Method of constructing a hard disk drive having uploadable/downloadable firmware

• US 6,370,645 B1
• Filed: 02/12/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Jae-Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Robertson, David L.
• Application Number:
  US09/249,483
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 713/2, 711/112
• US Class Current: 713/2
• 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 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0676 Magnetic disk device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4415 Self describing peripheral devices

Abstract

A method of constructing firmware of a HDD which is capable of uploading code data written in a hard disk to a memory or downloading the code data from the memory to the hard disk. Codes needed to operate the HDD are stored in a prescribed area of a disk. A hard disk drive boot code and a servo core code are stored in a flash ROM of prescribed capacity. The codes stored in the disk is uploaded to a RAM of prescribed capacity by using the codes stored in the flash ROM, thus to implement the actual operation of the HDD.

Claims

1. A method of constructing a hard disk drive to upload or download firmware, said hard disk drive having a disk as a storage medium consisting of a data band in which user data is written and a plurality of protecting bands, said method comprising the steps of:

storing firmware codes, needed to operate said hard disk drive, in a prescribed area of said disk;

storing a hard disk drive boot code and a servo core code in a flash read only memory of prescribed capacity; and

uploading said firmware codes stored in said disk to a random access memory of prescribed capacity by using said disk drive boot and servo core codes stored in said flash read only memory, thus to implement the actual operation of said hard disk drive.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hard disk drive boot code includes an initialization code of minimum size for uploading data of an area in which an operation code of said hard disk drive is stored to said random access memory by unlatching a head and causing said head to seek said prescribed area of said disk, and includes read and write operation codes used respectively for uploading and downloading.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said servo core code includes a head unlatch code, a track seek code for seeking said prescribed area of said disk, and a track following code for positioning a head to the center of a track of said prescribed area.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said prescribed area is a maintenance area of said disk.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said codes needed to operate said hard disk drive are grouped into several segments each having size adequate to be uploaded to said random access memory.

6. A hard disk drive of a computer having uploadable firmware stored on a hard disk of said hard disk drive, comprising:

a first memory storing a hard disk drive boot code and a servo core code fore enabling firmware stored in a predetermined area of said hard disk to be uploaded to a second memory, said firmware being needed to operate said hard disk drive; and

a microprocessor responsive to said hard disk drive boot code and said servo core code for controlling a head to read said firmware from said predetermined area of said hard disk and uploading said firmware for storage in said second memory, said microprocessor controlling said hard disk drive in response to said firmware uploaded to said second memory.

7. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said first memory is a flash read only memory.

8. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said second memory is a volatile memory.

9. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 8, wherein said volatile memory is a random access memory for temporarily storing said firmware.

10. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said hard disk drive boot code includes an initialization code.

11. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said servo core code includes a head unlatch code, a track seek code for seeking said predetermined area of said hard disk, and a track following code for centering said head over said predetermined area of said hard disk.

12. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said predetermined area of said hard disk is a maintenance track.

13. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 11, wherein said predetermined area of said hard disk is a maintenance track.

14. The hard disk drive as set forth in claim 6, wherein said firmware is comprised of a main code to be uploaded for operating said hard disk drive and a test code to be uploaded during a process test of said hard disk drive, wherein each of said main code and said test code are divided into several easily up-gradable segments.