Abstract: The present invention relates to a cobalt (Co) and platinum (Pt)-based multilayer thin film having a novel structure and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and to a fabrication method thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to a cobalt and platinum-based multilayer thin film having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), which includes thin cobalt layers and thin platinum layers alternately deposited over a substrate, and has an inverted structure in which a thickness of the thin cobalt layers is greater than that of the thin platinum layers, and to a fabrication method thereof. The cobalt and platinum-based multilayer thin film has a new structure in which the thickness of a magnetic thin layer is greater than that of a non-magnetic thin layer. The multilayer thin film may be easily applied as a free layer and a pinned layer in a magnetic tunnel junction by controlling the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy energy depending on the thickness ratio of the layers.

Abstract: A reference spiral is written on a recording surface of a magnetic storage disk that is free of position or timing information. The reference spirals are written on the recording surface with a substantially uniform slope by using open loop control of the position of a read/write head in conjunction with an iterative learning control scheme. A voltage profile applied to a voice coil motor is adapted over multiple iterations of moving the read/write head across the recording surface to closely approximate a target voltage profile, and the reference spiral is written using the adapted voltage profile. In addition, ramp contact detection based on actuator current profile may be employed to achieve full utilization of available actuator stroke.

Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting an eating activity occurrence are provided. A device includes a sensor for monitoring movement of a portion of an arm of a subject, and a processor in communication with the sensor for collecting raw data associated with movement of the portion of the arm. The processor is configured to process the raw data and form processed data. The processed data includes a determination of whether an eating activity has occurred. A method includes sensing movement of a portion of an arm of a subject, and processing raw data associated with the movement of the portion of the arm of the subject to form processed data. The processed data includes a determination of whether an eating activity has occurred.

Abstract: Dynamic fly height (DFH) control is obtained for a read/write head by use of a heating element having two laterally separated heat sources symmetrically spaced around the track center line of the head. The two heating sources create a protrusion profile relative to the undistorted ABS that recesses the read element and main write pole at the track center line relative to off-track positions. The resulting DFH control also protects the head from HDI (head-disk interference) events that are either the result of calibration procedures or normal HDD (hard disk drive) operation.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to allow for real-time communication between a web browser application and a contact center resource, where media codecs supported by the two parties may differ. A processor is configured to bridge the media exchanged between the browser and contact center resource. In bridging the media, the processor transcodes the media based on a first media codec for media directed to and from the web browser application, and further transcodes the media based on the second media codec for media directed to and from a contact center resource.

Abstract: A write head is positioned over a disk surface of a hard disk drive during a self-servo write process. A virtual window mode is employed for positioning the write head, in which the read channel of the hard disk drive continuously searches for servo spirals, but spiral detection is disabled except during specific time intervals, or “virtual windows.” Each virtual window is associated with one specific servo spiral on the disk surface, and has a predetermined duration. The duration and timing of these virtual windows may be selected to ensure that spiral detection is enabled while a read head of the hard disk drive passes over the associated servo spiral, even when servo spiral placement is not ideal.

Abstract: A magnetic write head is positioned based on position signals generated by a read head as the read head crosses a plurality of reference spirals. The spiral gate for monitoring a particular reference spiral is timed to begin at a time based on the radial position of the magnetic head when crossing the preceding reference spiral. In this way, the spiral crossing time for the particular reference spiral can be estimated with sufficient accuracy that the spiral gate coincides with the magnetic head crossing the particular reference spiral. Consequently, spiral detection is assured, even in the presence of large non-repeatable runout.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for aligning a rotatable substrate. In some embodiments, a circumferentially extending timing pattern is formed on a substrate. The timing pattern nominally extends about a center point of the substrate at a selected radius. The substrate is mounted to a support mechanism which rotates the substrate about a central axis. Due to mechanical tolerances, the central axis will be offset from the center point of the substrate as a result of an alignment error during the mounting of the substrate. The offset between the support mechanism central axis and the center point of the substrate is determined using a detector that detects two opposing cross-over transitions of the timing pattern during each revolution of the substrate. A feature may be written to the substrate by positioning a write element with respect to the substrate responsive to the detected offset.

Abstract: A reference track written to a magnetic recording medium includes at least two harmonics that facilitate measuring a clearance between a read/write head and the recording medium. A magnetic field is applied to the reference track that accelerates a thermal decay of the reference track without erasing data of the reference track.

Abstract: A procedure for accurately determining thermal flying height control (TFC) touchdown power associated with a head-disk interface (HDI) in a hard disk drive (HDD) involves dithering the spacing corresponding to the HDI by applying an oscillating signal. The touchdown power with the HDI dithering applied is determined and, based on that and the dithering amplitude, the touchdown power without dithering applied, as well as the back-off power, is determinable.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a magnetic disk device including a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, and a controller. The magnetic head is opposite the magnetic disk. The magnetic head includes a first read head and a second read head. The controller determines a track pitch in the vicinity of a first track or a second track adjacent to the first track of the magnetic disk based on first position information and second position information. The first position information depends on a servo signal read by the first read head and corresponds to the first track. The second position information depends on a servo signal read by the second read head and corresponds to the second track.

Abstract: A data writer may suspend a transducing head from an actuator. The transducing head can consist of a writer coil positioned proximal a write pole. A protruding signal may be passed through the write coil to contact a data storage medium with the transducing head. A write signal can be passed through the write coil to write a data bit on the data storage medium.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for implementing head degradation detection and prediction for hard disk drives (HDDs) are provided. Statistical parameter stability tests are used that are calculated as Confidence Intervals (CIs) from HDD parameter measurements. HDD parameters include, for example, change or delta in fly height (dFH), magnetic resistor resistance (MRR) head values, servo variable gain amplifier (SVGA) readback amplitude values, that are used in conjunction with two or more confidence level indicators and an Auto-Regressive Integrated Moving-Average (ARIMA) (p, d, q) predictor for head degradation detection and field failure prediction.

Abstract: A change in an optical energy profile of energy emitted from a read/write head is determined. The read/write head includes an optical transmission path that emits the energy to heat a heat-assisted recording medium during writing. A change in optical efficiency of the read/write head is also determined. Based on the change in the optical energy profile and the change in the optical efficiency, a change in the effectiveness of the read/write head is determined, and in response a mitigation is performed.

Abstract: A power system is provided. The power system includes a communications bus and a plurality of modules communicatively coupled to the communications bus. Each of the plurality of modules is configured to continuously monitor the communications bus, transmit a modulated signal at a predetermined frequency when the module detects an incoherent signal on the communications bus, become a master module when the module detects a coherent signal at the predetermined frequency on the communications bus, and cease transmitting the modulated signal when the coherent signal is not detected after a period of time.

Abstract: A first adaptive fly height measurement is performed between a read/write head and a recording medium during a stage of qualification testing of a magnetic disk drive. A second adaptive fly height measurement of the read/write head is performed during a subsequent stage of the qualification testing. In response to determining that a fly height decrease between the first and second adaptive fly height measurements is above a threshold value, a mitigation operation is performed to remove a contaminant from a media-facing surface of the read/write head.

Abstract: A data storage device may be configured with at least a transducing head separated from a data storage medium. The transducing head can have a data reader and data writer. A plurality of data bits may be arranged in first and second shingled data tracks on the data storage medium. The data writer can be configured with a writer centerline aligned with a track centerline of the first shingled data track and a data reader having a reader centerline skewed with respect to the track and writer centerlines.

Abstract: Systems and methods for compensating for magnetoresistive (MR) jog offset direct current (DC) drift in a disc drive are described. In one embodiment, a method may include determining an occurrence of NOS, for example, by monitoring disc slip, to determine when the method should proceed. An MR jog offset DC drift amount is determined for each head of the disc drive. One of several approaches may be employed for determining the MR jog offset DC drift amount. By determining an MR jog offset DC drift amount for each head, a compensation profile is determined for the drive. The determined compensation profile may then be used during operation of the disc drive to compensate for the DC drift. One of several approaches may be employed for compensating based on the compensation profile.

Abstract: An integrated multivariable predictive controller (MPC) and tester is disclosed. The invention system provides optimal control and step testing of a multivariable dynamic process using a small amplitude step for model identification purposes, without moving too far from optimal control targets. A tunable parameter specifies the trade-off between optimal process operation and minimum movement of process variables, establishing a middle ground between running a MPC on the Minimum Cost setting and the Minimum Move setting. Exploiting this middle ground, embodiments carry out low amplitude step testing near the optimal steady state solution, such that the data is suitable for modeling purposes. The new system decides when the MPC should run in optimization mode and when it can run in constrained step testing mode. The invention system determines when and how big the superimposed step testing signals can be, such that the temporary optimization give-away is constrained to an acceptable range.

Abstract: During a self-servo write process, servo sectors that have uniform radial spacing are written on a disk surface. As part of the in-drive writing of the servo sectors, a radial offset between a reader element and a writer element of a magnetic head is measured. The measured radial offset, or micro-jog, is compared to a known nominal micro-jog value for the current radial position of the magnetic head. When the measured micro-jog value does not match the nominal micro-jog value, an appropriate correction to the self-servo write step size is applied to the radial spacing between the servo sectors being written. Variations from ideal servo spiral slope that are inherent in some servo spirals can be compensated for, thereby improving the uniformity of radial spacing of data tracks associated with the servo sectors.

Abstract: In a method for detecting free fall, a first acceleration parallel to a first axis, a second acceleration parallel to a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, and a third acceleration parallel to a third axis perpendicular to the first axis and to the second axis are measured. A sum of a first absolute value of the first acceleration, a second absolute value of the second acceleration, and a third absolute value of the third acceleration is calculated, and the free fall is detected as a function of the sum.

Abstract: With embodiments of the invention, a more robust solution is provided using a storage driver that may already be used for the platforms operating system. This is efficient because the storage driver typically already monitors storage drive access requests, and thus knows when traffic is outstanding (performance may be critical) or when it's not outstanding (and power may be saved).

Abstract: The present invention realizes a calibration operation for detecting a motor speed, without employing digital correcting by an external CPU. The calibration operation calculates a comparison reference value corresponding to aback EMF detection signal of a back EMF detector circuit when a zero current flows through a motor and when an arm is fixed. Accordingly, the back EMF detection signal of the back EMF detector circuit is set as the first value and the second value responding to the non-zero current flowing through the motor, and the semiconductor integrated circuit calculates the comparison reference value from the first value and the second value. The difference between the comparison reference value and the comparison input value as the back EMF detection signal of the back EMF detector circuit is reduced by adjusting the gain of an internal amplifier of the back EMF detector circuit by an adjustment unit.

Abstract: A data recording head may consist of at least a charge control circuit that has a substrate, ground, surface charge circuitry, and data reader circuitry. The substrate may be electrically isolated from the ground and electrically connected between the surface charge circuitry and a non-zero fixed voltage. The surface charge circuitry can be configured to apply a varying substrate charge to the substrate at a predetermined frequency to alter a head media spacing between the substrate and a data storage medium.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and processes having a dependent write fault threshold are disclosed. A first sector may have a first write fault threshold and a second sector, adjacent to the first sector, may have a second write fault threshold, and the write fault thresholds can be variable based on a position error signal value of an adjacent sector. In some embodiments, the adjacent sectors may each be in an adjacent track. In other embodiments, the adjacent sectors may be in the same track. Further, a track may have two write fault thresholds, a positive direction threshold and a negative direction threshold; in some embodiments, only one direction's threshold may be variable based on the position error signal of the adjacent sector, while the opposite direction's threshold may be set to a default (e.g. pre-determined not on a sector by sector basis) value.

Abstract: A sacrificial-post templating method is presented for directing block copolymer (BCP) self-assembly to form nanostructures of monolayers and bilayers of microdomains. The topographical post template can be removed after directing self-assembly and, therefore, is not incorporated into the final microdomain pattern. The sacrificial posts can be a material removable using a selective etchant that will not remove the material of the final pattern block(s). The sacrificial posts may be removable, at least in part, using a same etchant as for removing one of the blocks of the BCP, for example, a negative tone polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) when a non-final pattern block of polystyrene is removed and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) remains on the substrate.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. A write power for the laser is calibrated, wherein the write power is applied to the laser while writing user data to the disk. A calibration power is applied to the laser for a first interval, wherein the calibration power is high enough to cause the head to contact the disk if applied for a second interval longer than the first interval. While applying the calibration power to the laser, test data is written to the disk during at least part of the first interval. The test data is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and a metric is generated based on the read signal.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a transducer, a heater, a writer and a laser. The transducer is configured to write to a magnetic recording medium during a write operation. The heater, writer and laser are configured to affect a protrusion of the transducer. The heater is calibrated to produce a pre-write heater power to obtain a target pre-write clearance for a write operation through use of a clearance-heater power curve. The curve is generated by measuring a clearance between the transducer and the medium as the heater is cycled from zero to a contact power.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a contact-detecting method includes calculating a representative value for each of a plurality of first zones. The plurality of first zones is provided at different radial locations on the disk. The representative value is calculated based on values measured at a plurality of different radial locations included in each of the first zones. The method includes detecting a contact point at which a first member contacts with a second member based on a first difference. The first difference is a difference between a value measured at an objective measuring point and a representative value of a second zone among the plurality of first zones. The objective measuring point is included in a third zone among the plurality of first zones. The second zone is arranged radially inward of the third zone.

Abstract: In a correction value calculating method according to an embodiment, a first distance is measured as a distance actually traveled by a head while the head is unloaded. Meanwhile, a first correction value is generated. The first correction value is used to correct a first torque value exerted on a coil when the head is unloaded. Then, a second torque value is obtained with the first correction value. The second torque value is exerted on the coil when the head is actually unloaded. Based on the second torque value, a second distance traveled by the head is calculated. Then, a second correction value used to correct the second torque value is calculated based on the first correction value, and the ratio of the first distance to the second distance.

Abstract: A voice coil motor control signal is detected being coupled into a vibration sensor of a hard disk drive. The vibration sensor is used to provide a feedforward signal to a servo control system of the hard disk drive. In response to detecting the coupling, the feedforward signal is modified to prevent instability of the servo control system.

Abstract: A discrete Fourier transform (DFT) of a position error signal (PES) of a read/write head controlled by a currently-used controller is determined. A plurality of predicted PES spectra are determined based on the DFT of the PES and a plurality of sensitivity functions associated with a plurality of controllers. One of the plurality of controllers is selected based on respective deviation metrics of the plurality of PES spectra. Servo control of the read/write head changes to use the selected controller.

Abstract: A computing system can include a processor; memory accessible by the processor; a drive bay chassis that includes opposing side walls that define a width of a drive bay; a drive accessible by the processor and disposed in the drive bay; a biasing mechanism operatively coupled to the drive bay chassis; a movable bracket biased by the biasing mechanism where the bracket includes at least one extension, a first orientation with respect to the drive bay chassis that orients the bracket in a latchable state of the at least one extension with respect to the drive in the drive bay and a second orientation with respect to the drive bay chassis that orients the bracket in an unlatchable state of the at least one extension with respect to the drive in the drive bay. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.

Abstract: A disc drive assembly that includes a disc having a surface, a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite the disc surface, and a voltage source for applying a voltage/potential across the disc and slider. Present on either the ABS or the disc surface is a surface treatment that provides a surface potential of at least +/?0.1 V. In some implementations the surface treatment is a self-assembled monolayer (SAM).

Abstract: A data writing element may be configured at least with a write pole positioned adjacent a first shield along a first axis and adjacent a second shield along a second axis. The second shield may be separated from the write pole by a first gap distance on an air bearing surface (ABS) and by a second gap distance distal the ABS with the first and second gap distances meeting at a transition surface oriented parallel to the ABS.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a read/write head having a heater, wherein a low- or non-modulation interface is defined between the head and a magnetic recording medium. A microactuator is coupled to the head. A main actuator is coupled to the microactuator and the head. A controller is coupled to the main actuator, the microactuator, and the head. The controller is configured to control movement of the main actuator and the microactuator in response to a position error signal. The controller is further configured to induce an oscillation in the heater at a predetermined frequency. A detector is coupled to the controller. The detector is configured to sense a disturbance in the PES supplied to the microactuator resulting from the induced heater oscillation, and detect contact between the head and the medium using the PES disturbance.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for preventing adjacent track erasure in a storage device using position error signal compensation from a previously written track in a storage device. A first data track is written to a recording medium in the storage device while position error signal information regarding deviations of a read/write head from an ideal center of the first data track are recorded. The recorded position error signal information is then utilized during the writing of a second, adjacent data track to the recording medium to position the read/write head in order to compensate for non-uniformities in the writing of the first data track.

Abstract: An adaptive guard band for a ramp load/unload device is disclosed to provide extended data storage. In illustrated embodiments, an adaptive guard band algorithm is configured to format one or more discs or media having a lower capacity device with the adaptive guard band and extended data zone utilizing capacity measurements. The algorithm formats the media to provide a track zero at a first cylinder if the capacity is at or above the threshold capacity and a second cylinder if the capacity is below the threshold capacity to provide the extended data storage zone. A size or width of the extended data zone is variable to provide additional capacity to meet the threshold capacity.

Abstract: A method and system to monitor stability of magnetic head loading and unloading beside media for a data storage system is described. A shock sensor is utilized to detect shock during preloading of a magnetic head beside recording media, during loading of a magnetic head beside recording media, during pre-unloading of a magnetic head from the recording media, and/or during unloading of a magnetic head from the recording media. In an aspect, a desired pitch static attitude (PSA) and roll static attitude (RSA) of a slider is determined. In an aspect, the stability of a magnetic head is assessed and screened while on the fly and during head gimbal assembly (HGA) design and testing to improve overall data storage device reliability.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing touchdown measurement using thermal and voltage actuation for hard disk drives (HDDs). The touchdown measurement uses a constant power applied to a thermal flyheight control (TFC) and an electrostatic voltage bias pulse is applied between the slider body and the disk to actuate the slider into contact with the disk.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic disk device employing a MAMR head. The MAMR head includes an STO. The STO comprises an underlayer, an SPL, an interlayer, an FGL, and a capping layer. The SPL is comprised of a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy material. The SPL has a large effective perpendicular magnetic anisotropy field, and the SPL has a lower magnetic moment than the FGL. An applied current is adapted to flow in a direction from the FGL to the SPL resulting in the magnetization direction of the SPL being almost perpendicular to the FGL and anti-parallel to a head-gap magnetic field due to a relation between a first spin torque directed from the SPL to the FGL and a second spin torque directed from the FGL to the SPL.

Abstract: Recording a servo write head spacing for writing servo tracks on a magnetic tape in a manufacturing environment. One or more environmental condition measurements of the manufacturing environment are received by a computer. A pair of servo tracks is written on a magnetic tape by a pair of servo write heads at a nominal spacing. The one or more environmental condition measurements of the manufacturing environment and information pertaining to the spacing of the servo tracks on the magnetic tape are recorded in one or more data stores.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a relative spacing between a read head and a surface of a magnetic data storage device may use at least two magnetic spacing measurement patterns. A first magnetic spacing measurement pattern may be offset from a center of a data track by a first offset value and a second magnetic spacing measurement pattern may be offset by a second, different, offset value. A processor may determine a first harmonic tone and a second harmonic tone from each of the first and second magnetic spacing measurement patterns. The processor also may determine respective ratios between amplitudes of the first and second harmonic tones for each of the first and second magnetic spacing measurement patterns. The processor may determine which ratio is greater, and may utilize the greater ratio when determining relative spacing between the read head and the surface of the magnetic data storage device.

Abstract: A magnetic tape storage medium includes at least one servo band with at least two sub-bands along a longitudinal extension of the medium. Servo bursts are written to the sub-bands to determine positional information of the medium. A first of the sub-bands includes a first burst with at least one servo stripe inclined at a first non-zero angle with respect to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the medium followed by a second burst comprising at least one servo stripe inclined at a second non-zero angle with respect to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the medium, which second angle is different from the first angle. A second of the sub-bands includes a first burst having at least one servo stripe followed by a second burst having at least one servo stripe, the first and the second bursts parallel to each other.

Abstract: A PZT microactuator such as for a hard disk drive has a restraining layer bonded on its side that is opposite the side on which the PZT is mounted. The restraining layer comprises a stiff and resilient material such as stainless steel. The restraining layer can cover most or all of the top of the PZT, with an electrical connection being made to the PZT where it is not covered by the restraining layer. The restraining layer reduces bending of the PZT as mounted and hence increases effective stroke length, or reverses the sign of the bending which increases the effective stroke length of the PZT even further. The restraining layer can be one or more active layers of PZT material that act in the opposite direction as the main PZT layer. The restraining layer(s) may be thinner than the main PZT layer.

Abstract: A recording head that includes at least one protection feature that prevents at least one other feature of the recording head from directly colliding with a data storage medium with which the recording head communicates. The recording head includes a transducer element having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The recording head also includes a transducer element heater located closer to the leading edge of the transducer element than the trailing edge of the transducer element. A contact pad is interposed between the leading edge of the transducer element and the transducer element heater to prevent the transducer element from directly colliding with the data storage medium.

Abstract: In an in-drive erase process for erasing disk surfaces of a hard disk drive, erase spirals are written on multiple disk surfaces and at a different write frequency than that of other data patterns on the disk surfaces. The erase spirals written on a first disk surface can be used to control an erase process on a portion of the remaining disk surfaces. Erase spirals are then written on a different disk surface and can then be used to erase all data on the first disk surface. Consequently, even when every disk surface includes previously written data patterns that can potentially interfere with control of the erase process, the erase spirals so written can control the erase process with sufficient precision to thoroughly erase each disk surface.

Abstract: Example embodiments include an apparatus that has a piezoelectric contact sensor. The piezoelectric contact sensor includes a semiconductor device having a semiconductor material that defines a channel through which current can flow. The piezoelectric contact sensor also includes a piezoelectric element coupled to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is configured to modulate the current channel in response to compressive stress waves at the contact sensor. Other example embodiments include an apparatus that has a slider having an air-bearing surface, a write head integral to the slider, and a piezoelectric contact sensor that includes a semiconductor device and a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for temporarily writing data to a buffer zone on a recording medium of a storage device when the device is operating in a vibration condition. A vibration condition is detected in the storage device, and upon detecting the vibration condition, data of a current write operation is written to a buffer zone on a recording medium of the storage device, the buffer zone being configured with a lower areal density of storage than primary storage zones on the recording medium. At a later time, an idle condition may be detected in the device, and upon detecting the idle condition, it may be determined whether the vibration condition exists. If it is determined that the vibration condition no longer exists, the data is transferred from the buffer zone to the primary storage zones on the recording medium.

Abstract: The present inventions are related to systems and methods for determining contact between two elements, and more particularly to systems and methods for determining contact between a head assembly and a storage medium.