Abstract: An interconnect apparatus for connecting a transducer to a flexible connector in an actuator assembly of a data storage device. The actuator assembly has a moveable actuator body and an arm extending from the body. The body defines a longitudinal opening aligned with the arm and associated with the placement of the interconnect apparatus. The interconnect apparatus includes a proximal end fixed to the actuator body and electrically connected to the flexible connector; a distal end fixed to the arm and electrically connected to the transducer; a medial portion electrically connecting the ends, a segment of the medial portion disposed within the actuator body opening; and a retaining member interposed between the medial portion and the actuator body within the opening, fixing the medial portion to the actuator body without using a bonding material.

Abstract: Radial correction factors are calculated for each ruler on a patterned media in a data storage system. A ruler is a position-sensing pattern that defines the radial position of a recording head. Rulers are patterned onto each disk before the disks are assembled into a storage system. The radial correction factors are then added to the measured position information during read and/or write operations of the data storage system. The radial correction factors correct for any radial misalignment created by disturbances in the data storage system. Circumferential correction factors are calculated for each patterned media in the data storage system. A corrected sector number is then determined by redefining the original sector numbers using the circumferential correction factors.

Abstract: A method for self-servo writing begins by calibrating at least one ruler formed on at least one storage disk. A ruler is a position-sensing pattern that defines the radial position of a recording head. The calibration process determines at least one correction factor for the at least one ruler on the disk. A servo system is then activated and the correction factors are used when writing the final servo pattern. During the process of writing the final servo patterns, the correction factors are modified to account for variations in any repeatable disturbances and for errors caused by any non-repeatable disturbances.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. A controller for a disc drive uses a system for mapping logical block addresses to actual location on a disc drive stores the number of skipped or defective sectors which occur prior to a target cylinder in a cylinder skip table. The system estimates a starting cylinder location for the selected logical block address. After estimating the cylinder location, a number of skipped defective sectors that have occurred prior to a cylinder start is determined. The starting location of the cylinder is slipped by this amount. A target track and associated head is also determined. Information in the track identification field is used to adjust the actual location on the track and to determine if a track seek to another track is needed.