JP2001014780A - Disk storage device and head controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize the temperature monitoring function by providing a temperature sensor inside a driver without adding a new interface signal line between the temperature sensor and a printed-circuit board mounted with a CPU. SOLUTION: In the disk drive, a head IC 2 including an A/D converter 12 is presented for converting a temperature detecting signal outputted from the temperature sensor 13 arranged inside to digital detection data. The head IC 2 is provided with a register 11 for holding the detection data outputted from the A/D converter 12. By the CPU 20, the register 11 is accessed through a normal interface, and the detection data held by the register are read as required, then the temperature value in the drive is referred to.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a disk storage device such as a hard disk drive, and more particularly to a head IC having functions such as amplification required for a head read / write operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, hard disk drives (HD)
D) is being installed not only in personal computers but also in various digital devices such as digital television receivers. For this reason, the usage environment of the HDD is not uniform, and it is particularly necessary to assume the influence of the ambient temperature. The conventional HDD also has a function of monitoring the ambient temperature of the drive mechanism by disposing a temperature sensor inside the drive.

In an HDD, a drive mechanism such as a head and a disk is housed in a housing, and is provided with a CPU.
(The microprocessor or microcontroller constituting the main control device) is mounted on a printed circuit board (sometimes called a main PCB) attached to the outside of the housing. The CPU executes a temperature monitoring process by inputting detection data obtained by digitally converting a temperature detection signal output from the temperature sensor.

[0004]

As described above, even in the conventional HDD, the CPU can monitor the ambient temperature of the drive mechanism by disposing the temperature sensor inside the device. However, in order to supply the detection signal of the temperature sensor to the CPU mounted on the main PCB, an interface signal line for connecting the main PCB and the temperature sensor is required. Therefore, in the HDD in which a temperature sensor is newly provided, it is necessary to take measures such as increasing the number of interface signal lines and changing the configuration of the signal wiring.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a temperature sensor or the like inside a device without increasing a new interface signal line between a sensor such as a temperature sensor and a printed circuit board on which a CPU is mounted. It is to realize a monitoring function and the like.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
The disk storage device has a temperature sensor disposed inside the device, and includes a head control circuit including an A / D converter and a register for converting a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor into digital detection data. The head control circuit has a read / write amplifier circuit that amplifies a read signal from the head and outputs a write signal to the head. The register holds the detection data of the temperature sensor output from the A / D converter.

The control means accesses the register, inputs the detection data held in the register, and detects the ambient temperature inside the device. The control unit executes control related to the read / write operation based on the detected temperature value, specifically, for example, sets a current value of a write signal to the head.

With such a configuration, the CPU accesses the register without using a special interface signal line for connecting the printed circuit board on which the CPU constituting the control means is mounted to the temperature sensor. The detected temperature value can be obtained. Therefore, the CPU can execute various control processes assuming a change in the ambient temperature.

[0009] A second aspect of the present invention is a head control apparatus applied to a disk drive.
This device has an A / D converter in addition to a head amplifier circuit for amplifying a write signal and a register for holding various control data. The A / D converter converts a detection signal from, for example, a temperature sensor provided in the drive or another sensor into digital detection data. The register includes, for example, a write current value and a read head (MR head).
In addition to the control data such as the bias current value and the head selection data (head number), the detection data output from the A / D converter is held.

With such a configuration, the detection data from the temperature sensor or the like can be held in the register of the head control device. Normally, the CPU of the disk drive can access various registers of the head control device, set various control data, and read detection data from the registers. The detection data is data indicating a physical state such as a temperature value corresponding to the type of the sensor. By using the detection data, the CPU can monitor the surrounding environment inside the drive such as a change in the surrounding temperature.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a head IC and peripheral circuits related to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of an HDD related to the embodiment.

(Structure of Disk Drive) As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the disk drive of the embodiment has an HD
Assume D. HDDs are roughly classified as shown in FIG.
A head 1 for executing a data read / write operation on the disk 5, an actuator 8 for holding the head 1,
Voice coil motor (VC
M) 7, a drive mechanism having a spindle motor (SPM) 6 for rotating the disk 5, and a circuit system. The drive mechanism is housed inside a housing 30 made of an aluminum alloy or the like, as shown in FIG.

The head 1 has a structure in which a write head and a read head are mounted on the same slider. The write head is an inductive head, and generates a recording magnetic field in accordance with a write current from a head IC 2 to be described later.
A magnetic recording operation corresponding to the write data is executed.
The read head includes an MR head (GMR head), and is supplied with a bias current from the head IC 2. The actuator 8 is moved in the radial direction of the rotating disk 5 by the driving force of the VCM 7 as shown in FIG. The actuator 8 is of a ramp-load type (head-load / unload-type), and is configured such that the mounting tab 31 on the suspension retreats to a ramp 32 disposed outside the disk 5.

On the other hand, the circuit system is mounted on a head IC 2 mounted on a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 3 and a printed circuit board (also called a main PCB) 4 as shown in FIG. Control circuits such as the CPU 20 which are located. The FPC 3 is arranged near the actuator 8 inside the housing 30 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, the main PCB 4 is mounted outside the housing 30. As will be described later, a temperature sensor 13 is mounted on the FPC 3 together with the head IC 2 which is a main element of the present invention.

The main PCB 4 includes a CPU 20, a read / write (R / W) channel 21, a servo circuit 22, a disk controller (HDC) 23, and a memory (RAM2).
4 and ROM 25), a driver IC 26, and the like. The CPU 20 is a microprocessor (or called a microcontroller) constituting a main control device of the HDD, and has various control functions. C
As will be described later, the PU 20 has a function of setting various control data in a register included in the head IC 2 and reading detection data (temperature value) related to the embodiment from the register.

The R / W channel 21 has a main function of signal processing of read / write data, and reproduces (decodes) a read signal output from the head IC 2 into read data and transfers it to the HDC 23. The R / W channel 21 modulates (encodes) the write data transferred from the HDC 23 and sends the modulated data to the head IC 2. The servo circuit 22 extracts servo data from the read signal from the R / W channel 21 and outputs the servo data to the CPU 20. HDC2
Reference numeral 3 denotes an interface between the drive and a host system (for example, a personal computer).
It performs write data transfer control and the like. Memory 24, 2
Reference numeral 5 stores programs required for the control operation of the CPU 20 and various control data.

The driver IC 26 has an SPM driver 28 for driving and controlling the SPM 6 and a VCM driver 27 for driving and controlling the VCM 7. Each driver 2
Reference numerals 7 and 28 drive and control the SPM 6 and the VCM 7 by a feedback control system including the CPU 20.

(Head IC and Temperature Sensor) Head IC
2 and the temperature sensor 13 are mounted on the FPC 3 as described above. The head IC 2 is, as shown in FIG.
This is an integrated circuit including a head amplifier circuit 10, a register 11, and an A / D converter 12. The head amplifier circuit 10 includes a read amplifier 10A that amplifies a read signal output from the read head of the head 1 and a write amplifier 10B that outputs a write signal (write current) corresponding to write data to the write head of the head 1. . The head amplifier circuit 10 is connected to the above-mentioned R / W channel 21 to input and output read / write signals.

The register 11 is controlled by the CPU 20 and holds various control data necessary for the operation of the head amplifier circuit 10. The control data includes a write current value (11A) related to the write operation of the write head, a bias current value (11B) of the MR head serving as a read head, and a head for executing the read / write operation from a plurality of heads 1. Head selection data (head number)
And so on. Further, in the embodiment, the register 11 has an area for holding digital detection data (11C) output from the A / D converter 12. The CPU 20 can read out the detection data from the register 11 together with other control data. The A / D converter 12 is connected to the temperature sensor 13 mounted on the FPC 3 described above, and the temperature sensor 13
Is converted into digital detection data and output to the register 11.

(Temperature monitoring operation) Hereinafter, FIG. 1 and FIG.
The operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, the temperature sensor 13 detects the ambient temperature inside the housing at regular intervals after power is supplied to the drive, and outputs a temperature detection signal (analog voltage value) corresponding to the temperature value to the head. Output to IC2. Temperature sensor 13
Is mounted near the actuator 8, the temperature sensor 13 can detect the ambient temperature of the head 1 related to the read / write operation. The A / D converter 12 converts the temperature detection signal output from the temperature sensor 13 into digital detection data. The register 11 holds the detection data and updates the data at regular intervals (detection intervals).

The CPU 20 controls the register 1 of the head IC 2
For 1, the detection data (temperature value) set in the register 11 can be read through an interface for accessing normal control data (11A, 11B, etc.). Therefore, the CPU 20 can monitor the ambient temperature inside the drive, for example, by accessing the register 11 at regular intervals and reading out the detection data. Here, as a specific example, a case where detection data (temperature value) is used when setting a write current value during a write operation will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

When receiving a write command from the host system, the CPU 20 shifts to a write mode (YES in step S1). In the write mode, the CPU 20 controls the actuator 8 to control the positioning of the selected head 1 on the track to be accessed on the disk 5. Then, the write head of the head 1 performs a magnetic recording operation according to the write data transferred from the host system. In the operation of the write head, it is necessary to supply a write current corresponding to the write data from the write amplifier 10B of the head IC 2 to the write head. Here, it is desirable that the CPU 20 sets an appropriate write current value in the register 11 of the head IC 2 based on the ambient temperature during the write operation.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the CPU 20
The detection data is read out by accessing the register 11 of the head IC 2, and the latest temperature value at the time of the write operation is recognized from the detection data (step S2). Where ROM
It is assumed that a table in which an appropriate write current value corresponding to a temperature value is registered in advance (including a rewritable EEPROM) 25. The CPU 20 searches the table for a write current value corresponding to the temperature value obtained from the detection data, and determines the write current value as an appropriate write current value (step S3). The CPU 20 accesses the register 11 of the head IC 2 and sets the determined write current value (11A) in a predetermined area of the register 11 (Step S4).

As described above, the CPU 20 includes the head IC
When setting the write current value in the register 11 of
By referring to the temperature value held in the register, an appropriate write current value according to the ambient temperature in the drive can be set. Here, the CPU 20 uses the normal interface signal line with the head IC 2 without using a special interface signal line connected to the temperature sensor 13, and as a result, detects the temperature from the temperature sensor 13. The value (detection data of the register 11) can be obtained.

As a specific example of the embodiment, the head IC 2
The temperature detection data held in the register 11 of the
Although the case where it is used for the setting process of the write current value of 20 is assumed, it is naturally applicable to other control processes. In short, the CPU 20 can obtain the temperature value detected by the temperature sensor 13 as digital detection data as needed, as long as there is only a timing at which the register 11 of the head IC 2 can be accessed.

Further, in the present embodiment, the A /
A D converter 12 and a register 11 are connected to a temperature sensor 13
And the temperature monitoring device including the CPU 20 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, when a physical sensor other than the temperature sensor 13 (particularly a sensor that detects a physical state related to the surrounding environment in the drive) is used, it can function as a so-called surrounding environment monitoring device including the sensor. is there.

[0029]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, when a physical sensor typified by a temperature sensor is arranged inside a disk drive, the CPU can be used without using a special interface signal line. , The output value from the sensor can be obtained as digital detection data. Therefore, especially in a disk drive, a surrounding environment monitoring function such as a temperature monitoring function can be realized without requiring a complicated configuration.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a main part of a head IC and peripheral circuits according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram showing a main part of the disk drive according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view showing a mechanism of the disk drive according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control operation related to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Head (write head and read head) 2 ... Head IC (head control circuit) 3 ... Flexible printed circuit board (FPC) 4 ... Printed circuit board (main PCB) 5 ... Disk 6 ... Spindle motor (SPM) 7 ... Voice coil motor (VCM) 8 Actuator 10 Head amplifier 10A Read amplifier 10B Write amplifier 11 Register 12 A / D converter 13 Temperature sensor 20 CPU (control means) 21 Read / write (R / W) ) Channel 22 Servo circuit 23 Disk controller (HDC) 24 Memory (RAM) 25 Memory (ROM and EEPROM) 26 Driver IC 27 VCM driver 28 SPM driver 30 Housing

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A head for executing a data read / write operation on a disk, a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature, and an amplifier for amplifying a read signal from the head and supplying a write signal to the head. A head control circuit having a function and having an A / D converter for converting a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor into digital detection data, and a register for holding the detection data; Control means for executing control related to the read / write operation using detection data held in a register. 2. A head control device applied to a disk storage device having a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature by executing recording and reproduction of data on and from a disk by a head, comprising: amplifying a read signal from the head. A head amplifier circuit for supplying a write signal to the head; an A / D converter for converting a temperature detection signal from the temperature sensor into digital detection data; and an output from the A / D converter. A head control device comprising: a register for holding detection data. 3. The disk storage device according to claim 1, wherein said control means has a function of monitoring a temperature change inside the device based on detection data read from said register at predetermined intervals. 4. The read / write head according to claim 1, wherein:
3. The disk storage device according to claim 1, further comprising an area for holding the detection data, in addition to an area for holding control data necessary for a write operation.
The head control device described in the above. 5. An integrated circuit including the head amplifier circuit, the A / D converter, and the register, wherein the integrated circuit is mounted on the same printed circuit board together with the temperature sensor. Item 3. The head control device according to Item 2. 6. A head for performing a data read / write operation on a disk, a sensor means for detecting a physical state related to an ambient environment, an amplification of a read signal from the head, and an operation for the head. A head control circuit having a function of supplying a write signal and having an A / D converter for converting a detection signal from the sensor into digital detection data and a register for holding the detection data; Control means for accessing and performing control related to the read / write operation using the detection data held in the register. 7. A head control device applied to a disk storage device having sensor means for performing recording and reproduction of data on a disk by a head and detecting a physical state related to an ambient environment, wherein the head A head amplifier circuit for amplifying a read signal from the controller and supplying a write signal to the head; an A / D converter for converting a detection signal from the sensor means into digital detection data; A head control device comprising: a register for holding detection data output from a converter.