US 6,982,842 B2
Predictive disc drive failure methodology
Gary Gang Jing, Shakopee, Minn. (US); Scott Douglas Ulrich, Apple Valley, Minn. (US); Timothy Edward Langlais, Minneapolis, Minn. (US); and Yi Q. Lin, Mendota Heights, Minn. (US)
Assigned to Seagate Technology LLC, Scotts Valley, Calif. (US)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/354,768.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/410983, filed on Sep. 16, 2002.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/410991, filed on Sep. 16, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2004/0051988 A1, Mar. 18, 2004
Int. Cl. G11B 27/36 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 360—31 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of performing predictive failure analysis of a disc drive during operation of the disc drive, comprising:
a) maintaining a first primary error count corresponding to disc drive errors associated with a first attribute of the disc drive, the first primary error count potentially indicative of disc drive failure;
b) maintaining a second primary error count corresponding to disc drive errors associated with a second attribute of the disc drive, the second primary error count potentially indicative of disc drive failure;
c) triggering a first attribute failure when the first primary error count reaches a predetermined relationship to a first threshold value;
d) triggering a second attribute failure when the second primary error count reaches a predetermined relationship to a second threshold value; and
e) predicting imminent disc drive failure after both the first and second attribute failures are triggered.