The rate at which step pulses are issued is controlled by SRT (Stepping Rate Time) in the Specify
command. After each step pulse is issued, NCN is compared against PCN, and when NCN = PCN the SE
bit in Status Register 0 is set to "1" and the command is terminated. During the command phase of the
seek or recalibrate operation, the FDC is in the BUSY state, but during the execution phase it is in the
NON-BUSY state. At this time, another Seek or Recalibrate command may be issued, and in this manner,
parallel seek operations may be done on up to four drives at once.
Note that if implied seek is not enabled, the read and write commands should be preceded by:
1) Seek command - Step to the proper track
2) Sense Interrupt Status command - Terminate the Seek command
3) Read ID - Verify head is on proper track
4) Issue Read/Write command.
The Seek command does not have a result phase. Therefore, it is highly recommended that the Sense
Interrupt Status command is issued after the Seek command to terminate it and to provide verification of
the head position (PCN). The H bit (Head Address) in ST0 will always return to a "0". When exiting
POWERDOWN mode, the FDC clears the PCN value and the status information to zero. Prior to issuing
the POWERDOWN command, it is highly recommended that the user service all pending interrupts
through the Sense Interrupt Status command.
Sense Interrupt Status
An interrupt signal is generated by the FDC for one of the following reasons:
1. Upon entering the Result Phase of:
a. Read Data command
b. Read A Track command
c. Read ID command
d. Read Deleted Data command
e. Write Data command
f. Format A Track command
g. Write Deleted Data command
h. Verify command
2. End of Seek, Relative Seek, or Recalibrate command
3. FDC requires a data transfer during the execution phase in the non-DMA mode
The Sense Interrupt Status command resets the interrupt signal and, via the IC code and SE bit of
Status Register 0, identifies the cause of the interrupt.
Table 25 - Interrupt Identification
SE
IC
INTERRUPT DUE TO
0
11 Polling
1
00 Normal termination of Seek or
Recalibrate command
Abnormal termination of Seek
1
01 or Recalibrate command
64