System for buffering track image at each read/write head in a disk drive unit having multiple read/write heads

摘要

A track image read/write head buffer provides a buffer memory for each read/write head in the rotating media data storage system so that a seek request from the processor can be handled as soon as the beginning of the requested data record is positioned below the associated read/write head. The data image of the entire data storage track that contains the requested data record stored on the rotating media is read from the rotating media by the read/write head and stored in the track image read/write head buffer independent of the availability of a data communication path to the processor. Thus, the read data operation need not be synchronized with the availability of a data communication path to the processor and the requested data record is retrieved from the rotating media as soon as the data record is properly positioned. In no case is the data retrieval time greater than one revolution of the rotating media. The error correction codes written on the rotating media to protect the integrity of the requested data are maintained since they are stored in the read/write head buffer along with the data record.