TH99657A - Tools and methods of testing data construction; Analysis of Data Tests and Testing of Storage Disc Media And / or read / write head - Google Patents

Abstract

The DC60 provides disclosure of the tools and methods for constructing data test models, analyzing data test models, and testing disk media and/or read/write heads. In the desired artifact, a method for constructing a data test model to be written to disk media (4) for testing is disclosed. The method consists of: disk rotation (4), detection of fluctuations in disk rotation speed (4), generation of a reference clock signal (53) based on such fluctuations to cause synchronized rotation with disk rotation (4), and construction of the data test model (58) using the reference clock signal (53) as a timing reference. The tools and methods for constructing data test models, analyzing data test models, and testing disk media and/or read/write heads are disclosed in the desired artifact. A method for constructing a data test model to be written to disk media (4) for testing is disclosed. The procedure consists of: the rotation of the disk (4), the detection of fluctuations in the rotational speed of the disk (4), the generation of a reference clock signal (53) based on such fluctuations to cause synchronized rotation with the rotation of the disk (4), and the generation of a test model (58) using the aforementioned reference clock signal (53) as a timing reference.

Claims (32)

1. The method for constructing a test model for data to be written to a disk storage medium involves: rotating the disk; detecting fluctuations in the disk rotation speed; generating a reference clock signal simultaneously with the disk rotation based on these fluctuations; and constructing the test model using this reference clock signal as a timing reference. 2. The method under Claim 1, where the fluctuation detection procedure consists of: detecting a large number of markers rotating simultaneously with the disk and generating a clock signal corresponding to the movement of the detected markers. Such clock signal is then used to generate a reference clock signal. 3. The method under claim 2 involves using a clock signal as input to a phase-locked loop. The arranged phase-locked loop then generates such a reference clock signal. 4. A method under any of the claims in Claims 1 through 3 that involves the generation of a clock signal from the clock generator, a reference clock disk generated that is locked to the clock signal generator, and a reference clock signal generated using the clock signal generator. The clock signal generator is overridden by fluctuations in the rotational speed of the disk in the generation of the reference clock signal. 5. Method of analyzing test data read from a disk storage medium. This method consists of: rotating the disk; detecting fluctuations in the disk rotation speed; generating a reference clock signal based on such fluctuations to synchronize with the disk rotation; reading test data from the disk to obtain a test data signal; and analyzing this test data signal using the reference clock signal as a timing reference. 6. The method under claim 5, whereby the fluctuation detection procedure consists of: detecting a number of marks rotating in sync with the disk and generating a clock signal corresponding to the movement of the detected marks; such clock signal is then used to generate a reference clock signal. 7. The method under claim 6 involves using a clock signal as input to a phase-locked loop. The phase-locked loop is arranged to generate such a reference clock signal. 8. The method under claim 6 or claim 7 includes: generating a clock signal from the signal generator; a reference clock signal generated using the signal generator's clock signal; the signal generator's clock signal being overridden by fluctuations in the disk's rotational speed in generating the reference clock signal. 9. The method under any one of Claims 5 through 8, whereby the analysis procedure shall include spectral analysis of the said test data signal. 10. The method under claim 9, whereby the spectral analysis procedure shall consist of converting the test data signal into an intermediate frequency by combining the test data signal with a sine wave signal generated using the aforementioned reference clock as a timing reference. 11. The method under claim 9 whereby the spectral analysis procedure shall consist of sample selection and digitization of the test data signal using an analog-to-digital converter timed by a reference clock. 12. Methods for testing at least one disk storage medium and read/write head. These methods include: disk rotation; detection of fluctuations in disk rotation speed; generation of a reference clock signal based on such fluctuations, synchronized with disk rotation; creation of a test data model using this reference clock signal as a timing reference; writing test data to the disk with the head to generate test data signals; and analysis of these test data signals using the reference clock signal as a timing reference. 13. The method under claim 12, whereby the fluctuation detection procedure shall consist of: detecting a number of markers rotating in sync with the disk and generating a clock signal corresponding to the movement of the detected markers; such clock signal is then used to generate a reference clock signal. 14. A method under claim 13 that involves introducing a clock signal as input into a phase-locked loop, a phase-locked loop arranged to generate such a reference clock signal. 15. The method under any of the claims 15 through 14, whereby the analysis procedure shall consist of spectral analysis of the said test data signal. 16. Any of the methods under claims 12 through 15 shall consist of: 1) a rotating disc driven by a motor locked to the clock signal of the time generator; and 2) a reference clock signal generated from the time generator's clock signal, the time generator's clock signal being precessed according to the fluctuations in the rotational speed of the disc in order to generate the reference clock signal, whereby the time generator's clock signal is used for steps 1) and 2). 17. Tools for creating test models of data written to a disk storage medium for testing. These tools consist of: a spindle for rotating the disk; detectors arranged to detect fluctuations in the disk's rotational speed; processors arranged to detect fluctuations in the disk's rotational speed; processors arranged to generate a reference clock signal based on these fluctuations, simultaneously with the disk's rotation; and a model generator arranged to create test models of the data using the reference clock signal as a timing reference. 18. An instrument under claim 17 consisting of numerous markers arranged to rotate in conjunction with a disk; a reader arranged to read such markers; a decoder arranged to generate a clock signal corresponding to the movement of the detected markers; such clock signal being used to generate a reference clock signal. 19. An instrument under claim 18 consisting of a phase-locked loop arranged to take a clock signal as input; the phase-locked loop arranged to generate such a reference clock signal. 20. The instrument under Claim 18 or Claim 19 consists of: a signal generator arranged to generate a signal generator clock signal; a motor arranged to rotate the disk and locked to the signal generator clock signal, whereby the processor is arranged to generate a reference clock signal using the signal generator clock signal, whereby the signal generator clock signal is overridden by fluctuations in the rotational speed of the disk. 21. Instruments for analyzing test data read from disk media. These instruments consist of: a spindle for rotating the disk; sensors arranged to detect fluctuations in disk rotation speed; a processor arranged to generate a reference clock signal based on these fluctuations, synchronized with disk rotation; a controller arranged to provide the test data signal; and an analyzer arranged to analyze the test data signal using the reference clock signal as a timing reference. 22. The method under claim 21 consists of: a number of markers arranged to rotate in conjunction with the disk; a reader arranged to read the marker; a decoder arranged to generate a clock signal corresponding to the movement of the detected marker; and such clock signal being used to generate a reference clock signal. 23. A method under claim 22 consisting of a phase-locked loop arranged to take a clock signal as input; a phase-locked loop arranged to generate such a reference clock signal. 24. Any instrument under claims 21 through 23 that consists of: a signal generator arranged to produce a signal generator clock signal; a motor arranged to rotate the disk and locked to the signal generator clock signal, whereby a processor arranged to produce a reference clock signal using the signal generator clock signal, whereby the signal generator clock signal is overridden by fluctuations in the rotational speed of the disk. 25. Any instrument as described in claims 21 through 24, whereby the analyzer is arranged to analyze the spectrum of the test data signal. 26. The instrument under claim 25 shall consist of a mixer arranged to convert the test data signal into an intermediate frequency by mixing the test data signal with a sine wave signal generated using a reference clock as a timing reference. 27. The instrument under claim 14, whereby the analyzer shall consist of an analog-to-digital converter which shall be timed by a reference clock and shall be arranged to select samples and digitize the test data signal. 28. Equipment for testing at least one disk media and its read/write head, consisting of: a spindle for rotating the disk; a detector arranged to detect fluctuations in the disk rotation speed; a processor arranged to detect fluctuations in the disk rotation speed; a processor arranged to generate a reference clock signal based on such fluctuations to be synchronized with the disk rotation; a pattern generator arranged to generate a test pattern using the reference clock signal as a timing reference; a controller arranged to write the test pattern to the disk with the head and to read the test data from the disk with the head to provide the test data signal; and an analyzer arranged to analyze the test data signal using the reference clock signal as a timing reference. 29. The instrument according to claim 28 consists of: a number of markers arranged to rotate along with it on the disk; a reader arranged to read these markers; a decoder arranged to generate a clock signal corresponding to the movement of the detected markers; and such clock signal being used to generate a reference time signal. 30. An instrument pursuant to claim 29 consisting of a phase-locked loop arranged to take a clock signal as input; the phase-locked loop arranged to generate such a reference clock signal. 31. Any instrument as described in Claims 28 through 30, whereby the analyzer is arranged to analyze the spectrum of the test data signal. 32. Any instrument under Claims 28 through 31 that consists of: a signal generator arranged to produce a signal generator clock signal; a motor arranged to rotate the disk and locked to the signal generator clock signal; and a processor arranged to produce a reference clock signal using the signal generator clock signal, where the signal generator clock signal is overridden by fluctuations in the disk rotation speed. The signal generator clock signal used by the motor and by the processor are identical.