Abstract: An apparatus includes a storage device and a host device. The storage device may be configured to encrypt and decrypt user data during write and read operations, respectively. The host device is communicatively coupled to the storage device. The host device may be configured to execute the write and read operations by concentrating a first number of virtual bands into a second number of real bands, wherein said second number is smaller than said first number.

Abstract: A system may have a data storage medium that contains at least one data bit that is accessed by a transducing head that has a near-field transducer. A controller can be connected to the transducing head and store a plurality of near-field transducer operating currents in a memory. The controller may identify a change in efficiency of the near-field transducer from the plurality of near-field transducer operating currents.

Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes an aperture surrounded by walls of plasmonic material and a notch protruding within the aperture. The walls are oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture. A heat sink layer of the plasmonic material is disposed along the back surface and the aperture-facing surface of the write pole. The heat sink layer is thermally and optically coupled to the near-field transducer.

Abstract: The application discloses a data storage device including one or more data storage media adapted to store data. The data storage device is connected to and powered by a power source of the host system. In the event of a loss of power from the host system, an auxiliary power source is used to power components of the data storage device. For example, an illustrative auxiliary power source uses back electromotive force EMF from a spindle motor of the data storage device. As disclosed, the device includes test circuitry to test a capacity of the auxiliary power source to store data in the event of the loss of power from the host system.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a magnetic recording head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The apparatus includes first coplanar electrical contacts respectively disposed on and in electrical contact with first surfaces of the at least two read transducers and an electrically insulating magnetic material disposed between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for overlap detection using bitmask region trackers. In an embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a controller configured to maintain a count of writes associated with a selected area of a data storage medium, generate an overlap check bitmask, including an overlap check bit for each of multiple regions of the selected area and that represent an indication of a previous write associated with a respective region from the multiple regions, generate a write check bitmask based on a received write, the write check bitmask including a write check bit for each of the multiple regions of the selected area and representing which of the multiple regions are related to the received write, and increment the count of writes based on comparing the overlap check bitmask with the write check bitmask.

Abstract: Embodiments of a single data storage device with multiple different data recording media surfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one of the data recording media surfaces is conventional, such as a continuous or discrete track recording media. Another of the data recording media surfaces is a relatively high areal density, high data rate recording media, such as a bit patterned media (BPM) recording media.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge apparatus for use with a hub and spindle assembly for a disc drive storage system comprising a spindle; a hub rotatably mounted on the spindle; a capsule formed at least in part from an electrically conductive material that can be placed in electrical communication with the hub and defining a chamber configured to hold an electrically conductive fluid and defining at least one capillary channel in fluid communication with an opening formed in the capsule, the opening configured to permit rotation about the spindle, and to permit a meniscus formed by the conductive fluid proximate to the opening to electrically contact the spindle during rotation of the hub about the spindle.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for prefetching data are disclosed. A method may include receiving a read request at a data storage device, determining a meta key in an address map that includes a logical block address (LBA) of the read request, wherein the meta key includes a beginning LBA and a size field corresponding to a number of consecutive sequential LBAs stored on the data storage device, calculating a prefetch operation to prefetch data based on addresses included in the meta key, and reading data corresponding to the prefetch operation and the read request. An apparatus may include a processor configured to receive a read request, determine a first meta key and a second meta key in an address map, calculate a prefetch operation based on addresses included in the first meta key and the second meta key, and read data corresponding to the prefetch operation and the read request.

Abstract: A device comprising a file management system that includes a plurality of first entries and second entries. The first entries are configured function as a logical block address mapping table for data searching operations on data files stored in data blocks of the device, and the second entries are configured to organize the plurality of data blocks into separate logical groups.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for recording density variation of data tracks. In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise a circuit configured to record data to a first track of a data zone at a first recording density, and record data to a second track of the data zone at second recording density different from the first recording density. Recording density may be measured as a bits per inch (BPI) value for a data track. Different recording densities may be applied based on a width of the target track. In some embodiments, such as for shingled magnetic recording (SMR), data may be recorded to partially overlapped tracks at a first density, and to non-overlapped tracks at a second density.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide for a method comprising receiving a read request to read data from a target die of a storage device, and rebuilding the data stored on the target die using data stored on other dies of the storage device, if a current operation to the target die of the storage device prevents the servicing of the read request until completion of the current operation.

Abstract: A fault tolerant control line configuration useful in a variety of solid state memories such as but not limited to a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus includes a plurality of memory cells, and a fault tolerant control line. The control line has an elongated first conductive path connected to each of the plurality of memory cells. An elongated second conductive path is disposed in a parallel, spaced apart relation to the first conductive path. A plurality of conductive support members are interposed between the first and second conductive paths to support the second conductive path above the first conductive path.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for utilizing multiple, wide readers to read narrow data tracks on a magnetic recording media in a storage device. A system for reading a data track on a magnetic recording media comprises a plurality of reader elements and a multi-reader decoder module operably connected to the plurality of reader elements. Each of the reader elements is configured to read a magnetic signal from the magnetic recording media. Each reader element may be wider than a width of the data track on the recording media. The multi-reader decoder module is configured to receive a read signal from each of the reader elements, and decode the data on the data track based on the read signals from the reader elements.

Abstract: A Solid-State Disk (SSD) controller enables dynamic higher-level redundancy mode management with independent silicon elements to provide graceful degradation as non-volatile (e.g. flash) memory elements fail during operation of an SSD implemented by the controller. Higher-level error correction provides correction of lower-level uncorrectable errors. If a failure of one of the non-volatile memory elements is detected, then the higher-level error correction is dynamically transitioned from operating in a current mode to operating in a new mode. The transition includes one or more of reducing free space available on the SSD, rearranging data storage of the SSD, recovering/storing failed user data (if possible), and determining/storing revised higher-level error correction information. Operation then continues in the new mode. If another failure of the non-volatile memory elements is detected, then another transition is made to another new mode.

Abstract: An apparatus may be constructed with a magnetic element, such as a data transducing head. A first permanent magnet may be configured to bias the write pole to decrease remnant magnetization and erasure after write (EAW). The first permanent magnet can be separated from the write pole be a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A device having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device including a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least a portion thereof at the ABS; a first wrap layer, the first wrap layer surrounding at least a portion of the NFT, the first wrap layer having a thickness of not greater than about 30 nanometers (nm), and the first wrap layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is not greater than 2.0; a second wrap layer, the second wrap layer surrounding at least a portion of the first wrap layer, the second wrap layer having a thickness that is not greater than 100 nm, and the second wrap layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is at least about 1.9; and a top cladding layer surrounding at least a portion of the second wrap layer, the top cladding layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is not greater than 2.0.

Abstract: A device including a magnetic structure, the magnetic structure having a substrate adjacent surface and a second, opposing surface, the magnetic structure having a near field transducer (NFT), wherein the NFT includes gold or an alloy thereof, and is positioned at the second surface an overcoat structure; and a film structure, the film structure positioned between the magnetic structure and the overcoat structure, the film structure having a total thickness of not greater than about 100 ?, and the film structure including: a first interfacial structure having a first and a second opposing surface; a second interfacial structure having a first and a second opposing surface; and an intermediate structure wherein the first surface of the first interfacial structure is positioned adjacent the NFT of the magnetic structure, and the second surface of the second interfacial structure is positioned adjacent the overcoat structure, and the intermediate structure is positioned between the first interfacial structure an

Abstract: Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a stationary component, a rotatable component, and an upper journal bearing and a lower journal bearing. The upper journal bearing and the lower journal bearing are defined in a gap between the stationary component and the rotatable component, and the stationary component and rotatable component are configured for relative rotation. A thrust bearing is disposed between the upper journal bearing and the lower journal bearing.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory cell is provided with a plurality of available programming states to accommodate multi-level cell (MLC) programming. A control circuit stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using single level cell (SLC) programming to provide a first read margin between first and second available programming states. The control circuit subsequently stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using virtual multi-level cell (VMLC) programming to provide a larger, second read margin between the first available programming state and a third available programming state.