Patent ID: 6034831
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A defect handling system for use in a disk drive having a data storage disk formatted with a plurality of tracks, and a transducer assembly that is positionable relative to the disk for reading and writing data thereon, the system comprising:a defect detection system which receives information from the transducer, identifies therefrom a defective region of the disk in a first track and determines the size of the defective region;a first data reassign system which reassigns any data previously written, or scheduled to be written, to the defective region to a substantially adjacent nondefective area of the first track, if the size of the defective region does not exceed a threshold size; anda second reassign system which, when selected, reassigns any data previously written, or scheduled to be written, to the defective region to a remote nondefective area outside the first track if the size of the defective region exceeds a threshold size.