Abstract: A data storage system can divide a semiconductor memory into a plurality of die sets prior to populating a die set queue with data access commands addressed by a remote host and having a first order. A command order strategy generated by a time-to-ready module organizes the data access commands to a second order that populate a channel queue and are executed as directed by the time-to-ready module in the second order.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first waveguide core extending along a light-propagation direction and configured to receive light from a light source at a combined transverse electric (TE) mode and a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. A second waveguide core is spaced apart from the first waveguide core and is configured to couple light at a TM mode to the second waveguide core. A near-field transducer (NFT) is disposed at a media-facing surface of a write head, the NFT receiving the light from the first waveguide core or the second waveguide core and heating a magnetic recording medium in response thereto.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a write pole tip that extends to a media-facing surface and a heat sink that is thermally coupled to a side of the write pole tip. A surface plasmonic plate is in contact with a side of the heat sink that faces away from the write pole and is recessed from, the media-facing surface. A nanorod extends from a surface of the surface plasmonic plate and towards the media-facing surface.

Abstract: A recording head includes a waveguide core and write pole extending to a media-facing surface of the recording head. A near-field transducer is located between the waveguide core and the write pole. First and second side shields are located on either crosstrack side of the near-field transducer. The first and second shields have edges facing and conformal with first and second tapered sides and a peg of the near-field transducer such that there are respective first and second constant-width gaps therebetween.

Abstract: A rack enclosure system includes a receiving frame and a carrier. The carrier is configured to capture a storage device and to be slidably received by the receiving frame in a mounting direction. The carrier includes a first rail and a second rail each extending between a front end and a back end. The carrier also includes a cap member. The cap member may be rotatably or non-rotatably connected to the first rail at the front end. The cap is releasably connected to the second rail adjacent to the front end. The carrier further includes a handle with a cam portion and a latch portion. The cam portion is rotatably connected to the cap member and optionally the first rail. The latch portion is releasably connected to the cap member or the second rail.

Abstract: A method includes monitoring an amount of power of a power supply being used by a voice-coil motor (VMC) during a seek operation, detecting that the amount of power has crossed a threshold during the seek operation, and modifying a subsequent seek operation in response to detecting that the amount of power has crossed the threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for hardware-based read sample averaging in a data storage device. In one example, a read channel circuit including a buffer memory is configured to receive a read instruction to read a selected sector, obtain detected sample values for the selected sector, and determine whether the read instruction corresponds to a re-read operation for the selected sector based on determining whether there are stored samples for the selected sector already stored to a locked buffer entry of the buffer memory. When there are stored sample values stored to the locked buffer entry, the example read channel circuit determines the re-read operation is occurring, and performs read sample averaging based on the detected sample values and the stored sample values to produce averaged sample values. Other examples and configurations are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording, the slider comprising an air bearing surface (ABS), a writer, a reader, and a plurality of electrical bond-pads. The apparatus also includes a first component situated at the ABS of the slider proximate the reader and operatively coupled to a first pair of the plurality of electrical bond-pads, the first component being a thermocouple configured to sense for a thermal aspect of a magnetic recording medium surface. According to aspects of the invention, the slider is configured to share at least one bond-pad by operatively coupling a second pair of the plurality of electrical bond-pads to a second component, and the slider is configured to selectively utilize the thermocouple and the second component.

Abstract: A method for scheduling data transfer commands between a first actuator or a second actuator across an interface is disclosed. The method includes balancing data transfer commands between the first actuator and the second actuator by applying a first rule for read commands and a second rule for write commands.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for command status polling at a flash queue of a non-volatile memory device. The flash queue may be configured to perform polling on the status of flash operations without direct oversight from the data storage controller or firmware. In certain embodiments, a flash queue circuit may be configured to receive, from a data storage controller of a nonvolatile solid state memory (NVSSM) data storage device, one or more commands to access a flash memory of the NVSSM data storage device, each command of the one or more commands including one or more instructions. The flash queue circuit may execute the one or more commands to access the flash memory, evaluate a status response from the flash memory at the flash queue circuit, and re-execute a sequence of instructions of the one or more commands based on the status response.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein include a storage system including a plurality of storage devices, wherein each of the plurality of storage devices includes compute resources, memory resources, and a storage device controller configured to perform application-specific data management operations using the compute resources and the memory resources of the storage device, and a storage system controller configured to distribute a workload across the plurality of storage devices based on a capability of each of the plurality of storage devices during an IDLE state. The capability of each of the plurality of storage devices may be specifications, current availability, and performance history of each of the plurality of storage devices. In some implementations, each of the plurality of storage devices communicate with each other via a peer-to-peer networking communications protocol (e.g., NVme, NVMof, PCIe, Ethernet, etc.).

Abstract: A Solid-State Disk (SSD) Manufacturing Self Test (MST) capability enables an SSD manufacturer to generate and load tests onto SSDs, run the tests, and gather results. The SSDs self execute the loaded tests when powered up. The self executing is while coupled to a host that loaded the tests or while coupled to a rack unable to load the tests but enabled to provide power to the SSDs. The rack is optionally cost-reduced to enable cost-efficient parallel testing of relatively larger numbers of SSDs for production. The host writes the tests to an ‘input’ SMART log of each SSD, and each SSD writes results to a respective included ‘output’ SMART log. The commands include write drive, erase drive, SATA PHY burn-in, delay, and stress mode. The SSD MST capability is optionally used in conjunction with an SSD virtual manufacturing model.

Abstract: A data storage device may be configured with a transducing head mounted to a slider. The slider may be suspended above a magnetic data storage medium and have a variable depth region, central rail wall, first wall, and trailing edge wall. The variable depth region continuously contacting a central rail wall from a first wall to a trailing edge wall.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a multi-device storage system, such as a RAID (redundant array of independent discs) system. Distributed data sets are stored across a plurality of storage devices. A selected storage device is replaced with a new storage device responsive to an anomalous event. A rebuild operation is performed to reconstruct data from the selected storage device to the new storage device. The rebuild process includes accessing a list of distributed data sets in a local memory. For each distributed data set in the list identified as constituting valid data, read commands are issued to the remaining storage devices and a write command is issued to the new storage device. For each distributed data set in the list identified as constituting unused data, a data clear command is issued to each of the remaining storage devices and to the new storage device.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording data and method for making the same. In accordance with some embodiments, a magnetic layer is supported by a substrate and comprises a magnetic magnetic material, a non-magnetic material, and an energy assisted segregation material. The segregation material enhances segregation of the non-magnetic material into grain boundaries within the layer at an elevated, moderate energy level.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure demonstrate a lapping carrier system for a bar to be lapped. The lapping carrier system may be configured with a single piece insert whose bridge is separated from a plurality of joints of the carrier insert by a varying distance. The varying distance can be greater at a medial portion of the bridge than at an end portion of the bridge to collectively form a parabolic shape. In some embodiments, a lapping insert can include a bridge with its length longer than the bar. In some embodiments in a lapping insert, the centerline between the end joint edge and the end finger edge extends beyond the edge of bar.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to using solid state deposition to selectively and strategically manage one or more properties of one or more portions of a data storage device. Material deposited via solid-state deposition can be used to prepare a surface for subsequent treatment (e.g., welding), to join two or more substrates together, and/or to seal one or more joints or surfaces to control, e.g., the humidity in the interior of a data storage device. The present disclosure also involves related data storage devices.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for constrained receiver parameter optimization. Two parameter optimization functions may be applied, with one function providing constraints on the results of the second function in order to determine a parameter set to apply in the receiver. A method may comprise determining a first parameter set based on a first function, determining a second parameter set based on a second function different from the first function, and determining a third parameter set by using the first parameter set to define a subset of a parameter space to which to limit values from the second parameter set. In certain embodiments, a least squares function may be used to constrain the results of a general cost function.

Abstract: A method includes accessing at least three storage devices each including a first and a second logical unit stored therein. The method also includes grouping the respective first and second logical units of each of the at least three storage devices into a first striped scheme. The method also includes grouping the respective first logical unit of each of the at least three storage devices into a second striped scheme with parity.

Abstract: A recording surface of a magnetic disk is divided into first and second zones. A first head of a first actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the first zone exclusively. A second head of a second actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the second zone exclusively. The first and second head are capable of simultaneously reading from and writing to the recording surface.