Abstract: A disk drive is operable to determine degradation associated with writing to a disk surface by a head which has written existing data at a first areal density. A second areal density less than the first areal density is determined that remediates the degradation. The disk drive performs subsequent writes to the disk surface at the second areal density, and continues to read the existing data at the first areal density.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a substrate and a reader deposited on the substrate. A laser is formed on a non-self supporting structure and bonded to the substrate. A plurality of heat sink layers are deposited between the reader and the laser and configured to provide thermal coupling between the substrate and the laser and sink heat away from the laser. A waveguide is deposited proximate the laser. The waveguide is configured to communicate light from the laser to a near-field transducer that directs energy resulting from plasmonic excitation to a recording medium.

Abstract: A data storage device can employ a microactuator system that efficiently translates longitudinal microactuator strain into movement in-plane with a mid-plane of a gimbal tongue. A gimbal tongue may be suspended from a load beam with a transducing head mounted to the gimbal tongue and the transducing head separated from a magnetic recording medium by an air bearing. A microactuator attached to the gimbal tongue can be positioned so that a mid-plane of the microactuator is congruent with a mid-plane of the gimbal tongue.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide for computing read voltages for a storage device. In one embodiment, a controller is controller is operable to soft read data from a portion of the storage device, and to iteratively test the soft read data a predetermined number of times. For example, the controller may test the soft read data a number of times by applying a different probability weight to the soft read data each time the soft read data is tested. The controller may then decode the soft read data based on the probability weight, and determine an error metric of the decoded soft read data. Then, the controller determines a read voltage for the portion of the storage device based on the probability weight and the error metric.

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: Methods are systems for calculating log-likelihood ratios for a decoder utilized in an electronic non-volatile computer storage apparatus are disclosed. A log-likelihood ratio handler is configured to provide an input log-likelihood ratio to the decoder, wherein the input log-likelihood ratio is one of: a uniform input log-likelihood ratio for all bits calculated based on an estimated raw bit error rate for a particular data unit, or a bit-based input log-likelihood ratio for each bit calculated based on a confidence value for a cell containing said each bit. The decoder of the electronic non-volatile computer storage apparatus is configured to decode encoded data at least partially based on the input log-likelihood ratio from the log-likelihood ratio handler.

Abstract: The present inventions are related to systems and methods for storing data, and more particularly to systems and methods for writing data to a storage device.

Abstract: A bottom surface of an optical component is bonded to a mounting surface. The bottom surface includes a first opaque feature and the mounting surface includes a second opaque feature. The first and second opaque features are hidden between the bottom surface and the mounting surface after the bonding. An infrared image is obtained through a top surface of the optical component that is opposed to the bottom surface. The infrared image includes a view of a region proximate first and second opaque features. One or more of an optical alignment and a bond line thickness between the optical component and the mounting surface is determined via the infrared image.

Abstract: A structure includes a channel waveguide and a pocket adjacent to an input facet of the channel waveguide. A laser having an output facet is positioned in the pocket. The structure includes a stop on either the laser or a wall of the pocket. The stop is positioned at an interface between the laser and the wall of the pocket such that the output facet of the laser and the input facet of the waveguide are separated by a gap.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing a rewrite operation on recording bands of a data storage medium. In some embodiments, data may be read from a target band including a plurality of tracks, and modified. A portion less than all of the modified data is stored to a nonvolatile memory, and all of the modified data is written to the target band. In some embodiments, modified data corresponding to the first two tracks of the target band is stored to the nonvolatile memory, and modified data corresponding to the third track of the target band is written back to the first physical track. Each track may be written in order, ending with the modified data corresponding to the first two tracks. The result may be that data for each track in the band has shifted up two tracks, with data for the first two tracks moved to the end.

Abstract: Tolerances for manufacturing reader structures for transducer heads continue to grow smaller and storage density in corresponding storage media increases. Reader stop layers may be utilized during manufacturing of reader structures to protect various layers of the reader structure from recession and/or scratches while processing other non-protected layers of the reader structure. For example, the stop layer may have a very low polish rate during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing. Surrounding areas may be significantly polished while a structure protected by a stop layer with a very low polish rate is substantially unaffected. The stop layer may then be removed via etching, for example, after the mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing is completed.

Abstract: Systems and methods from loading/unloading a data head for a disk drive provide for more efficient use of disk space. A method of loading/unloading a data head for a disk drive comprises determining a disk phase of a spinning disk arrangement, determining a loading/unloading position based on the disk phase, and loading or unloading the data head on or from, respectively, the spinning disk arrangement based on the determined disk phase. The determining a disk phase may be based on zero crossing of voltages for a three-phase motor associated with the spinning disk arrangement.

Abstract: A light source and a waveguide are mounted on a recording head slider. Light rays are emitted from the light source into the waveguide. The waveguide may include two core layers for light ray transmission. The first core layer enhances light coupling efficiency from the light source to the second core layer. The second core layer transforms a profile of the light. The waveguide may include a tapered portion with a narrow opening near the light source and a wider opening near the tapered portion exit. The light rays passing through the waveguide may be directed toward a collimating mirror. The collimating mirror makes the light rays parallel or nearly parallel and re-directs the light rays to a focusing mirror. The focusing mirror focuses the collimated light rays to a spot on a magnetic media disc.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a hard disk drive includes at least one disk secured to a motor hub with a disk clamp. The disk clamp is positioned radially off-center with respect to the hub to balance a static drive imbalance. In certain embodiments, a method includes radially offsetting a disk clamp to offset a static drive balance.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of maximizing drive performance under any power constraint. In one embodiment, the method includes actively adjusting a seek power draw based on a comparison of real-time calculations of average seek power to a target power threshold.

Abstract: A hermetic seal includes a spring seal compressed with a limited sealing force between sealing surfaces. The sealing surfaces surround a gas-filled cavity that houses heat sensitive components. The hermetic seal includes a film that joins the spring seal to the sealing surfaces. The film includes a material that is softenable by heat to hermetically seal the spring seal to the sealing surfaces. The hermetic seal includes an externally accessible surface for selectively application of the heat to the film, without overheating the heat sensitive components.

Abstract: A locking media pusher is coupled to a servo controlled stage and includes a protruding probe and a locking mechanism. The stage moves forward and backward along a base toward and away from a storage medium. If an eccentricity of a track on the storage medium exceeds a threshold, the storage medium is rotated to an orientation where the greatest eccentricity is directed toward the media pusher. The media pusher is moved toward the storage medium until a probe extending from the media pusher contacts the storage medium. The probe is locked within the media pusher. The stage and attached media pusher are retracted from the storage medium and the storage medium is unlocked. The magnitude of retraction of the stage is recorded. The stage is moved toward the storage medium a distance corresponding to the probe contact position plus the eccentricity magnitude to correct the eccentricity.

Abstract: A method for controlling a hard disk drive, includes a track seeking servo routine in which seek time is measured in a mode of the routine after the trajectory mode, the measured seek time is compared with a predetermined period of time, and an alarm mode is induced when the measured seek time exceeds the predetermined period of seek time.

Abstract: A fixture assembly suitable for use in a manufacturing process includes a crowder plate coupled to a datum plate, which is configured to receive a work piece, such as a disc drive system. In some embodiments, the datum plate is configured to gimbal relative to at least a portion of the crowder plate, and substantially maintain a position along first and second directions relative to at least the portion of the crowder plate. The datum plate is also configured to translate in a third direction relative to at least the portion of the crowder plate, where the first, second, and third directions are substantially orthogonal. In some embodiments, the fixture assembly includes a platform coupled to the crowder plate, where the crowder plate may translate in at least one of the first and second directions relative to the platform.

Abstract: A method of managing a defect of a hard disk drive includes calculating a number of ECC symbols of every sector which becomes an object of a defect scan and setting a defect reference value based on results of the calculation. The hard disk drive sets a sector as a defect sector having the number of ECC symbols greater than a set defect reference value.