Abstract: A self-servowriting system and method for implementation in a storage device such as a disk drive are described. Two problems associated with self-propagation are greater mechanical disturbances and the growth of errors during many thousands of servowriting steps. Error growth is attributable to the special properties of servo loops as applied to a repetitive self-propagation process. Greater resistance to mechanical disturbances and reduction in error growth are achieved, in part, by adjusting a step amplification factor, S, at the initiation of servowriting to within desired parameters. However, S is known to vary with movement of the head in a direction transverse to the direction of the tracks. This problem is addressed by the present invention, wherein S is determined at a plurality of transverse transducer positions. S is dependent upon the closed loop response of the servo system C and upon a set of step-to-step correction factors f.

Abstract: A mechanism for servowriting on a storage medium of a storage device. The storage device has a transducer and a servo loop for positioning the transducer with respect to the storage medium. At least one transition is written on a track of the storage medium, while servoing on other transitions previously recorded on the storage medium. A reference waveform is derived as a function of a closed loop response of the servo loop and a position error waveform. The position error waveform corresponds to one or more position errors of the transducer relative to the previously recorded transitions. The reference waveform is usable in writing subsequent tracks on the storage medium. Using the reference waveform for writing subsequent tracks provides a substantial rejection of mechanical disturbances by the servo loop.