Abstract: A write pole can have a magnetically conductive pole tip has at least one corner. The at least one corner may be chamfered to limit magnetic saturation of the conductive pole tip. The conductive pole tip can have one or more beveled surface that has a chamfered corner which extends a predetermined distance along an edge of the write pole.

Abstract: Completion times of data storage operations targeted to a non-volatile, solid-state memory device are measured. Wear of the memory device is estimated using the measured completion times, and life cycle management operations are performed to affect subsequent wear of the memory device in accordance with the estimated wear. The life cycle management may include operations such as wear leveling, predicting an end of service life of the memory device, and removing worn blocks of the memory device from service.

Abstract: A transducer is configured to interact with a magnetic storage medium, a first channel comprises a first sensor and first circuitry configured to adjust a plurality of first channel parameters, and a second channel comprises a second sensor and second circuitry configured to adjust a plurality of second channel parameters. The first and second channel parameters are independently adjustable by the first and second circuitry, respectively. A detector is coupled to the first and second channels, and configured to detect a head-medium interface event.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hard disk drive and an operation method thereof. A method of operating a hard disk drive according to the present invention may include (a) loading drive data required to drive the hard disk drive from a maintenance cylinder area contained in a disk to a memory; and (b) writing test data output from a head into a spare area contained in the maintenance cylinder area, wherein the steps (a) and (b) are carried out within a ready time.

Abstract: A near-field transducer includes a substrate that defines a substrate-parallel plane. The near-field transducer also includes a composite layer deposited on the substrate-parallel plane. The composite layer has a first layer of the plasmonic material and a second layer of an insertion material adjacent the substrate. The insertion material reduces plastic deformation of the near-field transducer at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: Data is written to cells of a resistance-based, non-volatile memory. An activity metric is tracked since the writing of the data to the cells. In response to the activity metric satisfying a threshold, a bias signal is applied to the cells to reverse a resistance shift of the cells.

Abstract: A flash memory device apparatus and method is provided such that data or programming information is uploaded or downloaded between the flash memory device and a host, in response to a single-press of a button associated with the flash memory device. The system can facilitate a number of operations including saving an active window application or associated data, transferring media files to or from media players, providing device-specific and/or data-specific transfer of applications or data and/or providing protection of transferred data or applications.

Abstract: A playback device includes tangible storage configured to receive transfer of media content from a remote communications device to the playback device while the remote communications device is operating in a high power mode. Interface logic is coupled to the tangible storage and configured to signal the remote communications device during the transfer to prepare the remote communications device to enter a low power mode after the transfer is complete. The remote communications device includes a content manager configured to transfer of media content from the remote communications device to a playback device while the remote communications device is operating in a high power mode. Power logic is coupled to the content manager and configured to prepare the remote communications device to enter a low power mode after the transfer is complete, responsive to receipt of a signal from the playback device during the transfer is complete.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods for adaptive seek latency in a rotating storage device. In one example, a servo control circuit can be configured to determine a seek latency and provide the seek latency to another controller or control circuit that is configured to implement the seek latency. Further, the servo control circuit can calculate the seek latency based on a measurement of a variable condition of a device and the servo controller can adjust the seek latency as the condition varies. In some examples, the variable condition may include power measurements, temperature measurements, a fault rate, other conditions, or any combination thereof. Also, different algorithms for calculating the seek latency may be implemented based on a selected goal of the system, such as power savings or reduced head vibration.

Abstract: An implementation of a circuit disclose herein comprises a vibration sensor circuit that generates a sensor signal from a disturbance signal, a lattice filter circuit that decorrelates the sensor signal to generate orthogonal backward prediction errors, and a multiple regression filter that estimates a disturbance correction signal using the orthogonal backward prediction errors.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided, including a base-deck floor; a base-deck frame, overlying the base-deck floor; a top cover, overlying the base-deck frame; and an affixing means operable to attach the base-deck frame to the base-deck floor, wherein the base-deck frame is operable to be fastened to both the base-deck floor and the top cover to provide a housing for a hard disk drive. A method is also provided, including assembling at least a portion of a hard disk drive assembly on a base-deck floor; affixing a base-deck frame to the base-deck floor; and securing a top cover to the base-deck frame.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for enhancing reliability and integrity of data stored in a non-volatile memory, such as in a solid-state drive (SSD) having an array of flash memory cells. In accordance with various embodiments, a controller is adapted to harden data stored in a first location of said memory in relation to a detected loss of retention characteristics of the first location. In some embodiments, the data are hardened by storing redundancy information associated with said data in a second location of said memory. The redundancy information can be a redundant set of the data or higher level error correct codes (ECC). The hardened data can be recovered to the host during a read operation by accessing the data stored in both the first and second locations.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate and a magnetic layer coupled to the substrate. The magnetic layer includes an alloy that has magnetic hardness that is a function of the degree of chemical ordering of the alloy. The degree of chemical ordering of the alloy in a first portion of the magnetic layer is greater than the degree of chemical ordering of the alloy in a second portion of the magnetic layer, and the first portion of the magnetic layer is closer to the substrate than the second portion of the magnetic layer.

Abstract: Misalignment of a transducer head over a bit-patterned media (BPM) may cause a bit to experience conflicting magnetization forces from the writer, resulting in improperly written data and stored data corruption. The likelihood of data corruption is reduced when a write transition is performed when the write sync margin is increased or maximized. Therefore, a write precompensation system may calculate time shift information for adjusting the timing of an individual write current transition at the transducer that compensates for write sync margin degradation due to any or all of skew angle of the transducer, track misregistration, and write field curvature.

Abstract: Aspects include recording media with enhanced areal density through reduction of head media spacing, head keeper spacing, or head to soft underlayer spacing. Such aspects comprise replacing currently non-magnetic components of devices, such as interlayers and overcoats with components and compositions comprising magnetic materials. Other aspects relate to magnetic seed layers deposited within a recording medium. Preferably, these aspects, embodied as methods, systems and/or components thereof reduce effective magnetic spacing without sacrificing physical spacing.

Abstract: Disclosed are servo pattern writing methods and apparatuses for performing the same. In one example, a method may include providing a plurality of disks having reference servo patterns written thereon; writing align patterns aligned with each other in a horizontal direction of the disk surface, on the plurality of disks, using a reference servo pattern of one of the plurality of disks; and writing a final servo pattern on each disk, using the align pattern written on each disk.

Abstract: Changes in the thermal boundary condition near a close point of an ABS to a media indicate proximity of the ABS with the media. Before contact, heat conduction from the ABS is primarily through convective and/or ballistic heat transfer to air between the ABS and the media. After contact, heat flux primarily flows from the ABS to the media through solid-solid conductive contact. Further, a light source within a HAMR transducer head may create additional thermal variations within the transducer head. These thermal variations create temperature variations within the transducer head. Two resistance temperature sensors on the transducer head at varying distances from the close point and/or light source measure these temperature variations. A temperature difference between the two resistance temperature sensors indicates proximity of the close point to the media and/or light output.

Abstract: A method of producing bit-patterned media is provided whereby a shell structure is added on a bit-patterned media dot. The shell may be an antiferromagnetic material that will help stabilize the magnetization configuration at the remanent state due to exchange coupling between the dot and its shell. Therefore, this approach also improves the thermal stability of the media dot and helps each individual media dot maintain a single domain state.

Abstract: A method of switching the magnetization orientation of a ferromagnetic free layer of an out-of-plane magnetic tunnel junction cell, the method including: passing an AC switching current through the out-of-plane magnetic tunnel junction cell, wherein the AC switching current switches the magnetization orientation of the ferromagnetic free layer.

Abstract: Processes include aligning a disc with a template at a location so that the pattern from the template is transferred to the disc in a relative orientation. The relative orientation provides that when the disc with the transferred pattern is finally assembled into a hard disc drive, an inner diameter of the spindle hole of the disc may be abutted against an outer diameter of the disc drive spindle, and the data-containing patterns on the discs will be aligned concentrically with a center of the disc drive spindle. While the data-containing patterns are aligned concentrically with the disc drive spindle, the substrate itself is allowed to be non-concentric.