Disk drive determining a head-switch preheat period used to format a disk
AssigneeWestern Digital Technologies, Inc.
InventorsDalwinder Singh, Gregory B. Thelin, Jonathan V. Nguyen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors. The disk drive further comprises a plurality of heads, such as a top head and a bottom head. Control circuitry within the disk drive determines a head-switch preheat period used to format the disk. The head-switch preheat period is calibrated by selecting one of the heads to write a test pattern to the disk, and then preheating the selected head for a preheat period prior to reading the test pattern from the disk to generate a read signal. The head-switch preheat period is determined for the selected head in response to the read signal.
Claims18
A disk drive comprising:
- (a) a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors;
- (b) a plurality of heads;
- and
- (c) control circuitry operable to:
- select one of the heads to write a test pattern to the disk;
- preheat the selected head for a preheat period;
- read the test pattern from the disk using the selected head to generate a read signal;
- determine a head-switch preheat period for the selected head in response to the read signal;
- and
- format the disk in response to the head-switch preheat period.
A method of operating a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a disk including a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors, the disk drive further comprising a plurality of heads, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) calibrating a head-switch preheat period for a selected one of the heads by:
- writing a test pattern to the disk using the selected head;
- preheating the selected head for a preheat period;
- reading the test pattern from the disk using the selected head to generate a read signal;
- and
- determining a head-switch preheat period for the selected head in response to the read signal;
- and
- (b) formatting the disk in response to the head-switch preheat period.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.