Patent ID: 6681334
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: G06F,Y02D

Abstract:
A rotating disk data storage system operating under the control of a processor, comprising:(A) a data storage device comprising: (a) a transducer for data transfer with a rotating data storage disk being held in a preassigned position; and (b) disk sensor means for providing an output signal indicative of whether a data storage disk is in the preassigned position or not; and (B) an interface for connecting the data storage device to a processor, the interface comprising: (a) power-saving means for generating a power-saving signal under the direction of the processor, the power-saving signal having a power-saving state, indicative of the fact that the data storage device is in a power-saving state, and a non-power-saving state indicative of the fact that the data storage device is not in a power-saving state; (b) sampling means connected to the disk sensor means and to the power-saving means for sampling the output signal of the disk sensor means at three different moments that are predetermined in relation to each power-saving state of the power-saving signal; and (c) disk status means connected to the sampling means for ascertaining a history of disk loading and unloading past each power-saving state of the power-saving signal on the basis of the three samples of the output signal of the disk sensor means.