Data storage device updating laser power during non-write mode for heat assisted magnetic recording

• US 9,502,068 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Haralson, Phillip S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pendleton, Dionne H
• Application Number:
  US14/682,021
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0804 with main memory updating G06F12/0806 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0868 Data transfer between cache memory and other subsystems, e.g. storage devices or host systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10027 adjusting the signal strength during recording or reproduction, e.g. variable gain amplifiers optimum power control for optical discs G11B7/125
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10351 baseline shift, DC content, bias
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 7/1263 Power control during transducing, e.g. by monitoring

Abstract

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. While writing data to the disk, an updated power setting for the laser is stored in a staging register, and during a non-write mode, the updated power setting is transferred from the staging register to an operating register in order to update an operating power for the laser.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a disk;

a head actuated over the disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk; and

control circuitry configured to;

while writing data to the disk, store an updated power setting for the laser in a staging register; and

during a non-write mode, transfer the updated power setting from the staging register to an operating register in order to update an operating power for the laser,

wherein the non-write mode comprises an interval when the head is reading a servo sector on the disk.

2. The data storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the control circuitry comprises a controller and a preamp;

the preamp comprises the staging register and the operating register; and

the controller is configured to;

transmit the updated power setting from the controller to the preamp while writing data to the disk; and

command the preamp to transfer the updated power setting from the staging register to the operating register during the non-write mode.

3. The data storage device as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-write mode further comprises an interval when the head is passing over an inter-sector gap during a write operation.

4. A method of operating a data storage device, the method comprising:

while writing data to a disk using a head comprising a laser, storing an updated power setting for the laser in a staging register, wherein the laser is configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk; and

during a non-write mode, transferring the updated power setting from the staging register to an operating register in order to update an operating power for the laser,

wherein the non-write mode comprises an interval when the head is reading a servo sector on the disk.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising:

transmitting the updated power setting from a controller to a staging register in a preamp while writing data to the disk; and

commanding the preamp to transfer the updated power setting from the staging register to an operating register in the preamp during the non-write mode.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the non-write mode further comprises an interval when the head is passing over an inter-sector gap during a write operation.

7. A data storage device comprising:

a disk;

a head actuated over the disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk; and

control circuitry configured to;

while writing data to the disk, store an updated power setting for the laser in a staging register; and

during a non-write mode, transfer the updated power setting from the staging register to an operating register in order to update an operating power for the laser,

wherein;

the control circuitry comprises a controller and a preamp;

the preamp comprises the staging register and the operating register; and

the controller is configured to;

transmit the updated power setting from the controller to the preamp while writing data to the disk; and

command the preamp to transfer the updated power setting from the staging register to the operating register during the non-write mode.

8. The data storage device as recited in claim 7, wherein the non-write mode comprises an interval when the head is reading a servo sector on the disk.

9. A method of operating a data storage device, the method comprising:

while writing data to a disk using a head comprising a laser, storing an updated power setting for the laser in a staging register in a preamp, wherein the laser is configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk;

transmitting the updated power setting from a controller to the staging register in the preamp while writing data to the disk; and

during a non-write mode, commanding the preamp to transfer the updated power setting from the staging register to an operating register in the preamp in order to update an operating power for the laser.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein the non-write mode comprises an interval when the head is reading a servo sector on the disk.