Abstract: A read channel component of a magnetic recording system employs equalization of a signal received from the magnetic recording channel, the equalization being modified depending upon the presence or absence of DC shifts in the signal. Equalization corrects for DC shifts, if present, prior to detection and decoding of servo data, such as servo address mark (SAM) and Gray code data. In a first implementation, a DC shift detector detects the presence or absence of DC shifts and modifies equalization in a predetermined manner. In a second implementation, filtering is applied to the signal to enhance equalization in the presence of DC shift, and both filtered and unfiltered signals employed for detection of the servo data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting data, such as a sample sequence read from a recording channel. Interpolation techniques are employed to generate one or more interpolated sample sequences from the data. Each interpolated sample sequence has a different corresponding phase relative to the data. A distance measure is generated between a portion of each interpolated sample sequence and an ideal sample sequence. The ideal sample sequence corresponds to peaks in the data. According to one aspect of the invention, a signal asymmetry measure is computed for the portion of each sample sequence and is used to adjust an ideal sample sequence.

Abstract: A first set of data is detected in a signal having synchronous samples and interpolated samples, wherein the first set of data is detected asynchronously as corresponding to one of the samples. A time to transmit a data-found signal is determined based on an offset between the data-detected sample and one of the synchronous samples, and the data-found signal is transmitted at the determined time to enable the synchronous processing of the synchronous samples. In one implementation, the synchronous samples correspond to a readback signal read from a data recording channel, the first set of data corresponds to servo address mark (SAM) data in a servo sector in the readback signal, and the synchronous processing is demodulation of burst data in the servo sector.

Abstract: A repeatable read-out (RRO) detector employs one or more digital interpolators to interpolate asynchronous sample values that represent RRO data. The asynchronous sample values are read from a recording medium and generated by an A/D converter at a symbol rate, and the interpolators generate interpolated samples at at least one time in between the asynchronous sample value times. Each interpolated sample corresponding to some phase relative to that of the sample values generated by the A/D converter. The RRO detector receives 1) the asynchronous samples at symbol rate and 2) the interpolated samples to efficiently detect the encoded RRO data. An RRO address mark indicates when detection of encoded RRO data starts, and is employed to select those samples suitable for RRO data detection. Detection of the RRO address mark employs peak detection among filtered asynchronous and interpolated samples. The process of peak detection adjusts the current best phase for sample selection.

Abstract: A repeatable run-out (RRO) detector employs one or more digital interpolators to interpolate asynchronous sample values representing an RRO address mark (AM) and RRO data, and an asynchronous maximum-likelihood (AML) detector to detect the RRO AM. The AML detector selects one of either the asynchronous or interpolated sample sequences that are closest in distance to the ideal RRO AM sample sequence. In addition, a gain value is generated for each of the asynchronous and interpolated sample sequences. Once the RRO AM is detected, the AML detector provides a RRO AM found signal. Gain estimate values for either the selected asynchronous or selected interpolated sample sequences corresponding to the RRO AM found signal are averaged over a predefined number of detection events to generate a best gain error metric (BGEM). The BGEM is employed to adjust the gain of the asynchronous sample sequence.

Abstract: A repeatable run-out (RRO) detector employs one or more digital interpolators to interpolate asynchronous sample values representing an RRO address mark (AM) and RRO data, an asynchronous maximum-likelihood (AML) detector to detect the RRO AM, and a RRO data decoder to decode the RRO data. The AML detector employs an AML algorithm, such as a Viterbi algorithm, to detect the series of peaks of the RRO AM based on detection of the entire sequence of observed peaks. AML detection selects one of either the asynchronous or interpolated sample sequences that are closest in distance to the ideal RRO AM sample sequence. Once the RRO AM is detected, the AML detector provides a RRO AM found signal as well as the selected one of the sample sequences having the best phase for detecting and decoding the RRO data.

Abstract: A repeatable run-out (RRO) detector employs one or more digital interpolators to interpolate asynchronous sample values representing an RRO address mark (AM) and RRO data, an asynchronous maximum-likelihood (AML) detector to detect the RRO AM, and a RRO data decoder to decode the RRO data. The AML detector employs an AML algorithm, such as a Viterbi algorithm, to detect the series of peaks of the RRO AM based on detection of the entire sequence of observed peaks. AML detection selects one of either the asynchronous or interpolated sample sequences that are closest in distance to the ideal RRO AM sample sequence. Once the RRO AM is detected, the AML detector provides a RRO AM found signal as well as the selected one of the sample sequences having the best phase for detecting and decoding the RRO data.

Abstract: A read channel component of a magnetic recording system employs equalization of a signal received from the magnetic recording channel, the equalization being modified depending upon the presence or absence of DC shifts in the signal. Equalization corrects for DC shifts, if present, prior to detection and decoding of servo data, such as servo address mark (SAM) and Gray code data. In a first implementation, a DC shift detector detects the presence or absence of DC shifts and modifies equalization in a predetermined manner. In a second implementation, filtering is applied to the signal to enhance equalization in the presence of DC shift, and both filtered and unfiltered signals employed for detection of the servo data.

Abstract: A repeatable read-out (RRO) detector employs one or more digital interpolators to interpolate asynchronous sample values that represent RRO data. The asynchronous sample values are read from a recording medium and generated by an A/D converter at a symbol rate, and the interpolators generate interpolated samples at at least one time in between the asynchronous sample value times. Each interpolated sample corresponding to some phase relative to that of the sample values generated by the A/D converter. The RRO detector receives 1) the asynchronous samples at symbol rate and 2) the interpolated samples to efficiently detect the encoded RRO data. An RRO address mark indicates when detection of encoded RRO data starts, and is employed to select those samples suitable for RRO data detection. Detection of the RRO address mark employs peak detection among filtered asynchronous and interpolated samples. The process of peak detection adjusts the current best phase for sample selection.

Abstract: A system for block encoding and block decoding of servo data with a rate (M/N) code, where M is an integer greater than 1 and N is an integer that is greater than M. Two codes are described for the encoding and decoding processes: a rate (2/6) code and a rate (2/8) code. In general, block encoding and block decoding maps between M servo data bits and N coded symbol bits. Such block encoding with a rate (M/N) code may be employed in a magnetic recording system for encoding servo data that is written to a servo data sector on a magnetic recording medium. Encoded servo data is read from the magnetic medium and block decoded. A forced maximum-likelihood, partial-response (PRML) detector is used to detect the N coded symbol bits from channel samples read from the magnetic medium. Block encoding provides greater coding gain for a detector when the characteristics of the block code are used to improve performance of the PRML detector that is used to detect the N coded symbol bits.

Abstract: A system for block encoding and block decoding of servo data with a rate (M/N) code, where M is an integer greater than 1 and N is an integer that is greater than M. Two codes are described for the encoding and decoding processes: a rate (2/6) code and a rate (2/8) code. In general, block encoding and block decoding maps between M servo data bits and N coded symbol bits. Such block encoding with a rate (M/N) code may be employed in a magnetic recording system for encoding servo data that is written to a servo data sector on a magnetic recording medium. Encoded servo data is read from the magnetic medium and block decoded. A forced maximum-likelihood, partial-response (PRML) detector is used to detect the N coded symbol bits from channel samples read from the magnetic medium. Block encoding provides greater coding gain for a detector when the characteristics of the block code are used to improve performance of the PRML detector that is used to detect the N coded symbol bits.

Abstract: A system for block encoding and block decoding of servo data with a rate (M/N) code, where M is an integer greater than 1 and N is an integer that is greater than M. Two codes are described for the encoding and decoding processes: a rate (2/6) code and a rate (2/8) code. In general, block encoding and-block decoding maps between M servo data bits and N coded symbol bits. Such block encoding with a rate (M/N) code may be employed in a magnetic recording system for encoding servo data that is written to a servo data sector on a magnetic recording medium. Encoded servo data is read from the magnetic medium and block decoded. A forced maximum-likelihood, partial-response (PRML) detector is used to detect the N coded symbol bits from channel samples read from the magnetic medium. Block encoding provides greater coding gain for a detector when the characteristics of the block code are used to improve performance of the PRML detector that is used to detect the N coded symbol bits.

Abstract: A system for block encoding and block decoding of servo data with a rate (M/N) code, where M is an integer greater than l and N is an integer that is greater than M. Two codes are described for the encoding and decoding processes: a rate (2/6) code and a rate (2/8) code. In general, block encoding and block decoding maps between M servo data bits and N coded symbol bits. Such block encoding with a rate (M/N) code may be employed in a magnetic recording system for encoding servo data that is written to a servo data sector on a magnetic recording medium. Encoded servo data is read from the magnetic medium and block decoded. A forced maximum-likelihood, partial-response (PRML) detector is used to detect the N coded symbol bits from channel samples read from the magnetic medium. Block encoding provides greater coding gain for a detector when the characteristics of the block code are used to improve performance of the PRML detector that is used to detect the N coded symbol bits.

Abstract: A general rate N/(N+1) (0, G), code construction, e.g., for a magnetic recording system, allows for encoding or decoding of a dataword having N elements, N preferably being an integer multiple of eight. The dataword is divided into N/8 bytes of binary data that are encoded as a run-length limited (RLL) codeword in accordance with the general rate N/(N+1) (0, G) code construction. The general rate N/(N+1) (0, G) code construction is characterized by the constraints (d=0, G=(N/4)+1, l=N/8, r=N/8). the N/(N+1) (0 (N/4)+1, N/8, N/8) RLL codeword is constructed from the dataword in accordance with 1) pivot bits identifying code violations related to the constraints, 2) correction bits set to correct code violations, and 3) preserved elements having values not included in the code violations.

Abstract: A system and method employing a rate 24/25 (0,9) code constructed in accordance with a data byte interleaved with a rate 16/17 (0,5) codeword formed from two data bytes limits the number of consecutive zeros seen by a channel to nine. The 16/17 (0,5) codeword is formed from the two data bytes in accordance with a set of pivot bits and a set of corrections for predefined code violations. The additional data byte is interleaved into the 16/17 (0,5) codeword by splitting the byte into a pair of portions and inserting the portions into the 16/17 (0,5) codeword at locations adjacent to predefined ones of the pivot bits. The rate 24/25 (0,9) code is suitable for magnetic or similar recording media and may be employed in partial response maximum likelihood read channels. A feature of the constructed code is a high transition density which allows for more frequent timing and gain control updates, which results in lower required channel input signal to noise ratio for a given channel performance.

Abstract: A system and method employing a rate 16/17 (0,5) code constructed in accordance with a set of pivot bits and a set of corrections for predefined code violations limits the number of consecutive zeros seen by a channel to five. The rate 16/17 (0,5) code is suitable for magnetic or similar recording media and may be employed in partial response maximum likelihood read channels. A feature of the constructed code is a high transition density which allows for more frequent timing and gain control updates, which results in lower required channel input signal to noise ratio for a given channel performance. Each constructed codeword is block encodable and block decodable, and the code construction allows for efficient circuit implementation in both an encoder and a decoder.