Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – General recording or reproducing – Specifics of the amplifier
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-13
2001-02-20
Nguyen, Hoa T. (Department: 2753)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
General recording or reproducing
Specifics of the amplifier
C360S046000, C360S053000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06191909
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to preamplifiers used in disk drives. In particular, this invention relates to polling a preamplifier within a disk drive to remotely determine pre-established parametric values.
2. Description of the Related Art
Disk drives are known in which one or more read/write heads (e.g., inductive or magnetoresistive (MR) heads) are used to store data on and read data from associated disk media surface. In a typical magnetic media implementation of such a storage device, the preamplifier receives from an associated channel device both data signals to be written onto a disk surface and bilevel control signals used to specify the individual head to be selected for the read or write operation. The preamplifier typically also supplies analog data signals read from a head to the associated channel. A typical preamplifier includes an input preamplifier for amplifying the write data signals received from the associated channel, an output preamplifier for amplifying signals supplied by a read head, a multiplexer for interconnecting the data input and data output internal lines to one of a plurality of read/write heads, and a mode control unit for operating the multiplexer in response to control signals supplied from the channel, typically a chip select signal ({overscore (C)}{overscore (S)}) for controlling the state of the circuitry within the preamplifier, and a read/write (R/{overscore (W)}) signal for specifying either a read operation or a write operation.
The disk drive comprises a controller which executes a microprogram stored in memory (e.g., a read only memory (ROM)) to generate control signals applied to the preamplifier to facilitate the read and write operations. Various components of the disk drive, including the read/write head and the preamplifier, may be manufactured by different suppliers. Consequently, the components may exhibit disparate operating characteristics or feature sets which must be taken into account by the controller when configuring the disk drive.
It is therefore desirable to provide a facility within a disk drive for determining pre-established parametric values of certain components, such as the manufacture of a read/write head or preamplifier, to thereby enable a controller within the disk drive to properly configure the components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention may be regarded as a system for polling a preamplifier unit to remotely determine pre-established parametric values in a disk drive having a controller, a preamplifier, and a plurality of transducers. The system comprises means in the controller for generating a succession of serial bit characters each representative of a different pattern. A means is provided for successively transferring said serial bit characters from the controller to the preamplifier unit. A plurality of individual bit lines are provided in the preamplifier unit representative of at least one parametric value. A means is included in the preamplifier unit for comparing each serial bit pattern character received with said plurality of individual bit lines, and for generating a match signal when a serial bit pattern character received matches the plurality of individual bit lines. A means is provided for transferring the match signal from the preamplifier unit to the controller.
The present invention may also be regarded as a disk drive comprising a disk, a transducer positioned radially over the disk, and a preamplifier. The preamplifier comprises an input for receiving a test bit pattern, a comparator for comparing the test bit pattern to a configuration bit pattern to generate a configuration signal identifying pre-established parametric values for the disk drive, and an output for outputting the configuration signal. A controller provides the test bit pattern to the preamplifier and receives the configuration signal from the preamplifier.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5488518 (1996-01-01), Shier
patent: 5589777 (1996-12-01), Davis et al.
patent: 5986841 (1999-11-01), Sorenson
Caddy, Jr. Robert Ellis
Cloke Robert L.
Spaur Michael Rodger
Turner David Price
Nguyen Hoa T.
Shara Milad G
Western Digital Corporation
Wong K.
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