Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS). A near-field transducer (NFT) is disposed at or near the ABS. The slider has an optical waveguide configured to couple light from a laser source to the NFT. A thermal sensor is disposed at a leading edge of the NFT, the thermal sensor has an ABS section situated at or proximate the ABS and a distal section extending away from the ABS. The thermal sensor is configured to detect changes in output optical power of the laser source and contact between the slider and a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A data storage system can employ at least one transducing head that is suspended above a data storage medium to access data. The transducing head suspension can be configured with a resonance system where a gimbal flexure is mounted to a load beam via a physical connection. The gimbal flexure may support a transducing head and contact the load beam via the physical connection, a dimple, and a first contact feature concurrently while the physical connection, dimple, and first contact feature are each separate and different points of physical contact.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. The device has a first non-volatile memory (NVM) of solid state memory cells arranged into a first set of garbage collection units (GCUs), and a second NVM as a rotatable data recording medium arranged into a second set of GCUs each comprising a plurality of shingled magnetic recording tracks. A control circuit combines a first group of logical block units (LBUs) stored in the first set of GCUs with a second group of LBUs stored in the second set of GCUs to form a combined group of LBUs arranged in sequential order by logical address. The control circuit streams the combined group of LBUs to a zone of shingled magnetic recording tracks in a selected one of the second set of GCUs. A combined media translation map identifies physical addresses in both the first and second NVMs.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for reducing the effects of thermal asperities on a rotatable data recording surface. A data transducer writes user data to a first set of tracks at a first fly height above the recording surface. A compensation circuit detects a thermal asperity (TA) on the recording surface, and establishes a guard band as a second set of tracks that are co-radial with the TA. The second set of tracks are deallocated and removed from service. The compensation circuit further defines a reserve band as a third set of tracks immediately adjacent the guard band, and selects an increased, second fly height that allows the data transducer to write data to the reserve band without contacting the TA. The second set of tracks may have a greater track pitch than the first set of tracks to compensate for the greater fly height.

Abstract: Adaptive read reference voltage tracking techniques are provided that employ charge leakage mitigation. An exemplary device for use with multi-level memory cells, comprises a controller configured to: after a predefined time interval that approximates a settling time after a programming of the multi-level memory cells until a charge leakage of one or more of the multi-level memory cells has settled, determine a plurality of read reference voltages for the multi-level memory cells using a post-programming adaptive tracking algorithm; and employ the plurality of read reference voltages to read data from the multi-level memory cells. The reference voltage offsets are optionally determined based on a shift in the read reference voltages after the predefined time interval since the programming of the multi-level memory cells.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus including a three dimensional crystalline structure including a number of storage locations. The storage locations are arranged in three dimensions within the crystalline structure. A light source is configured to focus a first light with a first energy on one of the storage locations in order to alter a characteristic of the storage location. The light source is further able to focus a second light with a second light energy on the storage location without altering the characteristic. A detector is provided to detect the second light energy.

Abstract: Provided herein are apparatus and methods for inspecting articles for features using interference in light reflected from the articles. The interference may be used to detect, distinguish, and/or map features of articles, which features may include, but are not limited to, surface defects. In at least one embodiment, an apparatus and method includes conveying parallel light along a primary axis through a telecentric lens and a light-splitting device, respectively; illuminating a majority of a surface of an article with the parallel light; conveying reflected light from the surface of the article along the primary axis back through the light-splitting device and the telecentric lens, respectively; and recording interference resulting from a combination of light comprising at least the reflected light from the surface of the article.

Abstract: A recording head has a magnetic write transducer proximate a side of a plasmonic gap waveguide. The magnetic write transducer has a first write pole section that tapers in a crosstrack direction and downtrack direction to form a tapered tip. The first write pole section includes a high-moment, seed layer on one side. A second write pole section is coupled to the first write pole section. The second write pole section extends a second distance away from the media-facing surface less than that of the first write pole section. A tip of the second write pole section is tapered in the crosstrack and downtrack directions.

Abstract: Channel information and channel conditions determined by an Offline Tracking process are used to determine whether or not an adjustment to the read reference voltage can be avoided altogether without detrimentally affecting performance, or, alternatively, to determine a precision with which a read reference voltage adjustment should be made. If it is determined based on the channel conditions that a read reference voltage adjustment can be avoided altogether, read performance is improved by reducing the probability that a read reference voltage adjustment needs to be made during normal read operations. If it is determined based on the channel conditions that a read reference voltage adjustment needs to be made with a particular precision, the read reference voltage is so adjusted. This latter approach is advantageous in that relatively fewer adjustments will be made during normal read operations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A near-field transducer (NFT) is positioned at a media-facing surface of a write head. A layered waveguide is positioned between the input coupler and the NFT and configured to receive the light output from the input coupler in a transverse electric (TE) mode and deliver the light to the NFT in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. The layered waveguide comprises a first layer extending along a light-propagation direction. The first layer is configured to receive light from the input coupler. The first layer tapers from a first cross track width to a second cross track width where the second cross track width is narrower than the first cross track width. The layered waveguide includes a second layer that is disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the light propagation direction that increases along the light propagation direction.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a communication interface, a controller, and a power section. The communication interface is configured to receive power from an external host to the apparatus. The controller is configured to limit a current drawn by the communication interface to a predetermined value when the apparatus is powered through the external host. The power section is configured to generate a first voltage from a portion of the limited current drawn by the communication interface. The first voltage powers a data storage circuitry. The power section is further configured to store electrical charges received from another portion of the limited current drawn by the communication interface. The power section is further configured to generate a second voltage from the stored electrical charges in response to a signal from the controller. The second voltage supplements the first voltage during high power events by the data storage circuitry.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus that includes a first and second laser source. The first and second laser sources are each operable to cut a substrate and are each independently movable with respect to one another. Further, the first and second laser sources are included within a multitude of laser sources that are arranged in a circular array.

Abstract: Systems and methods of laser bias calibration are presented. A preamplifier circuit may include a laser voltage monitor circuit and a laser bias control circuit configured to automatically adjust an output laser bias threshold voltage based on a monitored laser voltage. The laser bias control circuit may include a first differentiator circuit, a second differentiator circuit, and a threshold detection circuit. The preamplifier circuit may be utilized in a heat assisted magnetic recording device.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to apparatuses and methods involving an electrical connector and methods thereof. As may be consistent with one or more embodiments, an interposer includes respective barrier layers having barrier material that is coplanar with, and laterally surrounds, traces having connected via pads. Vias connect pads of stacked pairs of the traces in different ones of the barrier layers. The traces vary in width along their respective lengths. The barrier material is offset from each trace by a continuous gap having a length extending around the trace, with the gaps extending around each stacked pair being offset from one another along the majority of their respective lengths.

Abstract: Security of data storage devices and servers can be improved by the system and methods described herein. In some embodiments, a key management device of a server can be a locally (or virtually) located data storage device such as a HDD or SDD. The key management device may be part of a server system and can have a secure area protected by a cryptographic module (e.g. hardware integrated circuit). The secure area can store a certificate needed to authenticate another data storage device coupled to the server. A second server may authenticate the certificate and provide the access key to the another data storage device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for minimizing reads for reallocated sectors of a data storage medium. An apparatus may be configured to selectively skip over reallocated sectors in an LBA range without interrupting a read, via generating a skip mask or by beginning the read after the reallocated sector and reading the entire track up to the reallocated sector. When a number of sectors not read from the LBA range during the read operation is less than an amount of sectors that can be recovered based on an error correction capability, the data of the reallocated sector may be reconstructed using error correction data rather than by performing a read at the reallocated sector.

Abstract: In various embodiments and/or usage scenarios, device power control, such as relating to one or more power control commands, requests to transition operation to a specific power mode, and/or device power management commands, is advantageous and improves one or more of: performance, reliability, unit cost, and development cost of one or more devices, such as storage devices (e.g. a Solid-State Disk (SSD)) or systems including same.

Abstract: The apparatus includes a drive base, a drive cover overlying the drive base, wherein the drive cover comprises an opening therein, and wherein the drive cover is coupled to the drive base to enclose a media within an interior of the apparatus. A snubber is overmolded onto the drive cover. A clamp assembly contacts the snubber during shock events.