MINT Seminar Page

MINT seminars (EE 8192), Winter 1999

Title: Transmission-Line Analysis of Interconnects for Disk Drives
Presenter: Jason Jury, Graduate Student, Dept. Elect. & Comp. Eng., University of Minnesota
Date: February 19, 1999, Friday
Time: 1:25 - 2:15 P.M.
Room: 102 Mech. Eng.

Abstract

As data rates in disk drives continue to grow (as a result of increased areal storage density and disk rotation speed), the high-frequency and high-speed behavior of the disk drive components (read/write head, electronics, and interconnect) must be understood. However, the research of interconnects in the disk drive has been largely ignored until recently. One possible reason is that the application of transmission line theory to disk drive interconnects is not straightforward, due to the non-linearity and frequency-dependence of many components, particularly in the write path. The analysis of interconnects is further complicated by the coupling of the (balanced) interconnect traces to the lossy ground plane (steel suspension). This seminar will discuss the transmission line analysis of interconnects in a disk drive environment. Whenever possible, a time-domain approach will be used. Propagation in coupled lines will be described in detail and contrasted with propagation in a two-conductor system. The skin effect will also be described and included in modeling. The requirements of interconnects for high data rate applications will also be addressed. The performance of interconnects with traces running over air (minimized coupling to ground) will be compared with standard designs.

For more information on the seminars, please call Jack Judy at 612/625-7381 or email at judy@ece.umn.edu