Abstract: Apparatus and method for applying thermal energy to a sealing member. Electrical current is applied to a heating assembly to generate thermal energy, and a heat conductor transfers the generated thermal energy to a seal member adjacent a housing. The heating assembly is configured to substantially prevent a magnetic field generated by the applied electrical current from extending to the housing.

Abstract: A data storage device has multiple storage media surfaces and corresponding heads, each storage media surface includes multiple regions, and each head is for recording on and playback of information from a corresponding storage media surface. A method of defining a storage format for the storage media surfaces includes reading data from each region on each storage media surface with the corresponding head, measuring a record/playback performance of each head for each region on each corresponding storage media surface based on the data read from the regions, and selecting a track density for each region on each storage media surface based on the measured record/playback performance of the corresponding head for the region.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk, a head, a coarse actuator, a microactuator, and a servo controller. The microactuator positions the head relative to the disk. The coarse actuator positions the microactuator and the head relative to the disk. The servo controller controls the microactuator in accordance with a microactuator feedforward control signal that is provided by the servo controller based on a plurality of microactuator feedforward values. The servo controller tunes at least one microactuator feedforward value of the plurality of microactuator feedforward values. The servo controller scales the microactuator feedforward control signal in accordance with a microactuator feedforward gain, and the servo controller adjusts the microactuator feedforward gain based on a position error signal that is determined during a seek operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which can provide a temperature estimate in a hard disk drive or other electronic device is provided. Output from the sensor, which may be indicative of a location spaced from the target temperature location, is sampled and integrated over an interval of time to form an estimate of average input sensor voltage. During the time interval, history of the HDD pre-amplifier operating modes is accumulated. The results are combined to form an estimate of HDA ambient temperature. Sensor offsets associated with each power mode, and weighted to the corresponding mode duty, can be subtracted from the average input sensor voltage.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a storage disk, a suspension and a slider assembly. The slider assembly includes a trailing half having a surface area, and a leading half having a substantially similar surface area to that of the trailing half. The percentage of the surface area of the trailing half that is directly secured to the suspension is greater than the percentage of the surface area of the leading half that is directly secured to the suspension. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a top surface that is secured to the suspension so that during an increase in temperature of the suspension only a portion of the top surface is subjected to a force that causes concavity of the slider assembly along a crown and/or a cross-crown direction. In yet another embodiment, the slider assembly is secured to the suspension so that a portion of the slider assembly cantilevers away from the suspension. In a further embodiment, the slider assembly has a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge.

Abstract: The upper voice coil motor magnet assembly (64a?) of a disk drive (10?) is magnetically aligned with the lower voice coil motor magnet assembly (64b?) using an alignment fixture (126). The alignment fixture (126) engages the upper voice coil motor magnet assembly (64a?) and lifts the same into a suspended position above the lower voice coil motor magnet assembly (64b?). In this suspended condition, the alignment fixture (126) allows the magnetic field to move the upper voice coil motor magnet assembly (64a?) within the horizontal dimension to a magnetically aligned position with the lower voice coil motor magnet assembly (64b?). Thereafter, the alignment fixture (126) lowers the upper voice coil motor magnet assembly (64a?) to a position where the same is again supported above the lower voice coil motor magnet assembly (64b?).

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for handling errors occurring in data stored in memory is presented. Data to be stored in a buffer memory is applied to a generator matrix to generate parity check bits. The parity check bits are stored in the buffer memory along with the data. The stored data and parity check bits are read and the read data is used to regenerate the parity check bits. A result produced from the stored and regenerated parity check bits is usable to directly identify a location of an erroneous bit of the data in the buffer memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing seek acoustics in a disk drive using a variable-bandwidth low-pass filter is provided. The variable-bandwidth low-pass filter is used to adaptively shape a control signal supplied to a VCM for moving a head relative to a disk surface during a seek operation. The bandwidth of the variable-bandwidth low-pass filter is dependent upon head position relative to a target track.

Abstract: A method of reducing microjog errors in a disk drive having a data recording disk with data tracks and a transducer head positionable on the tracks. The head includes a writer element offset from a reader element. To reduce microjog errors, track squeeze is measured at a number of locations across the surface, wherein the squeeze is due to mis-positioning of the track relative to neighboring tracks. A microjog distance for the destination track is provided, and a microjog correction value based on the measured track squeeze is calculated. The correction value is applied to the microjog distance to obtain a corrected microjog distance that reduces microjog errors due to track squeeze.

Abstract: Methods of calibrating an analog front end (AFE) of a read/write channel include measuring a first magnitude of a test signal, measuring a second magnitude of an output signal of the AFE generated in response to the test signal, and comparing the first magnitude and the second magnitude to generate a measure of a gain of the AFE at a frequency of the test signal. A data storage device includes a read/write head configured to generate an analog input signal, an AFE coupled to the read/write head and configured to amplify and filter the analog input signal, a test signal generator configured to generate a test signal having a frequency substantially equal to a fundamental frequency of the analog input signal or any of its harmonics, and an attenuator coupled between the test signal generator and the AFE.

Abstract: A process carrier is capable of supporting printed circuit boards during manufacturing and testing. The process carrier includes a base plate, a first top plate and a second top plate. The base plate has an upper surface including a recessed area sized to receive a panelized group of printed circuit board substrates and a lower surface. The first top plate is coupleable to the upper surface of the base plate during a first manufacturing process. The first top plate includes a plurality of connected rails configured to secure the panelized group of printed circuit board substrates. The second top plate is coupleable to the upper surface of the base plate during a second manufacturing process. The second top plate is configured to cover the panelized group of printed circuit board substrates.

Abstract: An information-storage media is provided that includes: (a) a substrate disk 312 having first and second opposing surfaces; (b) a first interface layer 304 on the first surface, the first interface layer having a first thickness; (c) a second interface layer 308 on the second surface, the second interface layer having a second thickness, wherein the first and second interface layers have a different chemical composition than the substrate disk; and (d) an information-storage layer 412 adjacent to one or both of the interface layers. The first and second thicknesses are different to provide an unequal stress distribution across the cross-section of the media.

Abstract: Stiffness reducing features for top covers of data storage systems are provided to prevent delaminating of top layers of the top covers. A top cover for a data storage system includes a bottom layer, a top layer and an adhesive layer that interconnects the top and bottom layers. At least one groove is formed in and extends along the top layer. The at least one groove reduces a thickness of the top layer along the at least one groove.

Abstract: An iterative decoder is controlled to iteratively decode a block by performing one or more decoding iterations for the block during a predetermined block time. The iterative decoder is further controlled to perform more decoding iterations for the block during a time in which the hardware of the iterative decoder is available, if the block fails to converge to correct data during the predetermined block time. The iterative decoder uses a parity-check matrix and can be configured to process that parity-check matrix for parallel, sequential or a combination of parallel and sequential (“hybrid”) parity constraint updates.

Abstract: An information-storage media is provided that includes: (a) a substrate disk 312 having first and second opposing surfaces; (b) a first selected layer 304 on the first surface, the first selected layer having a first thickness; (c) a second selected layer 308 on the second surface, the second selected layer having a second thickness, wherein the first and second selected layers have a different chemical composition than the substrate disk; and (d) an information-storage layer 412 adjacent to one or both of the selected layers. The first and second thicknesses are different to provide an unequal stress distribution across the cross-section of the media.

Abstract: The invention is generally directed to a slider that is particularly suited for dynamic load/unload disk drive designs. This slider desirably addresses potential disk damage associated with contact between sharp edges of the slider of the disk drive and the data storage surface of a corresponding disk. Any appropriate type/configuration of a disk drive may benefit from performing read/write operations utilizing the slider of the present invention. Generally, this slider includes at least one air bearing surface which enables the slider to “fly” above the read/write surface of the disk, and at least one self-blending contact pad disposed on the lower surface of the slider to reduce the potential for contact between any portion of the slider other than the self-blending contact pad(s) and the corresponding read/write surface of the disk.

Abstract: An actuator assembly is provided having a ramp for unloading a transducing head from a storage medium. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm rotatable about a pivot point and configured to access data on a storage medium. The actuator arm has a base end coupled to a lift tab and a distal end coupled to a transducing head. The actuator assembly also includes an inclined surface located adjacent the base end. The inclined surface is configured to engage with the lift tab to guide the transducing head away from the storage medium.

Abstract: A container is provided for use in the shipment and storage of consumer electronics. In particular, the container is useful for the shipment and storage of consumer electronics of different sizes, weights and shapes. The container includes a base having a bottom, at least two end walls and at least two side walls. The base includes base partitions forming a plurality of lower cavities for receiving the consumer electronics. The base partitions are spaced from one another and arranged between the end walls and the side walls. Each lower cavity has a width extending between the side walls. The container also includes a bottom surface including a plurality of cover partitions forming a plurality of upper cavities adapted to align with the lower cavities of the base to form compartments configured to store the consumer electronics.

Abstract: A servo system includes a first member and a second member that is positionable relative to the first member. A position error signal causes the second member to be positioned at a desired location relative to the first member. The position error signal includes a position error due to a disturbance in the servo system, and the position error is reduced by attenuation of a disturbance signal as a non-linear function of the amplitude of the disturbance signal.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a rotatable data storage disk, a transducer, an actuator, and a servo burst demodulator. The disk includes a servo burst pattern thereon within a single servo sector. The transducer is configured to generate a read signal from the servo burst pattern. The actuator is configured to position the transducer relative to the disk. The servo burst demodulator is configured to generate a position error signal from the contributions of the servo burst pattern to the read signal, and is configured to generate a fly height signal from the contributions of the servo burst pattern to the read signal. The position error signal is indicative of a radial location of the transducer relative to the disk. The fly height signal is indicative of a height of the transducer from the disk.