Patent ID: 7106540

Claim:
A method for restricting a rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles for a spindle motor in a hard disk drive comprising the steps of: determining a number of spin-up/spin-down cycles said spindle motor is designed to handle over its expected lifetime; determining a maximum rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles said spindle motor is designed to handle over a designated period of time using said number of spin-up/spin-down cycles said spindle motor is designed to handle over its expected lifetime; and calculating a rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles while said hard disk drive is activated during said period of time; wherein an automatic standby mode of operation is disabled if said rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles while said hard disk drive is activated during said designated period of time is greater than said maximum rate of spin-up/spin-down cycles said spindle motor is designed to handle over said designated period of time.