Patent ID: 7770076
Filing Date: 2010-08-03
Classification: G06F,G11B

Abstract:
1. A disk drive for digital data storage comprising: a plurality of rotatable platters, each platter comprising a magnetic data storage surface; a common spindle arranged for rotating all of the platters in unison; a corresponding magnetic read/write head for each of the platters; a corresponding platter interface circuit coupled to each of the read/write heads for reading and writing data from and to the corresponding platter while the platters are rotating, each platter interface providing a respective data path to the corresponding read/write head; an independent actuator coupled to each of the read/write heads for positioning the corresponding read/write head relative to the corresponding platter surface; circuitry for writing user data to at least one of the platters of the drive via the corresponding platter interface; circuitry for writing redundant data associated with the user data to at least one other platter of the drive via its corresponding platter interface; and a mapping register for controlling selection of data paths between a host interface and the platter interfaces; wherein the magnetic data storage surface is utilized for generating the redundant data.