Abstract: A method for operating a head testing apparatus (spin stand) using a mounted hard disk that has had its servo track information pre-written in an external servo-writing apparatus rather than in the testing apparatus itself. This insures more accurate servo-track writing and renders the testing operation more efficient. The problem of repeatable runout (RRO) associated with the transfer of a disk written in one machine to another is eliminated by forming a corrected position error signal (PES) by subtracting the average offset of one or more servo sector locations previously calculated using limited bandwidth operation of the servomechanism, from the position error signal generated during full bandwidth servo operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of servo sectors that define a plurality of tracks, and a head comprising a read element radially offset from a write element. The read element is positioned over a first track, and the first track is read to generate first read wedge repeatable runout (WRRO) values. A first seek operation of the head positions the read element over a second track, and the second track is read to generate first write WRRO values. The first write WRRO values are used to write the first read WRRO values to the first track. A second seek operation of the head positions the read element over a third track, and the third track is read to generate second write WRRO values. The second write WRRO values are used to write the first write WRRO values to the second track.

Abstract: A method for identifying adjacent track interference for a head is provided. The method comprises writing a first data track at a predetermined track position; writing a second data track two track positions away from the first data track; and validating the position of the first data track and the second data track. Upon validation the method further comprises writing a third data track between the first data track and the second data track and analyzing a signal profile of at least one of the first data track and the second data track for adjacent track interference.

Abstract: A storage medium includes tracks extending in a circumferential direction, user data areas formed on the tracks for storing user data, and servo frames corresponding to the user data areas and extending in a radial direction for storing servo data. Data correcting areas corresponding to the servo frames and extending in the radial direction adjacent the servo frames are provided for storing correcting data for correcting positional deviation of a read/write head resulting from an error in the servo data stored in the servo frames. The correcting data stored in the data correcting areas on the same track are separated by at least one correcting data area.

Abstract: A head position control device uses a current observer control which performs two degree of freedom control, with which a current step difference due to the difference of eccentricities between heads is prevented without affecting the seek waveform after switching heads. The head position control device has a locus generation section, which calculates an initial value of the correction locus for canceling the current step difference of the output current based on an output current supplied to an actuator before switching, and an eccentricity correction current and initial velocity of another head after switching; and a two degree of freedom control system to which a seek locus is input, and supplies a correction locus according to the initial value to the two degree of freedom control system. One parameter can correct the initial velocity and the current step difference.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to cancel repeatable runout signals. A linear causal system having an impulse response receives a cancellation signal and outputs a position error signal. An inverse matrix module multiplies the position error signal by an inverse matrix and outputs an intermediate cancellation signal. One or more impulse integration modules each integrate at least one sample of the intermediate cancellation signal in one or more predefined periods and output the cancellation signal.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to propagating repeated runout (RRO) correction values for radially concentric servo seams on a storage medium in relation to an RRO correction value for an adjacent seam and a radial separation between the seams.

Abstract: A method for repairing at least one defective servo segment of a servo sector having at least one defective servo track written on a magnetic recording media. The method comprises mapping the magnetic recording media for locations of the defective servo segment of the servo sector. A non-defective segment of the servo sector is replicated at least once on the magnetic recording media in a customer data zone, thereby creating at least one good servo segment copy of the servo sector. The good servo segment copy is propagated through the customer data zone associated with the defective servo segment. The good servo segment copy is copied onto the magnetic recording media previously occupied by the defective servo segment of the servo sector.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus includes: a magnetic recording medium on which data track patterns are formed in data track pattern regions by a pattern with recording regions and non-recording regions and on which servo patterns are formed in servo pattern regions by the pattern; a recording head that writes signals on the medium; a reproducing head that reads signals written on the medium; and a control unit that controls the writing of signals by the recording head and the reading of signals by the reproducing head and measures a predetermined parameter for at least one of the recording head and the reproducing head by writing and reading measurement signals on the medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive has a disk, a CPU and a memory. The CPU measures servo intervals between the servo areas provided on the disk, and calculates changes of the servo intervals, which have resulted from a temperature change. The CPU detects a disk shift from the changes of the servo intervals. The CPU updates the disk-runout information stored in the memory, in accordance with the disk shift detected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive and method to characterize misaligned servo wedges. The disk drive includes an actuator arm, a head, a disk, and a servo controller. The head is connected to a distal end of the actuator arm in which the actuator arm is rotatable about a pivot to move the head radially over the disk. The servo controller is used to characterize misaligned servo wedges by implementing operations including: commanding the head to track follow on a track; measuring wedge-to-wedge time (WTWT) values corresponding to time intervals between identified servo wedges; calculating wedge-to-wedge time (WTWT) variations for the measured WTWT values; and characterizing the calculated WTWT variations, wherein, characterizing the calculated WTWT variations for the track includes utilizing a WTWT variation modeling function to model the WTWT variations.

Abstract: A disk drive self-servo writes on a storage disk. Servo bursts are self-written along a track using a transducer, a position error signal (PES) indicating repeatable runout due (RRO) for the servo bursts is determined using a reference pattern, an embedded runout correction (ERC) value is calculated based on the PES and stored in a corresponding servo sector, and then the disk drive self-writes other servo bursts.

Abstract: A positioning control device executes disturbance observer control having a disturbance suppression function, wherein changes of control characteristics are prevented even if the disturbance frequency is suppressed. When a control value of an actuator is computed using estimated gains of the actuator and estimated gains of disturbance according to an estimated position error by disturbance observer control including a model of the actuator and model of the disturbance, the disturbance frequency is estimated according to the estimated position error, and the estimated gains of the actuator and the estimated gains of the disturbance, corresponding to the disturbance frequency, are changed. Therefore appropriate observer control according to the disturbance frequency can be implemented.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to adaptively determining an updated repeated runout (RRO) correction value to correct for RRO error in the placement of a servo seam, by iteratively combining a weighted initially estimated RRO correction value for the seam with a position error signal (PES).

Abstract: A method, and system configured to implement the method, are provided. The method includes the steps of identifying a last usable track on a surface as a function of a parameter, and defining a standoff band of tracks relative to the last usable track to obtain an achieved maximum track on the surface. The last usable track is, in exemplary embodiments, a track beyond a default maximum track on a surface of a data storage medium.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a radial separation distance between first and second servo seams on a storage medium is determined, and a scaled position signal is generated in relation to the determined radial separation distance and a measured position signal. An error runout correction (ERC) value is obtained from the scaled position signal, and the ERC value is thereafter used to compensate for repeated runout (RRO) error.

Abstract: A method and apparatus position a beam spot on a recording medium. The positioning includes (a) observing a first center error in a first closed loop control during tracking mode, the first center error including a repeatable run out (RRO) error, (b) estimating a center error (CE)-RRO from the first center error, the CE-RRO being part of the first center error caused by the RRO, (c) observing a second center error in a second closed loop control during a rough seek, (d) subtracting the CE-RRO from the second center error, (e) controlling the beam spot based on the second center error less the CE-RRO during the rough seek, and (f) adding an open loop control to the second closed loop control during the rough seek, the added open loop control inducing a motion of the lens relative to an optical center of the OPU during the rough seek.

Abstract: Stable recording and reproduction of data onto and from a recording medium that requires precise tracking is provided by using a simple head tracking mechanism. In a hard disk drive (200), a piece of sector data to be written or read is pre-associated with a sector number of a sector where the piece of sector data is to be written or read. A seek control unit (260) corrects first-order run-out relative to a revolution axis of a DTM magnetic disk (100) and permits second-and-higher order run-out relative to the revolution axis, and moves a read/write head (122, 124) gradually in one radial direction of the DTM magnetic disk at a shift pitch smaller than the track pitch for each revolution in accordance with the sector numbers of the sectors where pieces of sector data are to be written or read, within a range of tracks containing the sector numbers of the sectors where the pieces of sector data are to be written or read.

Abstract: Positioning of a transducer is controlled in response to real and imaginary component signals that are formed from a position error signal (PES) which is indicative of the transducer location on a media.

Abstract: A method for locating a track on a disk surface having a plurality of wedges of servo information includes demodulating servo information for a first servo wedge, and determining a correction factor for a written in repeatable runout for the servo information for the first servo wedge before demodulating servo information for a second servo wedge. A machine-readable medium provides instructions that perform the above method. A disk drive includes a processor disk that performs the above method and generates a signal to position a transducer over a desired track.

Abstract: A hard disk drive having a self servo write offset error correction mechanism to improve self servo write process is disclosed. In accordance with certain aspects of the present invention, there is provided a self servo write method that can measure an accurate position offset between the read-head element and write-head element incorporated in a disk drive before servo data is recorded on the disk provided in the disk drive.

Abstract: A storing unit stores first correction information for correcting a distortion synchronized with a rotation frequency of servo information of a first disk. A control unit controls positioning of a head on a target track by correcting the servo information of the first disk with the first correction information. Measurement information used for measuring the first correction information is calculated based on second correction information for the servo information in other disk apparatus including a second disk on which the servo information is formed using a common master medium with the first disk.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive capable of easily suppressing degradation of position error caused by disturbance resulting from vibration from the outside. According to one embodiment, the magnetic disk drive acquires, during a period of time of track following control, data necessary for determining a filtering characteristic required to newly be specified in a peak filter; in association with the start of subsequent seek control, determines the filtering characteristic required to be specified in the peak filter; and specifies the determined filtering characteristic in the peak filter.

Abstract: There is provided with a positioning control system including: a head moving unit; a position detecting unit detecting a head position at predetermined time intervals; an error detecting unit detecting a position error of the head for a target position; a disturbance detecting unit detecting a non-periodic disturbance; a modifying unit modifying a first position error signal corresponding to a first head position detected in a first rotation period based on a second position error signal corresponding to a second head position detected one period length before; and a feedback controller, wherein the modifying unit modifies the first signal after reducing an amplitude of the second position error signal when a detected timing of the second head position is included in a predetermined time range with respect to a detected timing of the non-periodic disturbance detected in a second rotation period which is one period before the first rotation period.

Abstract: In a positioning control device based on control of an observer having a disturbance suppression function, a disturbance suppression function according to a head position is added without impairing the control characteristics of the observer. The position control device has an observer having a disturbance suppression function comprising a model of an actuator and a model of disturbance, and a table for storing an estimated gain of the observer according to a position of the head. And an estimated gain is acquired from the table according to the position of the head, and an estimated gain of the observer is changed so as to change the disturbance suppression frequency characteristic. The disturbance suppression characteristic can be optimized according to the position of the head in the radius direction or between disks, and vibration of the head can be prevented even if recording density is increased.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for efficiently determining and writing repeatable runout (RRO) compensation value sets for data tracks on a magnetic disk in a disk drive. The disk drive has a magnetoresistive (MR) head having a read element and a separate write element, and a secondary actuator coupled to the end of a primary actuator for adjusting a head skew angle. In the method, the head skew angle is set such that the read and write elements are substantially aligned along the first track. A position error signal for each servo sector is determined over a predetermined number of disk revolutions during track following along a first data track. An RRO compensation value set is calculated for the first data track based on the position error signals. The RRO compensation value set is written for the first data track. A seek operation is then performed to a second data track.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to propagating repeated runout (RRO) correction values for radially concentric servo seams on a storage medium in relation to an RRO correction value for an adjacent seam and a radial separation between the seams.

Abstract: Various systems and methods for providing head location feedback are disclosed herein. For example, one system includes an interface circuit that is operable to receive an information stream retrieved from a magnetic storage medium. The magnetic storage medium includes one or more tracks that each include a plurality of sectors. The sectors include burst information that can be utilized to aid in positioning a read/write head assembly over a magnetic storage medium. The systems further include a multiple sector error detection circuit. The multiple sector error correction circuit is operable to phase align samples of a burst obtained from one sector with samples of a burst obtained from another sector. An amplitude of each of the bursts is determined, and the determined amplitudes are combined. The combined amplitudes correspond to a position error of the read/write head assembly relative to the magnetic storage medium.

Abstract: A disk drive comprising a moveable head, a disk, and a servo controller to control track following operations is disclosed. The disk includes a plurality of tracks in which a substantial majority of the tracks include a plurality of servo sectors utilized in track following operations. The servo controller implements a program during power-up to: calculate servo position correction values using a set of servo position correction coefficients that have been pre-selected for the disk drive based upon the class of disk drive in which the set of servo position correction coefficients have been coded into the program; store the servo position correction values in a pre-determined servo position correction look-up table in memory; and utilize the pre-determined servo bursts correction look-up table to track follow on a reserved track of the disk.

Abstract: A system and method for a servo controller (SC) used in an embedded disk controller for adjusting stored servo skew values based on measured skew values is provided. The system includes, a servo timing controller, wherein the servo timing controller includes a first register that stores measured servo skew values at a given time; a first set of registers that receive stored skew values and the measured skew values; and firmware that adjusts the skew values based on the measured skew values measured by a reference timer. The process includes, measuring actual skew values during a head change in a read operation; comparing the measured skew values with the stored skew values; adjusting the skew value based on the comparison; and adjusting a servo field timer based on the adjusted skew value.

Abstract: Performing embedded runout correction for a track on a rotational data storage disk includes measuring written-in runout for the track, selecting a number of revolutions in response to the measured written-in runout of the track, calculating embedded correction values for the track for the selected number of revolutions of the rotational data storage disk, and storing the embedded correction values.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic recording apparatus capable of generating RRO compensation information that can expand the disturbance frequency range in which to compensate for RRO. Embodiments of the present invention describe a magnetic recording apparatus that uses a plurality of repetitive control systems to detect repeatable runout during the rotation of a magnetic recording medium for a frequency characteristic of each of the repetitive control systems. The magnetic recording apparatus further generates compensation information to compensate for each of the detected repeatable runout. The magnetic recording apparatus still further writes the compensation information generated for each of the repetitive control systems to a servo signal, thus suppressing and controlling the repeatable runout.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive is provided which corrects already existing offset information according to a variation of a disk runout amount caused by an occurrence of a disk shift. The disk drive effects a head position adjustment at a head positioning control time with the use of offset information stored in a memory. A CPU measures a variation in the disk runout amount and phase caused by an occurrence of a disk shift resulting from an external shock involved and updates the existing offset information with a correction offset information based on a result of measurement.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for observing an analog position signal of a control object in relation to positional indicia, recalling a previously stored runout correction value associated with the positional indicia, and calculating a corrected position signal for the control object in relation to the position signal and the runout correction value.

Abstract: In accordance with various embodiments, a radial separation distance between first and second servo seams on a storage medium is determined, and a scaled position signal is generated in relation to the determined radial separation distance and a measured position signal. An error runout correction (ERC) value is obtained from the scaled position signal, and the ERC value is thereafter used to compensate for repeated runout (RRO) error.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a position and velocity demodulating circuit. In the position and velocity demodulating circuit, a difference calculating unit demodulates a moving velocity of a magnetic head based on a phase difference in servo signals as servo data in the same sector. An overflow detecting unit detects an overflow of the demodulated moving velocity and calculates a correction value for the overflow. The overflow is corrected based on the correction value. The corrected overflow is further corrected by a correction value of a repeatable velocity error for the demodulated velocity to output an accurate demodulated velocity.

Abstract: A disk formatter includes an address module for creating disk block address data corresponding to a disk sector of a disk drive. A sector write module initiates a physical mode write operation to the disk sector that incorporates the corresponding disk block address data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for errors in servo systems. An improved zero acceleration path (ZAP) correction technique is provided, wherein selected tracks of a data storage device are used for ZAP processing in order to reduce the overall time required to perform error compensation for a storage device. For a given selected track to be ZAPed, track profiles of adjoining tracks are used in addition to the track profile of the selected track as part of the ZAP correction determination for the selected track. Using adjacent track profiles as part of the ZAP correction determination assists in mitigating AC track squeeze issues that would otherwise occur when performing selective track ZAPing.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to cancel repeatable runout signals. A linear causal system having an impulse response receives a cancellation signal and outputs a position error signal. An inverse matrix module multiplies the position error signal by an inverse matrix and outputs an intermediate cancellation signal. One or more impulse integration modules each integrate at least one sample of the intermediate cancellation signal in one or more predefined periods and output the cancellation signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for determining fundamental-frequency repeatable runout (1FRRO) coefficients in a disk drive. The disk drive includes a transducer head, a rotating magnetic disk having a plurality of concentric data tracks defined by embedded servo wedges that provide position information, and an actuator coupled to the head. In the method, the head is caused to move in a substantially constant velocity motion across a selected portion of the tracks of the rotating magnetic disk in response to a control signal. The position information is read from the embedded servo wedges as the head moves across of the selected portion of the tracks. The 1FRRO coefficients are determined based on the position information read as the head moved in a substantially constant velocity motion across the selected portion of the tracks.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a circuit that provides a control signal to a voice coil motor to move a head across a disk. The circuit includes a repeatable run-out estimator in a feed forward control loop to control the movement of the head. The repeatable run-out estimator compensates for a constant bias torque disturbance in the drive.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus includes a composite magnetic head which includes a recording head and a reproducing head; a magnetic storage medium; a discrete area; and a correction information recording area. Positioning correction information is able to be written in the correction information recording area at each track center. The apparatus also includes a center shift amount detection area. Center shift amount detection information is previously recorded in the center shift amount detection area. The center shift amount detection information is for measuring a center shift amount which indicates a relative distance between a tracking center and an actual track center of the discrete area when either the recording head or the reproducing head is positioned at a track center.

Abstract: A controller is disclosed that can be used in controlling a drive device of a disk drive, or other systems, in the presence of sinusoidal disturbances. The controller includes a calibration module that generates a plurality of reference states for a reference region of a disk of the disk drive. An initialization state generation module generates a plurality of initialization states for at least one other region of the disk as a function of the plurality of reference states, a displacement between the other regions of the disk and the reference region of the disk, and a reference state transition matrix. A control module generates a control signal for the drive device based on the plurality of initialization states.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk device, a control device, and a positioning control method with which positioning in a target position can be performed without expending time on a seek operation even when virtual circular control is performed using an eccentric disk. Virtual circular orbits, each depicting a perfect circle centered on the rotary center of a disk surface, are determined. An average orbit is then determined by averaging the virtual circular orbits. Orbits obtained by subtracting the average orbit from each virtual circular orbit are set as the position orbits of the respective disk surfaces. An MCU controls an actuator to follow these orbits.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention significantly reduce the number and complexity of processing operations to be performed. This is done by receiving the learned run out or vector A to be rotated by phase q. This phase q may be limited to a ?/4 resolution. Sine function values and cosine function values based on q are selected from a group of values comprising ?1, 0, and +1. The sine function values and cosine function values selected may then be applied to the learned run out or vector A to rotate the vector A by phase q. Because the sine and cosine values are limited to ?1, 0 and +1 many multiplication processing operations are eliminated. This greatly simplifies the processing requirements associated with phase rotating of this learned run out.

Abstract: A disk drive stores overhead information corresponding to multiple servo sectors within a dedicated data sector in a customer data region of a data storage disk. The overhead information includes servo data for which the information content does not depend upon the physical location of the data on the disk surface. During a data storage operation, the overhead data is read from the dedicated data sector and stored in a buffer memory within the disk drive. A portion of the overhead data is then retrieved from the buffer memory for each servo sector subsequently traversed by the transducer for use in performing a data processing task related to the servo sector.

Abstract: Offtrack amounts corresponding to every servo in which data writing has been completed is stored in a storage unit. Offtrack amount corresponding to a next servo frame, which is a servo frame present next to a servo frame for which data has been written, is calculated from the offtrack amounts stored in the storage unit. Based on the offtrack amount of the next servo frame, it is decided whether data needs to be rewritten in a sector present before the next servo frame.

Abstract: Real-time correction of repeatable runout for multiple harmonic frequencies is provided by using convolution of a position error signal, or similar real-time signal, with an impulse response of a specific transfer function, such as the inverse of the disturbance transfer function. Multiple harmonic frequencies can be followed substantially simultaneously to achieve small position error and good tracking misregistration (TMR) performance. The impulse response can be obtained, calculated and stored off-line. The impulse response can be configured to substantially eliminate correction of one or more frequency or frequency ranges. Convolution can be done relatively quickly with proper arrangement of memory.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a process that monitors a magnetic playback signal while gradually increasing an electricity supply amount for a heater to thereby determine contact between a magnetic head slider and a magnetic disk medium. According to one embodiment, after components for configuring a magnetic recording/playback portion are assembled into a housing, magnetic information is played back on a specific track of a magnetic disk medium by using a playback element while gradually increasing an electricity supply amount for a heater of a magnetic head slider. An amplitude of a playback signal is measured at a plurality of portions along a circumferential direction of the track. Contact between the magnetic head slider and the magnetic disk medium is detected in accordance with an increase in variation in the measured amplitude.

Abstract: An architecture to compensate for the non-linear effects of magnetic media, such as magnetic disk drives, that distorts data transitions when data is written to the media and in which the non-linear distortion is data sequence dependent. In one technique a circuit is used to alter the data transitions to cancel the effects of the transition distortion. The circuit employs selected delays that that based on the data sequence to adjust the transition edge of bits of the data to provide the pre-compensation before data is written to the disk.