Abstract: While a microactuator is controlled to cause a head to follow a track on a disk surface, one or more other microactuators are separately controlled to offset other heads away from locations of thermal asperities on other associated disk surfaces.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products, are described for calibrating servos, and in some implementations for calibrating spiral servos for use in self-servo-write processes. In one aspect, a method is provided that includes determining a measured slope of a spiral, and calibrating radial spacing between servo tracks using the measured slope and a target slope.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk has patterned nondata regions that are used for read/write head positioning and data synchronization. The nondata regions contain nondata islands of magnetizable material separated by nonmagnetic spaces with the nondata islands having alternating magnetization polarity in the along-the-track direction. In each nondata region, every other nondata island in the along-the track direction has the same magnetization direction, with adjacent nondata islands having antiparallel magnetization directions. The disk may be either a horizontal magnetic recording disk, wherein the antiparallel magnetization directions are in the plane of the recording layer and parallel to the along-the-track direction, or a perpendicular magnetic recording disk, wherein the antiparallel the magnetization directions are “into” and “out of” the recording layer.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for detecting an end of a reference spiral band are described. A first portion of servo information may be written on a disk using the reference spiral band. By detecting an end of a reference spiral band, a new reference spiral band may be launched. A read/write head of a hard disk drive may subsequently use the new spiral band to write the remaining portion of the servo information, which aids the writing of data tracks on the disk.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to writing servo information on a machine-readable medium. A method includes writing a band of ramp-tracks, including an embedded timing reference, to a machine-readable medium such that each ramp track in the band of ramp-tracks spans less than half a distance from an inner diameter to an outer diameter of the machine-readable medium; and writing servo information to the machine-readable medium using the band of ramp-tracks, including the embedded timing reference. An apparatus can include a self-servo-write controller configured to direct writing of at least two bands of ramp-tracks to different surfaces of at least one machine-readable medium based on a given rotational relationship between the at least one machine-readable medium and at least two collectively controlled transducers, the controller including a self-servo-write clock generator, an angular position generator, a ramp-track pattern generator, and a servo wedge window period generator.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk and a head actuated over the disk, wherein the disk comprises a plurality of spiral tracks, each comprising a high frequency signal interrupted by a sync mark at a sync mark interval. The head is used to read a spiral track to generate a spiral track crossing signal g(xn), where xn is a time in a demodulation window. A position error signal (PES) is determined in response to g(xn), and a deviation index is computed by correlating g(xn) with a nominal track crossing signal shifted by the PES. When the deviation index is less than a threshold, the PES is used to servo the head over the disk.

Abstract: While a microactuator is controlled to cause a head to follow a track on a disk surface, one or more other microactuators are separately controlled to offset other heads away from locations of thermal asperities on other associated disk surfaces.

Abstract: In a servo control loop, servo burst signals that are read from a plurality of servo burst patterns that include a split servo burst pattern contain frequency acquisition error. The frequency acquisition error is at least partially removed to generate a frequency acquisition error compensated position error signal (PES).

Abstract: A operation of storing a post code, which is read from each servo frame on a target track of a disk recording medium, in a memory if an on-track condition for determining that a head is controlled to be positioned on the target track is satisfied is executed. Next, a operation of using the post code, which is stored in the memory, for a correction of a demodulation position if the post code corresponding to each servo frame is stored in the memory and the on-track condition is satisfied in the correction of the demodulation position in each servo frame is executed.

Abstract: In a servo control loop, phase detection between a clock signal and servo burst fields on a movable storage media is carried out with compensation for the effects of frequency variation in the timing of servo burst fields.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk including a plurality of spiral tracks, wherein each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted by a sync mark at a sync mark interval, and a head actuated over the disk. The spiral tracks are demodulated by reading a spiral track to generate a spiral track crossing signal g(xn), where xn is a time in a demodulation window, and determining a position error signal (PES) by determining a time-shift L that maximizes a correlation between g(xn) and a function that estimates a nominal spiral track crossing signal having the time-shift of L.

Abstract: A method of forming a discrete track recording pattern on a soft magnetic underlayer of a perpendicular magnetic recording disk. In one embodiment, the soft magnetic underlayer is continuous throughout the discrete track recording pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention efficiently perform servo correction for prevention of propagation of a position error in a radial direction in self servo write (SSW). According to one embodiment, in SSW, a target position of a reference track TO in writing a servo write track TN is corrected. The target position is represented as a target value of a position signal calculated from a signal read by a read element. A signal indicating a deviation (a position error) from the target position (the target value) is referred to as PES. The SSW in this example performs correction of target positions in respective tracks using an impulse response of a servo system. Consequently, it is possible to efficiently and effectively prevent the propagation of position error in the SSW.

Abstract: Provided are a method of calculating repeatable runout (RRO) of a hard disk drive (HDD) in a frequency domain, a method of calculating a compensation value using the RRO calculating method, and recording media used therefore. The method of calculating RRO in a disk with a plurality of tracks includes: calculating first set of frequency coefficients for representing the RRO by analyzing a position error signal (PES), which is sampled in a target track, in a frequency domain while a head follows the target track; and calculating the RRO using the first set of frequency coefficients.

Abstract: A operation of storing a post code, which is read from each servo frame on a target track of a disk recording medium, in a memory if an on-track condition for determining that a head is controlled to be positioned on the target track is satisfied is executed. Next, a operation of using the post code, which is stored in the memory, for a correction of a demodulation position if the post code corresponding to each servo frame is stored in the memory and the on-track condition is satisfied in the correction of the demodulation position in each servo frame is executed.

Abstract: A control circuit which controls recording of data in a disk recording medium in an information memory device provided with the disk recording medium that rotates and has tracks of plural data sectors; a head that relatively moves along the tracks; and a recording section that records data in plural data sectors by using the head, the control circuit including: a detection section which detects whether the head is positioned at a track where a recording target exists; and a control section which makes the recording section record the data if the head is positioned at the track; or interrupts the recording if the head runs off from the track; and resumes the recording from a data sector subsequent to the data sector where the head is again positioned at the track and begins recording in the interrupted data sector when the head is rotated to the interrupted data sector.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed for compensating disturbance applied to a plant, such as a HDD component, controlled by a state control device having an estimator & controller. The estimator & controller is adapted to generate a first control signal in response to a state signal indicating an estimated state of the plant. A second control signal is generated by applying a transfer function H(s) having defined gain/frequency characteristics to a control signal derived from the first control signal. An overall control signal is generated in response to the second control signal and the control signal derived from the first control signal and applied to the plant.

Abstract: A method of detecting a change in fly-height comprising measuring a first baseline position error signal (PES) at a first diameter on a disk, measuring a second baseline PES at a second diameter, measuring a first transient PES at the first diameter subsequently to the first baseline PES, measuring a second transient PES at the second diameter subsequently to the second baseline PES, determining a first change in PES by comparing the first transient PES to the first baseline PES, determining a second change in PES by comparing the second transient PES to the second baseline PES, performing responsive action when one of the first change in PES exceeds a first threshold and the second change in PES exceeds a second threshold, and generating a general error condition when both the first change in PES and the second change in PES exceed respective thresholds.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a drive unit that is capable of satisfactorily performing the positioning control with disturbance components included in a position error signal being effectively controlled. According to one embodiment, an error signal generator of a drive unit generates a position error signal (PES) on the basis of servo data read out from a magnetic disk. On the assumption that a frequency of a periodic variation component included in the PES is a target frequency, if a target frequency deviates from an effective frequency range of a digital filter, a downsampler down-samples the PES, and then supplies the PES to the digital filter so that the effective frequency range is shifted. As a result, within the shifted effective frequency range, a setting changing unit can control a setting frequency of the digital filter so that the setting frequency follows the target frequency.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a detection signal producing module configured to produce a detection signal by reading each of the spiral servo patterns, the spiral servo patterns being read by a head while the head scans a circumferential direction region on the disk media. A position error computation module is configured to produce servo burst signals A, B, C, and D using a plurality of frames obtained by dividing the detection signal at even time intervals, at least one burst signal of the servo burst signals being produced using at least two frames in the frames, and to compute a position error of the head based on amplitude values of the produced burst signals.

Abstract: A track following control apparatus and method for a hard disk drive (HDD) is disclosed and includes an estimator receiving a position error signal from a HDA and generating estimated state information for a magnetic head in response to the position error signal, and a controller receiving the estimated state information and generating a control signal controlling operation of the HAD, wherein the estimator and controller are variably configured according to a write mode or a read mode.

Abstract: In a method for providing an estimate of a head position for a disk drive, a readback signal is filtered. The readback signal includes a first position signal component corresponding to a first position pattern on a disk, and includes a second position signal component corresponding to a second position pattern on the disk. Filtering the readback signal enhances a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the readback signal with respect to the first position signal component and the second position signal component. An estimate of an amplitude of the first position signal component is generated based on the filtered readback signal, and an estimate of an amplitude of the second position signal component is generated based on the filtered readback signal. An estimate of a head position with respect to a track on the disk is generated based on the estimate of the amplitude of the first position signal component and the estimate of the amplitude of the second position signal component.

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: Systems and techniques relating to writing servo information on a machine-readable medium. A technique includes forming servo information using a band of ramp-tracks generated based on a mechanical characteristic of a storage device. This can involve writing the band of ramp-tracks, including an embedded timing reference, to a machine-readable medium, and writing the servo information to the machine-readable medium using the band of ramp-tracks, including the embedded timing reference. An apparatus can include a self-servo-write (SSW) controller configured to direct writing of a band of ramp-tracks to a machine-readable medium based on a given rotational relationship between the machine-readable medium and a transducer. The SSW controller includes an SSWCLK generator, an angular position generator, a ramp-track pattern generator, and a servo wedge window period generator. The apparatus can be implemented as an integrated circuit device (e.g.

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: 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: A magnetic recording system includes a patterned medium comprised of land areas and trough areas, a write element which writes the data to the patterned medium, and a read element which reads the data from the patterned medium and servo information from the troughs. The land areas store data and the trough areas inhibit storage of data. The read element is wider than the write element.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of writing product servo sectors to a disk of a disk drive to define a plurality of product servo wedges, the disk comprising a plurality of spiral tracks. The spiral tracks are spaced apart circumferentially by a substantially equal spacing, and the number of spiral tracks equals a non-integer multiple of product servo wedges. The head internal to the disk drive is used to read the spiral tracks to generate a read signal, and the sync marks are detected from the read signal to generate a sync mark detect signal. A timing recovery measurement is generated in response to the sync mark detect signal, and a frequency control signal is generated in response to the timing recovery measurement. A servo write clock is generated in response to the frequency control signal which is used to write the product servo sectors to the disk.

Abstract: A positioning control device based on an observer control has a disturbance suppression function to which a disturbance suppression function is added without affecting the control characteristics of the observer. Models of an actuator and a disturbance model are separated, and for the disturbance model, state information is generated using an estimated gain determined from a disturbance model defined by a transfer function of which denominator is a numerator of a filter in which degrees of denominator and numerator for shaping a sensitivity function are the same, and the disturbance suppression value of the actuator is computed from the state information. The vibration of the head can be prevented adapting to a wide range of disturbance frequencies without affecting the control characteristics of the observer.

Abstract: A method of writing spiral tracks on a disk of a disk drive is disclosed. The disk drive comprises control circuitry and a head disk assembly (HDA) comprising the disk, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, and a voice coil motor for rotating the actuator arm about a pivot to position the head radially over the disk. A write clock is synchronized to the rotation of the disk, and a plurality of spiral tracks are written on the disk at a predetermined circular location determined from the write clock. Each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a multi-bit sync mark, and each multi-bit sync mark comprises a plurality of bits.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for adjusting the track density by changing the slope of spiral tracks used to servo write a disk drive. A target track density is established for a disk surface, and a plurality of spiral tracks are written to the disk surface in response to the target track density. Each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a sync mark, and a slope of the spiral tracks is selected in response to the target track density. The head internal to the disk drive is used to read the spiral tracks in order to write product servo sectors to the disk to define a plurality of data tracks, wherein the slope of the spiral tracks determines the density of the data tracks.

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: A servo control circuit provides seamless transition between seek and track modes while enabling both rapid seek mode operation and accurate tracking. The control circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter having a non-linear characteristic. The non-linear characteristic provides disproportionately large control voltages to derive speed and settling in the seek mode and essentially linear control voltages in the track mode to provide low noise and accurate tracking operation.

Abstract: A servo control system includes a peak detection module that detects peak times of spiral signals generated by reading spirals prewritten on a magnetic medium. The servo control system includes a control module that determines positions of the spirals based on the peak times, stores the positions of the spirals, seeks and tracks the spirals using the positions, and writes servo on the magnetic medium based on the positions of the spirals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dealing with undesired deviations of servo burst component magnitudes, as compared with nominal magnitudes, is provided. Inaccurate servo burst magnitudes can arise from components which are misplaced, often from an inaccuracy in a trimming operation. In one aspect, a value indicative of the shift of a component null point is measured and used to calculate a burst amplitude correction factor. Knowledge of system dynamics can be used to calculate a track shape that can be used in calculating the correction factor. Values indicative of track shape can be related to transfer functions of the disk drive controller and plant. In one embodiment, information indicative of repeatable runout is convolved with a function of the transfer function of the controller and plant, and the result is used for calculating a burst component amplitude correction value.

Abstract: System and method for generating a Position Error Signal (PES) reference curve in data storage devices are provided. The method includes scanning a distance of at least one Track Pitch (TP) in a cross-track direction in each servo-burst along a predefined path. One or more TPs in each servo-burst are scanned with a read head. The method further includes, calculating a plurality of samples of each differential signal. A differential signal corresponds to a first read-back signal and a second read-back signal. Thereafter, a plurality of normalized signals are determined. A normalized signal is determined by dividing each sample of the differential signal with a normalization constant. The plurality of normalized signals are combined to generate the PES reference curve.

Abstract: In a position control device based on a current observer control for performing two degree of freedom control, deterioration of the position accuracy caused by the output delay due to computation is prevented. In the two degree of freedom control system for preventing overrun, the delay of output of the two degree of freedom control (computing delay and hardware delay of drive amplifier, D/A converter, etc.) is considered, and the estimated state of Td which is advanced by the amount of delay from the sample point of time is computed, then output is computed based on this estimated state. So even if state changes during calculation from the sample point of time, the influence of the output delay can be prevented, and highly accurate position control can be performed, therefore overrun can be prevented.

Abstract: There is provided a technique capable of eliminating the need to create data for compensating the displacement of a servo pattern occurring at the time of writing the servo pattern using an amplitude method and thereby of significantly reducing the production time of a disk medium. A servo pattern writing apparatus that uses a write head to write a servo pattern on a recording medium according to an amplitude method, comprises: a position sensor 8 that detects the displacement amount of the write head with respect to its reference position in the track crossing direction; and a delay amount adjustment circuit 10 that writes a servo pattern in correspondence with a servo pattern write phase amount which is set for compensating the displacement amount detected by the position sensor 8 at the time of demodulation of the servo pattern.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for rotating a data storage media having pre-formatted servo data tracks adjacent a data transfer member, and retrieving readback data with the data transfer member along a path that is non-concentric in relation to the servo data tracks. The data transfer member is controlled by a control circuit that is configured for retrieving readback data from different data storage tracks during less than one revolution of the media.

Abstract: A method of servo writing a disk for use in a disk drive is disclosed by writing discontinuous spiral tracks on the disk to protect against overheating the head and/or preamp circuitry. A write clock is synchronized to the rotation of the disk, and a plurality of discontinuous spiral tracks are written on the disk. Each discontinuous spiral track is written at a predetermined circular location determined from the write clock, and each discontinuous spiral track comprises a plurality of segments separated by gaps. Each segment comprises a high frequency signal interrupted at a predetermined interval by a sync mark.

Abstract: A data storage device adapted to compensate for physical disturbances has a storage medium, a read-write mechanism positionable relative to the storage medium, and a disturbance observer. The read-write mechanism is adapted to read and write data. The disturbance observer compensates a position of the read-write mechanism according to low-frequency components of physical disturbances.

Abstract: System and method for generating a Position Error Signal (PES) reference curve in data storage devices are provided. The method includes scanning a distance of at least one Track Pitch (TP) in a cross-track direction in each servo-burst along a predefined path. One or more TPs in each servo-burst are scanned with a read head. The method further includes, calculating a plurality of samples of each differential signal. A differential signal corresponds to a first read-back signal and a second read-back signal. Thereafter, a plurality of normalized signals are determined. A normalized signal is determined by dividing each sample of the differential signal with a normalization constant. The plurality of normalized signals are combined to generate the PES reference curve.

Abstract: A servo control device for a disk drive capable of effectively compensating for a low frequency disturbance incoming to the disk drive is provided. The servo control device includes: a state variable estimator calculating a position estimation error based on a control input for controlling motion of a head and a position error signal by using a predetermined state equation; an estimation filter calculating a disturbance estimation value from the position estimation error by using a mathematical relation between a disturbance and the position estimation error; and a subtractor subtracting the disturbance estimation value from the control input.

Abstract: A method of writing product servo sectors to a disk of a disk drive is disclosed. The disk comprises a plurality of spiral tracks, wherein each spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted by a sync mark at a sync mark interval. The sync marks in the spiral tracks are detected to synchronize a servo write clock used to open a demodulation window during which the high frequency signal in the spiral tracks is demodulated to generate a position error signal for maintaining the head along a first servo track while writing product servo sectors along the first servo track. The demodulation window is then shifted by an integer number of sync mark intervals to initiate a seek to a second servo track. The head is then used to write product servo sectors along the second servo track.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for dynamic placement of an integration window in a disk drive having a disk surface with spiral servo information written thereon. A read head is provided for reading the spiral servo information and generating a read signal envelope. A repetitive spiral position error, associated with one spiral of the spiral servo information, is measured. Placement of an integration window is dynamically adjusted based upon the measured repetitive spiral position error, so that a read signal envelope read by the read head appears more towards the center of the integration window than if the placement of the integration window was not dynamically adjusted. By adjusting the placement of the integration window, dynamic range is increased without increasing the size of the integration window.

Abstract: Systems and techniques relating to writing servo information on a machine-readable medium. A technique includes forming servo information using a band of ramp-tracks generated based on a mechanical characteristic of a storage device. This can involve writing the band of ramp-tracks, including an embedded timing reference, to a machine-readable medium, and writing the servo information to the machine-readable medium using the band of ramp-tracks, including the embedded timing reference. An apparatus can include a self-servo-write (SSW) controller configured to direct writing of a band of ramp-tracks to a machine-readable medium based on a given rotational relationship between the machine-readable medium and a transducer. The SSW controller includes an SSWCLK generator, an angular position generator, a ramp-track pattern generator, and a servo wedge window period generator. The apparatus can be implemented as an integrated circuit device (e.g.

Abstract: A recording apparatus capable of securely reading out data for causing a head to follow along circular tracks set virtually. Therefore, on-track control along the virtual tracks is possible by the conversion data on the discoid record medium even when, for example, the printed circuit board in a recording apparatus has been replaced.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk drive with rotational vibration (RV) cancellation uses the position error signal (PES) and the signal from a RV sensor to determine when to enable and disable RV cancellation. An RV feedforward compensation signal to be summed with the VCM control signal is “switchable”, meaning that it can be enabled or disabled by the disk drive servo control processor. The determination to enable or disable is made from a comparison of the PES with a threshold PES, which may be an estimate of the off-track position of the head calculated from the RV sensor signal. The estimated off-track is compared to the absolute value of the actual or measured PES. If the estimated off-track is smaller than the actual PES, then the state of the RV cancellation is switched, i.e., if it is enabled it is disabled and if it is disabled it is enabled.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing multi-point position demodulation of a read head when using spiral-written servo information. In one embodiment, a disk surface has spiral servo information written thereon. A read head generates a read signal envelope when reading the spiral servo information. A read signal envelope is detected within an integration window and integration values are accumulated over the integration window. The accumulated integration values are multiplied by a first number associated with a first integrator value and a second number associated with a second integrator value. A first position error signal associated with the first integrator value is determined, and a second position error signal associated with the second integrator value is also determined. A final position error signal is determined using the first position error signal and the second position error signal.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a head and a disk, spiral patterns are located on the disk, and the disk drive self-writes servo patterns on the disk using the spiral patterns as a reference for servoing the head. In an embodiment, the disk drive uses preliminary servo patterns to determine repeatable runout of the spiral patterns. In another embodiment, the disk drive reads each spiral pattern with multiple timing windows.