IP Library Granted Patent US 10,783,912
Granted Patent B1
US 10,783,912 · App. 16/718,828 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Calibrating elevator actuator for disk drive

Inventors: Kuang-Yang Tu (Irvine, CA); Jenghung Chen (Cupertino, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G11B5/59688G11B5/6029G11B5/54G11B5/556G11B5/5578G11B5/607G11B5/6058
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,783,912
App. No.
16/718,828
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

A data storage device is disclosed comprising an elevator actuator configured to actuate a head along an axial dimension, and a position sensor configured to generate a sinusoidal sensor signal representing a position of the head along the axial dimension, wherein the position sensor comprises a sensor element and an encoder strip comprising a pattern having at least one region that causes a disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal. The elevator actuator is controlled to move the head in a first direction along the axial dimension to detect the disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal, and when the disturbance in the sinusoidal signal is detected, the elevator actuator is controlled to move the head in a second direction along the axial dimension opposite the first direction in order to measure a zero crossing of the sinusoidal sensor signal.

Claims (38)

1. A data storage device comprising:

a first disk comprising a first disk surface;

a second disk comprising a second disk surface;

a head;

an elevator actuator configured to actuate the head along an axial dimension relative to the first and second disks;

a radial actuator configured to actuate the head radially over the first disk surface or the second disk surface;

a position sensor configured to generate a sinusoidal sensor signal representing a position of the head along the axial dimension, wherein the position sensor comprises a sensor element and an encoder strip comprising a pattern having at least one region that causes a disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal; and

control circuitry configured to:

control the elevator actuator to move the head in a first direction along the axial dimension to detect the disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal; and

when the disturbance in the sinusoidal signal is detected, control the elevator actuator to move the head in a second direction along the axial dimension opposite the first direction and measure a zero crossing of the sinusoidal sensor signal.

2. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the zero crossing represents a home position of the head along the axial dimension.

3. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the pattern comprises a plurality of alternating polarity fixed magnets; and

the region in the pattern consists of a segment of one of the fixed magnets.

4. The data storage device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the segment is twenty-five to seventy-five percent of one of the fixed magnets.

5. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein:

the pattern comprises a plurality of alternating polarity fixed magnets; and

the region in the pattern consists of a first segment of one of the fixed magnets having a first polarity, and a second segment of one of the fixed magnets having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

6. The data storage device as recited in claim 5 , wherein the first segment is ten to thirty percent of one of the fixed magnets and the second segment is ten to thirty percent of one of the fixed magnets.

7. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of segments having an alternating degree of reflectivity.

8. The data storage device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to detect the disturbance in the sinusoidal signal by detecting a decrease in amplitude of the sinusoidal signal.

9. A data storage device comprising:

a first disk comprising a first disk surface;

a second disk comprising a second disk surface;

a head;

a position sensor configured to generate a sinusoidal sensor signal representing a position of the head along an axial dimension relative to the first and second disks, wherein the position sensor comprises a sensor element and an encoder strip comprising a pattern having at least one region that causes a disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal;

a means for moving the head in a first direction along the axial dimension to detect the disturbance in the sinusoidal sensor signal; and

when the disturbance in the sinusoidal signal is detected, a means for moving the head in a second direction along the axial dimension opposite the first direction and measuring a zero crossing of the sinusoidal sensor signal.

10. The data storage device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the zero crossing represents a home position of the head along the axial dimension.

11. The data storage device as recited in claim 9 , wherein:

the pattern comprises a plurality of alternating polarity fixed magnets; and

the region in the pattern consist of a segment of one of the fixed magnets.

12. The data storage device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the segment is twenty-five to seventy-five percent of one of the fixed magnets.

13. The data storage device as recited in claim 9 , wherein:

the pattern comprises a plurality of alternating polarity fixed magnets; and

the region in the pattern consists of a first segment of one of the fixed magnets having a first polarity, and a second segment of one of the fixed magnets having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.

14. The data storage device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the first segment is ten to thirty percent of one of the fixed magnets and the second segment is ten to thirty percent of one of the fixed magnets.

15. The data storage device as recited in claim 9 , wherein the pattern comprises a plurality of segments having an alternating degree of reflectivity.

Assignments (5)
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 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 052025 FRAME 0088 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0699 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2020
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 052025/0088 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2019
From: TU, KUANG-YANG; CHEN, JENGHUNG
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 051365/0577 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation In Part 16433110 · Jun 6, 2019
Provisional Application 62851169 · May 22, 2019
Cited By (2)
US 12,277,957 US 12,711,990