Dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly for a data storage device

• US 20030005188A1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Tehrani, Bijan, Hardy, Paul M., Clark, Arthur J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,143,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0607 by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device

Abstract

A dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly including a printed circuit board for supporting additional components of the dual serial port assembly, a personal computer peripheral component interconnect connector secured to the printed circuit board for passing data between the printed circuit board and a personal computer. A first serial port connector mounted on the printed circuit transferring communication data and synchronization data between the personal computer and the data storage device through a programmed universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter microchip, and a second serial port connector mounted on the printed circuit board passing a performance data of the servo control circuit from the data storage device through a serial-to-parallel converter to the personal computer.

Claims

1. A dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly for characterizing a servo control circuit of a data storage device comprising:

a printed circuit board;

a personal computer peripheral component interconnect connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing data between a personal computer and the data storage device;

a first serial port connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing communication and synchronization data between the data storage device and the personal computer;

a second serial port connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing a performance data of the servo control circuit from the data storage device to the personal computer;

a programmed universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter microchip supported by the printed circuit board and communicating with the first serial port connector for controlling an interface between the personal computer and the data storage device; and

a serial-to-parallel converter supported by the print circuit board and communicating with the second serial port connector for converting the performance data of the servo control circuit from a serial communication data string to a parallel communication data string for analysis by the personal computer.

2. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 1 in which the first serial port connector is a synchronous serial port connector and supports a synchronous serial port cable for connection to the data storage device.

3. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 1 in which the second serial port connector is an asynchronous serial port connector and supports an asynchronous serial port cable for connection to the data storage device.

4. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 1 in which the programed universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter microchip supports an asynchronous full-duplex serial communication protocol.

5. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 1 in which the serial-to-parallel converter supports a high-speed, one-way, synchronous serial communication protocol used for collecting data from the servo control circuit of the data storage device.

6. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 4 in which the asynchronous full-duplex serial port operates at a rate in excess of a three mega-bits per second.

7. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 5 in which the synchronous serial port performs an acquisition of a real-time data from a servo sector of the data storage device at an interval of once per servo sector.

8. The dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly of claim 5 in which the synchronous serial port performs an acquisition of a real-time data from a servo sector of the data storage device at an interval of twice per servo sector.

9. A servo control circuit performance measurement station for measuring an operating point of a servo control circuit of a data storage device comprising:

a personal computer with a chassis for supporting assemblies of the servo control circuit performance measurement station;

a motherboard with a personal computer peripheral component interconnect expansion slot attached to the chassis;

a dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly for characterizing the servo control circuit of the data storage device, the dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly communicating with the personal computer through the peripheral component interconnect expansion slot;

a synchronous serial port cable attached on a first end to the dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly and communicating on a distal end with the data storage device; and

an asynchronous serial port cable attached on a first end to the dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly and communicating on a distal end with the data storage device.

10. The servo control circuit performance measurement station of claim 9 in which the data storage device is external to the personal computer chassis.

11. The servo control circuit performance measurement station of claim 9 further including a monitor communicating with the motherboard and still further including a keyboard communicating with the motherboard.

12. The servo control circuit performance measurement station of claim 9 in which the dual serial port data acquisition interface assembly comprises:

a printed circuit board;

a personal computer peripheral component interconnect connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing data between a personal computer and the data storage device;

a first serial port connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing communication and synchronization data between the data storage device and the personal computer;

a second serial port connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing a performance data of the servo control circuit from the data storage device to the personal computer;

a programmed universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter microchip supported by the printed circuit board and communicating with the first serial port connector for controlling an interface between the personal computer and the data storage device; and

a serial-to-parallel converter supported by the print circuit board and communicating with the second serial port connector for converting the performance data of the servo control circuit from a serial communication data string to a parallel communication data string for analysis by the personal computer.

14. The data storage device of claim 13 in which the means for characterizing the servo control circuit of the data storage device comprises:

a printed circuit board;

a personal computer peripheral component interconnect connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing data between a personal computer and the data storage device;

a first serial port connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing communication and synchronization data between the data storage device and the personal computer;

a second serial port connector supported by the printed circuit board for passing a performance data of the servo control circuit from the data storage device to the personal computer;

a programmed universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter microchip supported by the printed circuit board and communicating with the first serial port connector for controlling an interface between the personal computer and the data storage device; and

a serial-to-parallel converter supported by the printed circuit board and communicating with the second serial port connector for converting the performance data of the servo control circuit from a serial communication data string to a parallel communication data string for analysis by the personal computer.

15. The data storage device of claim 14 in which the first serial port connector is a synchronous serial port connector and supports a synchronous serial port cable for connection to the data storage device.

16. The data storage device of claim 14 in which the second serial port connector is an asynchronous serial port connector and supports an asynchronous serial port cable for connection to the data storage device.

17. The data storage device of claim 14 in which the programmed universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter microchip supports an asynchronous full-duplex serial communication protocol.

18. The data storage device of claim 14 in which the serial-to-parallel converter supports a high-speed, one-way, synchronous serial communication protocol used for collecting data from the servo control circuit of the data storage device.

19. The data storage device of claim 17 in which the asynchronous full-duplex serial port operates at a rate in excess of a three mega-bits per second.

20. The data storage device of claim 18 in which the synchronous serial port performs an acquisition of a real-time data from a servo sector of the data storage device at an interval of once per servo sector.

21. The data storage device of claim 18 in which the synchronous serial port performs an acquisition of a real-time data from a servo sector of the data storage device at an interval of twice per servo sector.

13. A data storage device comprising:

a basedeck;

a spindle motor assembly supported by the basedeck;

a disc attached to the spindle motor assembly, the disc having an information track for data storage;

an actuator assembly supported by the basedeck and having a read/write head rotationally positionable adjacent the recording surface, the read/write head comprising a read element for reading data from the information track and a write element offset from the read element for writing data to the information track;

a printed circuit board assembly attached to the basedeck; and

a servo control circuit supported by the printed circuit board assembly position-controlling the actuator assembly, the servo control circuit characterized by means for characterizing the servo control circuit of the data storage device.