Abstract: Weak erase detection and mitigation techniques are provided that detect permanent failures in solid-state storage devices. One exemplary method comprises obtaining an erase fail bits metric for a solid-state storage device; and detecting a permanent failure in at least a portion of the solid-state storage device causing weak erase failure mode by comparing the erase fail bit metric to a predefined fail bits threshold. In at least one embodiment, the method also comprises mitigating for the permanent failure causing the weak erase failure mode for one or more cells of the solid-state storage device. The mitigating for the permanent failure comprises, for example, changing a status of the one or more cells to a defective state and/or a retired state. The detection of the permanent failure causing the weak erase failure mode comprises, for example, detecting the weak erase failure mode without an erase failure.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for monitoring block, page, and/or stripe degradation. In one embodiment, a controller is operable to scan a first block of memory to identify a failure in a portion of the first block. The controller suspends input/output (I/O) operations to the failed portion of the first block, and tests the failed portion of the first block to determine if the failure is a transient failure. Testing includes loading the portion of the first block with data, and reading the data from the loaded portion of the first block. If the failure subsides after testing, the controller is further operable to determine that the failure is a transient failure, and to resume I/O operations to the portion of the first block.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system provides for optimizing an error rate of data through a communication channel. The system includes a data generator operable to generate a training sequence as a Markov code, and to propagate the training sequence through the communication channel. The system also includes a Soft Output Viterbi Algorithm (SOVA) detector operable to estimate data values of the training sequence after propagation through the communication channel. The system also includes an optimizer operable to compare the estimated data values to the generated training sequence, to determine an error rate based on the comparison, and to change the training sequence based on the Markov code to lower the error rate of the data through the communication channel.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide for a controller that is operable to soft read a data bit a plurality of times, to generate a bit set for the data bit from the soft reads, to logically operate on the bit set, and to generate a Hamming weight for the data bit based on the logical operation. The Hamming weight has fewer bits than the bit set and is operable to correct the data bit.

Abstract: A data storage device can employ one or more transducing heads that have a data reader and data writer each connected to a substrate of the transducing head. The substrate can be electrified with a predetermined surface charge by a charge circuit of the transducing head to maintain, or alter, a head-media spacing.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide an apparatus that is operable with a storage system. The storage system includes a controller operable to assign a pointer to a first track of a magnetic disk when data is written to the first track. The pointer points to the end of the data in the first track. The controller is also operable to detect a successive write to an earlier written portion of the first track, to update a location of the pointer based on the successive write to the earlier written portion of the first track, to increment a write count of the first track based on the successive write to the earlier written portion of the first track, and to rewrite a track adjacent to the first track when the write count breaches a threshold number.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for intelligently managing backup capacitors in a storage device. The power consumption of the device is monitored in order to determine a current backup energy requirement comprising an amount of energy needed to power the device for data-backup and power-down operations in the event of an interruption of main power to the device. Based on the current backup energy requirement, one or more of a plurality of backup capacitors of the device are turned on or off, wherein the plurality of backup capacitors are configured such that those of the plurality of backup capacitors remaining in the on state provide backup energy to the device during the interruption of main power.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method, including a) transferring an initial pattern of an initial template to a substrate; b) performing block copolymer self-assembly over the substrate with a density multiplication factor k; c) creating a subsequent pattern in a subsequent template with the density multiplication factor k; and d) repeating steps a)-c) with the subsequent template as the initial template until a design specification for the subsequent pattern with respect to pattern density and pattern resolution is met.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus including a rectangular array of rectangular protrusions in a first region corresponding to a data region; and a hexagonal array of circular protrusions in a second region corresponding to a servo region, wherein a first global protrusion density for the first region is greater than a second global protrusion density for the second region. Also provided herein is a method including forming a first template; forming a second template; and cross-imprinting the first template and the second template to form a third template corresponding to the foregoing apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for a robust and shock resistant fluid dynamic bearing. A fluid sealing system with fluid pumping and capillary features provides increased reliability and performance for small form factor disc drive memory systems. Concerns of motor jog are addressed, jog being the rapid and repeated opening and closing of spaces between relatively rotatable components that can dispel oil from, or draw air into, these spaces. The fluid pumping capillary sealing system includes a fluid pumping groove with a rib portion and a slot portion for pumping fluid. The fluid pumping capillary sealing system also includes a capillary seal. In an aspect, a sweeping rib sweeps fluid toward the bearing. A truncated rib is situated adjacent to the sweeping rib, the truncated rib extending a shorter radial distance as compared to the sweeping rib and forming a plenum region.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a device interface, a micro-sequencer, and a programmable sequence memory. The device interface may be configured to process a plurality of read/write operations to/from one or more non-volatile memory devices. The micro-sequencer may be configured to communicate with the device interface. The programmable sequence memory is generally readable by the micro-sequencer. In response to the apparatus receiving a command, (a) the micro-sequencer executes a set of instructions starting at a location in the programmable sequence memory according to the command and (b) the micro-sequencer is enabled to perform at least a portion of the command according to a protocol of the one or more non-volatile memory devices, when the one or more non-volatile memory devices are coupled to the device interface.

Abstract: An enlarged substrate for a magnetic recording medium used in a data storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD). In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 3½ inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 96.9 mm to 100.4 mm. In other embodiments, an apparatus comprises a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 2½ inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 66.9 mm to 71.8 mm. In other embodiments, a data storage device has a magnetic recording medium that uses an enlarged substrate as set forth above.

Abstract: Memory units that have a magnetic tunnel junction cell that utilizes spin torque and a current induced magnetic field to assist in the switching of the magnetization orientation of the free layer of the magnetic tunnel junction cell. The memory unit includes a spin torque current source for passing a current through the magnetic tunnel junction cell, the spin torque current source having a direction perpendicular to the magnetization orientations, and also includes a magnetic ampere field current source is oriented in a direction orthogonal or at some angles to the magnetization orientations.

Abstract: Multiple logical pages are jointly encoded into a single code word and are stored in the same physical page of a solid state non-volatile memory (NVM) device having multi-level memory cells. A first logical page of the multiple logical pages is stored in the memory device as first bits of the multi-level memory cells while a second logical page of the multiple logical pages is temporarily cached. After the first logical page is stored as the first bits of the memory cell, the second logical page is stored as second bits of the memory cells.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to performing maintenance operations in a data system using configurable parameters. In one embodiment, a method in a data system is provided. The method includes receiving an indication of a data latency threshold and performing at least one maintenance operation in the data system based on the data latency threshold.

Abstract: An aspect of the present disclosure relates to implementing a temporary reassignment of data based on a vibration condition. An exemplary method includes implementing a data operation for a portion of data and detecting a data error during the data operation. The method further includes obtaining an indication of a vibration condition associated with a device with which the data operation is performed and implementing a temporary reassignment of the portion of data based on the vibration condition.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium comprises: (a) a non-magnetic substrate having a surface; and (b) a stack of thin film layers on the substrate surface, including a layer of a magnetic alloy material with a stabilized hexagonal close-packed (“hcp”) crystal structure, comprising: (i) a major amount of a ferromagnetic element with a first hcp crystal structure having a first c/a ratio, where “c” is a lattice parameter of the unique symmetry axis of the hcp structure along which a preferred direction of magnetization lies and “a” is a lattice parameter along a direction perpendicular to the c axis; (ii) a minor amount of a non-magnetic element with a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure; and (iii) a minor amount of at least one hcp-stabilizing element.

Abstract: For motors having a journal with one or more groove regions and a shaft for relative rotation in the journal, aspects include providing a dual tapered shaft. The shaft may be tapered by the application of a wear resistant coating at least opposite the groove regions. The coating introduces a shaft taper from near a top end and from near a bottom end towards the shaft middle. The shaft taper may provide for improved pumping efficiency. The coating may be applied in various processes such as chemical vapor deposition or physical vapor deposition to establish a thickness gradient of coating material from near the top end and near the bottom end towards the shaft middle. In one example, the coating includes a DLC coating. Additionally, shaft portions may be shielded to prevent coatings thereon.

Abstract: A procedure for reading data stored on a data storage disc in a disc drive is disclosed. The procedure involves reading data from one or more sectors on the data storage disc after an error occurred while initially reading the sector(s) pursuant to a read command issued by a host computer. During the initial read, the procedure logs information pertaining to the sector(s) on the disc where an error occurred. The logged information is then used during the procedure to retrieve data from the sector(s) in a single revolution of the disc. The procedure uses a skip mask, a vector buffer management list and a data throttling mechanism to administer a transfer of data from a disc to a host computer via a data buffer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating a divided clock signal. A ring counter is provided with a sequence of output states. During steady-state operation, a different one of the output states is set at a first logical level and each of the remaining output states is set at a second logical level at each successive clock transition in a master clock signal. A gate network uses the respective logical levels of the output states to generate the divided clock signal. An error detection circuit outputs an error detection signal when a number of the output states at the first logical level is other than one, and proceeds to synchronously reset the ring counter when the error condition is detected. A programmable processor further asynchronously resets the ring counter in response to the error detection signal, as desired.