Disk Head Terminal Short-Circuit Detection Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of terminals on a disk apparatus's head leads to reduced distances between flexible printed circuit (FPC) terminals, causing contact failures between circuit elements and board terminals, and existing abnormality detection methods fail to detect issues between terminals connected to different loads on the magnetic head.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an inter-terminal abnormality detection circuit within the FPC to detect short-circuits and connection failures between board terminals connected to different loads on the magnetic head, using a preamplifier with switches and comparator circuits to identify voltage anomalies between adjacent terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the number of terminals on the head is increased to support more loads, then the functionality and versatility of the disk apparatus is improved, but the distance between FPC terminals is reduced leading to contact failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the FPC terminal structure into multiple groups, with each group serving specific loads. By segmenting the terminal connections and adding detection circuits for each group, the system can identify contact failures in specific segments without affecting the entire system, thus maintaining reliability while supporting increased terminal density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces abnormality detection circuits as intermediary components between the FPC terminals and the loads. These detection circuits act as mediators that monitor the electrical state of each terminal group and signal when contact failures occur, enabling early detection and prevention of system failures while allowing high terminal density.
2Area of stationary object
If the distance between FPC terminals is reduced to accommodate more terminals, then the compactness and integration are improved, but contact failures between circuit elements and board terminals increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary detection of contact failures by placing abnormality detection circuits that continuously monitor terminal connections before failures propagate to the loads. This preliminary action allows the system to detect and respond to contact issues early, maintaining reliability even with reduced terminal spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical contact monitoring with electrical detection circuits that use voltage or current measurements to identify contact failures. This substitution allows for more sensitive and reliable detection of contact issues in compact terminal arrangements where mechanical inspection would be insufficient.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If existing abnormality detection methods are used, then simple short-circuits are detected, but issues between terminals connected to different loads cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detection function by assigning specific detection circuits to monitor specific groups of terminals connected to different loads. This segmentation enables the detection of inter-terminal abnormalities that span across different load connections, as each detection circuit can identify voltage anomalies specific to its monitored terminal group.
Solution Approach 2:
The abnormality detection circuits are designed with multi-functionality, capable of detecting various types of abnormalities including short-circuits within a terminal group, open-circuits, and inter-terminal abnormalities affecting multiple loads. This universal detection capability comprehensively monitors all terminal connections without requiring separate specialized circuits for each failure mode.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively detects abnormalities between board terminals connected to different loads on the magnetic head, preventing failures in the disk apparatus by identifying short-circuits and ground faults, thereby ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
a preamplifier that applies a voltage to the loads via the plurality of board terminals during writing or reading of the data to or from the disk
Implementation Method 2
The abnormality detection circuit detects a short-circuit between a first board terminal which is the board terminal connected to the head terminal of the first load, and a second board terminal
Data Source
AI summary
A disk apparatus includes a disk, a head, a circuit board, and an abnormality detection circuit. The head includes a plurality of loads, including at least a first load and a second load, associated with writing or reading of data to or from the disk, and a plurality of head terminals corresponding to and connected to the plurality of loads, respectively. The circuit board includes board terminals corresponding to and connected to the plurality of head terminals, respectively, and a preamplifier that applies a voltage to the loads via the plurality of board terminals during writing or reading of the data to or from the disk. The abnormality detection circuit detects a short-circuit between a first board terminal, which is the board terminal connected to the head terminal of the first load, and a second board terminal, which is the board terminal connected to the head terminal of the second load.