Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes an active component and a piezoelectric actuator. The active component is disposed proximal to a media-facing surface of the magnetic recording head. The piezoelectric actuator includes a piezoelectric layer, a first electrode coupled to the piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode coupled to the piezoelectric layer. The piezoelectric actuator is configured to exert a mechanical force to displace the active component such that the displacement changes a protrusion of the active component from the media-facing surface.

Abstract: The technology disclosed herein provides a system including multiple selectable storage devices in an enclosure communicatively coupled to shared control electronics the shared control electronics including a first controller for selecting a storage device of the multiple selectable storage devices for execution of a device access command, the multiple scalable storage devices including a plurality of NVM storage devices and at least one hard disc drive (HDD) and a first signal path for transmitting a drive selection instruction from a host external to the enclosure to a first controller the first signal path being a PCIe electronic interface configured to communicate with a host, wherein the plurality of NVM storage devices shares a capacitor bank for power loss protection.

Abstract: A storage command is received that is directed to a distributed storage system. Based on the storage command, a metadata update is targeted to a logical block address of metadata storage of the distributed storage system. The metadata update includes a chunk of metadata that is smaller than a block addressed by the logical block address. An atomic write command is sent to a block device interface. The command includes the chunk of metadata, the logical block address, and an offset within the block defining where the chunk of metadata is to be stored. Via the block device interface, the atomic write command is stored in a non-volatile buffer that has faster performance than the metadata storage. The chunk of metadata of the atomic write command is written from the non-volatile buffer to the block in the metadata storage via a background process using an atomic read-modify-write command.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a write pole extending to an air-bearing surface. A near-field transducer is positioned proximate a first side of the write pole in a down-track direction. A heatsink structure is proximate the near-field transducer and positioned between the near-field transducer and the write pole. The heatsink structure extends beyond the near-field transducer in a cross-track direction and extends in a direction normal to the air-bearing surface.

Abstract: Described are heat assisted magnetic read-write heads that include a coupler, a waveguide, a transducer, and appurtenant structures.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). An apparatus includes a main non-volatile memory (NVM) such as a NAND flash memory. A host command queue lists pending data transfer commands to transfer data between the NVM and a host. For each write command received by the NVM to store write data to an associated target location, a controller examines the host command queue. Based on this review, the controller may direct the NVM to read data adjacent the associated target location to which data are to be written by the write command and to transfer the read data to a read cache. The read data may use some or all of the same resources used to store the write data to the NVM. The read data may be subsequently transferred from the read cache to the host.

Abstract: A data storage system may have a plurality of memory cells located in different data storage devices that are arranged into a plurality of logical namespaces with each logical namespace configured to be sequentially written and entirely erased as a single unit. An asymmetry strategy may be proactively created with the asymmetry module in response to data access activity to the logical namespaces by the asymmetry module. A new mode, as prescribed by the asymmetry strategy, is entered for at least one logical namespace in response to an operational trigger being met. The new mode changes a timing of at least one queued data access request to at least one logical namespace.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for executing hidden computational functions in a distributed data processing environment. In some embodiments, a trust boundary includes a target device such as a storage device, and a source device such as a client device in a computer network. A storage device processor executes a hidden command function (HCF) routine to accumulate HCF output data in a local cache responsive to an HCF command received from the client device over a data interface. The processor further establishes a smaller retention boundary within the trust boundary that includes the storage device and excludes the client device. The HCF output data are stored locally in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of the storage device while not transferring any portion of the HCF output data outside the retention boundary, including to the client device. The HCF routine can update a block-chain ledger or take some other form to provide data security.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device is configured to write regions of neutral polarity on a magnetic media during a same pass of the recording head in which other regions are written of positive polarity and negative polarity. The various disclosed write techniques may facilitate creation of “zero state” (substantially net zero polarity) transition zones between each pair of data bits of opposite polarity and/or may facilitate the encoding of three different logical states (e.g., 1, 0, and ?1) on the media.

Abstract: An implementation of a device disclosed herein includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA) circuit and a non-volatile memory (NVM) configured external to the FPGA circuit and configured to communicate with an in-system programming (ISP) manager configured on the FPGA circuit, wherein the NVM is further configured to store one or more system parameters and one or more firmware images, wherein the ISP manager being configured to detect an ISP mode in response to receiving a signal from an ISP switch and executing an ISP state machine to update one or more FPGA CPU control registers with one or more of the system parameters and the one or more of the firmware images stored on the NVM.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film structure involves performing one or more repetitions to form a template on a wafer. The repetitions include: depositing a layer of a template material to a first thickness T1; and ion beam milling the layer of the template material to remove thickness T2, where T2<T1, resulting in a layer of the template material with thickness T1?T2. The ion beam milling is performed at a channeling angle relative to a deposition plane of the wafer, the channeling angle defined relative to a channeling direction of a crystalline microstructure of the template material. After the repetitions, additional material is deposited on the template to form a final structure. The additional material has a same crystalline microstructure as the template material.

Abstract: A data storage system employing distributed memories can have at least one host connected to a plurality of data storage devices via a network controller. One or more performance bottlenecks through the network controller may be identified with a performance module. A peer group consisting of at least two of the plurality of data storage devices is created with the performance module in response to the identified performance bottleneck so that a task can be assigned by the performance module to the peer group. The task may be chosen to mitigate the performance bottleneck by avoiding involvement of the network controller in the task.

Abstract: A first layer that includes a metal seed layer, a refractive seed or a refractive dopant is formed on a dielectric substrate. A peg of a near-field transducer is formed on the first layer such that a first surface of the peg is formed on and is in contact with the metal seed. An adhesive layer is formed over the peg using atomic layer deposition. The adhesive layer includes alumina and is 4 nm or less in thickness. A silicon dioxide overcoat is deposited over the adhesive layer. The alumina bonds the silicon dioxide to the peg.

Abstract: A data storage system may have a data storage device with a memory arranged into a plurality of logical namespaces. A power module can be connected to the plurality of logical namespaces and configured to transition at least one memory cell in response to a workload computed for a namespace of the plurality of the logical namespaces to maintain a power consumption of 8 watts or less for the data storage device.

Abstract: A query is received in a distributed storage system that asks for frequently accessed items of a select storage tier in a service store. The query is executed on at least one data summary structure maintained by a client node that corresponds with the select storage tier in the service store. Each data summary structure maintained by the client node summarizes a data stream of item access of the select storage tier during a period of time and different data summary structures from different periods of time are periodically merged so that the query is conducted on a merged data summary structure maintained by the client node. A result is returned from the executed query that is indicative of frequently accessed items of the select storage tier in the service store.

Abstract: A method includes forming, by a laser beam supplied by a laser cutting system, a laser-cut line in each of a plurality of glass samples. Each different laser-cut line in each different glass sample of the plurality of glass samples is formed when the laser cutting system is at a different process setting. The method also includes subjecting each of the plurality of glass samples with the laser-cut lines to a break test, and obtaining a plurality of break strength values. Each different break strength value of the plurality of break strength values is indicative of a laser-cut line quality of the respective glass sample of the plurality of glass samples.

Abstract: A metadata query is received in as storage system from a client node that asks one or more questions regarding a set of metadata in a metadata store. The metadata query is executed on at least one metadata summary structure. Each metadata summary structure summarizes a metadata stream of metadata access during a period of time, and different metadata summary structures from different periods of time are periodically merged together so that the metadata query is conducted on a merged metadata summary structure. An answer is returned from the query executed on the merged metadata summary structure.

Abstract: A clamp for removably holding a slider includes a stationary frame that includes a stationary rear frame member at a rear portion of the frame, extending in a width direction, at least one spring extending in a horizontal plane, and an open space extending in a length direction and the width direction. The open space is defined in the length direction in part by a front contact surface at a forward portion of the clamp adapted to engage one end of the slider, and a rear contact surface at a rear portion of the clamp, and adapted to engage an opposite end of the slider. The spring connects the stationary frame with the front contact surface such that with deflection of the spring the front contact surface is moveable relative to the frame in a direction of a lengthwise axis of the clamp.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method receives at least two unique versions of program code of a program, generates a code-based key for each unique version of the program code, generates a code-based signature for each unique version of the program using a bi-homomorphic pseudorandom function selected from a family of bi-homomorphic pseudorandom functions. Each code-based signature is generated by the selected bi-homomorphic pseudorandom function based on the corresponding code-based key. Each generated code-based signature for each unique version of the program code is incorporated into the program code of the corresponding unique version of the program.