Disk Drive Testing

• US 20090153992A1
• Filed: 12/18/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Teradyne Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Teradyne Incorporated
• Inventors: Merrow, Brian S., Polyakov, Evgeny, Garcia, Edward, Truebenbach, Eric L., Vahey, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,996,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 360/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/048 Testing of disk drives, e.g. to detect defects or prevent sudden failure
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/455 Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4555 by using a spin-stand, i.e. a spinning disc or simulator

Abstract

A disk drive testing system includes at least one robotic arm defining a first axis substantially normal to a floor surface. The robotic arm is operable to rotate through a predetermined arc about and extend radially from the first axis. Multiple racks are arranged around the robotic arm for servicing by the robotic arm. Each rack houses multiple test slots that are each configured to receive a disk drive transporter configured to carry a disk drive for testing.

Claims

1. A disk drive testing system comprising:

at least one robotic arm defining a first axis substantially normal to a floor surface, the robotic arm operable to rotate through a predetermined arc about, and extend radially from, the first axis;

multiple racks arranged around the robotic arm for servicing by the robotic arm; and

multiple test slots housed by each rack, each test slot being configured to receive a disk drive transporter configured to carry a disk drive for testing.

2. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm comprises a manipulator configured to engage the disk drive transporter of one of the test slots, the robotic arm being operable to carrying a disk drive in the disk drive transporter to the test slot for testing.

3. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein the racks are arranged equidistantly radially away from the first axis of the robotic arm.

4. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein the racks are arranged in at least a partially closed polygon about the first axis of the robotic arm.

5. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one computer in communication with the test slots;

a power system for supplying power to the disk drive testing system;

a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of each test slot;

a vibration control system for controlling rack vibrations; and

a data interface in communication with each test slot, the data interface configured to communicate with a disk drive in the disk drive transporter received by the test slot.

6. The disk drive testing system of claim 5, wherein the power system is configured to monitor power to the received disk drive in the test slot.

7. The disk drive testing system of claim 5, wherein the power system is configured to regulate power to the received disk drive in the test slot.

8. The disk drive testing system of claim 5, wherein the temperature control system comprises an air mover operable to circulate air through the test slot.

9. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein each rack comprises at least one self-testing system in communication with at least one test slot, the self-testing system comprising:

a cluster controller;

a connection interface circuit in electrical communication with a disk drive received in the test slot; and

a block interface circuit in electrical communication with the connection interface circuit, the block interface circuit configured to control power and temperature of the test slot;

wherein the connection interface circuit and the block interface circuit are configured to test the functionality of at least one component of the disk drive testing system.

10. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein each rack comprises at least one functional testing system in communication with at least one test slot, the functional testing system comprising:

a cluster controller;

at least one functional interface circuit in electrical communication with the cluster controller; and

a connection interface circuit in electrical communication with a disk drive received in the test slot and the functional interface circuit, wherein the at least one functional interface circuit is configured to communicate a functional test routine to the disk drive.

11. The disk drive testing system of claim 10, wherein the functional testing system further comprises an Ethernet switch for providing electrical communication between the cluster controller and the at least one functional interface circuit.

12. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm defines a substantially cylindrical working envelope volume, the racks being arranged within the working envelope volume for accessibility of each test slot for servicing by the robotic arm.

13. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm independently services each test slot by retrieving the disk drive transporter from one of the test slots to transfer a disk drive between a transfer station and the test slot.

14. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, wherein the robotic arm is operable to rotate 360°

about the first axis.

15. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, further comprising a vertically actuating support that supports the robotic arm and is operable to move the robotic arm vertically with respect to the floor surface.

16. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, further comprising a linear actuator for supporting the robotic arm and being operable to move the robotic arm horizontally along the floor surface.

17. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, further comprising a rotatable table supporting the robotic arm and being operable to rotate the robotic arm about a second axis substantially normal to the floor surface.

18. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, further comprising a vision system disposed on the robotic arm, the vision system aiding guidance of the robotic arm while transporting a disk drive.

19. The disk drive testing system of claim 18, wherein the vision system calibrates the robotic arm by aligning the robotic arm to a fiducial mark on the rack.

20. The disk drive testing system of claim 1, further comprising a transfer station arranged for servicing by the robotic arm, the transfer station supplying disk drives for testing.

21. A method of performing disk drive testing comprising:

loading multiple disk drives into a transfer station;

actuating a robotic arm to retrieve a disk drive transporter from a test slot housed in a rack;

actuating the robotic arm to retrieve one of the disk drives from the transfer station and carry the disk drive in the disk drive transporter, the robotic arm operable to rotate through a predetermined arc about and to extend radially from a first axis defined by the robotic arm substantially normal to a floor surface;

actuating the robotic arm to deliver the disk drive transporter carrying disk drive to the test slot;

performing a functionality test on the disk drive housed by the received disk drive transporter and the test slot; and

actuating the robotic arm to retrieve the disk drive transporter carrying the tested disk drive from the test slot and deliver the tested disk drive back to the transfer station.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising actuating the robotic arm to deposit the disk drive transporter in the test slot.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein performing a functionality test on the received disk drive comprises regulating the temperature of the test slot while operating the disk drive.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein operating the received disk drive comprises performing reading and writing of data to the disk drive.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein multiple racks are arranged equidistantly radially away from the first axis of the robotic arm.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein multiple racks are arranged in at least a partially closed polygon about the first axis of the robotic arm.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the rack comprises:

at least one computer in communication with the test slot;

a power system for supplying power to the rack;

a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of the test slot;

a vibration control system for controlling rack vibrations; and

a data interface in communication with the test slot, the data interface configured to communicate with a disk drive in the disk drive transporter received by the test slot.

28. The method claim 21, further comprising circulating air through the test slot to control the temperature of the test slot.

29. The method claim 21, further comprising monitoring power delivered to the received disk drive.

30. The method claim 21, further comprising regulating power delivered to the received disk drive.

31. The method claim 21, further comprising performing a self-test on the test slot with a self-testing system housed by the rack to verify the functionality of the test slot.

32. The method claim 31, wherein the self-testing system comprises:

a cluster controller;

a connection interface circuit in electrical communication with a disk drive received in the test slot; and

a block interface circuit in electrical communication with the connection interface circuit, the block interface circuit configured to control power and temperature of the test slot;

wherein the connection interface circuit and the block interface circuit are configured to test the functionality of at least one component of the disk drive testing system.

33. The method claim 21, wherein the rack comprises at least one functional testing system for performing the functional test on the received disk drive, the functional testing system comprising:

a cluster controller;

at least one functional interface circuit in electrical communication with the cluster controller; and

a connection interface circuit in electrical communication with a disk drive received in the test slot and the at least one functional interface circuit, wherein the at least one functional interface circuit is configured to communicate a functional test routine to the disk drive.

34. The method claim 33, wherein the at least one functional testing system further comprises an Ethernet switch for providing electrical communication between the cluster controller and the at least one functional interface circuit.

35. The method claim 21, wherein the robotic arm defines a substantially cylindrical working envelope volume, and multiple racks, each housing multiple test slots, are arranged within the working envelope volume for accessibility of each test slot for servicing by the robotic arm.

36. The method claim 21, wherein the robotic arm services the test slot by retrieving the disk drive transporter from the test slot to transfer a disk drive between a transfer station and the test slot.

37. The method claim 21, wherein the robotic arm is operable to rotate 360°

about the first axis.

38. The method claim 21, wherein actuating the robotic arm comprises vertically actuating a support supporting the robotic arm to move the robotic arm vertically with respect to the floor surface.

39. The method claim 21, wherein actuating the robotic arm comprises actuating a linear actuator supporting the robotic arm to move the robotic arm horizontally along the floor surface.

40. The method claim 21, further comprising communicating with a vision system disposed on the robotic arm to aid guidance of the robotic arm while transporting the disk drive.

41. The method claim 40, further comprising calibrating the robotic arm by aligning the robotic arm to a fiducial mark on the rack recognized by the vision system.