Abstract: Asynchronous data replication between source and target data storage devices of a data storage system can be directed by a connected network controller. A source data set to be replicated from the source data storage device to the target data storage device may be stored in a staging cache while portions of the source data set are parsed by the network controller so that less than all of the source data set is transferred to the target data storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus may include a circuit configured to receive first and second samples of an underlying data from respective first and second sample periods and which correspond to respective first and second sensors, a phase control value may have first and second values during respective first and second sample periods. The phase control value may be a control value for a sample clock signal. The circuit may also determine a difference in the phase control value between the first value and the second value. The circuit may then digitally interpolate the first and second samples to produce a phase shifted first and second samples where the digital interpolation of at least one of the first and second samples mat be at least in part based on the difference in the phase control value to compensate for a phase misalignment between the first sample and the second sample.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. A memory module has a non-volatile memory (NVM) and a memory module electronics (MME) circuit configured to program data to and read data from solid-state non-volatile memory cells of the NVM. A map structure associates logical addresses of user data blocks with physical addresses in the NVM at which the user data blocks are stored. A controller circuit arranges the user data blocks into map units (MUs), and directs the MME circuit to write the MUs to a selected page of the NVM. The controller circuit updates the map structure to list only a single occurrence of a physical address for all of the MUs written to the selected page. The map structure is further updated to list an MU offset and an MU length for each of the MUs written to the selected page.

Abstract: Weak erase detection and mitigation techniques are provided that detect permanent failures in solid-state storage devices. One exemplary method comprises obtaining an erase fail bits metric for a solid-state storage device; and detecting a permanent failure in at least a portion of the solid-state storage device causing weak erase failure mode by comparing the erase fail bit metric to a predefined fail bits threshold. In at least one embodiment, the method also comprises mitigating for the permanent failure causing the weak erase failure mode for one or more cells of the solid-state storage device. The mitigating for the permanent failure comprises, for example, changing a status of the one or more cells to a defective state and/or a retired state. The detection of the permanent failure causing the weak erase failure mode comprises, for example, detecting the weak erase failure mode without an erase failure.

Abstract: A method includes detecting noise in a laser output of a heat assisted magnetic recording device. The noise is converted into an electrical signal including a numerical value. A least significant digit of the numerical value is selected. The least significant digit is concatenated with another least significant digit from another detecting of another noise in another laser output to form a number.

Abstract: A recording head comprises a waveguide extending to an air-bearing surface, and the waveguide comprises a core surrounded by cladding layers. A near-field transducer is disposed on a first side of the core, and a reflector, comprising a layer of metallic material, is disposed on a second side of the core facing away from the first side. The reflector extends beyond the core in a cross-track direction and extends in a direction normal to the air-bearing surface. The reflector has a thickness in a downtrack direction of less than 200 nm.

Abstract: A data storage device can employ recording surface-level resolution with as part of a computing system where the data storage device has a first recording surface configured with an initial areal density. By monitoring data storage operation of the data storage device with a connected resolution module, a resolution strategy can be generated with the resolution module based on the monitored data storage operation. The initial areal density may then be changed to an altered areal density prescribed by the resolution strategy.

Abstract: Methods for determining, by a storage controller, a read unit address and encoded length information of one of the plurality of read units of a non-volatile memory (NVM) based at least in part on a page address of a particular one of a plurality of pages in a storage space address. The encoded length information may be decoded. The storage controller may determine a span specifying an integer number of the read units and a length in units having a finer granularity than the read units based at least in part on the page address. The storage controller may read data associated with the particular page based at least in part on the read unit address and the span. The storage controller may update space usage information of the NVM based at least in part on the length.

Abstract: The present disclosure includes methods of forming air bearing surfaces having multi-tier structures using nanoimprint technology and/or 3D printing technology. In some embodiments, a single stage of milling can be used to transfer a multi-tier photoresist pattern into a substrate (e.g., an AlTiC substrate).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for enhanced garbage collection operations at a memory device. The enhanced garbage collection may include selecting data and blocks to garbage collect to improve device performance. Data may be copied and reorganized according to a data stream via which the data was received, or data and blocks may be evaluated for garbage collection based on other access efficiency metrics. Data may be selected for collection based on sequentiality of the data, host access patterns, or other factors. Processing of host commands may be throttled based on a determined amount of work to garbage collect a plurality of blocks, in order to limit variability in host command throughput over a time period.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for accelerating the delivery of a data file. The data file may be uploaded to a content accelerator connected to a local area network. At some later point in time, the data file may be uploaded to a cloud storage provider based on the status of the network between the content accelerator and the cloud storage provider.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to examples of reducing memory write operations using coalescing memory buffers. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method comprises computing a difference between a current state of data of at least one block of a storage device to which data is to be written and a state that would result from a write operation. The method further comprises populating at least one coalescing memory buffer with difference information associated with the difference and to be used to update an associated block of the storage device.

Abstract: A hard disk drive comprises a sensor configured to detect a mixing ratio within the hard disk drive and a membrane electrode assembly. The membrane electrode assembly comprises a gas flow path that couples an inside of the hard disk drive to an outside of the hard disk drive, and the gas flow path includes a cathode and anode that electrolytically remove water vapor from the inside of the hard disk drive. The drive further includes an energy source coupled to the membrane electrode assembly and a controller coupled to the sensor and the energy source. The controller is configured to activate the energy source in response to the sensor detecting a mixing ratio greater than a threshold mixing ratio and to deactivate the energy source in response to the sensor detecting a mixing ratio less than the threshold mixing ratio.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a multi-device data storage system. In some embodiments, a plurality of data storage devices are provided, each data storage device having a local driver circuit adapted to transfer data with a local memory module. A main driver circuit external to the plurality of data storage devices is configured to stream frequency modulated write data via parallel data transfer paths to the respective local driver circuits for concurrent transfer of the frequency modulated write data to the respective local memory modules.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer-readable storage media for determining a new optimal read threshold voltage associated with a group of pages of non-volatile memory. It is determined whether the current optimal read threshold voltage associated with the group of pages is out of tolerance based at least in part on a retention drift history associated with the group of pages. Upon determining that the current optimal read threshold voltage is out of tolerance, reference cells associated with the group of pages are written with a pattern having a known statistical distribution of ones and zeroes. The new optimal read threshold voltage associated with the group of pages is determined by reading the reference cells, and the retention drift history associated with the group of pages is updated with the new optimal read threshold voltage and an indication of a new reference cell generation.

Abstract: Particles are removed from electronic components, such as components of data storage devices by use of an electrochemical process. An electronic component is immersed in an electrochemical bath, and a voltage is applied across the +ve electrode and ?ve electrode in an amount sufficient to remove charged particles present on a surface of the electronic component.

Abstract: Optical connectors may include various portions, or structures, to provide a plurality of degrees of movement to optical ferrules. The optical ferrules may be linearly movable along one or more axes and rotationally moveable about one or more axes for alignment and coupling to corresponding optical ferrules. The optical connectors may be integrated with, or in conjunction with, other non-optical connectors such as electrical connectors, e.g., located on a drive carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an input coupler configured to receive light excited by a light source. A near-field transducer (NFT) is positioned at a media-facing surface of a write head. A layered waveguide is positioned between the input coupler and the NFT and configured to receive the light output from the input coupler in a transverse electric (TE) mode and deliver the light to the NFT in a transverse magnetic (TM) mode. The layered waveguide comprises a first layer extending along a light-propagation direction. The first layer is configured to receive light from the input coupler. The first layer tapers from a first cross track width to a second cross track width where the second cross track width is narrower than the first cross track width. The layered waveguide includes a second layer that is disposed on the first layer. The second layer has a cross sectional area in a plane perpendicular to the light propagation direction that increases along the light propagation direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fine pitch component placement on printed circuit boards are described. In one embodiment, a printed circuit board includes multiple vias and multiple of electrically conductive pads. The multiple vias include at least a first via and a second via. The multiple electrically conductive pads include a first pad and a second pad. The first pad and/or the second pad may include an electrically conductive material such as copper, silver, gold, or another conductive material. In some cases, the first pad and the second pad each have a reduced width portion positioned between and spaced apart from the first via and the second via.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for configuring a data storage device as a write once read many (WORM) drive. In some embodiments, the storage device has a rotatable disc with at least one data recording layer, and a data transducer that is selectively moveable with respect to the rotatable disc. The data transducer has a write element configured to write data to the data recording layer, and a read element configured to read data from the data recording layer. A control circuit is configured to physically disable the write element in response to a write element disable signal. The disabling of the write element prevents further writing of data to the data recording layer. The read element remains operative to continue reading data from the data recording layer after the write element has been disabled.