Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Testing system – Of mechanical system
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-25
2001-11-06
Assouad, Patrick (Department: 2857)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Testing system
Of mechanical system
C702S038000, C702S040000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314382
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a methodology for testing a floppy disk unit in a notebook PC, and more particularly, to a set of test procedures to run on a new type of high capacity floppy disk unit installed in a notebook PC.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, due to the ever advancing electronic technology, and the need for faster processing of information, and the significant growth in the amount of information, computers have become a necessity in the lives or work of contemporary people, relied upon by ever increasing numbers of users to process and exchange mass information of various types. The portable notebook personal computer allowing easy operation is one type of computer that is favored by those who need to process mass information. However, the traditional disk unit with small storage capacity (720K, 1.44M) has not kept up with the latest developments, which has caused the introduction into the market of a new type of floppy disk unit
20
, as illustrated in
FIG. 1
, using 120M diskette. When assembled with a notebook PC
10
, the disk unit
20
with its high-speed and larger storage provides much more convenient access to computer operation and information processing by a user and will become a valuable tool for information processors.
In the past, the disk unit used by the notebook PC manufacturer generally was of small storage capacity (720K, 1.44M) capable of reading a diskette with smaller storage. Very few test methods, if any, were provided to run on such type of disk unit. While the density of the magnetic medium of the latest diskette and the operation speed of the latest disk unit both increase, the failure rate of the disk unit is relatively higher since it is far more precise and complicated than the traditional disk unit. However, such failure has not deterred the user's demands on the operation accuracy by the latest disk unit. Such demands are justified since any slight error might well cause a major loss to the user, particularly in a contemporary society thirsty for full utilization of information edges where the reliability of information storage facilities becomes ever more important. Therefore, to ensure user satisfaction with the reliability of the latest disk units and notebook PCs, a set of integral and dependable testing procedures with strong relevance is required to provide functional tests that identify possible defects due to poor contact or impacts by and among all relevant parts in the process of assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an additional test item for each of the pins provided on a notebook PC used to mate with the multi-purpose connector of a new type of floppy disk unit with large storage capacity, so as to preclude possible errors caused by the disk unit and to avoid massive waste of time spent on subsequent tests in the presence of defective pins.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide an assurance that the disk unit provided in a notebook PC is capable of reliable operation with a floppy diskette having a different surface medium density, with additional test items for format and fast operation (including but not limited to read-out, write-in and seek) by said diskettes, in floppy disk units such as Model LS-120 floppy disk units produced by Japan-based Mitsubishi, which can be operated with floppy diskettes of 120M, and also with the smaller storage capacity disk drives such as 720K and 1.44M drives.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a test method involving the use of a disk unit head to respectively test each track of a floppy diskette in the form of sequential movement, movement by size of range, and at random. Test items include data read-out, write-in and seek capabilities of the track, as well as capabilities to execute formatted commands and automatically eject the floppy disk unit.
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Chang Vam
Shen Xian-Hong
Assouad Patrick
Bacon & Thomas
Inventec C'orporation
Tsai Carol S
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