Disk drive having data-guarding firmware
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorMichael S. Rothberg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A disk drive includes a disk defining a multiplicity of sectors. A method of operating the disk drive includes a step of providing a firmware-controlled state machine which can be in any of a plurality of states including an off-line in-progress state. While the state machine is in the off-line in progress state, the drive performs a firmware-controlled scan of the multiplicity of sectors. While performing the firmware-controlled scan, the drive identifies and repairs a marginal sector.
Claims4
A method of operating a disk drive that includes a disk comprising a data track comprising a plurality of data sectors, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a firmware-controlled state machine which can be in any of a plurality of states including an active state and an off-line in-progress state;
- while the state machine is in the active state, writing user data in response to a host command to a selected data sector of the data track;
- while the state machine is in the off-line in progress state, performing a firmware-controlled scan of the plurality of data sectors;
- while performing the firmware-controlled scan:
- identifying a marginal data sector of the data track;
- executing a plurality of data-recovery firmware procedures including a first data-recovery firmware procedure and a second data-recovery firmware procedure;
- performing a write-verify procedure on the marginal data sector if the first data-recovery firmware procedure is successful in recovering data from the marginal data sector;
- relocating the marginal data sector if the write-verify procedure fails;
- and
- inhibiting relocation of the marginal data sector if the second data-recovery firmware procedure is successful in recovering data from the marginal data sector.
A disk drive comprising:
- a disk comprising a data track comprising a plurality of data sectors;
- and
- a firmware-controlled state machine which can be in any of a plurality of states including an active state and an off-line in-progress state, wherein:
- while the state machine is in the active state, user data is written in response to a host command to a selected data sector of the data track;
- while the state machine is in the off-line in progress state, a firmware-controlled scan of the plurality of data sectors is performed;
- while performing the firmware-controlled scan:
- a marginal data sector of the data track is identified;
- a plurality of data-recovery firmware procedures are executed including a first data-recovery firmware procedure and a second data-recovery firmware procedure;
- a write-verify procedure is executed if the first data-recovery firmware procedure is successful in recovering data from the marginal data sector;
- the marginal data sector is relocated if the write-verify procedure fails;
- and
- the marginal data sector is not relocated if the second data-recovery firmware procedure is successful in recovering data from the marginal data sector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.