Patent ID: 8582227
Filing Date: 2013-11-12
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for a hard disk drive, the method comprising: outputting, with a regulator, a first mode signal to a core for operation during an active mode of the hard disk drive, the core being configured to maintain configuration information for a communication interface of the hard disk drive; determining to switch the operation of the hard disk drive to a low power mode; in response to determining to switch operation to the low power mode, outputting, with the regulator, a second mode signal to the core to maintain the configuration information for the communication interface of the hard disk drive during the low power mode of operation of the hard disk drive, the second mode signal being of a different type than the first mode signal; and during the low power mode of operation, keeping circuitry for external communication in an active state, wherein the first mode signal comprises a switching mode signal, and the second mode signal comprises a linear mode signal, wherein the regulator outputs the switching mode signal in a switching mode of operation, the regulator rapidly switching load current on and off in the switching mode of operation to generate the switching mode signal, and wherein the regulator outputs the linear mode signal in a linear mode of operation, the regulator performing a voltage division and using a feedback circuit to adjust an input voltage in the linear mode of operation to generate the linear mode signal.