Abstract: A low height disk drive having an overall height of approximately one inch (1"). The drive includes a head disk assembly, including a base plate, a disk rotatably supported on the base plate, a motor for rotating the disk, at least one head for reading information from and writing information on the disk, an actuator, supported on said base plate and responsive to control signals, for selectively positioning the head with respect to the disk, and a cover sealably attached to the base plate to enclose the storage means, the head, and the actuator. The disk drive also includes control circuitry for generating control signals, and for providing information signals to and receiving information signals from the head. The head disk assembly and the control circuitry have a combined height of approximately one inch or less.

Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the present invention provides a single or multi-layer coating to the surface of a plurality of substrates. The apparatus may include a plurality of buffer and sputtering chambers, and an input end and an output end, wherein said substrates are transported through said chambers of said apparatus at varying rates of speed such that the rate of speed of a pallet from said input end to said output end is a constant for each of said plurality of pallets.

Abstract: A two and one half inch form factor disk drive has a metallic base and a metallic cover to enhance the rigidity of these components with respect to plastic components. The sealing of a controlled environment established between the base and cover is enhanced by the increased rigidity of the base and by providing a gasket groove in the base and a gasket having a tongue which mates with the groove. In addition, the metal base and cover provide isolation from the noisy environment of a computer. The two and one half inch form factor is established by providing the disk drive with a length equal to the width of a 31/2 inch disk drive and a width equal to half of the length of a 31/2 inch disk drive. The disk drive includes a disk having a diameter of approximately 2.6 inches (65 mm) and weighs approximately 6 ounces. A closed-loop, embedded servo tracking system provides a large storage capacity relative to the area of storage media available.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improved multi-layer magnetic recording media and magnetoresistive drive systems incorporating the same. In particular, multi-layer media including alternating layers of cobalt or cobalt alloys and a precious metal, such as palladium or platinum, and a process to manufacture such media, are disclosed. Media in accordance with the invention generally include a substrate, a nucleating layer, a lattice, and a protective layer. In certain embodiments, the substrate is polished aluminum. In other embodiments, the thickness of the nucleating layer is thicker than 100 .ANG., and in certain embodiments between about 200 and about 600 .ANG.. The lattice, generally includes bilayers of cobalt (or an alloy thereof) and palladium or platinum. The thickness of the cobalt layers are between about 1.5 .ANG. and 10 .ANG., or between about 2 .ANG. and 7 .ANG., or between about 3 .ANG. and 5 .ANG.. The thickness of the palladium or platinum layers are between about 5 .ANG. and 15 .ANG.

Abstract: An apparatus in accordance with the present invention provides a single or multi-layer coating to the surface of a plurality of substrates. The apparatus may include a plurality of buffer and sputtering chambers, and an input end and an output end, wherein said substrates are transported through said chambers of said apparatus at varying rates of speed such that the rate of speed of a pallet from said input end to said output end is a constant for each of said plurality of pallets.

Abstract: A disk drive, comprising a storage medium having data tracks for storing data, a spindle motor mounting the storage medium for rotation, an interactive element for reading information from and writing information on the data tracks of the storage medium and an actuator responsive to control signals, mounting the interactive element for motion to selectively position the interactive element relative to preselected data tracks of the storage medium and to move the interactive element from a first data track to a second data track in response to the control signals. The interactive element is arranged and configured to fly above the storage medium. Moreover, control electronics are coupled to the actuator for generating the control signals to cause the actuator to move the interactive element from the first data track to the second data track.

Abstract: A low height disk drive having an overall height of approximately one inch (1"). The drive includes a head disk assembly, including a base plate, two disks rotatably supported on the base plate, a motor for rotating the disks, at least two heads for reading information from and writing information on respective ones of the disks, an actuator, supported on said base plate and responsive to control signals, for selectively positioning the heads with respect to the disks, and a cover sealably attached to the base plate to enclose the storage means, the head, and the actuator. The disk drive also includes control circuitry for generating control signals, and for providing information signals to and receiving information signals from the heads. The head disk assembly and the control circuitry have a combined height of approximately one inch or less.

Abstract: A multi-track servo recording head includes a multi-tip write core for simultaneously writing a plurality of tracking signals on magnetic storage media. The magnetic recording head may include an optical edge sensor and a magnetic edge sensor for sensing the position of the recording head relative to the edge of the storage media. Additionally, a read core is provided to detect the longitudinal position of the storage media relative to the recording head during media transport.

Abstract: In liquid disk drives, liquid bearing materials based on hydrocarbon liquids, halogenated liquids and mixtures thereof are used at the head-disk interface. Additives such as antioxidants and boundary layer lubricants may be incorporated to enhance oxidative stability and lubricity. The liquid bearing materials have relatively low viscosities and non-Newtonian flow characteristics so as to reduce drag at the read/write head compared with Newtonian liquid bearing materials.

Abstract: A controller in a hard disk drive system for controlling the transfer of data and control signals between a plurality of host processors and the disk drive system. The disk drive system including storage media, at least one transducer for recording data on and retrieving data from the storage media and an actuator for moving the transducers with respect to the storage media. The controller includes a programmed first microprocessor operating under control of a first operating system stored in a first memory unit associated with the first microprocessor for controlling the recording of data on and the retrieval of data from the storage media, the controlling of the actuator to locate the transducer at and to maintain the transducer at a specified location with respect to the storage media.

Abstract: A circuit is described to detect and qualify a dibit signal, wherein the dibit signal includes a first peak amplitude followed by a second peak amplitude. The circuit includes a first qualification circuit that receives the signal and operates to detect and qualify the first peak amplitude of the dibit signal. The first qualification circuit also operates to assert an enable signal upon qualification of the first peak amplitude. A second qualification circuit is coupled to the first qualification circuit to receive the enable signal. The second qualification circuit operates to output an output signal representative of the dibit signal upon a second peak amplitude of the dibit signal only when the enable signal is asserted by the first qualification circuit.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a position signal indicative of the position of a transducer with reference to a fixed reference point on the surface of a disk within a disk drive system. The system is comprised of two major elements. The first element is a disk divided into sectors and has Z data tracks where each sector includes a preamble area that includes a servo band comprised of 0.75*Z consecutive overlapping quadrature servo patterns and gray scale band comprised of 1.5*Z consecutively addressed gray scale areas that have been recorded across all data tracks. The second element is a position generator that generates the position signal from the relative magnitude of each of the four servo bursts of a quadrature servo pattern of the servo band and the gray scale address of the gray scale area of the gray scale band that is read by a transducer when the transducer reads the preamble of a sector.

Abstract: A method for testing slider/disk contact in a disk drive is described. The disk drive comprises a rotating disk and a head mounted by an actuator for selective positioning of the head over the disk, the head having a slider, and a flexure for attaching the head to the actuator. The method includes the steps of rotating the disk of the disk drive at a first preselected rotational velocity, using the head of the disk drive to write a signal having a substantially uniform pattern on the disk as it rotates, thereafter rotating the disk at a second preselected rotational velocity, while rotating the disk at the second preselected rotational velocity, using the head to read back the signal written at the first preselected rotational velocity, and performing an FM demodulation of the read back signal through a frequency range corresponding to a range of natural frequencies of vibration of the flexure caused by slider/disk contact.

Abstract: A read channel is described for use in a storage device including a storage medium for storing data, an interactive element for reading information from and writing information on the storage medium and a processor for performing control functions in the storage device. The read channel comprises a set of electronic components for receiving and processing information read by the interactive element from the storage medium. An adjustable noise generator is included in the read channel and is coupled to the set of electronic components. The noise generator is selectively operated to introduce noise into the set of electronic components to cause the set of electronic components to operate at a marginal level of performance and thereby increase the error rate of the read channel. A calibration of the read channel is performed when the read channel is operating at the marginal level of performance to decrease the time required to accumulate error statistics used in the calibration.

Abstract: An intelligent status monitoring, reporting and control module is coupled to a SCSI bus that interconnects a cluster of SCSI-compatible data storage modules (e.g., magnetic disk drives). The status monitoring, reporting and control module is otherwise coupled to the cluster of SCSI-compatible data storage modules and to power maintenance and/or other maintenance subsystems of the cluster for monitoring and controlling states of the data storage modules and power maintenance and/or other maintenance subsystems that are not readily monitored or controlled directly by way of the SCSI bus. The status monitoring, reporting and control module sends status reports to a local or remote system supervisor and executes control commands supplied by the local or remote system supervisor. The status reports include reports about system temperature and power conditions. The executable commands include commands for regulating system temperature and power conditions.

Abstract: An arcuate scan tape drive for transferring data to and from a data tape, including a base with four side walls and a cover, which base and cover together have a 31/2 inch form factor. Situated within the base and cover is a head carrier assembly for recording data onto and playing back data from the data tape which advances in a longitudinal direction past the head carrier assembly. In one embodiment, the head carrier assembly is provided at an oblique angle with respect to the data tape and the front surface is conically shaped. Thus, during rotation of the head carrier assembly, the recording heads are proximate to the data tape during read or write operations, but are spaced away from the data tape at other times. Also provided within the base is a capstan motor assembly for advancing the data tape, and a cassette positioning mechanism for receiving and securing a data tape cartridge to properly position the tape as it is advanced past the head carrier assembly.

Abstract: A buffered computer data storage tape controller having a microprocessor, a buffer memory, a host interface, an error correction circuit, and a tape drive interface. A host interface control program executed by the microprocessor controls the host interface for transferring computer data between the buffer memory and a host computer, and for receiving commands from the host computer. An error correction circuit control program executed by the microprocessor controls the error correction circuit for generating parity information for computer data stored in the buffer memory and to be written to tape, and for providing error correction for computer data storage read from tape and stored in the buffer memory for transfer to the host computer. A tape interface control program executed by the microprocessor controls the tape drive interface for transferring computer data between the buffer memory and a tape drive.

Abstract: A write drive logic circuit is described. The write driver logic circuit comprises a set of write drivers, with each one of the set of write drivers having an input and an output, such that each write driver is responsive to an input signal applied to the input to provide a write output signal at the output as a function of the input signal. A set of memory devices (e.g. shift registers) is provided, one for each write driver. Each one of the shift registers stores unique head identification information and includes an output to controllably output a signal representative of the unique head identification information. Furthermore, each one of a set of multiplexers includes an output, a first input coupled to a corresponding one of the outputs of the set of shift registers to receive the signal representative of the unique identification information stored in the respective shift register and a second input coupled to a common write data line that transmits a signal representative of preselected information.

Abstract: A method for controlling assertion of a write inhibit signal in a disk drive is described. The disk drive comprises at least one rotating disk having data recording surfaces, and a head for each recording surface. Each head is mounted by an actuator for selective positioning of the head over the respective disk surface. Each disk surface includes data tracks. The method comprises the steps of calculating and storing a write inhibit threshold value for each head in the disk drive, performing a track following operation to determine position of a preselected head relative to a preselected data track, retrieving the write inhibit threshold value for the preselected head, comparing the determined head position to the retrieved write inhibit threshold value and asserting a write inhibit signal upon a certain relationship between the determined head position and the retrieved write inhibit threshold value.

Abstract: A multiple interface driver circuit for transmitting data in a channel according to one of several different signal protocols. In the exemplary embodiment, two separate bus driver circuits are connected to a common output terminal and may be selected under software control. When one such driver is selected, the other remains in an inactive state, presenting a high output impedance to the driver signal from the other. In an alternative embodiment, one interface driver circuit is connected to the output terminal and the driver circuit output signal is either left unchanged or modified under software control by a second pullup driver circuit. The unconditioned output signal conforms to a first interface protocol. After conditioning by the second pullup driver circuit, the output signal conforms to a second interface protocol.