Abstract: A method or system comprises determining an end data track of a write operation in response to a request for the write operation in a shingled media storage device, saving data from an adjacent track following the end data track to a cache, performing the write operation.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide for a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure that is magnetically coupled a side shield element. The SAF structure includes at least one magnetic amorphous layer that is an alloy of a ferromagnetic material and a refractory material. The amorphous magnetic layer may be in contact with a non-magnetic layer and antiferromagnetically coupled to a layer in contact with an opposite surface of the non-magnetic layer.

Abstract: Parameters indicative of resistance variance of the memory elements are tracked. The resistance variance affects values of data stored in the resistance-based memory elements. A hash function is performed for each memory element. The hash function returns a reference to one of a plurality of counter elements. A value of each counter element is modified in response to the tracked parameter data of the associated memory element. Read operations affecting the memory elements are adjusted based on the values for the associated counter elements.

Abstract: A transducer includes magnetic material formed on a substrate that is shaped to include a trailing edge, a leading edge and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending between the trailing edge and the leading edge. A layer of protective material is positioned in contact with each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material. Backfill material surrounds the protective material on each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material.

Abstract: A apparatus includes first and second read transducers arranged on a media-facing surface. The read transducers detect magnetic fields of a recording medium. First and second heaters are disposed proximate the respective first and second read transducers. The first and second heaters independently control respective first and second protrusions of the first and second read transducers from the media-facing surface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for storing data in a multi-level cell flash memory device with cross-page sectors, multi-page coding and per-page coding. A single sector can be stored across a plurality of pages in the flash memory device. Per-page control is provided of the number of sectors in each page, as well as the code and/or code rate used for encoding and decoding a given page, and the decoder or decoding algorithm used for decoding a given page. Multi-page and wordline level access schemes are also provided.

Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT); a gas barrier layer positioned on at least a portion of the NFT; and a wear resistance layer positioned on at least a portion of the gas barrier layer wherein the gas barrier layer includes tantalum oxide (TaO), titanium oxide (TiO), chromium oxide (CrO), silicon oxide (SiO), aluminum oxide (AlO), titanium oxide (TiO), zirconium oxide (ZrO), yttrium oxide (YO), magnesium oxide (MgO), beryllium oxide (BeO), niobium oxide (NbO), hafnium oxide (HfO), vanadium oxide (VO), strontium oxide (SrO), or combinations thereof; silicon nitride (SiN), aluminum nitride (Al), boron nitride (BN), titanium nitride (TiN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), niobioum nitride (NbN), hafnium nitride (HfN), chromium nitride (CrN), or combinations thereof silicon carbide (SiC), titanium carbide (TiC), zirconium carbide (ZrC), niobioum carbide (NbC), chromium carbide (CrC), vanadium carbide (VC), boron carbide (BC), or combinations thereof or combinations thereof.

Abstract: A apparatus includes first and second read transducers arranged on a media-facing surface. The read transducers detect magnetic fields of a recording medium. First and second heaters are disposed proximate the respective first and second read transducers. The first and second heaters independently control respective first and second protrusions of the first and second read transducers from the media-facing surface.

Abstract: Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing, a hub, and an induction housing. The fluid dynamic bearing is defined by a stationary component and a rotatable component. The hub is configured to rotate relative to the stationary component. A current is induced within the induction housing resulting from the relative rotation. The induced current creates a repulsive force between the stationary component and the hub.

Abstract: A first biasing potential is sent to a first input end of a first temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) sensor having a first ground end coupled to a ground potential. A second biasing potential is sent to a second input end of a second TCR sensor having a second ground end coupled to the ground potential. The first and the second biasing potentials are changed to operate in a plurality of modes.

Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the described technology, a retract controller capacitor is charged using a back electromagnetic force voltage to produce a backup power source voltage, the retract controller capacitor is discharged to power a retract controller circuit, and an actuator arm of a storage drive is driven toward a desired location concurrently with the discharging operation.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a writer, a reader, and a sensor configured to at least sense thermal asperities of a magnetic storage medium. The apparatus includes a writer heater configured to thermally actuate the writer, a reader heater configured to thermally actuate the reader, and a sensor heater configured to thermally actuate the sensor. The thermally actuated sensor is configured to detect thermal asperities arising from the magnetic storage medium during a topographical survey of the medium. The sensor heater is configured to be rendered inoperable subsequent to the survey in response to receiving a predetermined signal while the writer and the reader heaters remain operable.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising emitting light at a plurality of locations across a surface of a recording head assembly, detecting, using a detector not positioned along a waveguide axis, light output from a diffraction grating positioned along the waveguide axis, and determining a target position for mounting a laser source on the surface a recording head assembly by analyzing the detected light output corresponding to one or more of the plurality of locations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for computing reliability values, such as log likelihood ratios (LLRs), with reduced complexity for flash memory devices. Data from a flash memory device that stores M bits per cell using 2^M possible states is processed by obtaining at least two soft read voltage values corresponding to two reference voltages V0 and V1, wherein the two reference voltages V0 and V1 are between two adjacent states of the 2^M possible states; and converting the at least two soft read voltage values to a log likelihood ratio for a region between the two reference voltages V0 and V1 using probability density functions only for the two adjacent states. The soft read voltage values comprise, for example, hard decision read values obtained by a plurality of read retries of a given cell at a plurality of reference voltages and/or soft values obtained from the flash memory device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method of detecting a contact event between a head and a storage medium, and a storage device that utilizes such method are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the method includes applying an input signal to an actuator of a head of a storage device; identifying a frequency of the input signal; detecting an output signal in response to the input signal; and detecting a contact event between the head and a storage medium of the storage device if the output signal includes an even harmonic frequency and an odd harmonic frequency of the frequency of the input signal.

Abstract: Devices having an air bearing surface, the device including a magnetic write pole positioned adjacent the air bearing surface; a near field transducer including a peg region and an adjacent disk region, wherein the peg region is adjacent the air bearing surface; a heat sink; and an optical waveguide including a top cladding layer and a core layer, wherein the heat sink is positioned between the magnetic write pole and the near field transducer and the near field transducer is positioned between the optical waveguide and the heat sink, and wherein at least a portion of at least one of the heat sink, the optical waveguide, or the write pole includes beryllium oxide (BeO).

Abstract: Some embodiments involve a method of detecting an error of a memory device. It is determined whether the detected error is a catastrophic error. If it is determined that the error is a catastrophic error, an error recovery process is bypassed. Some aspects involve a method of detecting an error of a memory device. It is determined whether a counter value is above a predetermined value. If it is determined that the counter value is above the predetermined value an error recovery process is bypassed and a redundant parity recovery process is performed.

Abstract: An error of a solid-state non-volatile memory is detected. It is determined whether a type of the error is a first type of error. A voltage recovery process is bypassed based on whether the error is the first type of error. If it is determined that the error is a catastrophic error, the voltage error recovery process is bypassed. If it is determined that an offset of a threshold voltage is not greater than a predetermined value, the voltage error recovery process is bypassed.

Abstract: A data storage device may be constructed to sense data bits with at least a magnetic stack contacting a shield that has a horizontal lamination of magnetic and non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layer may be configured with a first width at an air bearing surface (ABS) that defines a first aspect ratio and a different second width that defines a different second aspect ratio distal the ABS.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a dual-layer magnetic recording structure including a top magnetic layer etched to remove patterned portions of the top magnetic layer and a bottom magnetic layer including portions with altered magnetic properties of molecules to reduce net magnetic moments and including portions of unaltered magnetic properties exchange-coupled through the top magnetic layer.