Drive motor controller for low power disk drive
First Claim
1. A high power efficiency, low power hard disk storage system comprising:
- a hard disk drive assembly including storage disks and a permanent magnet motor operative at a speed of about 3600 rpm or higher, and having a multiple phase stator;
a positive power source for providing electrical power at approximately 12 volts;
switching commutation circuit means for regulating said electrical power supplied to said multiple phase stator, coupled to said positive power source;
a switching regulator power converter including an n-channel power MOSFET switching transistor connected between said switching commutation circuit means and ground; and
means for applying substantially constant high frequency pulse switching signals to said n-channel power MOSFET switching transistor, said pulse switching signals providing a varying duty cycle to vary the power supplied form said power source to said motor;
whereby the low resistance of the n-channel power MOSFET switching transistor significantly increases the efficiency and reduces the power dissipation of the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hard disk drive digital storage system provides increased power efficiency and reduced power losses by using a switching regulator type DC to DC power converter, to control spindle motor speed, in which a variable duty cycle, low "ON" resistance n-channel power MOSFET transistor is located near the ground side of the motor drive circuit. A voltage booster circuit provides higher gate control switching voltages to the motor power phase commutation switching transistors. A sense resistor is connected between the converter and ground, and the voltage developed across this sense resistor provides a signal which is coupled to the motor control circuit to vary the duty cycle of the converter to regulate the peak current applied to the motor.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A high power efficiency, low power hard disk storage system comprising:
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a hard disk drive assembly including storage disks and a permanent magnet motor operative at a speed of about 3600 rpm or higher, and having a multiple phase stator; a positive power source for providing electrical power at approximately 12 volts; switching commutation circuit means for regulating said electrical power supplied to said multiple phase stator, coupled to said positive power source; a switching regulator power converter including an n-channel power MOSFET switching transistor connected between said switching commutation circuit means and ground; and means for applying substantially constant high frequency pulse switching signals to said n-channel power MOSFET switching transistor, said pulse switching signals providing a varying duty cycle to vary the power supplied form said power source to said motor; whereby the low resistance of the n-channel power MOSFET switching transistor significantly increases the efficiency and reduces the power dissipation of the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. The high power efficiency, low power hard disk storage system comprising:
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a hard disk drive assembly including storage disks and a motor having multiple phase windings; a positive power source for providing electrical power to said motor; switching commutation circuit means for regulating said electrical power supplied to said multiple phase windings, coupled to said power source; a switching regulator power converter including a high speed n-type power transistor connected between said switching commutation circuit means and ground; and means for applying high frequency pulse switching signals to said high speed n-type power transistor, said pulse switching signals providing a varying duty cycle to vary the power supplied form said power source to said motor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A high power efficiency, lower power hard disk storage system comprising:
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a hard disk drive assembly including storage disks and a motor having multiple phase windings; a power source for providing electrical power to said motor; switching commutation circuit means for supplying said electrical power to said multiple phase windings, coupled to said power source; a switching regulator power converter including a high speed transistor having a low resistance in a conducting or "on" state and a substantially higher resistance in a non-conducting or "off" state, connected between said switching commutation circuit means and ground; means for applying high frequency pulse switching signals to said high speed transistor, said pulse switching signals providing a varying duty cycle to vary the power supplied form said power source to said motor; a sense resistor connected between said switching regulator power converter and ground; and feedback means for detecting a voltage developed across said sense resistor and using the detected voltage to controls said switching regulator power converter. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A high power efficiency, switching spindle motor power regulator type, hard disk digital storage system comprising:
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a hard disk drive assembly including storage disks and a motor having multiple phase windings; a power source for providing electrical power to said motor; switching commutation circuit means for supplying said electrical power to said multiple phase windings, coupled to said power source; a DC-DC switching regulator power converter including a high speed transistor having low "on-resistance" connected between said switching commutation circuit means and ground; and means for applying high frequency pulse switching signals to said high speed transistor to vary the power supplied from said power source to said motor.
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Specification