HAMR drive fault detection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9318153-B2
Application number	US-201414230367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2014
Priority date	Mar 31, 2014
Publication date	Apr 19, 2016
Grant date	Apr 19, 2016

Abstract

A data storage apparatus includes a controller capable of being coupled to a read/write head. The controller is configured to receive a fault signal from a sensor of the read/write head. The sensor indicates whether an energy source used to heat the recording medium is malfunctioning during a write operation. In response to the fault signal, the controller takes remedial action to protect the data associated with the write operation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a controller capable of being coupled to a read/write head;
an energy source configured to heat a recording medium during a write operation; and
a preamplifier coupled to the controller and the energy source, the preamplifier configured to detect an electrical fault of the energy source and in response thereto provide a fault signal to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to take remedial action comprising protecting data associated with the write operation in response the fault signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the electrical fault comprises one of an open circuit, a short circuit, an out-of-range voltage, an out-of-range current, and a voltage shift.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of reprogramming preamplifier registers, rewriting data multiple times, setting operational threshold windows, and adjusting operational threshold windows.

4. A system, comprising:
an energy source configured to heat a recording medium;
a read/write head comprising a sensor configured to detect whether the energy source is heating a recording medium during a write operation;
a preamplifier coupled to the energy source, the preamplifier configured to detect an electrical fault of the energy source; and
a controller coupled to the read/write head and the preamplifier, and configured to:
receive a first fault signal from the sensor indicating that the energy source is malfunctioning during the write operation and, in response to the first fault signal, take remedial action to protect data associated with the write operation; and
receive an electrical fault signal from the preamplifier and, in response to the electrical fault signal, take remedial action.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a photodiode and a temperature sensor.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the remedial action comprises re-initiating the write operation with a following read verification.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first fault signal is triggered based on the energy source operating outside of a desired operating range and wherein the desired operating range is adjustable to prevent false indicators or to accommodate aging of the system.

8. The system of claim 4 , wherein the electrical fault signal is triggered by one of an open circuit, a short circuit, an out-of-range voltage, an out-of-range current, and a voltage shift.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of reprogramming preamplifier registers, rewriting data multiple times, setting operational threshold windows, and adjusting operational threshold windows.

10. A method, comprising: monitoring an energy source used to heat a recording medium during a write operation; detecting an electrical fault of the energy source; issuing an electrical fault signal if an electrical fault occurs; and responding to the electrical fault signal to remediate the electrical fault, wherein the responding comprises protecting data associated with the write operation.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrical fault signal is triggered by one of an open circuit, a short circuit, an out-of-range voltage, an out-of-range current, and a voltage shift.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the remedial action comprises one or more of reprogramming preamplifier registers, rewriting data multiple times, setting operational threshold windows, and adjusting operational threshold windows.

Assignees

• Seagate Technology Llc

Inventors

• Trantham Jon D
• Matousek Robert
• Lammers Todd M

Classifications

• G11B27/36 Primary

  Monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing {(for digital recording G11B20/00 and s.gr.; for monitoring, testing or measuring of TV recorders of the type covered by H04N5/76 and subgroups, see H04N17/06)} · CPC title

• G11B5/314

  where the layers are extra layers normally not provided in the transducing structure, e.g. optical layers (G11B5/3196 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G11B11/10506

  by modulating only the light beam of the transducer · CPC title

• G11B2005/0021

  Thermally assisted recording using an auxiliary energy source for heating the recording layer locally to assist the magnetization reversal · CPC title

• G11B13/08

  using near-field interactions or transducing means and at least one other method or means for recording or reproducing · CPC title