro-actuator driver, further comprises:

said first micro-actuator driving signal is presented to a second filter providing a second filtered signal further contributing to said lateral control signal.

28. The servo-controller of claim 24 , wherein said second filter providing said second filtered signal, further comprises:

said second filtered signal is presented to a second amplifier providing said lateral control signal.

29. An embedded circuit, comprising a servo-controller for estimating a stroke sensitivity of a micro-actuator, comprising:

a micro-actuator driver;

a micro-actuator stimulus signal;

said micro-actuator stimulus signal driving said micro-actuator driver providing a lateral control signal to said micro-actuator to induce a noise into a lateral positioning of a read-write head near a track by a voice coil motor to create a Position Error Signal;

said stroke sensitivity;

means for deriving said lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

means for estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise induced by said micro-actuator stimulus signal as a Direct Current gain of a frequency response of an Error Sensitivity Function of said voice coil motor within an operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator coupled to a slider including said read-write head near a rotating disk surface near said track.

30. A hard disk drive, comprising:

a disk base;

a spindle motor mounted on said disk base and coupled to at least one disk to create a rotating disk surface;

a voice coil motor mounted on said disk base to pivot a micro-actuator coupled to a slider to position a read-write head at a lateral position near a track on said rotating disk surface, with said voice coil motor providing a micro-actuator stimulus signal said micro-actuator actuator to alter said lateral position;

an embedded circuit coupled to said voice coil motor to provide said lateral control signal to drive said micro-actuator and receiving a Position Error Signal based upon a read signal differential signal pair from said read-write head, said embedded circuit comprising

a servo-controller, comprising

a micro-actuator stimulus signal;

a micro-actuator driver driven by said micro-actuator signal to create said lateral control signal;

a stoke sensitivity of said lateral position of said read-write head based upon said micro-actuator stimulus signal;

means for estimating said stroke sensitivity of said micro-actuator based upon a lateral position noise induced by said micro-actuator stimulus signal into said lateral position of said read-write head near said track by said voice coil motor, further comprising

means for deriving said lateral position noise from said Position Error Signal; and

means for estimating said stroke sensitivity based upon said lateral position noise induced by said micro-actuator stimulus signal as a Direct Current gain of a frequency response of an Error Sensitivity Function of said voice coil motor within an operational bandwidth of said micro-actuator.