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: 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: In one implementation, the disclosure provides a system including a detector configured to generate an output of a first log-likelihood ratio for each bit in an input data stream. The system also includes at least one look-up table providing a mapping of the first log-likelihood ratio to a second log-likelihood ratio. The mapping between the first log-likelihood ratio and the second log-likelihood ratio is non-linear. The system also includes a decoder configured to generate an output data stream using the second log-likelihood ratio to generate a value for each bit in the input data stream.

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: Systems and methods for wireless enabled security in relation to a storage drive are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include receiving, at a storage drive, a request from a host of the storage drive. In some cases, the request may be received via a wired connection between the storage drive and the host. In some embodiments, the systems and methods may include determining whether the request is flagged by the host as a secure connection request, processing the request upon determining the request is not flagged as a secure connection request, and establishing a wireless connection with the host upon determining the request is flagged by the host as a secure connection request.

Abstract: A data storage drive that includes a data storage medium and drive control circuit communicatively coupled to the data storage medium. The data storage drive also includes embedded applet management circuitry that executes an application, installed in the data storage drive as one or more key-value objects, within a controlled environment of the data storage drive.

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: 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: Systems and methods for configuration of computer peripherals are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include detecting the storage device being connected to a host machine; determining whether the host machine supports human interface device (HID) service; and upon determining the host machine supports the HID service, bypassing installation of a driver and using a HID protocol to establish an interface between the storage device and the host machine.

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 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: 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: 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: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for provisioning storage devices. An example method includes specifying a logical zone granularity for logical space associated with a disk drive. The method further includes provisioning a zone of a physical space of the disk drive based at least in part on the specified logical zone granularity. The method also includes storing compressed data in the zone in accordance with the provisioning.

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: Methods, apparatuses, systems, and devices are described for improving data durability in a data storage system. In one example method of improving data durability, a hardware failure risk indicator may be determined for each of a plurality of data storage elements in the data storage system. The method may also include storing one or more replicas of a first data object on one or more of the plurality of data storage elements, with a quantity of the one or more replicas and a distribution of the one or more replicas among the plurality of data storage elements being a function of the hardware failure risk indicators for each of the plurality of data storage elements. In some examples, the hardware failure risk indicators may be dynamically updated based on monitored conditions, which may result in dynamic adjustments to the quantity and distribution of the data object replicas.