Split field zone data recording

A method of reading or writing a split data sector on a recording track of a data storage system having a servo timer, the recording track having a plurality of servo fields, the method comprising the steps of:

• detecting one of the servo fields and sending a signal indicating detection of the servo field to the servo timer;
• reading or writing a first portion of the data sector on the recording track;
• receiving the signal indicating detection in the servo timer;
• after the signal indicating detection is received, estimating the time period to the next consecutive servo field;
• sending an estimating signal which indicates when the next consecutive servo field is expected;
• receiving the estimating signal and suspending the reading or writing of the data sector in response to the estimating signal;
• detecting the next consecutive servo field;
• after the next consecutive servo field is detected, resuming the reading or writing of the data sector such that a second portion of the data sector is read or written to.

A method of reading or writing a split data sector on a recording track of a data storage system having a servo timer, the recording track having a plurality of servo fields, the method comprising the steps of:

• dividing the data sector on the recording track into a plurality of groups of bytes;
• detecting one of said servo fields and sending a first signal to the servo timer indicating that a servo field has been detected;
• reading or writing a first portion of the plurality of groups of bytes in the data sector;
• receiving the first signal in the servo timer;
• after the first signal is received, estimating the time period to the next consecutive servo field;
• sending a second signal which indicates when the next consecutive servo field is expected;
• checking if the second signal has been received within the last group of bytes;
• if the second signal has been received within the last group of bytes, suspending the reading or writing of the data sector;
• detecting the next consecutive servo field;
• after the next consecutive servo field is detected, resuming the reading or writing of the plurality of groups of bytes in the data sector such that a second portion of the plurality of groups of bytes in the data sector are read or written to.

A device for operating data on a recording track of a data storage system, the recording track including a plurality of data sectors and servo fields, the device comprising:

• a servo detector which detects the servo fields and generates a first signal in response thereto;
• a servo timer which receives the first signal and after receiving the first signal estimates the time period to the next consecutive servo field, the servo timer sending a second signal which indicates when the next servo field is expected;
• and
• means for operating data on the recording track, the means for operating data receiving the second signal and operating data on the recording track in response to the second signal.

A device for reading or writing data on a recording track of a data storage system, the recording track including a plurality of data sectors and servo fields, at least one of the data sectors comprising a split data sector having a first portion and a second portion and a servo field therebetween, the device comprising:

• a servo detector which detects the servo fields and generates a first signal in response thereto;
• a servo timer which receives the first signal and after receiving the first signal estimates the time period to the next consecutive servo field, the servo timer sending a second signal which indicates when the next servo field is expected;
• and
• means for reading or writing data on the recording track;
• means for suspending the reading or writing operation after the first portion of the split data sector is read or written to if the second signal occurs in the at least one split data sector;
• means for resuming the reading or writing operation to read the second portion of the split data sector after the servo field.

A disk controller for reading or writing data on a recording track of a data storage system, the recording track including a plurality of data sectors and servo fields, at least one of the data sectors comprising a split data sector having a first portion and a second portion and a servo field therebetween, the disk controller comprising:

• a servo detector which detects the servo fields and generates a first signal in response thereto;
• a servo timer internal to the disk controller which receives the first signal and after receiving the first signal estimates the time period to the next consecutive servo field, the servo timer sending a second signal which indicates when the next servo field is expected;
• and
• means for reading or writing data on the recording track;
• means for suspending the reading or writing operation after the first portion of the split data sector is read or written to if the second signal occurs in the at least one split data sector;
• means for resuming the reading or writing operation to read the second portion of the split data sector after the servo field;
• and
• means for combining the first and second portions of the split data sector.