Method and system for predicting disk drive failures
First Claim
1. A method within a data storage system for predicting failure of a disk drive having a fluid bearing during runtime operation of said disk drive, wherein said fluid bearing has a baseline dynamic fluid response, said method comprising:
- measuring and recording a baseline half-frequency whirl frequency of said fluid bearing;
measuring a runtime vibration of said fluid bearing during operation of said disk drive;
translating said runtime vibration into a runtime dynamic fluid response of said fluid bearing, wherein said translating includes determining a runtime half-frequency whirl frequency from said measured runtime vibration;
comparing said runtime half-frequency whirl frequency with said baseline half-frequency whirl frequency; and
commencing a protective response to a predetermined departure of said runtime half-frequency whirl frequency from said baseline half-frequency whirl frequency, such that data loss within said data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system within a data processing system for predicting failure of a hard disk drive having a fluid bearing during runtime operation of said hard disk drive, wherein said fluid bearing has an established signature dynamic fluid response. First, a runtime vibration level of the fluid bearing is measured. This runtime vibration level is then translated into a runtime dynamic fluid response which provides an indication of the operating condition of the fluid bearing. The runtime dynamic fluid response is compared with the baseline dynamic fluid response in real-time during operation of the hard disk drive. Finally, in response to a predetermined departure of the runtime dynamic fluid response from the baseline dynamic fluid response, a protective response is initiated, such that data loss within the data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented.
79 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method within a data storage system for predicting failure of a disk drive having a fluid bearing during runtime operation of said disk drive, wherein said fluid bearing has a baseline dynamic fluid response, said method comprising:
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measuring and recording a baseline half-frequency whirl frequency of said fluid bearing;
measuring a runtime vibration of said fluid bearing during operation of said disk drive;
translating said runtime vibration into a runtime dynamic fluid response of said fluid bearing, wherein said translating includes determining a runtime half-frequency whirl frequency from said measured runtime vibration;
comparing said runtime half-frequency whirl frequency with said baseline half-frequency whirl frequency; and
commencing a protective response to a predetermined departure of said runtime half-frequency whirl frequency from said baseline half-frequency whirl frequency, such that data loss within said data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
transducing said runtime vibration into an electric response signal, said electric response signal having components that resonate at ratios of said rotational shaft speed; and
band-pass filtering said electric response signal to obtain a component of said electric response signal at approximately one-half of said rotational shaft speed.
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7. The method of claim 1, wherein said baseline dynamic fluid response is defined in terms of a baseline half-frequency whirl amplitude, and wherein measuring a runtime vibration level is preceded by the steps of:
measuring and recording a baseline half-frequency whirl amplitude of said fluid bearing.
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8. The method of claim 7, wherein said runtime dynamic fluid response is defined in terms of a runtime half-frequency whirl amplitude, said method further comprising the steps of:
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determining said runtime half-frequency whirl amplitude from said measured runtime vibration level;
comparing said runtime half-frequency whirl amplitude with said baseline half-frequency whirl amplitude; and
in response to a predetermined departure of said runtime half-frequency whirl amplitude from said baseline half-frequency whirl amplitude, commencing a protective response, such that data loss within said data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented.
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9. The method of claim 1, wherein said data storage system is a multi-drive array having a designated slot for mounting said disk drive and wherein measuring and recording a baseline half-frequency whirl frequency of said fluid bearing further comprises the steps of:
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mounting said disk drive at said designated slot within said multi-drive array; and
measuring and recording a signature baseline half-frequency whirl frequency of said fluid bearing within said disk drive while said multi-drive array is activated.
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10. A data storage subsystem for predicting failure of a disk drive having a fluid bearing during runtime operation of said disk drive, wherein said fluid bearing has a baseline dynamic fluid response, said storage subsystem comprising:
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means for measuring and recording a baseline half-frequency whirl frequency of said fluid bearing;
means for measuring a runtime vibration of said fluid bearing during operation of said disk drive;
means for translating said runtime vibration into a runtime dynamic fluid response of said fluid bearing, wherein said translating includes determining a runtime half-frequency whirl frequency from said measured runtime vibration;
means for comparing said runtime half-frequency whirl frequency with said baseline half-frequency whirl frequency; and
means for commencing a protective response to a predetermined departure of said runtime half-frequency whirl frequency from said baseline half-frequency whirl frequency, such that data loss within said data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
means for transducing said runtime vibration into an electric response signal, said electric response signal having components that resonate at ratios of said rotational shaft speed; and
means for band-pass filtering said electric response signal to obtain a component of said electric response signal at approximately one-half of said rotational shaft speed.
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18. The data storage subsystem of claim 10, further comprising:
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means for measuring and recording a baseline dynamic fluid response of said fluid bearing; and
means for recording a baseline amplitude of said baseline dynamic fluid response.
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19. The data storage subsystem of claim 18, further comprising:
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means for determining a runtime amplitude of said runtime dynamic fluid response;
means for comparing said runtime amplitude with said baseline amplitude; and
means for commencing a protective response to a predetermined departure of said runtime amplitude from said baseline amplitude, such that data loss within said data storage system due to fluid bearing failure is prevented.
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Specification