Striping data simultaneously across multiple platter surfaces

• US 20050243661A1
• Filed: 01/10/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Data Solutions Corporation
• Original Assignee: Advanced Data Solutions Corporation
• Inventors: Tormasi, Walter A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,301 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 369/13.280
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/1092 Single disk raid, i.e. RAID with parity on a single disk
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/02 Recording, reproducing, or erasing methods; Read, write or erase circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/09 Digital recording

Abstract

A hard disk drive comprises an actuator with independently movable arms and a printed circuit board with custom core electronic architecture. The drive also comprises one or more platters aggregating two or more platter surfaces whereupon data may be read from or written to by corresponding read/write heads. The independent-arm actuator and custom printed circuit board enable alternate or interleaving bits or blocks of data to be read or written simultaneously across a plurality of platter surfaces within the same physical drive.

Claims

1. An information storage and retrieval apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

one or more circular substrates, said substrate or substrates aggregating two or more carrier surfaces whereupon data may be read from or written to by corresponding read/write members; and

means for reading or writing alternate or interleaving bits or blocks of data simultaneously across a plurality of carrier surfaces within said information storage and retrieval apparatus.

2. An information storage and retrieval apparatus, said apparatus comprising:

one or more circular substrates, said substrate or substrates aggregating two or more carrier surfaces whereupon data may be read from or written to by corresponding read/write members;

an actuator mechanism with two or more arms, said arms assigned to different carrier surfaces;

means for moving said arms independently across corresponding carrier surfaces with a component of movement in a radial direction with respect to the circular substrate or substrates defining the carrier surfaces; and

a logic holder, said holder comprising electronic architecture for electronically controlling said information storage and retrieval apparatus, wherein in its operative mode, said information storage and retrieval apparatus executes means for permitting alternate or interleaving bits or blocks of data to be read or written simultaneously across a plurality of carrier surfaces.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said apparatus comprises more than one circular substrate.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said circular substrate or substrates are nonremovable.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said apparatus is a hard disk drive.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises more than two arms.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said actuator mechanism is rotary in nature.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

the arms to said actuator mechanism are pivotably connected to one and the same actuator shaft through independent racks;

separate electromagnetic coils are affixed within the proximity of the base of each arm; and

one or more stationary magnets are positioned between each coil fixture.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a substantially flat profile.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally annular dimension.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally triangular dimension.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally square dimension.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally rectangular dimension.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said stationary magnets are plate-shaped members.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said stationary magnets comprise permanent magnets.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said stationary magnets comprise soft-magnetic elements.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein antimagnetic shielding is affixed between each coil fixture.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said antimagnetic shielding comprises mu metal.

19. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said electromagnetic coils are placed in an antipodal configuration.

20. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said stationary magnets are placed in an antipodal configuration.

21. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said actuator mechanism comprises two or more individual actuator submechanisms, said submechanisms each having only one arm, wherein said submechanisms are mounted vertically within one and the same imaginary plane, with each submechanism assigned to different carrier surfaces.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said submechanisms share one and the same mechanical housing.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said submechanisms share one and the same actuator shaft.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said submechanisms share one and the same stationary magnet.

25. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said actuator mechanism comprises a primary actuator and two or more secondary actuators, wherein

the primary actuator comprises two or more primary arms, said primary arms being only unitarily movable; and

the secondary actuators are subdevices that are individually affixed to the tip of each primary arm, with each secondary actuator supporting one read/write member, wherein

in its operative mode, said primary actuator executes means for providing initial general positioning by unitarily moving said secondary actuators to an approximate radial position; and

in its operative mode, said secondary actuators execute means for providing precise independent secondary positioning by independently moving said read/write members to specific radial positions corresponding to particular concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators are microactuators.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators are microelectromechanisms.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to 10,000 or more adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 5000 and 10,000 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 2500 and 5000 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 1000 and 2500 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 100 and 1000 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

33. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 10 and 100 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

34. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 1 and 10 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

35. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electronic architecture comprises means for electronically intercepting read or write commands from a host system, means for electronically responding pursuant to a predetermined shuffling algorithm, and means for electronically manipulating said arms independently during read or write operations.

36. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said electronic architecture comprises:

two or more RW/VCM controllers, said RW/VCM controllers comprising read/write (RW) circuitry for processing and executing read or write commands and voice-coil-motor (VCM) circuitry for manipulating and positioning said arms during read or write operations; and

a microcontroller for providing supervisory and substantive processing services to said RW/VCM controllers, wherein

said microcontroller, RW/VCM controllers, RW circuitry, and VCM circuitry together coexist either physically or logically or in the form of integrated circuits, discrete electronic components, or software equivalents.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the number of RW/VCM controllers is equivalent to the number of arms composing said actuator mechanism, with each RW/VCM controller assigned to different arms; and

the microcontroller is shared among the RW/VCM controllers, with the microcontroller connected to a communication channel interfacing the information storage and retrieval apparatus.

38. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

the microcontroller is an intermediary between a host system and the RW/VCM controllers, said microcontroller comprising means for electronically intercepting read or write commands from said host system and means for electronically responding pursuant to a predetermined shuffling algorithm, wherein

in executing write commands, the microcontroller implements means for electronically apportioning alternate or interleaving bits or blocks of data to each RW/VCM controller; and

in executing read commands, the microcontroller implements means for electronically reconstituting previously apportioned data fragments received from the respective RW/VCM controllers and means for electronically transmitting said data to said host system in native sequential order.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein:

in response to read or write commands issued by the microcontroller, each RW/VCM controller executes means for electronically causing its assigned arm to read or write data across the respective carrier surfaces, with all such read or write operations by said arms occurring simultaneously in a parallel fashion, wherein

the data that are read or written across each carrier surface are commensurate with the data apportioned to the respective RW/VCM controllers by the microcontroller.

40. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said logic holder is a printed circuit board.

41. An actuator mechanism, said mechanism comprising:

two or more arms, said arms assigned to different circular carrier surfaces within an information storage and retrieval apparatus; and

means for moving said arms independently across corresponding carrier surfaces with a component of movement in a radial direction with respect to said carrier surfaces.

42. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein said actuator mechanism comprises more than two arms.

43. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein said actuator mechanism is rotary in nature.

44. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein:

the arms to said actuator mechanism are pivotably connected to one and the same actuator shaft through independent racks;

separate electromagnetic coils are affixed within the proximity of the base of each arm; and

one or more stationary magnets are positioned between each coil fixture.

45. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a substantially flat profile.

46. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally annular dimension.

47. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally triangular dimension.

48. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally square dimension.

49. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said electromagnetic coils each feature a generally rectangular dimension.

50. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said stationary magnets are plate-shaped members.

51. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said stationary magnets comprise permanent magnets.

52. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said stationary magnets comprise soft-magnetic elements.

53. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein antimagnetic shielding is affixed between each coil fixture.

54. The mechanism of claim 53, wherein said antimagnetic shielding comprises mu metal.

55. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said electromagnetic coils are placed in an antipodal configuration.

56. The mechanism of claim 44, wherein said stationary magnets are placed in an antipodal configuration.

57. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein:

said actuator mechanism comprises two or more individual actuator submechanisms, said submechanisms each having only one arm, wherein

said submechanisms are mounted vertically within one and the same imaginary plane, with each submechanism assigned to different carrier surfaces.

58. The mechanism of claim 57, wherein said submechanisms share one and the same mechanical housing.

59. The mechanism of claim 57, wherein said submechanisms share one and the same actuator shaft.

60. The mechanism of claim 57, wherein said submechanisms share one and the same stationary magnet.

61. The mechanism of claim 41, wherein:

said actuator mechanism comprises a primary actuator and two or more secondary actuators, wherein

the primary actuator comprises two or more primary arms, said primary arms being only unitarily movable; and

the secondary actuators are subdevices that are individually affixed to the tip of each primary arm, with each secondary actuator supporting one read/write member, wherein

in its operative mode, said primary actuator executes means for providing initial general positioning by unitarily moving said secondary actuators to an approximate radial position; and

in its operative mode, said secondary actuators execute means for providing precise independent secondary positioning by independently moving said read/write members to specific radial positions corresponding to particular concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

62. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators are microactuators.

63. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators are microelectromechanisms.

64. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to 10,000 or more adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

65. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 5000 and 10,000 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

66. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 2500 and 5000 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

67. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 1000 and 2500 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

68. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 100 and 1000 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

69. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 10 and 100 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

70. The mechanism of claim 61, wherein said secondary actuators have ranges of independent radial movement permitting access by the read/write members to between 1 and 10 adjacent concentric circular tracks on the respective carrier surfaces.

71. A logic holder, said holder comprising:

electronic architecture, said architecture implementing means for electronically controlling an information storage and retrieval apparatus, wherein

said information storage and retrieval apparatus comprises one or more circular substrates, said substrate or substrates aggregating two or more carrier surfaces whereupon data may be read from or written to by corresponding read/write members; and

said information storage and retrieval apparatus comprises an actuator mechanism with two or more arms and means for moving said arms independently across corresponding carrier surfaces with a component of movement in a radial direction with respect to the circular substrate or substrates defining the carrier surfaces.

72. The holder of claim 71, wherein said electronic architecture comprises means for electronically intercepting read or write commands from a host system, means for electronically responding pursuant to a predetermined shuffling algorithm, and means for electronically manipulating said arms independently during read or write operations.

73. The holder of claim 71, wherein said electronic architecture comprises:

two or more RW/VCM controllers, said RW/VCM controllers comprising read/write (RW) circuitry for processing and executing read or write commands and voice-coil-motor (VCM) circuitry for manipulating and positioning said arms during read or write operations; and

a microcontroller for providing supervisory and substantive processing services to said RW/VCM controllers, wherein

said microcontroller, RW/VCM controllers, RW circuitry, and VCM circuitry together coexist either physically or logically or in the form of integrated circuits, discrete electronic components, or software equivalents.

74. The holder of claim 73, wherein:

the number of RW/VCM controllers is equivalent to the number of arms composing said actuator mechanism, with each RW/VCM controller assigned to different arms; and

the microcontroller is shared among the RW/VCM controllers, with the microcontroller connected to a communication channel interfacing the information storage and retrieval apparatus.

75. The holder of claim 73, wherein:

the microcontroller is an intermediary between a host system and the RW/VCM controllers, said microcontroller comprising means for electronically intercepting read or write commands from said host system and means for electronically responding pursuant to a predetermined shuffling algorithm, wherein

in executing write commands, the microcontroller implements means for electronically apportioning alternate or interleaving bits or blocks of data to each RW/VCM controller; and

in executing read commands, the microcontroller implements means for electronically reconstituting previously apportioned data fragments received from the respective RW/VCM controllers and means for electronically transmitting said data to said host system in native sequential order.

76. The holder of claim 73, wherein:

in response to read or write commands issued by the microcontroller, each RW/VCM controller executes means for electronically causing its assigned arm to read or write data across the respective carrier surfaces, with all such read or write operations by said arms occurring simultaneously in a parallel fashion, wherein

the data that are read or written across each carrier surface are commensurate with the data apportioned to the respective RW/VCM controllers by the microcontroller.

77. The holder of claim 71, wherein said logic holder is a printed circuit board.