This invention relates to determining optimized head write parameters to improve hard disk reliability in the manufacturing process, specifically in the self-test phase of an assembled disk drive.
Disk drives are an important data storage technology. Read-write heads are one of the crucial components of a disk drive, directly communicating with a disk surface containing the data storage medium. It is crucial that each read-write head function reliably, otherwise the disk drive using that read-write head will fail to function reliably. This invention is focused on the optimized control of each read-write head during write operations within the disk drive. Before disclosing the invention, some relevant prior art will be discussed.
Since the 1980's, high capacity disk drives 10 have used voice coil actuators 20-66 to position their read-write heads over specific tracks. The heads 200 are mounted on head sliders 100, which float a small distance off the disk drive surface 12 when in operation. The flotation process is referred to as an air bearing. The air bearing is formed by the read-write heads 200, illustrated in
Often there is one head per head slider for a given disk drive surface. There are usually multiple heads in a single disk drive, but for economic reasons, usually only one voice coil actuator.
Voice coil actuators are further composed of a fixed magnet actuator 20 interacting with a time varying electromagnetic field induced by voice coil 32 to provide a lever action via actuator axis 40. The lever action acts to move actuator arms 50-56, positioning head gimbal assemblies 60-66, and their associated head sliders 100 containing read-write heads 200, over specific tracks with speed and accuracy. Actuators 30 are often considered to include voice coil 32, actuator axis 40, actuator arms 50-56 and head gimbal assemblies 60-66. An actuator 30 may have as few as a single actuator arm 50. A single actuator arm 52 may connect with two head gimbal assemblies 62 and 64, each with at least one head slider.
Disk drive controller 1000 controls an analog read-write interface 220 communicating resistivity found in the spin valve within read-write head 200.
Analog read-write interface 220 frequently includes a channel interface 222 communicating with pre-amplifier 224. Channel interface 222 receives commands, from embedded disk controller 100, setting at least the read_bias and write_bias.
Various disk drive analog read-write interfaces 220 may employ either a read current bias or a read voltage bias. By way of example, the resistance of the read head is determined by measuring the voltage drop (V_rd) across the read differential signal pair (r+ and r−) based upon the read bias current setting read_bias, using Ohm's Law.
Today, a disk drive performs an initialization process 1400 including what is often known as read channel optimization. Read channel optimization is supposed to find the best parameters for read/write operations, which include, at least, a read bias current (Ir), write current Iw and write boost.
Channel Statistical Measurements (CSM) are a standard system used in assembled disk drives to estimate channel performance, by measuring amplitude. The testing of disk drives by CSM gives only a partial quality measure. A more thorough quality measure is to determine the Bit Error Rate (BER).
As magnetic recording head 200 becomes smaller in physical size, there is an increased need optimize write field control in an assembled disk drive to minimize reliability problems. This need is difficult to fulfill, because it requires first discovering what are the reliability problem mechanisms within the assembled disk drive, and then configuring the disk drive to minimize the effects of the reliability problem mechanisms.
The invention addresses at least the needs discussed in the background.
The invention optimizes the write performance of a writer within a disk drive 10, including a read-write head 200 accessing a rotating disk surface 12, the coupled preamplifier 224, and the channel interface 222 coupled to the preamplifier 224 as illustrated in
The inventors discovered that the OverShoot Control (OSC) of the write current (Wc) should be controlled based upon the write field strength of the specific writer within the disk drive. Different writers within the same disk drive have been found to possess distinct write field strengths, requiring distinct OSC settings during normal temperature operation. The inventors have found that low temperature conditions again need distinct OSC settings based upon the write field strength of the writer.
These discoveries lead the inventors to the test method aspect of the invention, which is applied to at least one writer in a disk drive during the self-test phase of its manufacture. The testing method 2000 of
The inventors discovered that a writer with a strong write field suffers significant reliability loss with high OSC due to increases in Adjacent Track Write (ATW) errors, Track Per Inch (TPI) margins, Write Induced Instabilities (WII), read-write head degradation, and Head to Disk Interference (HDI) caused by Thermal Pole Tip Protrusion (TPTP). The inventors also found that a writer with a weak write field does not suffer significant reliability loss with high OSC, opening the door to using higher OSC values without the same problems as a strong writer.
The inventors have found that determining at least three separate OSC parameters to be preferred for write operation control of the writer. The Minimum OSC is used for write operations within a normal temperature range. The Optimum OSC is preferably used for write operations in a first lower temperature range, preferably between essentially 15 degrees Centigrade and essentially 5 degrees Centigrade. The Maximum OSC is used for write operations below the first lower temperature range.
The Minimum OSC should preferably guarantee both an Adjacent Track Write (ATW) criteria, as well as guarantee Write Induced Instability (WII) criteria.
The inventors have found the test method should preferably be applied to at least four radial zones of the disk surface accessed by the writer, and then preferably interpolated to each radial zone of the disk surface. The radial zones of the disk surface each include multiple tracks on that disk surface with radial distances within that radial zone.
The test method should preferably be applied to each writer in the disk drive.
The invention includes the write parameter collection 2900 illustrated in
These and other advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed descriptions and studying the various figures of the drawings.
The invention optimizes the write performance of a writer within a disk drive 10, including a read-write head 200 accessing a rotating disk surface 12, the coupled preamplifier 224, and the channel interface 222 coupled to the preamplifier 224 as illustrated in
The invention includes a testing method 2000 illustrated in
The inventors discovered that the OSC should be controlled based upon the write field strength of the specific writer within the disk drive. Different writers within the same disk drive often possess distinct write field strengths, requiring distinct OSC settings during normal operation. The inventors found that low temperature conditions again need distinct OSC settings based upon the write field strength of the writer.
In the following figures are flowcharts of at least one method of the invention possessing arrows with reference numbers. These arrows will signify flow of control and sometimes data supporting implementations, including at least one program step, or program thread, executing upon a computer, inferential links in an inferential engine, state transitions in a finite state machine, and dominant learned responses within a neural network. Arrows include references 2010, 2014, 2020, 2024, 2030, and 2034 in
The operation of starting a flowchart refers to at least one of the following. Entering a subroutine in a macro instruction sequence in a computer. Entering into a deeper node of an inferential graph. Directing a state transition in a finite state machine, possibly while pushing a return state. And triggering a collection of neurons in a neural network.
The operation of termination in a flowchart refers to at least one or more of the following. The completion of those operations, which may result in a subroutine return, traversal of a higher node in an inferential graph, popping of a previously stored state in a finite state machine, return to dormancy of the firing neurons of the neural network. Termination will be denoted by the word “Exit” in the center of an oval and includes the following references: 2016 in
A computer as used herein will include, but is not limited to an instruction processor. The instruction processor includes at least one instruction processing element and at least one data processing element, each data processing element controlled by at least one instruction processing element.
The inventors adopted an approach based upon the premise that the OSC needs to be reduced as much as possible for the least loss in Bit Error Rate (BER), for the best use of the writer during the write operation. The inventors also explored a number of optimization schemes and found that constraining Minimum OSC 2922 to guarantee both an Adjacent Track Write (ATW) criteria, as well as guarantee a Write Induced Instability (WII) criteria, lead to significant reliability improvements.
Two separate program systems are illustrated residing in Memory 1120. During self-test, after assembling disk drive 10, an initialization program 2000 generates at least one write parameter collection 2900. During regular operations, essentially after initialization, program system 3000, uses one or more write parameter collections 2900, 2930 to perform write operations. These write operations use the appropriate writer to the tracks of the related radial zones using the OSC collection 2920 members based upon estimates of the ambient temperature of the disk surface 12 being accessed.
Note that memory 1120 may include both volatile and non-volatile memory components. Initialization program system 3000 may preferably reside in a volatile memory component, essentially disappearing after self-test initialization. Write parameter collections 2900, as well as program system 3000, preferably reside in one or more non-volatile memory components, and are available whenever the system is powered up. Note that during initialization process 2000, write parameter collection 2900 may preferably reside in a volatile memory component, and eventually be installed in a non-volatile memory component toward the end of initialization.
The radial zones of the disk surface each include multiple tracks on that disk surface with radial distances within that radial zone. A disk drive may preferably have as many as 15 to 30 radial zones in many contemporary applications.
The inventors found that a writer with a strong write field suffers significant reliability loss with high OSC due to increases in Adjacent Track Write (ATW) errors, Track Per Inch (TPI) margins, Write Induced Instabilities (WII), read-write head degradation, and Head to Disk Interference (HDI) caused by Thermal Pole Tip Protrusion (TPTP). The inventors found that a writer with a weak write field does not suffer significant reliability loss with high OSC, opening the door to using higher OSC without the same problems as a strong writer.
Thermal Pole Tip Protrusion (TPTP) is caused by the materials in and around the head slider expanding during write operations until part of those materials protrude, leading to contact with the rotating disk surface. Contact can degrade the write performance by altering the flying height. Contact can also wear down part of the disk surface. Taking into account TPTP gave the inventors significant insight into both read-write head degradation and Head to Disk Interference (HDI). The inventors have found that optimization of Overshoot Control (OSC), as disclosed herein, can minimize this problem to some extent.
The writer is contained within the disk drive 10. The writer is comprised of a read-write head 200 communicating with a rotating disk surface 12, a preamplifier 224 coupled with the read-write head 200 and a channel interface 222 coupled with the preamplifier 224, within the disk drive 10. The OSC collection 2920 includes an Optimum OSC 2924, a Minimum OSC 2922, and a Maximum OSC 2926.
Operation 2012 performs optimizing the OSC collection 2920 members to create a Bit Error Rate (BER). Operation 2022 performs optimizing the Minimum OSC 2922 to meet an Adjacent Track Writing (ATW) criteria based upon the BER. Operation 2032 performs optimizing the Minimum OSC 2922 to meet a Write Induced Instability (WII) criteria.
Operation 2052 performs generating a reference BER and a reference OSC, both based upon an initial channel value collection and an initial OSC value. Operation 2062 performs finding the Minimum OSC 2922 by testing based upon the reference BER and the reference OSC value to create an OSC table 2990 containing at least two entries. Operation 2072 performs finding the Maximum OSC 2926 by testing, based upon the reference BER and the reference OSC to update the OSC table 2990.
The initial channel value collection and initial OSC value may preferably be generated as a result of performing one or both of the following. Read channel optimizing for other parameters based upon default values of the write current and of the OSC to create an initial Read Channel Optimization (RCO) parameter list, and read channel optimizing to create an initial write current and the initial OSC based upon the other initial RCO parameters. The initial OSC is based at least partially upon the default write current and the default OSC. Note that the RCO parameter list will include not only a write current (Wc), a write OverShoot Control (OSC), but also a read bias (Read_bias) and write bias (Write_bias) as illustrated in
Note that each of the OSC table 2990 entries contains an OSC value and a BER test value. The Optimum OSC 2924 is determined from the OSC table 2990 to have a minimum BER test value, regarding the writer communicating with tracks of the radial zone collection 2910.
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Determining at least three separate OSC parameters is preferred for write operation control of the writer. The Minimum OSC 2922 is preferred for normal write temperatures. The Optimum OSC 2924 is preferred in a first lower temperature range between essentially 15 degrees Centigrade and essentially 5 degrees Centigrade. The Maximum OSC 2926 is preferred below the first lower temperature range.
The inventors found that for a strong writer 3000, an optimum OSC 2924 exists, often as the bottom of a bathtub shape, as illustrated by trace 3000 of
The inventors found that for a weak writer 3020, there is a need for greater OSC, particularly near the Outside Diameter tracks under normal temperatures. The Bit Error Rate (BER) tends to saturate when using the higher OSC range, particularly for most of the tracks from the Middle Diameter to the Inside Diameter. Weak writers tend to need significantly increased OSC for low temperature operation.
In
These three members of the OSC collection 2920, regarding the strong writer 3000 for a radial zone collection 2910 of tracks, are all smaller than any of the OSC collection 2950 members regarding the weak writer 3020 for a radial zone collection 2940.
Operation 2112 successively decreases an OSC value from the reference OSC until a bit error rate test reports a BER for the OSC Value outside a first bit error rate range based upon the reference BER. Operation 2122 performs setting the Minimum OSC 2922 to the OSC value.
Operation 2132 performs successively increasing an OSC value from the reference OSC until a bit error rate test reports a BER for the OSC value outside a second bit error range based upon the reference BER. Operation 2142 performs setting the Maximum OSC 2926 to the OSC value.
The reference BER is preferably the minimum BER as illustrated in
Operation 2172 performs saving the BER for at least one of the OSC values to the OSC table 2990.
The radial zone collection preferably includes a first track, two radially neigboring tracks, and a radial neighborhood strip collection containing the first track and the two radially neighboring tracks. The radial neighborhood strip collection preferably includes at least two additional tracks belonging to the radial zone collection. The radial neighborhood collection preferably includes a total of 21 tracks radially neighboring the first track.
Operation 2232 performs setting an OSC value to the Minimum OSC 2922. Operation 2242 successively decreases the OSC value, whenever an Adjacent Track Write (ATW) test using the OSC Value provides a BER, for at least one of the radial neighborhood strip collection members, outside the ATW criteria based upon the reference BER. Operation 2252 performs setting the Minimum OSC 2922 to the OSC value.
Operation 2272 performs setting an OSC value to the Minimum OSC 2922. Operation 2282 successively decreases the OSC value whenever measuring an Automatic Gain Control (AGC) range and an AGC average, based upon repeated writing using the OSC value of a track belonging to the radial zone collection, indicates the AGC range exceeding a fraction of the AGC average. Operation 2292 performs setting the Minimum OSC 2922 to the OSC value.
The horizontal axis of
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The inventors concluded, as illustrated in
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The inventors relied upon experimental data, which
The WII criteria should preferably be the AGC variation within a fixed ratio of the average AGC. One preferred fixed ratio is about ten percent. The repeated track writing should preferably be at least fifty repetitions.
The inventors have found the test method should preferably be applied to at least four radial zones of the disk surface accessed by the writer. The inventors have found the test method should preferably interpolate the OSC Collection for all of the radial zone collections, based upon tested OSC Collections regarding the writer for each of the tested radial zone collection members. It is preferable to perform read channel optimizing based upon these generated write parameter collections 2900.
The write parameter collection 2900 is a product of the process illustrated as operation 2000 of
The process of making a disk drive 10 may preferably include the following. Performing the steps of method 2000 of
The program system 2000 illustrated in
The invention also includes a method 2500 of controlling a writer 222-224-200 within a disk drive 10 using an OverShoot Control (OSC) Collection 2920 regarding the writer for a radial zone collection 2910 including at least two tracks on the rotating disk surface 12 as illustrated in
Operation 2512 performs using the Minimum OSC 2922 for write operations by the writer within the radial zone collection 2910 whenever operating within a normal temperature range. Operation 2522 performs using at least one of the Optimum OSC 2924 and the Maximum OSC 2926 for write operations by the writer within the radial zone collection 2910 whenever operating below the normal temperature range.
Operation 2552 performs using the Optimum OSC 2924 for write operations by the writer within the radial zone collection 2910 whenever operating in a first lower temperature range. Operation 2562 performs using the Maximum OSC 2926 for write operations by the writer within the radial zone collection 2910 whenever operating below the first lower temperature range.
The preceding embodiments have been provided by way of example and are not meant to constrain the scope of the following claims.
This is a continuation of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/294,115, filed Nov. 14, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 10294115 | Nov 2002 | US |
Child | 11176414 | Jul 2005 | US |