Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus including an imaging lens assembly configured to collect reflected light from a surface of an article; an image sensor configured to receive reflected light from the imaging lens assembly, wherein the imaging lens assembly and the image sensor are each arranged at different angles for focusing on substantially an entire surface of an article; and a processing means configured to process signals from the image sensor corresponding to polarized reflected light and subsequently generate one or more features maps.

Abstract: A method of adjusting asynchronous cache operations on a cache device includes accessing the cache device each cache window having a plurality of cache blocks, and each cache block having corresponding metadata indicating a status of the cache block. The method also includes receiving, at a first cache block, a first input/output operation and updating a first metadata of the first cache block, the first metadata being marked as dirty. The method also includes receiving, at a second cache block, a second input/output operation and updating a second metadata of the second cache block, the second metadata being marked as dirty. The method also includes grouping, in a page, the first and second input/output operations and updating, in a single operation according to the page, the first and second cache blocks according to the first and second input/output operations. The first and second metadata are then marked as non-dirty.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a circuit including a filter configured to update one or more adaptive coefficients of the filter based on an error signal. Further, the circuit may update a constrained coefficient of the filter based on the one or more adaptive coefficients, the constrained coefficient and a desired value. Moreover, the circuit may generate a sample of a sample sequence based on the one or more adaptive coefficients and the updated constrained coefficient, the error signal being based on the sample sequence.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. In some embodiments, the storage device has a hard disc drive (HDD) controller circuit coupled to non-volatile rotatable storage media and a solid state drive (SSD) controller circuit coupled to non-volatile solid state memory. A local volatile memory has separate HDD and SSD partitions respectively accessible by the HDD and SSD controller circuits. A top level controller circuit performs a cleaning operation to transfer a data set from the non-volatile solid state memory to the rotatable storage media by issuing a read command to the HDD controller circuit to retrieve the data set to the HDD partition, transferring the data set from the HDD partition to the SSD partition, and issuing a write command to the SSD controller circuit to write the data set from the SSD partition to the non-volatile solid state memory.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a data storage system including a data memory device and controller having interface error detection and handling logic. In one example, a solid-state data memory device is provided and includes a semiconductor package. A memory array is provided in the semiconductor package and an interface is provided that is communicatively couplable to a device bus for receiving data to be stored to the memory array. An error detection component is provided in the semiconductor package and is associated with the interface of the solid-state data memory device. The error detection component is configured to detect errors occurring on data received at the interface prior to the data being stored to the memory array.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose an apparatus including at least two carbon source deposition tools for emitting electrons, at least two reflective polarity rear button permanent magnets integrated into the carbon source deposition tools for reflecting emitted electrons, and at least two paired polarity Helmholtz coils integrated into the carbon source deposition tools for forming uniform parallel magnetic field lines for confining the emitted electrons to uniformly deposit carbon onto the surfaces of a two-sided media disk.

Abstract: Systems and methods of laser bias calibration are presented. A preamplifier circuit may configure a laser current supplied to a laser emitter to be a first laser current of the plurality of laser currents during the writing of one or more first sectors. The preamplifier may further detect one or more gaps in a write power signal while the laser current of the laser emitter is configured to be the first laser current. In response to the detection of the one or more gaps in the write power signal, the preamplifier may configure the laser current supplied to the laser emitter to be a second laser current of the plurality of laser currents during the writing of one or more second sectors. The preamplifier circuit may be utilized in a heat assisted magnetic recording device.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method, including creating a first layer over a substrate, wherein the first layer is configured for directed self-assembly of a block copolymer thereover; creating a continuous second layer over the first layer by directed self-assembly of a block copolymer, wherein the second layer is also configured for directed self-assembly of a block copolymer thereover; and creating a third layer over the continuous second layer by directed self-assembly of a block copolymer. Also provided is an apparatus, comprising a continuous first layer comprising a thin film of a first, phase-separated block copolymer, wherein the first layer comprises a first chemoepitaxial template configured for directed self-assembly of a block copolymer thereon; and a second layer on the first layer, wherein the second layer comprises a thin film of a second, phase-separated block copolymer.

Abstract: A hybrid storage device with three-level memory mapping is provided. An illustrative device comprises a primary storage device comprising a plurality of primary sub-blocks; a cache memory device comprising a plurality of cache sub-blocks implemented as a cache for the primary storage device; and a controller configured to map at least one portion of one or more primary sub-blocks of the primary storage device stored in the cache to a physical location in the cache memory device using at least one table identifying portions of the primary storage device that are cached in one or more of the cache sub-blocks of the cache memory device, wherein a size of the at least one table is independent of a capacity of the primary storage device.

Abstract: A data storage device may consist of a non-volatile memory connected to a selection module. The non-volatile memory can have a rewritable in-place memory cell that has a read-write asymmetry. The selection module can dedicate a portion of the non-volatile memory to a data map that can be self-contained along with reactively and proactively altered by the selection module.

Abstract: Computing nodes are coupled via a network to communicate as a tree structure that performs a distributed computation. The nodes include a root node, intermediate nodes, and leaf nodes. At least some of the nodes obtain redundant results that are communicated together with a final result to the root node. The root node compares the redundant results to the final result to verify the final result.

Abstract: A magnetic stack is disclosed. The magnetic stack includes a magnetically responsive lamination that includes a ferromagnetic free layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure, and a spacer layer positioned between the ferromagnetic free layer and the SAF structure. The magnetically responsive lamination is separated from a sensed data bit stored in an adjacent medium by an air bearing surface (ABS). The stack also includes a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure coupled to the SAF structure a predetermined offset distance from the ABS, and a second AFM structure that is separated from the first AFM structure by a first shield layer.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to systems, devices, processes, and methods to optimize a laser power boost amplitude, a laser power boost duration, or both in a heat-assisted data recording device, such as in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). The amplitude and duration for the laser power boost may be determined for a specific portion of a write operation, such as a first sector of the write operation. During operation of a data storage device, the laser power boost may provide additional power to the laser for the specific portion. Once the laser power boost duration has elapsed, the data storage device may continue providing power to the laser at the normal power input range of the laser. The laser power boost settings may be determined on a per head per zone basis, per track basis, or another configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of a method of making a lubricant composition for lapping a ceramic material. The method includes mixing a base lubricant component and a powdered wax composition component to form the lubricant composition. The powdered wax composition component includes a powdered wax dispersion or a powdered wax emulsion. The amount of powdered wax composition component mixed with the base lubricant component is from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of the lubricant composition. Also disclosed herein are embodiments of related lubricant compositions and/or methods of using the lubricant to lap a ceramic substrate (e.g., one or more bars of sliders).

Abstract: A tray system for containing multiple electronic components that includes a first tray having a planar member and a plurality of pockets recessed into an upper surface of the planar member, wherein each of the pockets includes: a bottom surface; an aperture extending through the bottom surface; a supply channel extending from a lower surface of the planar member to the aperture; a plurality of wall segments extending from the bottom surface of the pocket to the upper surface of the planar member and defining a perimeter of the pocket; and a plurality of pedestals extending from the bottom surface of the pocket toward the upper surface of the first tray.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a laser diode configured to generate light during a write operation. A slider comprises a near-field transducer (NFT) and an optical waveguide. The slider is configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and to communicate the light to the NFT via the waveguide. A writer heater of the slider is configured to receive power during the write operation. A thermal sensor is situated at or near an air bearing surface of the slider. The thermal sensor is configured to produce a sensor signal in response to sensing back-heating from the medium while the NFT generates heat during a write operation. Circuitry, coupled to the thermal sensor, is configured to compare the sensor signal to a threshold and generate an output signal indicative of degradation of NFT performance in response to the sensor signal exceeding the threshold.

Abstract: One or more detectors detect data from respective one or more analog sources operable to read from a storage medium. A buffer pool is between the decoders and two or more detectors. The decoders are simultaneously operable, via the buffer pool, to independently decode the data from the one or more detectors.

Abstract: A system includes an enclosure with a device space having a layer of active devices arranged into rows and adjacent cooling channels and an inlet partition having apertures aligned to the cooling channels defining a supply plenum. In a method of use, cooling fluid, such as air, is transferred from the supply plenum to the cooling channels to concurrently cool the layer of active devices and may provide substantially the same temperature and flow of cooling fluid to each row of active devices. Active devices may include storage devices. The supply plenum may include elongate ducts to encourage uniform cooling along a row. The supply plenum may also include a duct partition or more than one supply plenum to encourage uniform cooling among the rows. One or more fans may provide pressurized cooling fluid in the supply plenum space.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider configured for heat assisted magnetic recording and comprising a substrate. At least one component of the slider generates heat when energized. At least one thermal via extends through a portion of the slider from a location proximate the component to the substrate. The thermal via is configured to conduct heat away from the component and to the substrate.

Abstract: A data storage device may have increased signal-to-noise ratio contact detection by employing a transducing head assembly separated from a data storage medium by an air bearing with the transducing head assembly receiving an alternating current as directed from a controller. The alternating current can be configured to induce random transducing head motion when the air bearing has a greater than zero size and a cyclical transducing head motion when the air bearing has a zero size.