Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of 2N+1 transducers on a pitch, where at least one of the transducers within the array is configured as a servo reader. In addition, one of the transducers configured as the servo reader is flanked by transducers on each side.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for establishing a fly height parameter for a hard disc drive. The method includes receiving a set of testing data associated with the hard disc drive and subjecting the hard disc drive to a fly-height test at a first, nominal temperature to generate fly-height data. Based on the set of testing data and the fly-height data, the method includes predicting the hard disc drive's fly-height data for a fly-height test at a second temperature different from the first, nominal temperature. The method further includes establishing the fly-height parameter for the hard disc drive in response to the fly-height data and the predicted fly-height data.

Abstract: According to a first aspect of the embodiments, a microphone mixer is provided comprising: an input adapted to receive differential microphone (mic) output signals; a gain-trim circuit adapted to receive the differential mic output signals, and which includes a substantially fully differential amplifier adapted to amplify the received differential mic output signals through use of a gain-trim output adjustment device that provides a variable gain amount ranging from a first gain-trim gain value to a second gain-trim gain value, to produce differential gain-trim circuit output signals; a fader circuit adapted to receive the differential gain-trim circuit output signals, and which includes a differential amplifier adapted to attenuate the received differential gain-trim circuit output signals through use of a fader output adjustment device that provides a variable gain amount ranging from a first fader gain value to a second fader value; and a common adjustment apparatus that mechanically ties the gain-trim out

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a method includes calculating a differential position value based on readback signals from at least two servo readers of a magnetic head reading servo tracks of a magnetic recording tape. The differential position value is compared to a previously-calculated differential position value. An action is performed in response to determining that the difference between the differential position value and the previously-calculated differential position value is in a predefined range. The differential position value is an average of differential position values for a set of samples, wherein the previously-calculated differential position value is an average of previously-calculated differential position values for a set of previously-obtained samples. In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a magnetic head having servo readers and a controller in communication with the servo readers. The controller is configured to detect a sudden change in a width of a magnetic recording tape.

Abstract: In one implementation, the disclosure provides a method comprising detecting one or more areas of a storage medium having a data pattern with a plurality of consecutive bits, where the consecutive bits have the same polarity. The method further comprises encoding additional information on a section of the one or more detected areas, where the section of the one or more detected areas has a signal to noise ratio (SNR) higher than SNR of the other areas of the storage media.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a preamplifier configured to implement multiple operational modes and configured to be connected to a magnetic read/write head, wherein the magnetic read/write head includes a read sensor to read data from a disk and a write element to write data to the disk. The preamplifier may further include an input configured to receive a test mode control signal to activate a mode monitoring mode of one or more test modes of a test mode circuit of the preamplifier, the test mode circuit configured to determine an indicator of the current operational mode of the preamplifier, and an output to provide the determined indicator of the current operational mode of the preamplifier.

Abstract: A memory system includes a nonvolatile memory having a plurality of blocks, and a memory controller. The memory controller is configured to control the nonvolatile memory, record an association between a first stream ID and a first block in which first data corresponding to the first stream ID is written, collect information on the first data written into the first block, and invalidate the association between the first stream ID and the first block based on the collected information.

Abstract: Systems and methods for a providing a chirped current profile with an undershoot for a channel preamplifier are described. A method for writing bits in a magnetic recording disc may include applying an overshoot to a write current which is supplied to a magnetic writer of the magnetic recording disc and applying an undershoot to the write current after the overshoot is applied to at least partially de-saturate the magnetic writer. The method may also include writing a bit to the magnetic recording disc with the magnetic writer using the supplied write current. In some examples, the application of a short negative pulse after an overshoot portion of the write current waveform is delivered to the head during a write operation that writes the bit to the magnetic recording disc.

Abstract: A method for scanning for flaws on a magnetic recording medium is disclosed. The magnetic recording medium has a first set of nonconsecutive data tracks and a second set of nonconsecutive data tracks. The method includes writing a test pattern to only the first set of nonconsecutive data tracks of the magnetic recording medium, reading of the test pattern written to the first set of nonconsecutive data tracks, and identifying flaws within the first set of nonconsecutive data tracks and the second set of nonconsecutive data tracks based on the reading the test pattern.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks, wherein each data track comprises a plurality of data sectors, each data sector comprises a preamble, and the preambles of adjacent data tracks are recorded at different frequencies. A first read element and a second read element of a head are positioned over a first preamble of a first data track to generate a first read signal emanating from the first read element and a second read signal emanating from the second read element. A first metric is generated based on the first read signal and a second metric is generated based on the second read signal. A difference between the first metric and the second metric is generated and used, for example, to servo the head over the disk or to measure a radial offset between the read elements.

Abstract: A head slider for use in a disk drive is movably positionable relative to a magnetic recording disk and includes at least one write element for writing data to the magnetic recording disk. The write element includes a writer coil electrically connected between a first bond pad and a second bond pad, where the connection between the first bond pad and the second bond pad includes a center tap located proximate to a voltage null point. The head slider also includes at least one read element for reading data from the magnetic recording disk, the read element electrically connected between the center tap and a third bond pad, where the write element and the read element are configured to be selectively activated based on biased inputs to the first bond pad, the second bond pad, and the third bond pad.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a spindle motor configured to rotate a disk, and a first voice coil motor (VCM) configured to actuate a head over the disk. During at least fifty percent of a seek of the head over the disk, a spindle control signal is generated based on a continuous function of a current flowing through the first VCM, and the spindle control signal is applied to the spindle motor.

Abstract: A method for execution by a computing device of a dispersed storage network. The method begins by determining whether frequency of access to a set of encoded data slices exceeds a frequently accessed threshold. The method continues, when the frequency of access exceeds the frequently accessed threshold, by determining an access amount indicative of a degree that the frequency of access exceeds the frequently accessed threshold. The method continues by generating a number of additional encoded data slices and storing the number of additional encoded data slices in a number of additional storage units, wherein the set of storage units and the number of additional storage units produce an expanded set of storage units. The method continues by sending a plurality of data access requests to subsets of the expanded set of storage units in a distributed manner to improve processing efficiency of the plurality of data access requests.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a memory, a disk including track groups each including overlapping tracks, a head including a write head, and a read head, and a controller configured to write first position data, including a first position error of the write head with respect to a first target track, to the memory and a second recording area subsequent to a first recording area to which first data is written, when writing the first data to the track groups, to read the first position data from the memory or the second recording area when adding data after writing the first data, and to control a position of the write head based on the first position data.

Abstract: A temperature compensation equation is generated during manufacture of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk drive using initial total currents supplied to a laser diode of the disk drive at different initial operating temperatures. The total currents represent currents for recording data to or erasing data from the medium. The temperature compensation equation is stored in the disk drive, and updated, during field operation, using a subsequent total current associated with an operating temperature differing from the initial operating temperatures. The total current supplied to the laser diode for a subsequent write operation is adjusted using the updated temperature compensation equation in response to the operating temperature at the time of the subsequent write operation.

Abstract: A power converter and a method of operation thereof is disclosed including an input, an output, a sensor unit, a switched power converter, and a processor module. The power converter may convert an input power into an output power. The power converter may sense real-time measurements of the input power and the output power to determine a real-time calculated efficiency. The power converter may chop the input power into sized and positioned portions of the input power based on a plurality of determined operating parameters. The power converter may determine the operating parameters based on the real-time calculated efficiency and on a plurality of other operating factors/conditions.

Abstract: Provided is a coating-type magnetic recording medium for microwave assisted recording. A magnetic recording medium for microwave assisted recording having a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binder on a non-magnetic support, in which the magnetic layer exhibits an intrinsic ferromagnetic resonance frequency of 30.0 GHz or more. A magnetic recording device including the magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head for microwave assisted recording.

Abstract: A heater power of a heat-assisted magnetic recording head is set to an initial power to induce an initial head-medium clearance. For a plurality of iterations, a heater power at an optimum laser power is determined that achieve a target clearance. If differences in the heater power and optimum laser power between the two subsequent iterations are below a threshold, the iterations are stopped and the heater power and the optimum laser power for one of the two subsequent iterations is used as an operational heater power and laser power for the heat-assisted magnetic recording head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus in an embodiment includes a magnetic head, a storage, a detector, and a controller. The magnetic head records data on a recording medium. The storage stores first current parameters defining a first current waveform, second current parameters defining a second current waveform, and recording bit sequence information. The detector detects a discontinuity point from the recording bit sequence information. The discontinuity point is defined by a position at which recording bit lengths are discontinuous. The controller controls a waveform of a recording current of the magnetic head, based on the first current parameters at a recording bit that is not next to the discontinuity point and based on the second current parameters at a recording bit that is next to the discontinuity point.

Abstract: A method for managing file system memory includes starving an initial metadata memory area of a storage pool created for a file system transaction including cache data and log data. The method also includes determining on a transactional basis a ratio of metadata memory use to cache data use and an available unused portion of cache data memory replaceable in predetermined slab increments in the cache data. The method additionally includes shrinking transactionally the cache data per the slab increments based on the ratio via cleaning the cache data slabs and attaching the cache data slabs to the metadata memory area for temporary metadata use. The method further includes replacing the cache data slabs from the metadata memory area to the cache data based on a completion of the file system transaction. The slabs vary 5% to 10% or any arbitrary percentage of metadata space to cache data space.

Abstract: According to the embodiments, a memory system includes a nonvolatile semiconductor memory and a writing-loop-count monitoring unit that monitors a loop count of an applied voltage to the nonvolatile semiconductor memory required for data writing of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory as a writing loop count. Moreover, the memory system includes a management table for managing the writing loop count in block unit that is a unit of data erasing and a life managing unit that determines a degraded state of the nonvolatile semiconductor memory based on the management table.

Abstract: There is provided a transmission apparatus including: a memory in which history data of a rewrite process on which an in-device header referred in a device is rewritten is stored, the history data including data before and after the rewrite process is stored, and the device of one or more devices included in the transmission apparatus receiving a first frame including the in-device header, performing a specific process and the rewrite process, and outputting a second frame including a rewritten in-device header; and a processor configured to detect a failure of the device, based on data on the in-device header of the first frame, data on the rewritten in-device header of the second frame, and the history data stored in the memory.

Abstract: A computer program product, according to one embodiment, includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se. Moreover, the program instructions readable and/or executable by a controller to cause the controller to perform a method which includes: determining, by the controller, whether a difference between information and corresponding design values is in a range; and computing, by the controller and using the information, data describing a lateral writing position to use during writing such that shingled track edges are aligned according to a format in response to determining that the difference between the information and corresponding design values is not in the range. The information corresponds to how an array of writers write and/or are expected to write to a magnetic medium during shingled recording.

Abstract: A tape layout module for determining a tape layout allocation strategy for laying out data on tape, the data being organized into a plurality of fixed-size subdata sets with each of the plurality of subdata sets including a plurality of codeword interleaves, the tape including a plurality of media defect characteristics, includes a tape layout optimization system including a processor that receives information on the plurality of media defect characteristics. The tape layout optimization system determines the tape layout allocation strategy based at least in part on at least one of the plurality of media defect characteristics. Additionally, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy further based on distance spectra between pairs of the plurality of codeword interleaves. Further, the tape layout optimization system can determine the tape layout allocation strategy by selectively utilizing at least one tape layout parameter.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a fly height actuator configured to control a fly height of the head over the disk. A plurality of host read commands are received from a host, and a performance metric associated with accessing the disk to execute the host read commands is measured. When the performance metric indicates the data storage device is operating with a performance margin, the fly height actuator is controlled to increase the fly height of the head over the disk, wherein the performance metric consists of at least one of a throughput of the host read commands and a power consumption of the data storage device.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for partially updating shingled magnetic recording (SMR) zones in SMR storage devices. An SMR storage device can receive and process a command to update a write pointer for an SMR zone to point to an arbitrary write position within the SMR zone. A partial SMR zone update command can be received and processed to modify part of the data stored in the SMR zone. A write position within the SMR zone where data to be modified is stored can be identified. Data stored in the SMR zone following the identified write position can be read to a temporary location and modified. A write pointer for the SMR zone can be updated to point to the identified write position. The modified data can then be written to the SMR zone, starting at the write position identified by the write pointer, or to another SMR zone of the storage device.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a communication unit, a display, and a controller for performing a control operation to display a screen related to an electronic device, performing a control operation to request for diagnostic data based on an input for a diagnosis mode provided with the screen related to the electronic device, to display a screen of the diagnostic data, and performing a control operation to request for detailed diagnostic data based on an input for a detailed diagnosis mode, and to display a screen of detailed diagnostic data. Thus, the diagnostic data or detailed diagnostic data about the electronic device may be easily displayed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that is operable with a disk drive. The apparatus includes a memory device operable to store a plurality of bit sets. Each bit set identifies a track and a sector of the disk drive and a number of times that the track of the disk drive has been written. A controller of the disk drive is operable to increment the number when the track is written. Each bit set comprises a number of bits that is established according to track location of the disk drive.

Abstract: A method of accessing data stored in a storage disk of a storage system includes the steps of receiving a read operation to a sector of the storage disk and in response to an error returned from the read operation, determining whether the sector is to be replaced. If the sector is determined to be replaced, the method further includes replacing the sector with a spare sector. The data previously stored at the replaced disk sector are reconstructed and written to the spare sector, and the LBA assigned to the replaced sector is reassigned to the PBA associated with the spare sector.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an array of equally-spaced 2N+1 transducers, and at least two servo readers positioned external to an outermost transducer of the array and on a same side thereof. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of 2N+1 transducers on a pitch. At least one of the transducers within the array is configured as a servo reader. An apparatus according to yet another embodiment includes an array of 2N+1 transducers, and a controller directly electrically coupled to each of the transducers. The controller is configured to use transducers on only one side of a centerline of the array in one mode of operation.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a system and method that improves command completion time in a shingled magnetic recording device system. In one implementation, the system and method include receiving a write command to write data to a first track in a band in a recording medium, seeking to a first track, reducing an on-cylinder limit (OCLIM) from a default OCLIM to a reduced OCLIM by a predetermined amount on the first track, performing write operations on the first track with the reduced OCLIM, and determining if a transfer of data to the first track band in the write operations has been substantially completed. Upon determining that a transfer of data to the first track in the write operations has been substantially completed, the OCLIM is restored from a reduced OCLIM to a default OCLIM and write operations are performed on tracks adjacent to the first track.

Abstract: Data is written to a recording medium via a read/write head. Subsequent to the writing, the data is read via a read transducer of a read/write head. An instability indicator is derived based on measurements performed while the reading the data. If the instability indicator exceeds a threshold, a current applied to a write coil of the read/write head is changed for subsequent write operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automating testing of multiple SATA hard drives with multiple motherboards are described herein. In certain embodiments any number of SATA drives may be switchably connected to any number of motherboards, and any number of tests may be performed on combinations of the SATA drives and motherboards without or with only minimal manual intervention between tests. In one embodiment, the system may include an automated selector having a controller adapted to receive a testing instruction and transmit the received testing instruction and a mainboard in communication with the controller. The mainboard may include a logic device to receive the testing instruction from the controller and/or a switch for pairing and unpairing motherboards with SATA storage devices.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting defective sectors on a recording medium, the method including calculating a servo gain for each servo sector of a track of a recording medium of a storage device; determining whether the servo gain of each servo sector exceeds a threshold value; and upon determining that the servo gain of a servo sector exceeds the threshold value, determining data sectors included in the servo sector to be defective sectors.

Abstract: A defect scan method is carried out to detect a defective portion in a storage medium of a storage device, the storage medium including multiple storage regions including a first storage region and a second storage region. The defect scan method includes scanning a part of the storage regions of the storage medium to detect a defective portion therein, before the storage device is connected to a host, a scanned storage region including the first storage region and a non-scanned storage region including the second storage region, mapping logical addresses to physical addresses of a non-defective portion of the first storage region, scanning the second storage region to detect a defective portion therein, after the storage device is connected to the host, and mapping logical addresses to physical addresses of a non-defective portion of the second storage region.

Abstract: Performance data of two or more actuators of a storage device is determined. The actuators independently move respective two or more heads over one or more disks coupled to a spindle motor. The independent movement of the two or more heads causes coupling therebetween that affects tracking of the two or more heads. Based on the performance data, bit aspect ratios associated with each of the two or more heads are selected that minimize performance impacts due to the coupling.

Abstract: Various embodiments are provided that enable a controller of a storage device having storage media to perform one or more error recovery operations on the storage media, and to convey, while performing the one or more error recovery operations, a message indicating a status of the one or more error recovery operations to a host processor in communication with the storage device. Storage devices implementing embodiments of the present invention include hard disk drives and solid state disk drives comprising a disk head having a magnetoresistive (MR) element configured to read and write data to and from the storage media, and coupled to an analog/digital (A/D) converter, and the error recovery operations are selected from a list of changing an automatic gain control of the A/D converter, positioning the disk head off-track in order to read the data, and adjusting a bias value of the MR element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a drive storage system, method, and computer program process for automatically replacing drives. In one embodiment, one or more computer processors receive a request for a new drive. One or more computer processors direct an exchange robot to obtain the new drive from a drive repository and to proceed to a location of a used drive. One or more computer processors then direct the exchange robot to remove the used drive from the location and to insert the new drive into the location of the used drive.

Abstract: A method for magnetic data recording that calibrates for magnetic thermal protrusion of elements of a magnetic data recording system. The method involves performing a series of burst mode magnetic data writings using a magnetic recording head that includes a write element, a thermal fly height control element and a near field transducer. The burst mode writings are performed at various levels of thermal fly height control power. This can be use to determine the relationship between signal amplitude and thermal fly height control power with thermal protrusion being affected only by the thermal fly height control element and not from thermal heating of the near field transducer or write element. Then, thermal fly height control can be adjusted to achieve the desired signal amplitude for recording with the near field transducer and write element operating at a thermal steady state.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering user data from a rotatable data recording medium. In some embodiments, a moveable read element detects at least one uncorrectable read error in user data stored in a data sector arranged along a concentric track. A read retry operation is carried out to recover the user data by radially advancing the moveable read element from a first offset value to a different second offset value with respect to the track in accordance with a trajectory profile while transducing the user data from the data sector. This allows data that are variably overwritten (encroached upon) by different radial amounts from an adjacent track to be recovered.

Abstract: A lumped-parameter function ? is determined that represents an average power dissipated by a write transducer when writing a signal to a magnetic recording medium. Temperatures of the write transducer are measured while varying the parameters to determine constants of the function ?. The function ? is used to adjust power applied to a clearance control heater when writing to the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed for deferring storage operations (e.g., writes or reads) during hostile events. When a data storage device experiences a hostile event, e.g., a vibration, shock, etc. contact by a head of the data storage device with a disk surface can cause errors or indeed damage. The technology can cause a data storage device to suspend storage operations until the hostile event is no longer detected.

Abstract: A data storage device may have increased signal-to-noise ratio contact detection by employing a transducing head associated with a data storage medium each connected to a controller. The transducing head can have an alternating current heater excited to a first frequency for a first revolution of the data storage medium and to a different second frequency for a second revolution of the data storage medium. The second frequency may produce lateral transducing head motion as a result of physical contact of the transducing head with the data storage medium. The controller can issue a contact status in response to comparing a first plurality of position error signals logged during the first frequency to a second plurality of position error signals logged during the second frequency.

Abstract: A storage media includes a plurality of servo sectors with embedded servo patterns characterized by one or more servo pattern parameters. Each of the servo sectors has a servo pattern parameter based on a separation between read sensors of a transducer head reading the servo sector.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of On the Fly Formatting. Various parameters that influence areal density of hard disc regions can be changed on the fly based on storage capacity and reliability needs. Further adjustments can be made to the formatting of the region to fine tune achievable storage capacity and reliability values. In some cases, the formatting can include error correction code strength, gap widths between user data sectors and servo data sectors, other characteristics or parameters, or any combinations thereof.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method includes creating a spike in a servo channel from a predetermined start position to an end position, and storing servo data including at least a portion thereof generated during the spike. The spike has a predetermined amplitude. In another embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The program instructions are executable by a controller to perform the foregoing method.

Abstract: An aspect includes viewing contents of a command queue that contains commands waiting to be sent in a specified order to a memory for execution at the memory. Command pattern data that includes patterns of commands and associated estimated power consumptions is accessed. The contents of the command queue are searched for the patterns of commands. One of the patterns of commands is located in the contents of the command queue. A suggested power management action is determined for the memory based on the located pattern of commands and its associated estimated power consumption. The suggested power management action is sent to a power control engine of the memory prior to a first command in the located pattern of commands being sent to the memory for execution.

Abstract: A system includes a read/write module and a caching module. The read/write module is configured to access a first portion of a recording surface of a rotating storage device. Data is stored on the first portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device at a first density. The caching module is configured to cache data on a second portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device at a second density. The second portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device is separate from the first portion of the recording surface of the rotating storage device. The second density is less than the first density.

Abstract: A tape appliance that includes two outer write heads and an inner read head arranged along a magnetic tape path in WRW order, each write head tape bearing surface angled downward towards the inner read head. The heads are configured such that for a first direction of tape travel, the tape engages the tape bearing surface of a first write head followed by engaging the tape bearing surface of the read head and flies over the tape bearing surface of the other write head. For the reverse direction of tape travel, the tape engages the tape bearing surface of the other write head followed by engaging the tape bearing surface of the write head and flies over the tape bearing surface of the first write head.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a system for achieving reduced head-media spacing (HMS) in a hard disk drive (HDD) by providing active control over the positioning of a read/write head relative to a rotating magnetic data recording and reading surface of a disk. The system is configured to monitor and adjust positioning of the read/write head in real, or near-real time during disk rotation to maintain the HMS between a magnetic transducer of the read/write head and the disk surface within a defined range, generally between 1.0 nm and 10.0 nm, and, in some embodiments, approximately 4.3 nm. The system replaces the conventional an air bearing surface (ABS) design with a fully active suspension to maintain the head flying height within the desired range. The system further allows for each of the magnetic transducer and disk surface to be to be devoid of any overcoat or lubricant layers.