Patent ID: 7136247
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling temperature in a hard disk drive during testing, the hard disk drive having at least two modes of operation, the method comprising: setting a desired temperature range for a hard disk drive that is being tested, wherein the hard disk drive is tested by monitoring at least one Performance Measurement Unit (PMU), and wherein each PMU is a quantified measurement unit that describes any deviation from an optimal performance of the hard disk drive; upon determining that a temperature inside the hard disk drive is below the desired temperature range, changing a mode of operation of the hard disk drive from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation, wherein the first mode of operation generates less heat than the second mode of operation, wherein an amount of time required to reach the desired temperature range is minimized by keeping the hard disk drive in the second mode of operation until the desired temperature range inside the hard disk drive is reached, wherein the minimized amount of time required to reach the desired temperature range results in a reduced number of PMUs being performed while the hard disk drive reaches the desired temperature range; upon determining that the temperature, inside the hard disk drive is above the desired temperature range, changing the mode of operation of the hard disk drive from the second mode of operation to the first mode of operation, wherein the desired temperature range inside the hard disk drive is maintained after being reached through use of the second mode of operation; and suspending a test program for the hard disk drive as long as the temperature inside the hard disk drive is below or above the desired temperature range.