Abstract: In general, techniques are described for resource allocation and deallocation that facilitates power management. A device comprising one or more processors and a memory may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may be configured to determine usage of a first non-zero subset of a plurality of resources, the plurality of resources allocated and released in accordance with a thermometer data structure. The processors may further be configured to compare the usage of the first non-zero subset of the plurality of resources to a threshold separating the first non-zero subset of the plurality of resources from a second non-zero subset of the plurality of resources, and power on the second non-zero subset of the plurality of resources based at least on the comparison. The memory may be configured to store the threshold.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) filter assembly may include an inlet for receiving an input gas, a cyclonic particle separator configured for separating certain sized particulates from the gas, and a trap chamber for securing the particulates separated from the gas. Such a filter assembly may be designed and configured to separate and secure nanoparticulates from the input gas, such as nanoparticulates with diameters less than around 100 nm. A filter assembly may further include a desiccant chamber for controlling the humidity of the cleaned gas and a membrane for absorbing and/or adsorbing some remaining particulates from the gas before the gas enters the main chamber of the HDD.

Abstract: Block copolymers (BCPs) and synthetic infiltration synthesis (SIS) are used to double the line density on a substrate. The BCP comprises first and second interconnected BCP components with a functional group at the junction or interface of the components. After deposition of the BCP on the substrate and annealing, a pattern of parallel stripes of first and second BCP components is formed with a pattern of functional group interfaces between the components. Each of the BCP components is non-reactive with atomic layer deposition (ALD) precursors, while the functional group is reactive with the ALD precursors. The ALD results in the infiltration of inorganic material into the interfaces where the reactive functional groups are located but without affecting the BCP components. After removal of the organic material, a pattern of parallel lines of inorganic material remains with a pitch half that of the stripes of BCP components.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, apparatuses, methods, and software are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage device is provided that includes storage media comprising a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) storage region. The data storage device also includes a storage control system configured to receive write operations and responsively store write data in a first storage region prior to transferring into the SMR storage region. The storage control system is configured to determine a reporting pace for transferring the write operations from the first storage region into the SMR storage region, the reporting pace establishing a target performance that is tempered from storage of the write data into the first storage region. The storage control system is configured to report completion of the write operations over a host interface at the reporting pace.

Abstract: Depositing a seed layer for a high-moment shield onto a write pole may have a deleterious effect on the magnetic response of the write pole. Instead, an amorphous separation layer may be deposited between the write pole and the seed layer. In one embodiment, the seed layer is formed directly on the amorphous layer. In addition to separating the seed layer from the write pole, the amorphous separation layer permits the seed layer to dictate the crystallographic orientation of the shield which is subsequently deposited on the magnetic head. That is, the amorphous layer provides a substrate that allows the seed layer to have a crystalline structure independent of the layers that were deposited previously. The amorphous separation layer may comprise an amorphous metal—e.g., NiNb or NiTa—or an insulative material—e.g., alumina or silicon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for forming a seal for hermetically sealing a hard disk drive assembly. The method includes forming a solder channel within a top cover of a disk drive enclosure and disposing a solder preform on a base of the disk drive enclosure such that the solder preform aligns with the solder channel when the top cover is positioned on the base.

Abstract: A magnetic recording hard disk drive (HDD) includes, in addition to conventional servo sectors with position error signal (PES) blocks, data position error signal (DPES) blocks that are written into the data sectors when data is written in the data sectors of the data tracks. During readback the PES blocks from the servo sectors are decoded into PES values to allow the head to follow the servo track, while the DPES blocks are decoded to obtain DPES values that are used in the servo control loop to modify the head position so the head follows the center of the data track. In a shingled magnetic recording HDD, wherein the write head is at least two shingled data tracks wide, a DPES block is written in two radially adjacent data tracks when data is written into the data sectors of the shingled data tracks.

Abstract: A set of similarity detection algorithms and techniques for determining which signature calculation, sampling, and generation algorithms may be most beneficially applied to application related data are described herein. These algorithms work well with SSD caching software to product high speed, high accuracy, and low false-positive detections. Because the different algorithms may show different performance depending on data sets and different applications, to achieve optimal performance, a calibration process may be applied to each application and associated data set to select the best combination of signature computation and sampling technique. The new algorithms are also very fast with execution times an order of magnitude smaller than existing techniques. While some of the algorithms are presented using examples for the purpose of easy readability, these algorithms are very general and can be easily applied to broad range of cases.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic head having an amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer. The ferromagnetic reference layer may have amorphous structure as a result of an amorphous ferromagnetic underlayer that the ferromagnetic reference layer is deposited thereon. The amorphous ferromagnetic reference layer enhances magnetoresistance, leading to an improved magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium according to one embodiment includes a substrate; an onset layer formed above the substrate, the onset layer comprising ruthenium and titanium oxide; and a magnetic oxide layer formed directly on the onset layer. A method according to one embodiment includes sputtering using a target of ruthenium and titanium oxide for forming an onset layer above a substrate, the onset layer comprising ruthenium and titanium oxide; and forming a magnetic oxide layer directly on the onset layer. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic storage device includes at least one microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head, each MAMR head including a spin torque oscillator (STO), a magnetic recording medium, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the at least one MAMR head, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one MAMR head for controlling operation of the at least one MAMR head, wherein the magnetic recording medium includes a recording layer positioned directly or indirectly above a substrate and an assist layer positioned above the recording layer, wherein the recording layer includes at least Co, Pt, and an oxide or oxygen, wherein the assist layer is positioned closer to the at least one MAMR head and includes at least Co and Pt, and wherein at least a portion of the recording layer has a smaller anisotropic magnetic field than the assist layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes: a substrate; and a soft magnetic underlayer structure positioned above the substrate, where the soft magnetic underlayer includes: a coupling layer; a first soft underlayer positioned above the coupling layer; and a second soft underlayer positioned below the coupling layer, where a difference between a magnetic flux density of the soft magnetic underlayer structure at 25° C. and a magnetic flux density of the soft underlayer structure at 85° C. is less than or equal to about 10% of the magnetic flux density of the soft magnetic underlayer structure at 25° C.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a magnetic device. The magnetic head of the magnetic device includes structure for protecting the media facing surface (MFS). The protective structure, which may be referred to as an air bearing surface overcoat (ABSOC) structure, includes an aluminum containing compound that is disposed on the slider and head. The ABSOC also includes a silicon containing compound and a carbon layer disposed thereover.

Abstract: The embodiments disclosed generally relate to an STO structure for a magnetic head. The STO structure has an FGL having a greater thickness than the SPL. The SPL may have multiple layers. In one embodiment, a MAMR head comprises a main pole; a trailing shield; and an STO coupled between the main pole and the trailing shield. The STO includes: a first magnetic layer having a first thickness; a non-magnetic spacer layer coupled to the first magnetic layer; and a second magnetic layer having a second thickness and coupled to the non-magnetic spacer layer, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, wherein a current is charged from the first magnetic layer to the second magnetic layer, and wherein a vertical magnetic anisotropy field of the second magnetic film is less than 0 kOe.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to the structure of a perpendicular magnetic write head for use in a magnetic disk drive. A shingled-microwave-assisted magnetic recording head for use in a high-areal-density hard disk drive comprises a trailing shield, a flare-shaped main pole, one or more side shields, a spin torque oscillator, and two asymmetric side gaps, where one side gap has a smaller width than the other side gap. The spin torque oscillator shares a first continuous edge with the main pole on a side adjacent the side gap having the smaller width and shares a second continuous edge adjacent a media facing surface. The angle of the spin torque oscillator and the main pole formed by the media facing surface and the narrow side gap is greater than about 90°.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally include magnetoresistive heads, such as read heads, having a sensor structure and side shields disposed adjacent to the sensor structure. The distance between the side shields and the sensor structure increase in a direction from an ABS in the off-track direction. The magnetoresistive heads may include tapered surfaces on the side shields or sensor structure, or may include stepped surfaces on the side shields or sensor structure.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a scissor sensor stack, a soft bias layer positioned behind the scissor sensor stack in an element height direction, the soft bias layer including a soft magnetic material, and a hard bias layer, at least a portion thereof being positioned behind the soft bias layer in the element height direction, the hard bias layer including a hard magnetic material having an initialization magnetization that is perpendicular to a media-facing surface of the apparatus to provide unidirectional anisotropy to the soft bias layer, wherein the scissor sensor stack includes a first free layer, a second free layer positioned above the first free layer, and a barrier layer positioned between the first free layer and the second free layer. Other apparatuses and methods for forming such apparatuses are described in more embodiments.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes: a leading edge, and a trailing edge; a media facing side (MFS) extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge; a first region located near the trailing edge, and a second region located between the first region and the leading edge; a center rail comprising: a forward segment protruding from the first region of the slider, and a posterior segment protruding from the second region of the slider; a rear rail protruding from the second region of the slider; and a secondary protective film deposited on one or more portions of the first region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic medium includes a substrate, and a magnetic recording layer positioned above the substrate, the magnetic recording layer including an ordered alloy having a L10-type structure, where the ordered alloy comprises a plurality of ferromagnetic crystal grains surrounded by non-magnetic grain boundaries, and where the ordered alloy comprises Fe, Ni and Pt.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower magnetic shield layer positioned at a media-facing surface, a pinned layer positioned above the lower magnetic shield layer at the media-facing surface, at least two MR elements extending in an element height direction by a first length positioned above the pinned layer and separated in a cross-track direction by an inner layer, bias layers extending in the element height direction by a second length positioned on outside edges of the MR elements and the pinned layer, and current paths positioned above and in electrical communication with the bias layers on either side of the inner layer, each current path extending in the element height direction away from the media-facing surface by a third length.