Hard disk onto which table information depending on model is written, and hard disk drive adopting such a disk

A hard disk drive, comprising:

• an assembly of at least one hard disk having a data zone for storing magnetized data;
• table information varying in dependence upon the model of the hard disk drive being stored in a predetermined region of the data zone, the table information comprising at least one of a sector time table, zone-map information, recording density, or read/write channel information;
• a read only memory contained within said hard disk drive, readily interchangeable among and operationally functionable with a plurality of different hard disk drives exhibiting various capacities for data storage, said read only memory comprising:
• common table information functionally applicable to both said hard disk drive and to a plurality of different hard disk drives exhibiting various capacities for data storage;
• and
• programs operationally controlling said assembly.

A hard disk drive, comprising:

• a hard disk assembly having a hard disk exhibiting a major surface comprised of a radially outer guard band circumferentially surrounding a data zone for storing magnetized data, and a radially inner guard band circumferentially surrounded by said data zone, said data zone being divided into a user's area and a manufacturer's area storing within a predetermined area table information that corresponds to a model of said hard disk drive, with said table information varying in dependence upon said model, specifying a type and number of heads within said hard disk assembly and distinguishing said hard disk assembly from a plurality of characteristically different hard disk assemblies;
• and
• a main board interchangeable with any of said plurality of characteristically different hard disk assemblies, structurally combined with said hard disk assembly within said hard disk drive and operationally mated with said hard disk assembly as a discrete hard disk drive, said main board comprised of:
• a random access memory for reading and storing said table information read from said hard disk;
• a read-only memory for storing common information irrelevant to the model of the hard disk drive but common to said plurality of characteristically different hard disk drives, and storing programs for controlling the hard disk drive;
• and
• a controller for reading and writing data in accordance with said table information and in accordance with programs stored in the random access memory and in said read only memory.

A process of using a hard disk drive, comprising:

• assembling into an assembly at least one hard disk exhibiting a major surface comprised of a radially outer guard band circumferentially surrounding a data zone, and a radially inner guard band circumferentially surrounded by said data zone for storing magnetized data, said data zone being divided into a user's area and a manufacturer's area;
• storing within a predetermined area of said manufacturer's area table information that corresponds to a model of said hard disk drive, with said table information varying in dependence upon said model, specifying a type and number of heads within said hard disk assembly and distinguishing said hard disk assembly from a plurality of characteristically different hard disk assemblies;
• forming a discrete hard disk drive by structurally combining and operationally mating to said hard disk assembly a main circuit board that is interchangeable with any of said plurality of characteristically different hard disk assemblies, said main board comprised of:
• a random access memory for reading and storing said table information read from said hard disk;
• a read-only memory for storing programs for controlling the hard disk drive;
• and
• a controller for reading and writing data in accordance with said table information and in accordance with programs stored in the random access memory and in said read only memory;
• and
• storing within said read only memory common information irrelevant to the model of the hard disk drive but common to said plurality of characteristically different hard disk drives.

A hard disk drive, comprised of:

• an assembly of at least one hard disk forming one model from among a plurality of characteristically different models of hard disk drive assemblies, with one of said at least one hard disk having a data zone for storing magnetized data;
• specific table information corresponding to a type and number of heads for said assembly varying in dependence upon said model of the hard disk drive, stored in a predetermined region of the data zone, said specific table information specifying a type and number of heads within said assembly incorporating said at least one hard disk and distinguishing said assembly from said plurality of characteristically different hard disk drive assemblies;
• a read only memory mounted within said hard disk drive, comprising:
• common table information functionally applicable to both said hard disk drive and to said plurality of different hard disk drive assemblies exhibiting various capacities for data storage;
• and
• programs operationally controlling said hard disk drive and the plurality of characteristically different hard disk drive assemblies.

A hard disk drive, comprised of:

• an assembly of at least one hard disk forming one model from among a plurality of characteristically different models of hard disk drive assemblies, with said hard disk having a data zone
• specific table information corresponding to a type and number of heads for said assembly conforming to said model of the hard disk drive, stored in a predetermined region of the data zone, said table information specifying a type and number of heads within said assembly incorporating said hard disk and distinguishing said assembly from said plurality of characteristically different hard disk drive assemblies;
• a read only memory mounted within said hard disk drive, said memory being readily interchangeable among and operationally functionable with said plurality of characteristically different models of hard disk drives, said read only memory comprising:
• common table information functionally applicable to both said hard disk drive and to said plurality of characteristically different hard disk drives;
• and
• programs operationally controlling said hard disk drive and the plurality of characteristically different hard disk drives.