Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of using a sacrificial, protective head overcoat during the manufacture of sliders. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed before applying the sacrificial, protective head overcoat. In some embodiments, the final trailing edge topography of the transducer devices is formed after removing the sacrificial, protective head overcoat.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to kiss lapping sliders after patterning an air bearing surface pattern, followed by applying a protective overcoat to the air bearing surface. The present disclosure also involves related sliders.

Abstract: A method includes producing a first surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a magnetic head slider using a first interdigitated transducer (IDT), wherein the SAW has a first set of wave characteristics. The method also includes receiving the first SAW at a second IDT on the magnetic head slider. The method also includes analyzing the SAW for a second set of wave characteristics. The method also includes determining, based on the analyzing, that a substance having at least one characteristic is located in a path of the SAW on the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a non-volatile memory (NVM) of a storage device, such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, flash memory cells are arranged along word lines to which read voltages are applied to sense programmed states of the memory cells, with the flash memory cells along each word line being configured to concurrently store multiple pages of data. An encoder circuit is configured to apply error correction encoding to input data to form code words having user data bits and code bits, where an integral number of the code words are written to each page. A reference voltage calibration circuit is configured to randomly select a single selected code word from each page and to use the code bits from the single selected code word to generate a set of calibrated read voltages for the associated page.

Abstract: Read error mitigation in solid-state memory devices. A solid-state drive (SSD) includes a read error mitigation module that monitors one or more memory regions. In response to detecting uncorrectable read errors, memory regions of the memory device may be identified and preemptively retired. Example approaches include identifying a memory region as being suspect such that upon repeated read failures within the memory region, the memory region is retired. Moreover, memory regions may be compared to peer memory regions to determine when to retire a memory region. The read error mitigation module may trigger a test procedure on a memory region to detect the susceptibility of a memory region to read error failures. By detecting read error failures and retirement of a memory regions, data loss and/or data recovery processes may be limited to improve drive performance and reliability.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a method that improves CCT in SMR device systems. In one implementation, the method comprises writing data to a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) band in a storage device, determining whether an off-track write has occurred, identifying unsafe written data in response to determining that an off-track write has occurred, determining whether caching space is available upon identifying unsafe written data, continue writing data to the SMR band without a write retry upon determining that caching space is available, and writing unsafe written data to the available caching space. In another implementation, the method comprises receiving a request to repair an encroached track in an SMR band, recovering encroached data to a dynamic random-access memory, determining whether caching space is available, writing the recovered data to the available caching space upon determining that caching space is available, and merging other cached data in the SMR band.

Abstract: Clamping devices and associated methods that are useful to develop both axial and circumferential clamping forces in response to a common axial clamping force. The clamp is able to use a simple mechanism to generate both kinds of clamping forces from a single, axial actuating force. The clamping devices of the present invention are particularly useful for clamping cover and base deck components of a hard disk drive enclosure together to allow the components to be joined and sealed together using welding techniques.

Abstract: A base deck for a data storage device includes a body. The body includes a bottom wall and sidewalls that create an internal cavity. The bottom wall includes a textured external surface opposite the internal cavity. The base deck can be coupled to a cover to seal the internal cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a data storage medium having a plurality of tracks. The apparatus also includes a write history buffer configured to store a history of prior write commands to the plurality of tracks. The apparatus further includes a controller communicatively coupled to the write history buffer. The controller is configured to receive a new write command directed to a first portion of a first track of the plurality of tracks on the data storage medium. The controller is further configured to determine whether to update ATI contribution measures from the first track based on the history of write commands to the first track.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes a magnetic writer and a magnetic recording medium, which includes data tracks with user data sections positioned between servo wedges. The servo wedges each can include multiple servo sectors. The hard disk drive also includes circuitry programmed to cause the magnetic writer to write user data to the multiple servo sectors in multiple servo wedges.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A waveguide having a gap portion is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer (NFT) that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium. An optical isolator is disposed over the gap portion.

Abstract: A system for DNA gene assembly that utilizes a DNA symbol library and a DNA linker library. The symbol library has a number of DNA symbols each having a first overhanging end and a second overhanging end different than and non-complimentary to the first end, the first and second ends being the same nucleotides for each DNA symbol. The linker library has pairs of DNA linkers, a first linker of a pair having a first overhanging end and a second overhanging end and a second linker of the pair having a first overhanging end and a second overhanging end, the first end of the first linker being the same nucleotides for each first linker and the second end of the second linker being the same nucleotides for each second linker, wherein the second end of the first linker and the first end of the second linker have complementary nucleotides. The first linker joins to the first end of a DNA symbol and the second linker joins to the second end of another DNA symbol.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a base deck coupled to a top cover. The data storage device includes a printed circuit board coupled to and spaced from the base deck. The data storage device also includes a thermal interface material positioned between the printed circuit board and the base deck and comprising a porous material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods to join at least first and second metallic components in which a pre-treatment is applied to one or more region(s) of at least one of the components to be welded together before welding takes place. The pre-treatment involves contacting at least a region of the first metallic component with a rotating and translating tool such that the rotating and translating contact locally heats, softens, and mixes successive portions of at least the region of the first metallic component. The first and second metallic components are placed together such that a joint is provided between at least the pre-treated region of the first metallic component and the second metallic component. At least the pre-treated region of the first metallic component is welded to the second metallic component along at least a portion of the joint.

Abstract: A method of writing to a data storage drive having a first media partition having a first write speed and a second media partition having a second write speed slower than the first write speed includes mapping a plurality of logical block addresses (LBAs) to a plurality of physical block addresses (PBAs) of the first media partition, and writing to the plurality of LBAs mapped to the PBAs of the first media partition. It is determined whether the first media partition is at or above a predetermined storage level, and, when the first media partition is at or above the predetermined storage level, data is moved moving data from the first media partition to a plurality of PBAs in the second media partition, and mapping of LBAs and PBAs in the data storage device is updated.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes an enclosure housing a first set of magnetic recording media coupled to a first spindle motor, a second set of magnetic recording media coupled to a second spindle motor, and a third set of magnetic recording media coupled to a third spindle motor. The first set of magnetic recording media at least partially overlaps with the second set of magnetic recording media and the third set of magnetic recording media.

Abstract: A recording head includes a dielectric waveguide that extends towards a media-facing surface of the recording head. A hybrid waveguide is near the media-facing surface and includes the dielectric waveguide and a heat spreader plate having a crosstrack dimension that is at least twice that of a core of the dielectric waveguide. The hybrid waveguide is operable to combine a total internal reflection of the dielectric waveguide with a surface plasmon confinement of the heat spreading plate to excite TM-even mode in the hybrid waveguide. A surface-plasmonic plate is in contact with the heat spreader plate, the second surface-plasmonic plate has a peg extending from an enlarged portion. Light energy from the TM-even mode propagating from the hybrid waveguide to the surface-plasmonic plate causes the surface plasmonic plate to focus the light energy to heat a recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a write pole that stores data on tracks on a data storage medium. The apparatus also includes side shields on first and second sides of the write pole, and a trailing shield above the write pole and above the side shields. The apparatus further includes a microwave assisted magnetic recording oscillator having conductive pads that form capacitors with portions of a conductive film of the data storage medium. The conductive pads are positioned on a medium-facing surface of a slider that includes the write pole, the side shields and the trailing shield.

Abstract: A system includes a memory and a processor coupled to the memory, where the processor is configured to perform various operations. The operations include receiving, in response to a first read input/output operation, a first location of a first data block. The operations also include executing the first read input/output operation at the first data block at the first location. The operations also include selecting a second location within a first search range for destaging a second data block based at least in part on the first location. The operations also include destaging the second data block at the second location upon a determination that a second read input/output operation is not currently executing or queued for execution.

Abstract: A recording head for writing data on tracks of a data storage medium is provided. The recording head includes a writer having a write pole and a trailing shield. The write pole includes a pole tip configured to write on the tracks of the data storage medium. The recording head also includes first and second writing-assistance wires positioned between the pole tip and the trailing shield in a down-track direction to enable a writing-assistance current to be provided to produce an assist magnetic field that augments a write field produced by the write pole.