Abstract:
A method for applying an optimal seeking technique to a disk file with excessive repeatable runout includes a method of modifying a control signal (ue(k)) provided by a controller (16) for controlling a rotary actuator arm (12) of a disk drive. The control signal (ue(k)) is modified during track seeking by adding a runout state (xa(k)) that is calculated each time a servo sector of a target data track on a surface of a disk is sampled by read/write heads carried by the actuator arm by a runout compensator (18). The modified control signal (up(k)) is provided to the actuator (12) for positioning the head to a desired track. A calibration algorithm can be used during track following to determine runout magnitude and runout phase at various preselected calibration tracks on the surface of the disk. A seeking algorithm can be implemented to compensate for the relative runout magnitude and phase variation between calibration and target tracks.