Abstract: Described are embodiments of an invention for customizing the range of acceptable write conditions to a tape of a tape cartridge that contracts or expands laterally based on environmental conditions. The tape drive utilizes servo information to determine if the tape has expanded or contracted from the nominal dimension and to determine the magnitude of the expansion or contraction. In the case of expansion, the magnitude of the determined expansion and the stored maximum amount of contraction must be below a predetermined threshold value to allow a write. In the case of contraction, the magnitude of the determined contraction and the stored magnitude of expansion must be below the same predetermined threshold value to allow a write. If the determined magnitude of contraction or expansion is greater than the stored magnitude of contraction or expansion, respectively, then the new extreme is stored.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a control unit, a cache unit, a head unit, a platter unit, a spindle motor unit, a power supply unit, a switch unit, and an interface. When the switch unit is turned on, the power supply unit converts voltages of external power supplies received from the interface through the switch unit into operation voltages of the control unit, the cache unit, the head unit, the platter unit, and the spindle motor unit, and supplies the operation voltages to the control unit, the cache unit, the head unit, the platter unit, and the spindle motor unit. When the switch unit is turned off by the control unit, the voltages of the external power supplies cannot be transmitted to the power supply unit through the switch unit.

Abstract: In one embodiment of a data storage device, the inside of its housing 111 is divided into first and second spaces 1 and 2 by a chassis 110. The data storage device includes at least one optical pickup 104 that writes data on a storage medium and a heat radiating member 109 which is thermally coupled to the optical pickup 104 to transfer the heat generated by the optical pickup 104. The optical pickup 104 and the heat radiating member 109 are arranged in the first and second spaces 1 and 2, respectively.

Abstract: There is provided a base for a motor, the base including: a base body having a disk disposed thereon; an outer wall part formed on the base body to thereby define an outer edge of the base body; and a fixing part formed in at least one of the base body and the outer wall part in order to fix the base body and a substrate, to which power is applied, to each other, thereby supporting upper and lower surfaces of the substrate.

Abstract: A tape movement constraint for a tape drive system, comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates, and an actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface when the actuator is actuated, to control the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, a roller barrel of the tiltable roller bearing is biased in a first position on a pivot axis, using magnetic attraction between a movable magnet and a return path structure of magnetically permeable material. The roller barrel is pivoted on the pivot axis by conducting current through a fixed coil to generate a magnetic field which is conducted by the return path structure to interact with the magnetic field of the magnet. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: There is provided a motor including: a rotating member rotating together with a shaft and including an extension part extended along an outer surface of the shaft; a fixed member including a shaft support part supporting the shaft and an extension part support part supporting the extension part; and an oil storage part disposed between a lower surface of the extension part and the fixed member to thereby provide an oil storage space.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes tracking a magnetic tape moving in a first direction using at least one reader of an inner module of a head having at least the inner module and first and second outer modules positioned on opposite sides of the inner module and aligned with the inner module in a tape travel direction, detecting a signal using at least one reader of the first outer module as the tape passes thereacross, moving a guide positioned in front of the first outer module in a direction towards the tape until the signal detected by the first outer module decreases by a predetermined amount, and moving the guide directionally away from the tape to a position to set about a predetermined wrap angle of the tape relative to the first outer module after the signal detected by the first outer module decreases by the predetermined amount.

Abstract: An output is generated in response to an indication associated with movement of a moveable part in a storage device. The output is for reducing a noise component associated with the movement of the moveable part.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a tape movement constraint comprises a tiltable tape roller bearing having a grooved surface adapted to contact and engage a surface of the tape as the roller barrel rotates. An actuator adapted to pivot the roller bearing surface controls the lateral position of a tape. In operation, in one embodiment, the roller barrel of the roller bearing is rotated by engaging a surface of the tape roller barrel with a longitudinally moving magnetic tape. At least a portion of any air bearing between the moving tape and the barrel surface is quenched using grooves formed in the barrel surface. The lateral position of the moving tape is sensed and the rotating roller barrel is tilted in response to the sensed lateral position of the moving tape to control the lateral position of the moving tape. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: To prevent the peak power/current consumption from exceeding a permitted level when more than one active mechanical mechanism of an electronic device (e.g., an optical storage apparatus) is involved in accomplishing a particular task, a method of controlling the electronic device is provided. The electronic device has a plurality of mechanical mechanisms including at least a first mechanical mechanism and a second mechanical mechanism. The method includes following steps: driving the first mechanical mechanism by applying a first control signal to the first mechanical mechanism; driving the second mechanical mechanism by applying a second control signal to the second mechanical mechanism; comparing the first control signal with a first predetermined threshold, and accordingly generating a first comparison result; and selectively adjusting the second control signal according to at least the first comparison result.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a disk, a determination module, and a controller. The determination module is configured to determine whether access to the disk requires data transfer between a host and the magnetic disk drive in accessing the disk. The controller is configured to control disk access according to a predetermined allocation of consecutive second logical addresses corresponding to physical addresses indicative of consecutive physical locations on the disk if the data transfer is not required. The second logical addresses are addresses different from first logical addresses recognized by the host.

Abstract: Storage architecture for bit patterned media uses both erase band and shingled magnetic recording. A hard disk drive may comprise a disk having bit patterned media with a plurality of data tracks arrayed in architecture pages having at least one of erase band mode (EBM), shingled mode (SM) and unallocated space. An actuator has a head for writing data to the data tracks of the bit patterned media. A control system monitors, reallocates and reconfigures the architecture pages from EBM, SM or unallocated space to a different one of EBM, SM or unallocated space to enhance performance of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: There is disclosed a tape guide roller for guiding a tape (11) in a tape storage. The tape guide roller is tiltable such that by tilting the tape guide roller the tape (11) may be returned from a laterally offset position to a centered position. An actuator (1560) of the tiltable tape guide roller is implemented as a magnetic actuator with a permanent magnet assembly (1570) and an electromagnet a pole piece (1702) of which electromagnet is facing the magnet assembly (1570). The width (W1) of the pole piece (1702) is smaller than the width (W2) of the magnet assembly (1570). As a result the tape guide roller may be operated in a power efficient way.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for inspecting a magnetic recording medium in which the adhesion (transfer) of contaminants or corrosive materials to a magnetic head can be prevented. Specifically disclosed is a method for inspecting a magnetic recording medium including a non-magnetic substrate and additionally comprising at least a magnetic layer, a protective layer and a lubricant layer all provided on the non-magnetic substrate. The method is characterized by including exposing the magnetic recording medium to an atmosphere containing a siloxane and determining the resistance of the magnetic recording medium against environmental substances based on the amount of the siloxane attached to the surface of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for adaptively controlling a motor considering a state of disturbance applied to a system. The method includes changing a frequency bandwidth of a frequency response characteristic in a motor control system according to a state of disturbance applied to the motor control system, and controlling a speed of the motor by applying the changed frequency bandwidth to the motor control system.

Abstract: A hard-disk drive (HDD) is described. During operation of the HDD, measured internal temperatures in the HDD may be stored in a first table, and state information specifying operational states of the HDD associated with ranges of internal temperatures may be stored in a second table. Note that a given operational state in the second table may be associated with a corresponding internal temperature in the first table. Furthermore, during operation of the HDD, the first table and/or the second table may be stored on: a rotatable medium in the HDD, a semiconductor memory in the HDD, or both. This stored table information may facilitate error detection and diagnosis.

Abstract: Embodiments herein illustrate patterned servo data that allows the patterned disk to be planarized with a relatively simple planarization process. A magnetic disk, in this regard, includes a data region having a plurality of tracks. The magnetic disk also includes a plurality of servo bursts patterned in the magnetic disk at a plurality of locations in each track. The servo bursts are operable to direct a controller to center a write head over a track in the data region and write a track identification. The servo bursts include magnetic lands and nonmagnetic grooves. The magnetic lands of the servo burst are generally configured with a uniform polarity of magnetization and a first uniform width. The nonmagnetic grooves are configured with a second uniform width.

Abstract: A library apparatus includes a drive unit for writing data into or reading data from a cartridge, a cell unit having a plurality of cells to store the cartridges and a bottom plate in which a guide groove is formed, a movement unit for moving the cartridge along the guide groove between the cell and the drive unit, the movement unit being arranged under the cell unit, and a control unit for controlling the movement unit to move up through the guide groove, to engage the cartridge, and to move the engaged cartridge.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a TMR effect element includes a ground layer, an antiferromagnetic layer above the ground layer, a first ferromagnetic layer above the antiferromagnetic layer and exchange-coupled to the antiferromagnetic layer, an anti-parallel coupling layer above the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer having a magnetic moment coupled anti-parallel to the magnetic moment of the first ferromagnetic layer via the anti-parallel coupling layer, an insulation barrier layer above the second ferromagnetic layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer above the insulation barrier layer. At least a portion of the second ferromagnetic layer and at least a portion of the third ferromagnetic layer on an insulation barrier layer side are comprised of a crystal, and the insulation barrier layer comprises MgO and an oxide material having an independent cubic crystal structure and complete solid solubility with MgO.

Abstract: A method for operating a reel-to-reel system of a storage device with a first reel, a second reel, a first motor and a second motor, the first motor drives the first reel and the second motor drives the second reel. The system transports a tape supplied by one of the two reels and taken up by the other reel. A tape velocity and tape tension between the first and reels, and a longitudinal displacement are determined. An estimated state vector depends on the tape velocity, tape tension and longitudinal displacement. A reference state vector depends on a predetermined reference tape velocity and a predetermined reference tape tension. A first control signal and a second control signal are generated dependent on the estimated state vector and the reference state vector. The first motor is controlled by the first control signal and the second motor is controlled by the second control signal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing data confidentiality and integrity of data stored in overlapping, shingled data tracks on a recordable surface of a storage device. A unique write counter is stored for each zone written to the recordable surface of the storage device. An encryption key is used together with the write counter information and a logical block address to encrypt each sector being written, and to decrypt all sectors being read. An individual sector is decrypted, obtaining the write counter information and reading the data sector. A message authentication code is stored for each zone. All sectors of the zone are read to perform integrity check on a sector.

Abstract: A method of managing a defect of a hard disk drive includes calculating a number of ECC symbols of every sector which becomes an object of a defect scan and setting a defect reference value based on results of the calculation. The hard disk drive sets a sector as a defect sector having the number of ECC symbols greater than a set defect reference value.

Abstract: A storage device spin-up control system includes a storage device to store data, a host to selectively control a spin-up mode of the storage device, and an interface to link the storage device and the host. The host controls the spin-up mode of the storage device based on a level of a signal output from a power connector of the interface. Thus, spin-up failure of the storage device due to insufficient power supply from the host may be prevented.

Abstract: A method for detecting ramp load/unload operations is disclosed. The method includes measuring a signal value generated by a transducer element during either a ramp unload operation or a ramp load operation in a data storage device. The method further includes analyzing the signal value to determine whether the ramp load operation or the ramp unload operation in the data storage device has occurred.

Abstract: This application discloses a hard disk drive and a disk employing Discrete Tracks each including a land with a groove at a first depth with sectors of each track separated by servo pattern wedges with a variable second land and a variable second groove possessing widths and a second depth for the grooves differing from the first widths and depth of the groove of the sectors. The second depth optimizes the stability of the flying height of a slider over both sectors and servo pattern wedges, removing the possibility of added vibrational modes adversely affecting the slider's normal operations of reading, writing and flying above the disk surface. This also discloses the disks and their manufacture of disk surfaces with these sector zones and servo pattern wedges.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk controller includes a receiver, a read-modify-write controller, and a wait controller. The receiver receives data in units of predetermined data length. The read-modify-write controller performs a read-modify-write operation when the receiver receives the data to write the data to a sector on a disk medium the rotation of which is controlled. The sector is longer than the predetermined data length. The wait controller delays the start of the read-modify-write operation by the read-modify-write controller for within the time which the disk medium takes to rotate once and which is substantially the same as the time required to control the read-modify-write operation.

Abstract: A data storage device having fall protection includes a rotatable media platter operable to receive and store data, a read/write head operable to communicate with the media platter by writing the data to the media platter and by reading the data from the media platter, an arm supporting the read/write head, a servo motor coupled the arm and operable to move the arm to and from the media platter, a drive controller operable to control the media platter, the read/write head and the servo motor, and a general purpose input/output (GPIO). In an embodiment, the GPIO is coupled with a fall sensor that is external to the data storage device so that when the fall sensor sends a floating interrupt trigger, signaling that the fall sensor is falling, the GPIO receives the interrupt trigger and the drive controller performs an emergency routine to cache data in flight to or from the data storage device and park the read/write head away from the media platter.

Abstract: A floppy module includes a floppy disk controller (FDC), a control circuit, and a display. The FDC has a first control terminal, a second control terminal, and a plurality of third control terminals. Wherein, the first control terminal and the second control terminal may respectively output a first control signal and a second control signal, and the first and second control signals having the same statuses are used for controlling a floppy disk. The display has a fourth control terminal and a plurality of data terminals respectively coupled to a portion of the third control terminals. Additionally, the control circuit may use the first control signal to replace the second control signal for controlling the floppy disk, and transmit the second control signal to the fourth control terminal such that a status information is shown on the display as the floppy disk being idle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a base, a drive section on the base, configured to rotate a disk storage medium, an actuator mounted with a head for processing data in the storage medium and configured to move the head along a surface of the storage medium, a cover laid over the base, and a plate opposed to the surface of the storage medium in a position outside a range of movement of the actuator. The plate includes a distal end portion located adjacent to the actuator and downstream with respect to a direction of rotation of the storage medium, a block extending from the distal end portion, located outside the outer periphery of the storage medium, and supported on the base side, and an elastically deformable plate arm extending from the block toward the cover and configured to abut an inner surface of the cover.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus comprises drive apparatus to move a received tape along a path in a longitudinal direction of the tape, a transducer head to transfer data to and/or from the tape, a tape lifter to contact the tape; and control apparatus operable, in response to a tape speed related condition or event, to cause relative movement between the tape lifter and the tape into mutual contact, thereby biasing the tape away from surface to surface contact with the transducer head.

Abstract: Methods, logic, apparatus and computer program product write data, comprising less than a full Data Set, to magnetic tape. Data is received from a host, a do-not-interleave command is issued and C1 and C2 ECC are computed. Codeword Quad (CQ) sets are then formed. At least one CQ set of the Data Set is written to a magnetic tape in a non-interleaved manner and a Data Set Information Table (DSIT) is written to the magnetic tape immediately following the at least one written CQ set. An address transformation may be used to cancel interleaving. Writing a CQ set may include writing a plurality of contiguous instances of the CQ set to the magnetic tape to maintain the effectiveness of ECC capability.

Abstract: A defect is detected on a storage medium of a disk drive. A location of the defect is determined, within a smallest addressable unit of data stored on the storage medium. An indication of the location is stored in a memory. A location of a sensor of the disk drive relative to the data stored on the storage medium is monitored. A response of at least one of a defect detector of the disk drive, a read channel controller of the disk drive, and a servo controller of the disk drive is changed based on the location of the sensor relative to the data stored on the storage medium and the stored indication of the location of the defect.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, the controller controls a data refresh operation. The data refresh operation comprises a refresh-data read operation of reading L blocks of data by a head from a track to be refreshed on a disk, a data backup-write operation of writing the read data by the head to a backup-track on the disk, and a refresh-write operation of writing the read data by the head to the track to be refreshed after the backup-write operation. The controller sets the number L of blocks to a value that satisfies conditions for completing the backup-write operation and the refresh-write operation within a time corresponding to N revolutions of the disk from completion of the refresh-data read operation.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic disk to be subjected to perpendicular recording, a first pole core including a main pole configured to record signals on the magnetic disk, a first coil wound around the first pole core, a second pole core magnetically independent of the first pole core, tip ends of which are arranged on both sides of the main pole, a second coil wound around the second pole core, a read unit including an element configured to read data recorded on the magnetic disk, and a correction unit configured to correct a current phase difference between the first and second coils.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for logging of data within a data storage system, such as a tape drive library. The tape drive library includes a central storage (memory) providing storage space assigned to each tape drive in the tape drive library and allowing each tape drive to directly store data there, that is to log data files. The logging of the data files is at the instigation of each tape drive and not via polling, so as to perform logging synchronous with tape drive events. In one version, the tape drives are coupled to the central storage via an Ethernet network and the log files conform to a standard file protocol, such as a network file system.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided having a data transfer member, and a medium supported by a base adjacent the data transfer member. A medium tilting device supports the base and is selectively positionable to tilt the medium with respect to the data transfer member to simulate presenting the head to the medium at a desired angular orientation. A sensor measures a characteristic associated with a data transfer relationship between the data transfer member and the medium.

Abstract: The disclosure pertains to a scratch effect controller for use by a disk jockey, wherein at least one electromagnet creates the slippage tension or friction effect between the user manipulated disc, which includes a vinyl-like surface thereby simulating a vinyl record, and the rotatable or fixed platter. The strength of the electromagnet is variable so as to create a variable slippage tension or friction effect.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk provided with a data recording area and a servo-pattern area. The data recording area includes a non-magnetic area scattered with magnetic regions, and the servo-pattern area includes a plurality of magnetic regions each having a larger area than the magnetic regions in the data recording area. The magnetic disk apparatus also includes a reader for reading magnetization in the data recording area and the servo-pattern area, and a magnetizer for application of a magnetic field to the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area for equalizing magnetization directions of the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area before the reader starts to read the servo-pattern area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk has a set of tracks thereon. A controller performs refresh control for reading data by a head from a track on the disk to be refreshed and for writing the read data by the head to a spare track adjacent to the track from which the data has been read. The controller switches the track from which the data has been read to a new spare track after the writing.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing data to a data storage medium on which data is stored in data groups (N?3 to N+1) comprising tracks extending across and spaced from a reference edge of the storage medium includes a control system operable to cause i) a track reference difference value representative of a difference in a distance between the tracks of an existing data group (N?1) on the storage medium and the reference edge and a distance between the reference edge and the tracks of a data group (N) to be written to the storage medium such that it is the next data group following the existing data group (N?1) or ii) data from which such a difference value can be derived to be included in at least one of frame (A1 to A5) to be written between the existing data group and the next data group such that the tracks of the at least one frame are spaced from the reference edge by substantially the same distance as the tracks of the existing data group.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for controlling access to a magnetic storage medium. As one example, a method for controlling access to a storage medium is disclosed that includes calculating a point to point error amount, and generating a incremental error value based at least in part on the point to point error amount. The incremental error value is applied incrementally across a defined number of clock cycles.

Abstract: According to the present invention, heat generation amount control information for controlling a heat generation amount of a heat generating section (20) is arranged to correspond to each of temperatures so that a predetermined heat generation amount is obtained at each of the temperatures. The present invention includes a first computing section (41) that controls the heat generation amount of the heat generating section (20) according to the heat generation amount control information that is arranged in advance to correspond to temperature information that is obtained from a temperature sensor (13). This easily makes it possible to appropriately carry out at least either recording or reproduction with respect to a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve the safety against a fall of a disk drive device. In one embodiment, when an HDD has recognized detection result data of a fall sensor to indicate a fall, the HDD unloads a head slider from above a disk to a stand-by position. The HDD checks whether or not the detection result data of the fall sensor indicates a fall on the occasion of a seek start. If the data indicates a fall, the controller unloads an actuator. The HDD issues a seek fake error on the occasion of a seek completion. On the occasion of a re-seek start in the error recovery process, the HDD conducts a fall check referring to the detection result data.

Abstract: A balance correction apparatus is configured to correct weight imbalance around an axis of a spindle motor, and includes a piezoelectric actuator configured to apply an impact to a housing, a controller configured to generate as a rectangular wave a force profile that represents an acceleration applied to the housing by the piezoelectric actuator, and a waveform generator configured to generate a voltage waveform configured to drive the piezoelectric actuator, by integrating the force profile twice. The rectangular wave has a first acceleration after a leading edge and a second acceleration after a trailing edge. The first acceleration enables the disc to move relative to the spindle motor and the housing. The second acceleration enables the disc to move together with the spindle motor and the housing.

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

Abstract: A drive section which moves a head above an information storage medium and a control section are provided, and each track on the information storage medium is made up of alternating first regions for writing in and reading out user information and second regions that store information for the positioning of the head. The control section is provided with a feedback control value determining section for eliminating the difference between the head position and the representative position of the first region, which is an access object, a performing control value determining section for determining the performing control value for the performing control by finding the logical control value associated with the first region where the feedback control value is determined and adding the feedback control value to this logical control value and a performing control section for actually controlling the drive section.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus 1 that uses a head 50 to write data in a plurality of unit areas arranged in an adjacent relationship to each other on a surface of a magnetic disk 60, and includes: a first recording section that records, in a RAM 12, the position of a unit area which is a target of data write; a first counting section that counts the number of times of data write operation performed for the unit area corresponding to the position recorded by the first recording section; and a second recording section that records, in a non-volatile storage medium different from the RAM 12, the side position which is the position of a unit area adjacent to the unit area whose number of records counted by the first counting section is more than a predetermined value.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive has a disk, a controller, and a flash memory, the request data to be recorded in the disk may be continuous data. In this case, the first one-track data item including the head address of the requested data is stored in the flash memory, and the second to last one-track data items are sequentially written in the disk.

Abstract: Techniques are provided herein for reducing vibrations in various modes of a dynamic system. One such technique comprises incorporating vibration limiting and sensitivity constraints into a partial fraction expansion equation model of the system so as to reduce vibrations to specific levels. Another technique comprises shaping a command determined using the partial fraction expansion equation model to produce a desired output. The entire command may be shaped or only selected portions thereof which produce vibrations. Another technique involves commanding in current to produce saturation in voltage. By doing this, it is possible to command voltage switches. The times at which the switches occur can be set to reduce system vibrations. Other techniques are also provided. These include varying transient portions at the beginning, middle and/or end of a move and using Posicast inputs, among others.