Disk Drive Voltage Booster Reducing Boost During Power Failure
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
During a power failure, the increased boost factor of the voltage booster in disk drives leads to inefficient power consumption and potential malfunction due to increased current consumption, as the power voltage decreases, resulting in insufficient current for head parking and write operation completion.
Innovation Solution
The boosting of the power voltage is reduced based on a linear, step, or staircase function of the decreasing power voltage, adjusting the boost factor to maintain efficient current supply for head parking and write operation completion, thereby optimizing power consumption and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stress or pressure
If the voltage booster boosts the BEMF voltage to maintain sufficient voltage for control circuitry operation, then the voltage level is improved, but the current consumption increases leading to inefficient power usage during power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage booster dynamically adjusts its boost factor based on the decreasing power voltage during power failure. As the power voltage drops, the boost factor is reduced according to a linear, step, or staircase function, allowing the system to maintain sufficient voltage for critical operations while minimizing current consumption at lower voltage levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the voltage booster by adjusting the boost factor in response to changing power voltage conditions. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize the balance between maintaining sufficient voltage for control circuitry and minimizing current consumption during power failure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the voltage booster maintains a high boost factor to ensure sufficient voltage for control circuitry, then the voltage stability is improved, but the current consumption increases causing potential malfunction and insufficient current for head parking
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage booster transitions from a static high boost factor to a dynamic adjustment mechanism that responds to power voltage degradation. This dynamic approach maintains voltage stability when needed while preserving sufficient current for critical functions like head parking and write operation completion.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of maintaining excessive boosting throughout the power failure sequence, the system applies partial boosting that is sufficient for the specific operational stage. As power voltage decreases, the boost factor is reduced to provide just enough voltage for critical operations, leaving adequate current for head parking and data flushing.
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 approach ensures efficient power consumption and reliable operation during power failures by maintaining sufficient current for head parking and write data flushing, enhancing the longevity and performance of disk drives.
Implementation Method 1
When the supply voltage is lost due to a power failure, the momentum of the disk spinning generates a back electromotive force (BEMF) voltage across the windings of the spindle motor.
Implementation Method 2
Disk drives will typically boost this BEMF voltage using a suitable voltage booster, and utilize the boosted voltage to power the control circuitry
Data Source
AI summary
A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, a spindle motor configured to rotate the disk, and control circuitry configured to perform a power fail operation by boosting a power voltage generated based on the spindle motor to generate a boosted voltage, controlling an operation of the data storage device using the boosted voltage, and when the power voltage falls below a threshold, reducing the boosting so as to reduce the boosted voltage.