Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for an improved portable memory device. In one embodiment, a portable memory device is provided comprising a housing having a proximal opening and a distal opening. A slidable unit may be at least partially mounted in the housing. The slidable unit may comprise of a memory device slidably mounted in the housing, wherein the memory device has a data connector mounted on one end and a push button on the other end. A resilient member may be coupled to the slidable unit. Moving the slidable unit from a first position to a second position will simultaneously extend the data connector from the housing while also loading the resilient member to urge the data connector back into the housing. The portable memory device may include a latch coupled to the housing for holding the slidable unit in the second position. In the present embodiment, a user may press a release button so that the latch will allow the connector to be automatically drawn back into the housing.

Abstract: A data storage cartridge including a non-tape storage medium, and a housing maintaining the non-tape storage medium. The housing defines a plurality of external handling features for interaction with at least one of a cartridge storage unit and a cartridge drive to facilitate positioning and selective maintenance of the data storage cartridges within the at least one of the cartridge storage unit and the cartridge drive.

Abstract: A data storage master disk and method of making a data storage master disk. The data storage disk master is for use in a data storage disk replication process. The data storage disk molding processes produces replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves. The method includes providing a master substrate. The master substrate is at least partially covered with a layer of photosensitive material. A surface relief pattern having master lands and master grooves is recorded in the data storage disk master, including the steps of exposing and developing the photosensitive material. The exposing and developing of a specified thickness of photosensitive material is controlled to form master grooves extending down to a substrate interface between the master substrate and the layer of photosensitive material, such that the width of the master grooves at the substrate interface corresponds to a desired width of the replica lands.

Abstract: A data storage master disk and method of making a data storage master disk. The data storage disk master is for use in a data storage disk replication process. The data storage disk molding processes produces replica disks having a surface relief pattern with replica lands and replica grooves. The method includes providing a master substrate. The master substrate is at least partially covered with a layer of photosensitive material. A surface relief pattern having master lands and master grooves is recorded in the data storage disk master, including the steps of exposing and developing the photosensitive material. The exposing and developing of a specified thickness of photosensitive material is controlled to form master grooves extending down to a substrate interface between the master substrate and the layer of photosensitive material, such that the width of the master grooves at the substrate interface corresponds to a desired width of the replica lands.

Abstract: The Invention Provides a Positioning System for a Linear Data Storage Medium, Such as magnetic tape or other data storage medium in which data is stored on parallel data tracks that extend along a length of the medium. The invention makes use of multiple actuators to control the positioning of sliders carrying read and write elements, e.g., separate sliders carrying the read and write elements, relative to the data storage medium with multiple degrees of freedom. The multiple degrees of freedom may include two or more of a vertical position, a horizontal position, a transverse position, an azimuth position, a zenith position, and a yaw position. In this manner, the invention can improve head-to-track alignment of read heads and write heads with linear data storage systems having very small track pitches, such as track pitches approximately 1 micron and especially less than 1 micron.

Abstract: The invention provides a system comprising a non-linear array of magnetoresistive (MR) heads arranged in a two-dimensional matrix for reading information stored on magnetic media. The non-linear array of MR heads may comprise a planar array formed by a plurality of linear arrays of MR heads stacked to define a plurality of layers. Each of the linear arrays may share at least one shield element with another linear array of the non-linear array. In general, each layer is offset by one written track pitch and the number of layers of the invention is equal to the number of written track pitches in a channel pitch. The invention can also be used in a system for reading and writing information to magnetic media at improved track pitches relative to conventional read/write systems.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic recording medium includes heat-curing a coated substrate to cure a non-magnetic back coat on the substrate and to cure a magnetic front coat on the substrate, and calendering the heat-cured coated substrate to produce the magnetic recording medium. The calendering optionally is off-line calendering during which the substrate passes between opposed, generally non-compliant rolls. Other methods, and magnetic recording media produced by the disclosed methods, also are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention provides techniques for adjusting for actuator non-linearities in a data storage system. The invention is particularly useful for piezoelectric actuators, such as actuators that implement a bimorph piezoelectric crystal structure or a laminate piezoelectric crystal structure, although other actuators may present similar non-linearity issues. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method comprising applying a signal to an actuator of a data storage system, the actuator having a non-linear response, wherein the signal includes a linear drive component and a non-linear adjustment component, and positioning a data storage head with respect to a data storage medium via the actuator.

Abstract: Techniques are described for reselling and/or refurbishing data tape media. The techniques may involve determining life information associated with a data tape medium and reselling the data tape medium when a remaining life of the data tape medium is larger than a pre-defined threshold. In this manner, the quality of resold magnetic tape can be improved, and the media can possibly marketed or warranted to the buyer based on the remaining life. In addition, refurbishing techniques are described that include degaussing of servo written data tape media, followed by the creation of new servo patterns on the degaussed media.

Abstract: A tape reel assembly for a tape drive system component, such as a data storage tape cartridge, is described that includes a hub. The hub defines an inner surface and a tape winding surface, and at least a portion of the hub is made of plastic. The tape winding surface has an effective radial modulus of greater than 0.3 million pounds-per-square-inch.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a data storage device that includes a host connector to facilitate attachment to a host computer so that the host computer can access one or more storage elements within the device. The data storage device includes a flexible member to mechanically and electrically couple the host connector of the device to a housing that holds the storage elements. The housing may comprise a receptacle for insertion of the host connector when the device is not coupled to a host computer. The flexible member may define a length and a flexibility sufficient to allow the host connector to be inserted into the receptacle in the housing. When the host connector is inserted into the receptacle in the housing, the data storage device forms a loop, allowing the device to be attached to items or objects or possibly worn as jewelry.

Abstract: A method of presenting a data storage diskette to a user is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing the diskette and promoting that handwritten indicia be deposited directly onto an information field in labeling the diskette. In this regard, the diskette includes a housing defining first and second housing sections, and an exterior portion of at least one of the housing sections integrally forming the information field.

Abstract: A system for precisely determining a position with resolution on the order of nanometers or sub-nanometers is described. In particular, a system is described that utilizes a first and a second sensor assembly to determine a position of a movable element over a distance many times the capable range of operation of either of the individual sensor assemblies. The two sensor assemblies leap-frog one another in an incremental fashion to ensure that at least one of the sensor assemblies is always within it operational range. Positional signals generated by one of the sensor assemblies can be used to calibrate the other sensor assembly, following an adjustment of the other sensor assembly. The described invention may be implemented in an optical storage disk mastering system to determine the position of mastering optics as the mastering optics translate over the surface of a storage master disk.