Anticipatory track switching microactuator track switch to enable track profile interpolation and control

A data storage device, comprising:

• a disk configured to store data in a plurality of concentric data tracks;
• a head configured to read data from or write data to the data tracks;
• an actuator configured to move the head radially across the disk;
• and
• a control circuit for positioning a transducer over a magnetic recording medium for sequential track seeking operations, the control circuit configured to:
• perform a data transfer operation on a current track of the magnetic recording medium using the transducer;
• during the data transfer operation, identify a next track to which the transducer is to be moved in accordance with a sequential access pattern;
• initiate movement of the transducer toward the next track before completion of the data transfer operation on the current track;
• determine a feed-forward control signal based on a feed-forward profile comprising an acceleration table associating discrete voltage values with corresponding microactuator acceleration values;
• apply the feed-forward control signal to a microactuator configured to move and/or position the transducer according to the feed-forward control signal, the feed-forward control signal being configured to apply a voltage to move the transducer in anticipation of the next track position based on a predefined seek profile;
• and
• complete the data transfer operation on the current track during a period of latency in the movement toward the next track, such that a portion of the data transfer and a portion of the seek operation overlap in time.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a controller of a data storage device, cause the data storage device to position a transducer over a magnetic recording medium for sequential track seeking operations, including the steps of:

• performing a data transfer operation on a current track of the magnetic recording medium using the transducer;
• during the data transfer operation, identifying a next track to which the transducer is to be moved in accordance with a sequential access pattern;
• initiating movement of the transducer toward the next track before completion of the data transfer operation on the current track;
• determining a feed-forward control signal based on a feed-forward profile comprising an acceleration table associating discrete voltage values with corresponding microactuator acceleration values;
• applying the feed-forward control signal to a microactuator configured to move and/or position the transducer according to the feed-forward control signal, the feed-forward control signal being configured to apply a voltage to move the transducer in anticipation of the next track position based on a predefined seek profile;
• and
• completing the data transfer operation on the current track during a period of latency in the movement toward the next track, such that a portion of the data transfer and a portion of the seek operation overlap in time.