Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a touch-down and contact between a head and a storage medium by using a signal generated by a data storage device, specifically by a sensor installed in a slider. The method includes: separating a signal detected by a sensor into a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component, wherein the sensor has an electrical characteristic that changes according to temperature; using the DC component to detect a touch-down state of the head during a touch-down test to determine a value of a control signal for adjusting the flying height of the head; and using the AC component to detect a contacting state between the head and the storage medium in an operating state of the apparatus.

Abstract: A distance between a head and a storage media is measured. An amount of power applied to a heater element in the head is adaptively adjusted based on a difference between the measured distance and a reference position indicating a desired distance between the head and the storage media. Related circuits and devices are also discussed.

Abstract: An electrical connection between a first element and a second element formed by a solder ball bridge having at least three solder balls in physical contact with each other extending to electrically connect the first element and the second element. The solder ball bridge is particularly suitable for a disc drive system, to form an electrical connection between two elements such as between a piezoelectric microactuator element and the suspension assembly. Methods of making a solder ball bridge are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for vapor deposition of a uniform thickness thin film of lubricant on at least one surface of a disk-shaped substrate. The invention has particular utility in depositing thin films of polymeric lubricants onto disc-shaped substrates in the manufacture of magnetic and MO recording media.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of controlling wear of a memory. In a particular embodiment, a system is disclosed that comprises a memory and a performance governor circuit coupled to the memory. The performance governor circuit is adapted to control a wear of the memory as a function of time.

Abstract: A flexible member is coupled between an actuator arm and a slider. The flexible member facilitates relative motion in a tangential direction of a rotating medium. The relative motion is detected via a displacement sensor, and a friction between the slider and the rotating medium is determined based on the sensed relative motion.

Abstract: In order to improve a consistent data track during writing to a storage medium, a plurality of read sensors are affixed to a transducer head. In one implementation, the transducer head includes multiple read sensors placed up-track of the write pole. In another implementation, the transducer head includes at least one read sensor placed up-track of the write pole and at least one read sensor placed down-track of the write pole. Each position of the multiple read sensors relative to the write pole may be unique. One or more read signals of selected read sensors are used to determine the read location and therefore the write pole location relative to the storage medium.

Abstract: A hybrid data storage device includes a solid-state memory device, a disc-type memory device and a hybrid data storage device controller in communication with the solid-state memory device and the disc-type memory device. The hybrid data storage device controller is configured to receive Non-Volatile Memory Host Controller Interface (NVMHCI) commands from a host and use logic to make decisions for the optimization and efficient performance of the solid-state memory device and the disc-type memory device.

Abstract: Cross-track deviation of a writer from a predetermined track on a recording medium is detected. A write current is adjusted based on the cross-track deviation of the writer from the predetermined track. The adjusted write current is applied to the writer to compensate for the cross-track deviation of the writer from the predetermined track.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor is generally disclosed. Various embodiments of a sensor can have at least a trilayer sensor stack biased with a back biasing magnet adjacent a back of the trilayer sensor. The back biasing magnet, the trilayer sensor stack, or both have substantially trapezoidal shapes to enhance the biasing field and to minimize noise.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to measurement of latency in data paths. A latency measurement may be accomplished by calculating a roundtrip write-to-read latency based on generating a write signal and receiving a read signal approximately simultaneously. The read signal may be based on a coupling between a write element and read element. A device setting may then be adjusted based on the calculated roundtrip write-to-read latency. Further, a read/write mechanism that is used to write user data to and read user data from a data storage medium may be used to determine the roundtrip write-to-read latency. Even further, the roundtrip write-to-read latency may be determined in real-time as the data storage device is in operation.

Abstract: Magnetic layers are described that include the use of magnetic grains and non-magnetic grain boundaries with hybrid additives. Hybrid additives include the use of at least two different additives in the composition of the grain boundaries of a magnetic layer in magnetic recording media. The use of hybrid additives in the grain boundaries results in improved recording media. Methods for forming magnetic layers and magnetic recording media with the hybrid additive grain boundaries are also described.

Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.

Abstract: Data stripes and addressing for flash memory devices are provided. Flash memory devices illustratively have a plurality of programmable devices that are capable of simultaneously storing data. A plurality of erasure blocks are within each of the programmable devices, and each erasure block has pages of transistors. The flash memory devices are logically organized as a plurality of stripes. Each stripe has a height and a width. In an embodiment, the stripe height is greater than one page. In another embodiment, the stripe width is less than all of the programmable devices within the flash memory device.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A first data set is written to first memory units identified as having a higher data reliability and a second data set is written to second memory units identified as having a lower data reliability than the first memory units. In some cases, the second data set may include metadata or redundancy information that is useful to aid in reading and/or decoding the first data set. The act of writing the second data set increases the data reliability of the first data set. The second data set may be a null pattern, such as all erased bits.

Abstract: Power-backup capabilities are provided by implementing a variety of different methods, systems and devices. According to one such implementation, a solid-state memory device is implemented with a primary power source that provides primary power. A secondary power source provides secondary power. A power controller provides the primary power to an operating power circuit. The secondary power is provided by enabling a secondary switch located between the secondary power source and the operating power circuit. A solid-state memory uses power from the operating power circuit as a primary source of power when accessing stored data and retains data in the absence of power being provided by the operating power circuit. A memory controller facilitates access to the stored data. In response to problems with the primary power source, pending writes are completed to the solid-state memory circuit. A timing circuit substantially delays full enablement of the secondary switch.

Abstract: A method for encoder frequency-shift compensation includes determining frequency values of an input encoder signal, determining repeatable frequency-shifts of the frequency values and generating a frequency-shift compensated clock using the repeatable frequency-shifts. A frequency-shift compensated clock includes a synthesizer configured to generate a frequency-shift compensated clock signal using repeatable frequency shifts and encoder clock signals.

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: A magnetic recording head includes a magnetic recording write element including a main pole having a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge and a first side surface and a second side surface separating the leading edge from the trailing edge. A first side shield gap separates a first side shield from the first side of the main pole and a second side shield gap separates the second side shield from the second side of the main pole. A front magnetic shield is separated from the main pole trailing edge by a front shield gap. A recess extends into the front shield adjacent to the trailing edge, and parallel to the trailing edge. The recess extends laterally away from the main pole and into the front shield a distance greater than the first side shield gap or second side shield gap.