Abstract: An apparatus and associated method of servo writing to a storage media is provided that writes servo information at a first orientation pattern from a first storage extent of the storage media to a medial portion of the storage media, and writes servo information at a second orientation pattern different than the first orientation pattern from an opposing storage extent of the storage media to approximately the medial portion, so that the patterns at approximately the medial portion are positionally interlaced.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method of servo writing to a storage media is provided that writes servo information at a first orientation pattern from a first storage extent of the storage media to a medial portion of the storage media, and writes servo information at a second orientation pattern different than the first orientation pattern from an opposing storage extent of the storage media to approximately the medial portion, so that the patterns at approximately the medial portion are positionally interlaced.

Abstract: Head skew can cause magnetic transition overlap while writing at least two passes for a data track. That overlap can cause interference, which may affect the position error signal and other portions of the servo sector, such as sector address mark and digital data, of the servo system of the disc drive. The present invention overcomes this problem by utilizing a bi-directional servo writing method. One method of the present invention writes the servo information to the MD from either direction. More particularly, this method writes servo information from the OD to the MD and from the ID to the MD. In this manner, the present invention at least reduces the effects of head skew while writing servo information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to qualify heads to be used in disc drives. The method and apparatus collect a set of track scan data by moving the head across transitions in a track on a medium. The track scan data is changed based on a difference between a writer width of the head and a nominal track width to produce modified track scan data. Position error signal data is then determined from at least some of the data in the modified set of track scan data. The linearity of the position error signal data is used to qualify the head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to qualify heads to be used in disc drives. The method and apparatus collect a set of track scan data by moving the head across transitions in a track on a medium. The track scan data is changed based on a difference between a writer width of the head and a nominal track width to produce modified track scan data. Position error signal data is then determined from at least some of the data in the modified set of track scan data. The linearity of the position error signal data is used to qualify the head.