Patent ID: 6654195
Filing Date: 2003-11-25
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
A disk drive connectable to a host computer via a host interface for receiving data transfer commands and for communicating position status variables in the disk drive, the disk drive comprising:a head disk assembly; a media controller; the head disk assembly comprising: a disk; a spindle motor for rapidly rotating the disk; the disk being formatted to define a plurality of discrete radial positions at which data is recorded in a data track; each data track being formatted to define a plurality of equally spaced-apart servo sectors, each servo sector defining a wedge relative to an index; each data track being formatted to define a plurality of data sectors having sync marks, each sync mark defining a discrete circumferential position between the servo sectors; the media controller comprising; a servo system for controllably positioning the transducer head over a cylinder rotating under the head; a means for determining the position status variables; the position status variables comprising: the discrete radial position currently passing under the head the wedge currently passing under the head; a means for storing the position status variables; and a means for providing the stored position status variables to the host computer; whereby the host computer can be informed of the position status variables for optimizing the data transfer commands.