Abstract: Apparatus for storing and retrieving data such as in a computer network. A plurality of local data storage units each comprise a local control circuit and a housing which encloses a moveable data transducer adjacent a data storage medium. A shared resource module physically interconnects each of the local units, and includes shared circuitry that supplies a resource required by the local control circuits to transfer data to and from the data storage media. In some preferred embodiments, the resource comprises a programming instruction set that is utilized by a programmable processor in each of the local control circuits, such as servo code used to provide data transducer positional control. Alternatively, the resource comprises a shared buffer memory space utilized by read/write channels in each of the local control circuits. Preferably, data are stored across the data storage media using RAID techniques (redundant array of independent discs/devices).

Abstract: Provided herein is a method including conformally depositing a first layer over a patterned resist; depositing a second, thicker layer over the first layer; etching the second layer to expose the first layer; and patterning a magnetic layer by ion implantation in accordance with the patterned resist to form a patterned magnet layer.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for extending a lifetime of memory. In operation, spare space in memory is increased. Additionally, a lifetime of the memory is extended, as a result of increasing the spare space in the memory.

Abstract: Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for perturbing soft data in a layered decoder system.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including an inner component, wherein the inner component includes a thrust plate; an outer component, wherein the inner component and the outer component are positioned for relative rotation, and wherein the inner component and the outer component are positioned to form at least one bearing having a groove pattern that imparts a predetermined direction to the rotational motion of the inner component and the outer component; and a gas inlet operable to receive a pressurized gas.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading a flash memory includes a read controller operable to read the flash memory to yield read patterns, a likelihood generator operable to map the read patterns to likelihood values, a decoder operable to decode the likelihood values, a data state storage operable to retrieve the likelihood values for which decoding failed, and a selective dampening controller operable to select at least one dampening candidate from among the likelihood values for which decoding failed, to dampen the likelihood values of the at least one dampening candidate to yield dampened likelihood values, and to provide the dampened likelihood values to the decoder for decoding.

Abstract: The disclosure is related to systems and methods for achieving improved servo Gray code error detection and correction. A device may include a circuit configured to read servo data that is encoded using a Gray code encoding scheme to produce servo Gray code, read one or more Check bits associated with the servo Gray code, determine whether a read or write head is positioned over a target data track based on the servo Gray code and the one or more Check bits, and execute a read or write operation when the read or write head is positioned over the target data track.

Abstract: A solid state drive and a method for providing active recycling for the solid state drive are disclosed. The solid state drive includes a plurality of blocks and each of the plurality of blocks includes a plurality of pages. The method steps include receiving a read request from a data requester; identifying at least one page containing data requested by the read request; determining whether the at least one page belongs to a block identified for active recycling; writing the at least one page to a different block when the at least one page belongs to the block identified for active recycling; and sending the at least one page to the data requester in response to the read request.

Abstract: Calibration and calculation of thermal clearance compensation of a head in a storage device without causing contact between the head and a storage medium. The thermal clearance compensation may be configured to compensate for any changing fly height of the head of the storage device during different temperature conditions based on high and low temperature signal data.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a storage medium and a controller. The storage medium generally stores user data in logical pages. The controller may be configured to encrypt and decrypt user data during write and read operations, respectively. The user data is generally in a plurality of data bands. Each data band is encrypted and decrypted using a unique media encryption key. When a boundary between a pair of data bands is within a logical page, the controller may be configured to create two logical page instances, a first logical page instance storing data from a first data band of the pair of data bands and a second logical page instance storing data from a second data band of the pair of data bands. The first and second logical page instances are encrypted and decrypted using the unique media encryption key of the first and second data bands, respectively.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with various embodiments, a first data access operation is conducted on a memory cell and a first temperature associated with the memory cell and associated with the first data access operation is measured. A second temperature associated with the memory cell is measured. At least one operational parameter is adjusted responsive to the first and second temperatures associated with the memory cell. A second data access operation is conducted on the memory cell using the adjusted operational parameter.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor including a free layer comprising a first layer of CoFeB or CoFe/CoFeB and a second layer made of an alloyed layer including a ferromagnetic material and a refractory material. An implementation of the MR sensor further includes a cap layer adjacent to the second layer wherein the cap layer does not include any tantalum.

Abstract: A system or a device having a storage area with a plurality of circumferential tracks around a central axis, the tracks for storing data therein. The system or device includes at least two media scratch pads in the storage area, located at different radii from the central axis. In some implementations, the storage area has multiple discs.

Abstract: A disc data storage medium can include a shingled band of tracks, some of which do not map to host accessible logical block address. The tracks that do not map to host accessible logical block addresses (cache tracks) can store cache data and may map to disc accessible logical block addresses. Data operations can be performed on the data in the cache tracks, and the data may then be moved to storage regions mapped to host logical block addresses.

Abstract: The application discloses a sensor device to measure friction force at a head-media interface. As disclosed, the sensor device has a transducer element oriented to provide an electrical output responsive to force or strain imparted to the transducer element along an in-plane axis. Sensor circuitry is coupled to the transducer element to process the electrical output to provide an output measure of friction force. In illustrated embodiments, the head includes an actuator element which is powered on/off at an on/off frequency to cyclically protrude a localized portion of the head. The on/off frequency of the actuator is used by the sensor circuitry to detect excitation of the sensor device due to friction force at the head-media interface.

Abstract: Assemblies and methods that include a flex circuit having a slider facing surface and an opposing back surface; a slider having a back surface and an opposing air bearing surface (ABS), the slider including an electrical connection region; and a through circuit electrical connection, that is in electrical connection with the electrical connection region of the slider, the back surface of the slider interfacing with the slider facing surface of the flex circuit.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for reducing write operations in memory. In use, write operations to be performed on data stored in memory are identified. A difference is then determined between results of the write operations and the data stored in the memory. Difference information associated with the difference is stored in the memory. To this end, the write operations may be reduced, utilizing the difference information.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a patterned resist overlying a substrate; a number of features of the patterned resist, wherein the number of features respectively includes a number of sidewalls; and a sidewall-protecting material disposed about the number of sidewalls, wherein the sidewall-protecting material is characteristic of a conformal, thin-film deposition, and wherein the sidewall-protecting material facilitates a high-fidelity pattern transfer of the patterned resist to the substrate during etching.

Abstract: Data storage systems having barriers that may reduce erasure flux and increase write-ability are provided. Data storage systems include a writing element. The writing element has a write pole with a flare region. A magnetic flux barrier is located along the write pole flare region. The magnetic flux barrier is illustratively made from an in-plane magnetically anisotropic material that has an easy plane of magnetization. In another embodiment, a data storage system includes a writing element having an air bearing surface and a shield at the air bearing surface. The shield has a magnetic permeability of approximately zero. The shield illustratively includes alternating layers of positive and negative permeabilities. The shield optionally includes a plurality of shields that may include top, bottom, and side shields.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide for increasing storage drive performance by reserving a region of user-writeable storage space on a storage medium for overprovisioning uses, including performance-enhancing functions. Until a capacity condition of the storage drive is satisfied, write operations targeting the reserved region are written to another equal-sized region that does not contain user data.