Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk drive that is capable of effectively controlling a side erase, which is one of the problems with the use of the perpendicular recording technology. In one embodiment, tracks on a recording medium are formed concentrically or spirally by overwriting a primary side track, which is either an inner track or outer track, onto part of a secondary side track, which is on the side away from the primary side track. A head unit is installed so that a magnetic head positioned at one end of the head unit relatively may move over the recording medium and that the yaw angle prevailing at an end track of the primary side on the recording medium may be substantially zero.

Abstract: An active noise canceller outputs a noise pattern learning request signal to a hard disk drive causing the hard disk drive to perform a predetermined operation, receives noise at this moment through a sound-receiving unit, and stores, in a nonvolatile memory unit, a relationship between the noise and a head operation data signal output from the hard disk drive. Based on the operation data signal outputted from the hard disk drive, the active noise canceller generates a noise-canceling sound while making a reference to the above relationship stored in the nonvolatile memory unit. Therefore, the signal processing needs a low degree of response for operating the noise-canceling sound.

Abstract: A portable wireless communication terminal includes a sensor to detect a movement of the portable wireless communication terminal and output a first signal based on an acceleration of the movement and a second signal based on a velocity of the movement and a controller to control a hard disk drive (HDD) in response to both the first and second signals.

Abstract: A hard disk device includes a magnetic disk for storing data, a temperature sensor for detecting an ambient temperature and a controller for controlling operation of the hard disk device. The magnetic disk has a first memory region where data are memorized with a high density when the ambient temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature and a second memory region where data are memorized with a low density when the ambient temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature. The data stored in the second memory region can be transferred to the first memory region when the ambient temperature becomes higher than the predetermined temperature. It is assured that the data are successfully stored in the hard disk device at any temperature without much sacrificing the memory capacity.

Abstract: Copying, dubbing or reproducing copyrighted digital data can be inhibited or restricted to properly protect a copyright. AV data recorded on a pre-recorded tape is output from a reproducing unit of a first digital VCR with protective information indicating whether the copy of the AV data is inhibited or not. The protective information is input with the A/V data to a second digital VCR. Copy permission information of a blank tape loaded in the second digital VCR is discriminated and the second digital VCR records the AV data supplied from the first digital VCR based on the protective information and the copy permission information.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge drop detection device including a media rack for accommodating a cartridge containing a magnetic tape medium, a tape drive for holding the magnetic tape medium, and a robot for retrieving the cartridge from the media rack and for transporting the cartridge to the tape drive, wherein the cartridge drop detection device comprises: a microphone, installed on a floor, for detecting that the cartridge has dropped on the floor; a vibration detection sensor for detecting vibration applied to a tape library apparatus; and a detection circuit for determining that the cartridge has dropped on the floor when a voltage detected by the microphone and a voltage detected by the vibration detection sensor have exceeded respective threshold values, whereby providing a device which can reliably detect whether any cartridge in the magnetic tape library apparatus has dropped or not.

Abstract: A disk array unit connected to a host unit to give information thereto and receive information therefrom. The disk unit includes a plurality of disk units for storing information transmitted from the host unit and a management information recording device, formed by utilizing information storage areas in the disk units, for causing information relating to a logical unit for storing information from the host unit to correspond to information relating to the units. The invention further includes a control unit, when there is no access from the host unit to the logical unit for a predetermined time, for determining the disk units corresponding to the logical unit based on information recorded in the management information recording device and performing power saving of power supply for the disk units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing a hard disc drive, in which parameters of the hard disc drive are updated by periodically performing a retry of the hard disc drive when the hard disc drive is in an idle state and using the accumulated results, and a recording medium that stores programs of the method. The method includes periodically calculating parameter values to optimize the operation of the hard disc drive and applying the optimized parameters calculated in the calculation of optimization parameters to the operation of the hard disc drive.

Abstract: Method of controlling a current through a coil (L) for the generation of a magnetic field (H) in which: a parameter is determined which is a measure for the value of the resistance (RL) of the coil (L), the current (IL) through the coil (L) is controlled by data (DS) delivered by a data control circuit (DSS), and a stop data signal (SPD) is delivered to the data control circuit (DSS) for (at least) temporarily stopping the control of the current (IL) when the parameter exceeds a certain limit.

Abstract: A fluid dynamic bearing device includes a shaft and a sleeve, with the shaft or the sleeve having a greater hardness being smoothed to have about 0.02 ?m or less of the arithmetical average of the surface roughness. The hardness of the shaft or the sleeve having a greater hardness is a Vickers hardness of about 100 Hv or greater at a portion that is arranged to come into contact with the other of the shaft or the sleeve. Further, the hardness of the other of the shaft or the sleeve is a Vickers hardness of about 600 HV or smaller at a portion arranged to come into contact with the shaft or the sleeve having a greater hardness. A clearance of a radial gap defined between the shaft and the sleeve S is about 1.3 ?m to about 2.5 ?m.

Abstract: CSS hard disk drive providing improved take-off and/or touchdown by asserting pitch actuation control signal stimulating a pitch actuator to flex a flexure finger, altering the pitch angle of slider coupling through flexure finger to pitch actuator. Method implemented by embedded circuit and/or embedded processor. Manufacturing embedded processor, embedded circuit, CSS hard disk drive, and these process products.

Abstract: A data storage medium library includes a plurality of magazines. The magazines include a plurality of cells. An addressor addresses a logical cell address of the cell that stores a data storage medium. The logical cell address indicates what number the cell is as counted in ascending order in the cells that store data storage media. A reporter reports the logical cell address to a host device. When the addressor counts, the addressor skips an empty cell.

Abstract: A tape library is provided with a fixed coupling mechanism so that the tape library includes discrete locations via which power and communication are provided to an accessor. The use of such a coupling mechanism in a vertical tape library allows for the use of gravity to ensure that the accessor can couple with the fixed coupling mechanism even when no power is present in the accessor.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, a disk drive includes a rotatable data storage disk, a head, and a controller. The head is configured to fly on an air cushion relative to a data recording surface of the rotating disk while writing data to the data recording surface responsive to a write command from a host device or while reading data from the data recording surface to generate a read signal responsive to a read command from the host device. The controller is configured to measure flying height of the head relative to the data recording surface of the disk in response to sensing power-up of the disk drive and/or a shut-down command from the host device. The controller may measure the flying height in response to sensing power-up of the disk drive and, subsequent to measuring the flying height, may generate a ready signal to the host computer that indicates that the disk drive has powered-up and is ready to receive read/write commands from the host computer.

Abstract: A rewrite determining unit of a hard disk apparatus acquires a servo signal that includes an offtrack amount corresponding to each servo frame from a position information memory, and determines whether a write fault has occurred based on the servo signal. If a write fault has occurred, the rewrite determining unit determines a rewrite sector count, and a write controller controls a hard disk controller so that rewriting is performed to correspond to the rewrite sector count determined by the rewrite determining unit.

Abstract: A method, medium, and apparatus protecting a portable device protecting a HDD by instituting different protection mechanisms to an information processing apparatus based on a portable state/non-portable state of the portable device. The protecting of the HDD may include detecting whether the portable device is carried, detecting a movement of the portable device, comparing by applying a different critical value, based on whether the portable device is carried, in judging whether to unload the HDD through a comparison of the degree of movement of the portable device with a critical value, and performing an unload of the HDD based on results of the comparison. The method for protecting a HDD of a portable device efficiently protects the HDD and guarantees an optimized performance of the portable device by protecting the HDD by instituting different mechanisms depending on a portable/non-portable state of the portable device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a disk drive device excellent in reliability that can reduce influence of a temperature change in an environment of use. In one embodiment, a disk drive device includes a disk drive mechanism that records information in a disk or reproduces information stored in the disk and a housing in which the disk drive mechanism is housed. The disk drive device further includes a humidity control element that controls humidity in the inside of the housing, a temperature sensor that detects ambient temperature of the disk drive device or temperature of a portion where temperature changes substantially in the same manner as the ambient temperature, and a control circuit that controls the temperature control element on the basis of a rapid change in temperature detected by the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing read/write head track misregistration are described. According to one embodiment, a first signal is received from a first capacitive sensor that faces a surface of a disk associated with a disk drive. A second signal is received from a second capacitive sensor that faces the surface of the disk. A determination is made as to whether the disk is being moved along its axis of rotation or whether the disk is tilting. Read/write head track misregistration is reduced based on the determination of whether the disk drive is being moved along an axis of rotation or whether the disk is tilting.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that proactively monitors a disk drive to detect an impending disk drive failure. During operation, the system obtains a time-varying electrical signal which is generated by the spindle rotation during operation of the disk drive. Next, the system extracts one or more inferential parameters associated with the spindle rotation from the time-varying electrical signal using a phase-sensitive detection. The system then performs proactive fault detection on the inferential parameters to detect an impending failure of the disk drive.

Abstract: In a settling judgment method for judging whether an object is settled at a target position, a margin for settling judgment is expanded, and settling is judged accurately. As the settling judgment formula of the settling judgment block, both the position error and the added value of the position errors of a plurality of samples are used. Particularly for the vibration in the low frequency area, the margin for settling judgment increases. Therefore even if vibration exists in the low frequency area, judging as deviation from the settling judgment conditions by mistake can be decreased, and operations (e.g. read/write operation) can be continued.

Abstract: A hybrid disk drive, i.e., a disk drive with two types of permanent storage media (conventional disk media and nonvolatile memory, such as flash memory), uses its nonvolatile memory in operational modes other than the power-save or “standby” mode wherein the disks are spun down. In a first additional mode, called a “performance” mode, one or more blocks of write data are destaged from volatile memory (the disk drive's write cache) and written to the disk and simultaneously one or more data blocks of write data are destaged from the volatile memory and written to the nonvolatile memory. In a second additional mode, called a “harsh-environment” mode, the disk drive includes one or more environmental sensors, such as temperature and humidity sensors, and the nonvolatile memory temporarily replaces the disks as the permanent storage media.

Abstract: Data storage apparatus is provided for storing data on a tape in accordance with a format specifying a plurality of logs of tape-usage information and a data area for storing the data. Control means are programmed to update one of the logs for each usage of the tape, the logs being selected in turn for updating.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method of adjusting reference clock frequency in a disk drive. The reference clock frequency adjustment method includes; measuring each servo sector detection time interval, generating an error signal by subtracting initially set reference time interval information between servo sectors from the measured servo sector detection time interval information, and adjusting the reference clock frequency using the error signal such that a constant number of reference clock pulses are generated in each servo sector detection time interval regardless of variation in each servo sector detection time interval.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus is described for transferring data between at least one transducer head of the data transfer apparatus and a data medium removably received in the data transfer apparatus. The data transfer apparatus is operable to monitor at least one data transfer performance characteristic, and to use results of the monitoring to set an indicator for access by the data transfer apparatus, for use in connection with a subsequent head-cleaning process using a designated head-cleaning medium, the indicator corresponding to an appropriate quality of head-cleaning process.

Abstract: A disk control apparatus controls a disk driving unit that performs read/write of data with a head. A vibration detecting unit detects a vibration of the disk driving unit. A disk control unit controls the disk driving unit based on the detected vibration.

Abstract: A magnetic recorder for performing at least one of magnetic recording and magnetic reproduction on a running magnetic tape, comprising: a magnetic head mounted so as to slidably abut on the magnetic tape; a subject portion made of the same material as that of the magnetic head and provided so as to slidably abut on the magnetic tape; a tinge detection sensor for detecting a color of a surface of the subject portion slidably abutting on the magnetic tape; and a judgment portion for acquiring a detection signal output from the tinge detection sensor when the color of the surface of the subject portion detected by the tinge detection sensor changes to a specific color.

Abstract: To provide a medium storing apparatus and a medium storing system capable of realizing a management of information recording media even when an identifier for specifying the information recording media is not attached to the information recording media such as a magnetic tape. When the medium storing apparatus determines that the identifier of the information recording media can not be read (S104: YES), each kind of data is read from a memory of the information recording media (S105), and whether or not the identifier is included in each kind of data is determined (S106), and when it is so determines that the identifier is included (S106: YES), the identifier thus read is outputted (S107), and when it is so determines that the identifier is not included (S106: NO), the identifier based on the information read in step S105 is generated.

Abstract: A data storage device, method and program product for high data transfer and access rate is disclosed. The data storage device includes a housing wherein at least one data storage disk is rotatably mounted. The housing further includes at least two actuator arm assemblies, each actuator arm assembly carrying a head for reading data from or writing data to the data storage disks. According to the invention the data storage device housing further includes a plurality of device interfaces, one device interface being associated to each of the actuator arm assemblies, and a common hard drive controller. Each of the plurality of device interfaces includes at least one hardware selection switch to configure the respective device interfaces for either read and write mode or read-only mode.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal and a method for reducing power consumption for driving a hard disk drive (HDD) of a mobile communication terminal are provided when controlling an interface between a transition integrated circuit (TIC) that takes charge of the interface with the HDD built in the mobile communication terminal and the HDD. The terminal and method include producing an HDD access request signal, initializing the TIC by resetting the TIC through a power-on of the TIC, performing an access of the HDD by driving the HDD after the initialization of the TIC is completed, and turning off an operation power of the TIC after the access of the HDD is completed.

Abstract: A storage medium (magnetic disk) in a storage device (magnetic disk device) includes a disk that stores therein data, a head that reads and writes data, a voice motor coil (VCM) that controls the head, and a ramp where the head is retracted. The storage device detects a current used for speed control during unloading of the head, and determines whether the current exceeds a predetermined value. The storage device detects a head position where the current exceeds a predetermined value as a ramp position, stores the ramp position, and unloads the head based on the ramp position.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that dynamically controls a temperature profile within a disk drive by generating disk drive activity. During operation, the system first receives a desired temperature profile. Next, the system generates a load profile based on the desired temperature profile, wherein the load profile specifies read/write operations on the disk drive. The system then applies the load profile to the disk drive to generate disk drive activity, wherein the disk activity causes the temperature in the disk drive to track the desired temperature profile.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a rotatable data storage disk, an interface, a transducer, a write buffer, an actuator, and a controller. The transducer is configured to read and write data on the disk. The interface is configured to receive data with associated write commands and a park signal. The write buffer is configured to temporarily store the data and associated write commands while the data waits to be written on the disk via the transducer. The actuator is configured to move the transducer between a parked position and tracks on a disk where data is read and written. The controller is configured to execute the buffered write commands by positioning the transducer relative to tracks on the disk while writing data from the write buffer to the disk, and is configured to respond to the park signal, which is indicative of an imminent transducer to disk contact condition, by moving the transducer to the park position without completing execution of the buffered write commands.

Abstract: A sample-information extracting unit acquires a fall signal indicating whether a storage device is falling, conducts a sampling in response to the fall signal, and sequentially extracts sample information including either one of first information indicating a falling state and second information indicating a non-falling state. A retraction determining unit determines whether to retract the head, based on features of an array of the extracted sample information.

Abstract: A self servo writing disk controller detects a plurality of spiral sync marks and a plurality of spiral bursts corresponding to one of a plurality of servo spirals from a read signal from the read/write head. A timing reference signal is generated based on timing of at least one of the plurality of the spiral sync marks. A position error signal is generated based on timing of at least one of the plurality of spiral sync marks and a magnitude of at least one of a plurality of spiral bursts. The timing reference signal and the position error signal are used by the disk drive for timing and positioning in self writing initial servo wedges to the disk.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that proactively monitors a disk drive to detect an impending disk drive failure. During operation, the system obtains a time-varying electrical signal which is generated by the spindle rotation during operation of the disk drive. Next, the system extracts one or more inferential parameters associated with the spindle rotation from the time-varying electrical signal using a phase-sensitive detection. The system then performs proactive fault detection on the inferential parameters to detect an impending failure of the disk drive.

Abstract: A disk drive device has a shock sensor that detects mechanical shocks to a disk drive device to provide a shock output signal representative of such mechanical shocks. The shock output signal may be filtered to pass signals having a low frequency component of approximately between 1 and 4 KHz. Low frequency mechanical disturbances may be compensated for during writing to a track on the disk drive as a function of such low frequency component. In one embodiment, higher frequency shocks may be processed on a separate shock channel to inhibit or allow write operations. Different filters may be used on each of the shock channels.

Abstract: A method and circuit for powering a disk drive device involves determining an operating condition of the disk drive device. A power mode is selected consistent with the determined operating condition of the disk drive. Different components of the disk drive device are selectively powered consistent with the selected power mode. In one embodiment, a voltage regulator is provided different adjusting voltages to provide different desired target voltages for powering the different components.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a voice coil motor controlled by a servo circuit. The servo circuit provides a sinusoidal driving signal that has two different harmonic frequencies. The dual harmonic waveform creates a voice coil motor jerk profile (derivative of acceleration) that is continuous. The continuous jerk profile reduces vibration and seek time of the drive.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a data storage system that includes a signal defect correction system for removing signal defects in magnetoresistive head playback signals. The signal defect correction system utilizes a matched finite impulse response (FIR) filter and digital signal processing algorithms. The matched FIR filter is designed with an impulse response that is the time reversed, complex conjugate of a signal defect model. The signal defect model is generated from a number of sample playback signals. The matched FIR filter is applied to the playback signal and digital signal processing techniques are applied to the filter response to detect a signal defect in the playback signal and estimate the amplitude and location of the signal defect. The signal defect model is retrieved from memory and applied to the playback signal using the amplitude and location estimates to substantially remove the signal defect from the playback signal.

Abstract: Exemplary tape library architectures and methods for recording errors in a tape drive are described. One exemplar method may be implemented in a processor a tape drive controller. The method comprises receiving, in a tape drive controller, an external identifier associated with a tape cartridge, recording the external identifier in a memory location associated with the tape drive controller, and associating, in a subsequent error analysis routine, an error in the tape drive with the external identifier of the tape cartridge in the tape drive.

Abstract: A calibration method for a fly on demand head of a hard disk drive. The method includes the steps of flying a head over a test track of a disk that is covered with a lubricant. A voltage is applied to a heating element of the head to move the head closer to the disk. The fly height of the head is then determined. The voltage can be incrementally varied until the head makes contact with the disk. This sequence can cause a modulated wear pattern in the lubricant of the disk. The voltage is terminated and the head is allowed to fly over the test track. The head is also moved to adjacent tracks on either side of the test track. A pressure gradient of the flying head moves the lubricant about the disk to mitigate the modulated wear pattern.

Abstract: A falling sensor is provided, which detects a falling of a magnetic disk drive or an information processing device installed with said magnetic disk drive and which is effective for avoiding physical damages of magnetic heads and magnetic disk media. The magnetic disk drive or the information processing device, include an unload mechanism moving or evacuating said magnetic head from a surface of said magnetic disk media, and a falling sensor comprising a conductive flexible beams 9 or members having a compatible function, a conductive weight 10 supported by these beams and a conductive wall 11 arranged to be made contact or non-contact with said weight 10. The sensor can detect a falling of the magnetic disk drive or the information processing device which is typically a notebook personal computer installing with the magnetic disk drive, and evacuate the magnetic head by the unload mechanism. The conductive wall 11 can be formed as a tubular member.

Abstract: According to an embodiment of the invention, a mobile communication terminal device comprises: an information memory unit configured to store a first information and a security information indicating whether the first information is secret; a backup request memory unit configured to store a first request for backing up identification information of the first information and the first information, or a second request for deleting a second information identified by the identification information with which the first information is stored in the backup device; a transmitting unit configured to transmit the first request or the second request based on the information stored in the backup request memory unit; and a management unit configured to store the identification information of the first information and the first request, if the first information of which the security information indicates that the first information is not secret is stored in the information memory unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to maintaining an acceptable level of relative humidity inside of a disk drive. According to one embodiment, clean dry air is blow over a cover of the disk drive. The cover includes an unsealed servo write slot. The amount of clean dry air blown over the cover is regulated while a servo write process is performed so that a portion of the clean dry air is introduced into the disk drive.

Abstract: A plurality of HDDs 12-1˜12-n connected around a host 10 can be made to directly communicate with each other. For example, an HDD 12-1 makes another HDD to perform long distance seek using this communication line and measures the influence of vibration caused at that time. The measurement result is formed into a transfer function indicating the position change of the head of the relevant HDD against the operation of another HDD. An HDD is actually driven by a current value obtained by correcting the normal driving current of the driving motor of the head by the transfer function.

Abstract: A system and method for determining head-disk contact (HDC) in a disk drive uses the signal from the magnetoresistive (MR) read head and does not require the presence of magnetic transitions on the disk. The method thus has application in head-disk testers or “spin stands” to facilitate the design and testing of slider-suspension assemblies and fly-height actuators, as well as in disk drives to take corrective action before HDC and/or to control fly-height actuators. The invention is also a magnetic recording disk drive that has a fly-height actuator and a low-pass filter and comparator circuit for the MR signal. When the output of the filter exceeds a threshold the comparator circuit output indicates the onset of HDC. The comparator circuit output is input to a digital processor or controller. When the controller determines the onset of HDC or that HDC has occurred, it generates a control signal that can be used to cause the disk drive to take corrective action.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) protection apparatus includes a signal receiving unit to receive an incoming alert signal and to generate a notice signal, and a controller to receive the notice signal and to control operations of the HDD and an alert generator based on the notice signal.

Abstract: In an apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information, which reproduces servo information being recorded on a medium and conducts a tracking operation based on the servo information, a power save part conducts a power save operation by reducing an operation clock frequency in accordance with a predetermined process during a tracking operation, during a seek operation, and/or during spindle motor startup.

Abstract: A disk drive that contains a fly on demand head (FOD) and a process for determining contact between the FOD head and a disk. The head includes a heating coil that can receive various levels of power. The process includes using a routine to obtain head position estimate error data. A standard deviation of the estimate error data is then determined. Standard deviation values for estimate error data are generated for different power values and used to determine a contact point between the head and the disk.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a load position sensor for a tape drive includes a tape cartridge loading mechanism, a head movable in response to movement in the loading mechanism, and a sensor operatively coupled to the head for sensing a position of the head.