William W Valliant

US Patent:

53195094, Jun 7, 1994

Filed:

Sep 13, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/759402

Inventors:

Gajus Michelson - Westlake Village CA
William W. Valliant - Camarillo CA
Martyn A. Lewis - Pacific Palisades CA

Assignee:

Servo Track Writer Corporation - Westlake Village CA

International Classification:

G11B 5596
G11B 3310

US Classification:

360 7703

Abstract:

A system and method for controlling and analyzing data storage systems, and more particularly, to systems and methods for controlling and analyzing performance and physical attributes of a sealed disk drive unit using an externally accessible but internally integral positioning system. A disk drive having a sealed housing utilizes a reflective planar mirror on the rotary actuator controlling the head drive assembly. A narrow beam directed through a window on the side wall of the housing onto the mirror is reflected off at angle dependent on the actuator position to a beam sensitive detector. A translator system driven by a positioner disposed at a distance from the rotary actuator axis which is substantially greater than the distance between the actuator axis and the head assembly, is used to vary the relationship between the directed and reflected beams. This system incorporates the rotary actuator in a closed loop servo that positions the actuator precisely at different locations relative to the recording medium, so that the data may be written and analyzed at off-track track position increments. The invention further provides, at an early or later manufacturing stage, means for calculating bias torque and friction without the need for prerecorded embedded servo information.

US Patent:

52688011, Dec 7, 1993

Filed:

Oct 12, 1990

Appl. No.:

7/596489

Inventors:

Robert L. Hazel - Newbury Park CA
Gajus Michelson - Westlake Village CA
William W. Valliant - Camarillo CA

Assignee:

Servo Track Writer Corporation - Westlake Village CA

International Classification:

G11B 556

US Classification:

360 7703

Abstract:

A system and method for writing reference information on a recording media contained with a sealed housing utilizes a reflective planar mirror on the rotary actuator controlling the writing mechanism. A narrow beam directed through a window on the side wall of the housing onto the mirror is reflected off at angle dependent on the actuator position to a beam sensitive detector. A translator system driven by a positioner disposed at a distance from the rotary actuator axis which is substantially greater than the distance between the actuator axis and the writing head, is used to vary the relationship between the directed and reflected beams. This system incorporates the rotary actuator in a closed loop servo that positions the actuator precisely at different locations relative to the recording medium, so that the reference information may be written.