Abstract: In one embodiment, a power amplification system of a radio-frequency transmitter includes a digital signal source that provides a digital input signal to an interleaved-bit-stream generator, which outputs a digital switching signal to a switching power amplifier. The interleaved-bit-stream generator has an eight-path interleaving architecture that helps reduce the effective clock-rate requirements of the interleaved-bit-stream generator. The interleaved-bit-stream generator includes an array of fractional-delay filters for receiving the digital input signal and outputting eight fractionally delayed digital output signals to a bit-stream generation array adapted to output eight corresponding bit streams to a serializer block that interleaves and combines the eight bit-streams into the digital switching signal. The relative phases of the interleaved signals may be adjusted to achieve certain desired effects.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording system may include, but is not limited to: at least one magnetic recording read/write head; at least one laser diode configured to illuminate at least a portion of at least one magnetic recording medium; at least one laser power level sensor configured to detect a power level of the at least one laser diode; and a controller configured to modify one or more power level settings associated with the at least one laser diode in response to one or more output signals of the at least one laser power level sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronous transfer of bitstream data between a power-driver chip and a digital signal processing chip in a digital radio frequency transmit system is disclosed. A master phase-locked-loop located in the power-driver chip is utilized to provide master clocking control for the digital radio frequency transmit system. Furthermore, the clocking method and system is configurable to secure precise carrier frequency positioning of a digitally-generated radio frequency signal based on predetermined chip frequencies unrelated to the carrier frequency, assuring low bitstream phase noise at the output of the power driver chip.

Abstract: An apparatus having a controller and a preamplifier is disclosed. The controller may be configured to generate information on a serial bus coupled to a preamplifier interface. The preamplifier may be configured to (i) generate a count value in response to a clock signal synchronized to a recording medium and (ii) generate a plurality of tag signals based on the information and the count value. The tag signals may gate a read operation and a write operation of the preamplifier.

Abstract: A hard disk drive or other storage device comprises a storage medium, a write head, and control circuitry coupled to the write head. The control circuitry comprises a write driver configured to generate a write signal comprising write pulses responsive to write data, and a driver controller configured to adjust overshoot amplitudes of respective ones of the write pulses utilizing a segmented digital-to-analog converter. The overshoot amplitudes are adjusted by detecting patterns in the write data, decoding a first portion of a base overshoot value to identify a corresponding number of base overshoot segments, combining the base overshoot value and a differential overshoot value, decoding a first portion of the combined base overshoot and differential overshoot values to identify a corresponding number of enhanced overshoot segments, and selecting between the number of base overshoot segments and the number of enhanced overshoot segments responsive to detection of a particular pattern.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied in a resynchronizing, push-pull drive circuit for driving the gate electrodes of a digital Class-S Radio Frequency Power Amplifier (RF-PA). A binary bitstream received from a bitstream generator, such as a sigma-delta modulator, Viterbi-based optimal-bit-pattern modulator sigma-delta, or other suitable modulator, is resynchronized to a low-jitter master clock, then converted to fast-rise, high-swing complementary digital signals to drive the gates of the Class-S RF-PA. The drive circuit provides a high slew-rate, large-swing, quasi-digital gate drive circuit to drive the significant gate capacitance of the RF-PA with sufficient rise times. A combination of bipolar transistor current switches and cascoded CMOS devices is employed to attain requisite performance. For example, the driving circuit is well suited for use with Class-S RF-PAs used in wireless communication systems.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied in radio frequency power amplifier (RF-PA) predriver circuits employing a hybrid analog/digital RF architecture including a resynchronizing digital-to-analog convertor to drive an efficient high-power output stage suitable for driving standard high power amplifier (HPA) output devices. The hybrid analog/digital RF architecture retains the advantages of high digital content integration found in conventional Class-S architecture, while relaxing the performance requirements on the output transistors and on the bitstream generator. The resulting predriver circuit combines the VLSI integration benefits of digital designs with the extensibility to arbitrary output power levels characteristic of analog designs. The hybrid analog/digital driving circuit is well suited for use with analog and Class-S HPAs used in wireless communication systems, such as the Doherty type HPA.

Abstract: The invention may be embodied in a resynchronizing, push-pull drive circuit for driving the gate electrodes of a digital Class-S Radio Frequency Power Amplifier (RF-PA). A binary bitstream received from a bitstream generator, such as a sigma-delta modulator, Viterbi-based optimal-bit-pattern modulator sigma-delta, or other suitable modulator, is resynchronized to a low-jitter master clock, then converted to fast-rise, high-swing complementary digital signals to drive the gates of the Class-S RF-PA. The drive circuit provides a high slew-rate, large-swing, quasi-digital gate drive circuit to drive the significant gate capacitance of the RF-PA with sufficient rise times. A combination of bipolar transistor current switches and cascoded CMOS devices is employed to attain requisite performance. For example, the driving circuit is well suited for use with Class-S RF-PAs used in wireless communication systems.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to writing data to a storage medium. In some cases, a heat assisted loopback circuit is used that includes: a read circuit, a magnetic write circuit, a heat write circuit, and a loopback circuit. The loopback circuit is operable to selectively couple a derivative of a heat output to a read output and to selectively couple a derivative of a write output to the read output.

Abstract: An apparatus having a controller and a preamplifier is disclosed. The controller may be configured to generate information on a serial bus coupled to a preamplifier interface. The preamplifier may be configured to (i) generate a count value in response to a clock signal synchronized to a recording medium and (ii) generate a plurality of tag signals based on the information and the count value. The tag signals may gate a read operation and a write operation of the preamplifier.

Abstract: A switching power amplifier for multi-path signal interleaving includes a signal splitter configured to split a multi-bit source signal from a digital source into a plurality of multi-bit signals, one or more fractional delay filters configured to delay one or more signals of the plurality of signals by a selected time, a plurality of bit-stream converters, each bit-stream converter configured to receive one of the multi-bit signals, each bit-stream converter further configured to generate a single-bit signal based on a received multi-bit signal, a plurality of switching power amplifiers, each switching power amplifier configured to receive a single-bit signal from one of the bit-stream converters, and an interleaver configured to generate an interleaved output by interleaving two or more outputs of the switching power amplifiers, wherein a sampling frequency of the interleaved output of the interleaver is greater than the selected sampling frequency of the multi-bit source signal.

Abstract: A method and system for synchronous transfer of bitstream data between a power-driver chip and a digital signal processing chip in a digital radio frequency transmit system is disclosed. A master phase-locked-loop located in the power-driver chip is utilized to provide master clocking control for the digital radio frequency transmit system. Furthermore, the clocking method and system is configurable to secure precise carrier frequency positioning of a digitally-generated radio frequency signal based on predetermined chip frequencies unrelated to the carrier frequency, assuring low bitstream phase noise at the output of the power driver chip.

Abstract: A electronic circuit with low inductance connections is disclosed. The electronic circuit includes a ground plane and a flex circuit. The flex circuit having a first surface generally facing the ground plane and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The flex circuit also having a flexible bridge defined thereof. The electronic circuit further includes a first electronic device communicatively coupled to the second surface of the flex circuit, a second electronic device communicatively coupled to the second surface of the flex circuit, and at least one conductive trace defined on the second surface of the flex circuit and extending along the flexible bridge. One end of the at least one conductive trace is configured for receiving an outbound current from the first electronic device and another end of the at least one conductive trace is communicatively coupled to the second electronic device through a vertical interconnect access.

Abstract: A method and system for high density pulse density modulation is disclosed. In accordance with the present disclosure, a modulation function is split in to two band limited streams using a complementary pair of non-linear functions. More specifically, one bitstream definition contains the peaks of the original function while the other bitstream contains a soft clipping version of the original bitstream. The bitstreams are applied to a pair of switching amplifiers, and the bitstreams can be combined again to reconstruct the original function. The method in accordance with the present disclosure limits the amount of input power necessary to achieve higher output power, lowers operating voltage and improves power amplifier efficiency.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording system may include, but is not limited to: at least one magnetic recording read/write head; at least one laser diode configured to illuminate at least a portion of at least one magnetic recording medium; at least one laser power level sensor configured to detect a power level of the at least one laser diode; and a controller configured to modify one or more power level settings associated with the at least one laser diode in response to one or more output signals of the at least one laser power level sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a preamplifier, a channel, and a controller. The preamplifier may be configured to read/write data to a drive with a read/write head, in response to (i) a plurality of digital control signals multiplexed to be sent/received over a first bus and (ii) one or more analog data signals sent/received over a second bus. The channel may be configured to (i) connect to the first and second bus, and (ii) send/receive the plurality of digital control signals through (a) a plurality of interconnects and (b) the first bus. The controller may be configured to send/receive the digital control signals over the interconnects. The apparatus may be configured to (i) read/write the analog data signals to the drive and (ii) generate the digital control signals, in response to one or more input/output requests received from a drive interface.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a preamplifier, a channel, and a controller. The preamplifier may be configured to read/write data to a drive with a read/write head, in response to (i) a plurality of digital control signals multiplexed to be sent/received over a first bus and (ii) one or more analog data signals sent/received over a second bus. The channel may be configured to (i) connect to the first and second bus, and (ii) send/receive the plurality of digital control signals through (a) a plurality of interconnects and (b) the first bus. The controller may be configured to send/receive the digital control signals over the interconnects. The apparatus may be configured to (i) read/write the analog data signals to the drive and (ii) generate the digital control signals, in response to one or more input/output requests received from a drive interface.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data writing. As an example, a heat assisted loopback circuit is discussed that includes: a read circuit, a magnetic write circuit, a heat write circuit, and a loopback circuit. The read circuit is operable to sense data from a storage medium, and to provide the sensed data as a read output. The magnetic write circuit is operable to provide a write output corresponding to an excitation signal of a write head. The heat write circuit is operable to provide a heat output corresponding to an excitation signal of a heat source. The loopback circuit is operable to selectively couple a derivative of the heat output to the read output and to selectively couple a derivative of the write output to the read output.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data writing. As an example, a heat assisted loopback circuit is discussed that includes: a read circuit, a magnetic write circuit, a heat write circuit, and a loopback circuit. The read circuit is operable to sense data from a storage medium, and to provide the sensed data as a read output. The magnetic write circuit is operable to provide a write output corresponding to an excitation signal of a write head. The heat write circuit is operable to provide a heat output corresponding to an excitation signal of a heat source. The loopback circuit is operable to selectively couple a derivative of the heat output to the read output and to selectively couple a derivative of the write output to the read output.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide single-ended and differential current drivers for heat assisted magnetic recording and other applications. For example, a current driver is disclosed that includes an upper output terminal and lower output terminal, a number of current switches operable to selectively contribute electrical currents through the upper and lower output terminals, a control input for each of the current switches operable to control the electrical currents, and a voltage supply operable to establish a voltage across the upper and output terminals.