Abstract: A data storage area of a data storage device can be used to communicate information between the data storage device and an external device or software. In some examples, configuration data stored within the data storage area can be used to determine a subset of data to copy or move from a first data storage medium to a second data storage medium. The data storage area can be a unique partition and the data storage device can locate partition information to determine a location of the partition. The data storage device can then use the partition to store data for two-way communication between the data storage device and an external system, device, or software.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a stacked semiconductor memory, such as but not limited to a three dimensional (3D) NAND flash memory array. In some embodiments, a data set is written to the memory array by programming a stack of memory cells to a desired set of program states. A first set of pulses is applied to verify the memory cells conform to the desired set of program states. The verified stack of memory cells are subsequently conditioned by applying a second set of pulses to remove accumulated charge from a shared channel region of the stack. The conditioning of the memory cells reduces a step-wise increase in the number of read errors during the first read operation as compared to subsequent read operations on the memory cells.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a thermally assisted data recording medium has a recording layer formed of iron (Fe), platinum (Pt) and a transition metal T selected from a group consisting of Rhodium (Rh), Ruthenium (Ru), Osmium (Os) and Iridium (Ir) to substitute for a portion of the Pt content as FeYPtY-XTX with Y in the range of from about 20 at % to about 80 at % and X in the range of from about 0 at % to about 20 at %.

Abstract: Provided herein is a method, including creating a first pattern in a data region of a substrate, and creating a second pattern in a servo region of a substrate. A circumferential line pattern is created overlapping the first pattern to create rectangle-shaped protrusions in the data region of the substrate. A chevron pattern is created overlapping the second pattern to create chevron-derived protrusions in the servo region of the substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for open block handling of an SSD. In one embodiment, an SSD includes a buffer, and an MLC flash device. The SSD also includes a controller operable to write data in the buffer based on an Input/Output (I/O) request (e.g., from a host), to begin copying the data from the buffer to a block of the MLC flash device, to copy a portion of the data associated with open word lines of the block to another location in the buffer after a power cycle, and to update a lookup table for the copied portion of the data with the other location so that the copied portion of the data can be accessed via a subsequent I/O request.

Abstract: Presented is a data channel with selectable components, such as encoders or decoders. Also, data having different data signal characteristics can be processed through a data channel based on the data signal characteristics. Further, a data channel may have independent encoding path and an independent decoding path. For example, a first data transmission having first data signal characteristics may be processed via a data channel based on a first selected set of components of the data channel and a second data transmission having second data signal characteristics different than the first data signal characteristics may be processed via the data channel using a second selected set of components in the data channel. The first selected set of components may be different than the second selected set of components, but may share one or more common components.

Abstract: An apparatus to arbitrate data transfer between a computing host and a storage device across an interface includes a data transfer limiter configured to track an amount of data credits used by a data transfer across the interface and an amount of accrued data credits available to the interface. The apparatus further includes a data transfer arbiter configured to selectively disable the data transfer across the interface when the amount of data credits used by the data transfer across the interface exceeds a first threshold, and to selectively enable the data transfer across the interface when the amount of data credits used by the data transfer across the interface does not exceed a second threshold. The amount of accrued data credits reduces the amount of data credits used by the data transfer.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for controlling the position of a control object using a multi-stage actuator. A multi-stage actuator is provided with first and second actuation stages adapted to position a control object. A control circuit includes a multi-tap lattice structure and parallel first and second multiple regression filters coupled to respective taps of the multi-tap lattice structure. The control circuit concurrently generates and applies first and second disturbance rejection signals to the respective first and second actuation stages to compensate a disturbance signal component in a position error signal (PES) indicative of position error of the control object.

Abstract: A method that includes supplying a predetermined signal to a write head having side shields. The method also includes performing, by the write head, a recording operation on a surface of a data storage medium, when the predetermined signal is supplied to the write head, to provide a recorded magnetization pattern. The method further includes carrying out measurements on a portion of the recorded magnetization pattern influenced by a magnetization of the side shields. The measurements are employed to determine whether a reversed side shield magnetization condition is present in the write head.

Abstract: Provided herein are apparatuses and methods, including patterning a first set of features in a servo zone to form a patterned servo zone while a first mask protects a data zone from the patterning. The first mask may be removed from the data zone. The apparatuses and methods may further include patterning a second set of features in the data zone to form a patterned data zone while a second mask protects the patterned servo zone from the patterning.

Abstract: Methods of forming a NFT the methods including forming a hard mask positioned over at least a portion of the rod, the hard mask including at least one layer; patterning a resist mask over the hard mask, the resist mask having an edge positioned over at least a portion of the rod; etching a portion of the hard mask to expose a back edge of the rod and to form a back edge of the hard mask, wherein the back edge of the rod is equivalent to the back edge of the peg; and wherein a forward portion of the rod which is the portion of the rod forward of the back edge is covered by the hard mask; forming a disc mask including a void configured to form a disc of a NFT, the disc mask being formed over at least a portion of the hard mask so that the exposed back edge of the rod is within the void configured to form the disc; etching an area exposed in the void of the disc mask to remove both a rear portion of the rod and the surrounding dielectric up to the back edge of the hard mask edge; depositing a disc material in th

Abstract: An apparatus may include a circuit configured to generate a set of first ADC samples based on a first signal associated with a first read head position and a failed segment and to generate a set of second ADC samples based on a second signal associated with a second read head position and the failed segment. The circuit may then generate, by a MISO equalizer, a set of equalized ADC samples based on the set of first ADC samples and the set of second ADC samples.

Abstract: A method of testing a dynamic write field of a recording head includes preparing a test magnetic medium and recording a write signal on the test magnetic medium with the write signal being set at a first write parameter and a second write parameter. An average of multiple read-back signals of the recorded write signal are captured to determine an average amplitude of the read-back signals. The recording of the write signal on the test magnetic medium and the capturing of the average of multiple read-back signals of the recorded write signal are repeated to determine the average amplitude of the read-back signals by fixing the first write parameter of the write signal and changing the second write parameter of the write signal until the average amplitude of the read-back signals saturates.

Abstract: The steps of forming a multi-layer flexible printed circuit cable (flex circuit) with an electrical interconnection between independent conductive layers. In accordance with various embodiments, a partial aperture is formed in the flex circuit that extends through a first conductive layer and an intervening insulative layer to an underlying surface of a second conductive layer that spans the partial aperture. A solder material is reflowed within the partial aperture to electrically interconnect the first and second conductive layers.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a hybrid data storage device. In some embodiments, the storage device has a hard disc drive (HDD) controller circuit coupled to non-volatile rotatable storage media and a solid state drive (SSD) controller circuit coupled to non-volatile solid state memory. A local volatile memory has separate HDD and SSD partitions respectively accessible by the HDD and SSD controller circuits. A top level controller circuit performs a cleaning operation to transfer a data set from the non-volatile solid state memory to the rotatable storage media by issuing a read command to the HDD controller circuit to retrieve the data set to the HDD partition, transferring the data set from the HDD partition to the SSD partition, and issuing a write command to the SSD controller circuit to write the data set from the SSD partition to the non-volatile solid state memory.

Abstract: A data reader generally capable of sensing data bits may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has free and fixed magnetization structures atop a magnetic seed layer. A bottom shield may be positioned contactingly adjacent the magnetic stack opposite a top shield with the bottom shield having a fixed pinning magnetization set to a predetermined magnetic orientation.

Abstract: In a method, read signals from each of a plurality of read transducers of a data head are buffered for each of a plurality of cross-track positions of the head relative to a data track. The buffered read signals are processed to establish a quality metric for each of the read signals and at least one combination read signal comprising at least two of the read signals. A data recovery cross-track position and a reader configuration comprising one or more of the read transducers are identified based on the quality metrics. A data read operation is then performed with the data head in the data recovery cross-track position using the read signals from the identified reader configuration.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to examples of controlling recycling of blocks of memory. In one example implementation according to aspects of the present disclosure, a method comprises allocating at least one block of memory selected from a subset of blocks to be written in accordance with an equalizing technique to equalize a variation between blocks of memory based on at least one factor. The method further comprises resupplying the subset of blocks.

Abstract: A data reader may have a magnetoresistive stack consisting of at least magnetically free and magnetically fixed structures with the magnetically fixed structure set to a first magnetization direction by a pinning structure separated from an air bearing surface by a front shield portion of a magnetic shield. The pinning structure can meet the front shield portion with a planar sidewall angled at 10° or less with respect to the ABS.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods of managing data storage in a memory device. In a particular embodiment, a method is disclosed that includes receiving, in a data storage device, at least one data packet that has a size that is different from an allocated storage capacity of at least one physical destination location on a data storage medium in the data storage device for the at least one data packet. The method also includes storing the at least one received data packet in a non-volatile cache memory prior to transferring the at least one received data packet to the at least one physical destination location.