Detecting head-disc interference using position error signal

#This application relates generally to disc drives and more particularly to detecting contact between a head and a disc in a disc drive.

#A disc drive typically includes one or more discs that rotate at a constant high speed during operation of the drive. Information is written to and read from tracks on the discs through the use of an actuator assembly, which rotates during a seek operation. A typical actuator assembly includes a plurality of actuator arms, which extend towards the discs, with one or more flexures extending from each of the actuator arms. Mounted at the distal end of each of the flexures is a head, which acts as an air bearing slider enabling the head to fly in close proximity above the corresponding surface of the associated disc.

#Increasing the density of information stored on discs can increase the storage capacity of hard disc drives. To read the densely stored information, designers have decreased the gap fly height between the heads and the discs. Reducing the gap fly height can lead to increased contact between the head and the data portion of the disc during operation of the disc drive (i.e., head-disc interference). Such interference can excite head and disc resonance frequencies, which can interfere with the servo positioning of the recording heads over the data tracks. For example, if head-disc interference occurs during a servo track writing operation, then spurious vibrations may be written into the servo pattern due to the excitation of head and disc resonance modes. Head-disc interference can also lead to accelerated head and disc surface wear. This may culminate in a “head crash,” a phenomena where the recording head irreparably damages the disc surface, resulting in loss of data and catastrophic disc drive failure.

#FIG. 1 is a plan view of a disc drive incorporating a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing the primary internal components.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a head-disc interference detection system in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 3 is a flow chart depicting a process flow for detecting and quantifying head-disc interference in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#A disc drive 100 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The disc drive 100 includes a base 102 to which various components of the disc drive 100 are mounted. A top cover 104, shown partially cut away, cooperates with the base 102 to form an internal, sealed environment for the disc drive in a conventional manner. The components include a spindle motor 106, which rotates one or more discs 108 at a constant high speed. Information is written to and read from tracks on the discs 108 through the use of an actuator assembly 110, which rotates during a seek operation about a bearing shaft assembly 112 positioned adjacent the discs 108. The actuator assembly 110 includes a plurality of actuator arms 114 which extend towards the discs 108, with one or more flexures 116 extending from each of the actuator arms 114. Mounted at the distal end of each of the flexures 116 is a head 118, which includes an air bearing slider enabling the head 118 to fly in close proximity above the corresponding surface of the associated disc 108.

#During a seek operation, the track position of the heads 118 is controlled through the use of a voice coil motor 124, which typically includes a coil 126 attached to the actuator assembly 110, as well as one or more permanent magnets 128 which establish a magnetic field in which the coil 126 is immersed. The controlled application of current to the coil 126 causes magnetic interaction between the permanent magnets 128 and the coil 126 so that the coil 126 moves in accordance with the well-known Lorentz relationship. As the coil 126 moves, the actuator assembly 110 pivots about the bearing shaft assembly 112, and the heads 118 are caused to move across the surfaces of the discs 108.

#The spindle motor 106 is typically de-energized when the disc drive 100 is not in use for extended periods of time. The heads 118 are moved over park zones 120 near the inner diameter of the discs 108 when the drive motor is de-energized. The heads 118 are secured over the park zones 120 through the use of an actuator latch arrangement, which prevents inadvertent rotation of the actuator assembly 110 when the heads are parked.