Abstract: A data storage device may be configured with a transducing head mounted to a slider. The slider may be suspended above a magnetic data storage medium and have a variable depth region, central rail wall, first wall, and trailing edge wall. The variable depth region continuously contacting a central rail wall from a first wall to a trailing edge wall.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to using solid state deposition to selectively and strategically manage one or more properties of one or more portions of a data storage device. Material deposited via solid-state deposition can be used to prepare a surface for subsequent treatment (e.g., welding), to join two or more substrates together, and/or to seal one or more joints or surfaces to control, e.g., the humidity in the interior of a data storage device. The present disclosure also involves related data storage devices.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing data in a multi-device storage system, such as a RAID (redundant array of independent discs) system. Distributed data sets are stored across a plurality of storage devices. A selected storage device is replaced with a new storage device responsive to an anomalous event. A rebuild operation is performed to reconstruct data from the selected storage device to the new storage device. The rebuild process includes accessing a list of distributed data sets in a local memory. For each distributed data set in the list identified as constituting valid data, read commands are issued to the remaining storage devices and a write command is issued to the new storage device. For each distributed data set in the list identified as constituting unused data, a data clear command is issued to each of the remaining storage devices and to the new storage device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure demonstrate a lapping carrier system for a bar to be lapped. The lapping carrier system may be configured with a single piece insert whose bridge is separated from a plurality of joints of the carrier insert by a varying distance. The varying distance can be greater at a medial portion of the bridge than at an end portion of the bridge to collectively form a parabolic shape. In some embodiments, a lapping insert can include a bridge with its length longer than the bar. In some embodiments in a lapping insert, the centerline between the end joint edge and the end finger edge extends beyond the edge of bar.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for constrained receiver parameter optimization. Two parameter optimization functions may be applied, with one function providing constraints on the results of the second function in order to determine a parameter set to apply in the receiver. A method may comprise determining a first parameter set based on a first function, determining a second parameter set based on a second function different from the first function, and determining a third parameter set by using the first parameter set to define a subset of a parameter space to which to limit values from the second parameter set. In certain embodiments, a least squares function may be used to constrain the results of a general cost function.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method that contemplate a data storage disc and a motor supporting the disc in rotation. Control circuitry operates to spin up the disc drive by accelerating the motor to a steady state speed by: beginning the spin up by energizing the motor with a primary power; comparing an amount of auxiliary power that is available from a battery to a predefined threshold; and before the motor is accelerated to the steady state speed and if the threshold comparison is favorable, then boosting the primary power by discharging the battery for a predetermined boost interval.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording and a submount affixed to the slider. A laser unit is affixed to the submount and comprises a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state. A heater is embedded in the laser unit or the submount. The heater is configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.

Abstract: A data storage system can receive a data write request to write data to a physical address of a non-volatile semiconductor memory prior to detecting an error while storing the write data to the physical address. The detected error is corrected with a monitor module connected to the non-volatile semiconductor memory and a counter associated with the physical address is incremented with the monitor module in response to the corrected error. The write data can be subsequently read to a host in response to a data read request.

Abstract: A recording head includes a substrate, a read transducer, a waveguide core, and a near-field transducer at an end of the waveguide core proximate a media-facing surface. The recording head includes a magnetic write pole and coil. A laser diode unit with one or more non-self-supporting layers of crystalline material region is transfer printed between layers of the recording head.

Abstract: A recording surface of a magnetic disk is divided into first and second zones. A first head of a first actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the first zone exclusively. A second head of a second actuator arm assembly reads from and/or writes to the second zone exclusively. The first and second head are capable of simultaneously reading from and writing to the recording surface.

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: A method includes accessing at least three storage devices each including a first and a second logical unit stored therein. The method also includes grouping the respective first and second logical units of each of the at least three storage devices into a first striped scheme. The method also includes grouping the respective first logical unit of each of the at least three storage devices into a second striped scheme with parity.

Abstract: Systems and methods for servo zone transition optimization are described. In one embodiment, the storage system device includes a disk drive and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to assess at least one operation of a read/write head of the disk drive; and format, based at least in part on the assessing of the read/write head, a disk surface of the disk drive with a first servo zone, a second servo zone, and an overlap region extending between a start point of the second servo zone and an end point of the first servo zone. In some cases, the overlap region starts towards a disk inner diameter (ID) and ends towards a disk outer diameter (OD).

Abstract: A data storage system can employ one or more data storage modules that each have multiple constituent data storage devices. A plurality of data storage devices can be connected to a control board within a single housing with the control board having a number of SATA outputs connected to each of the plurality of data storage devices. The number of SATA outputs may be less than a total number of data storage devices in the plurality of data storage devices. Each SATA output can be connected to a separate first-tier port multiplier that has circuitry to split a single set of SATA signals into multiple duplicate sets of SATA signals.

Abstract: A semiconductor data storage memory can be arranged with an accumulated list in a memory of background operations to be carried out upon a semiconductor memory formed of one or more non-volatile memory dies. When a deterministic window interval is entered responsive to a request from a host during which data transfers between the host and the semiconductor memory meet a minimum predetermined data transfer rate, the accumulated list is sorted into a first set of the background operations that can be performed during the deterministic window interval while maintaining the minimum predetermined data transfer rate and a remaining second set of the background operations. The first set of the background operations is performed during the deterministic window interval prior to the second set of background operations being performed after a conclusion of the deterministic window interval.

Abstract: A method includes generating a plurality of blocks of a block chain wherein the plurality of blocks is associated with components of a storage device. The plurality of blocks is generated by a device other than the storage device when the components are manufactured. The method further includes storing a copy of a ledger associated with the generated blocks on the storage device when the storage device comprises computing power sufficient to generate blocks of a block chain. The method also includes generating additional blocks of the block chain. The additional blocks of the block chain are associated with additional components of the storage device when the additional components are manufactured. The additional blocks are generated independently by the device and by the storage device and wherein respective ledgers are updated.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a plurality of storage devices using a storage management system includes receiving and analyzing input/output data related to the storage devices and generating a model in response to the monitoring, including the detected input/output data related to at least a first and a second storage device, and where the input/output data includes at least one measurable storage device aspect. The method also includes determining, in response to the generating, that the first storage device is a control storage device, and that the second storage device is to be compared to the first storage device and comparing the input/output data of the second storage device to the first storage device according to the at least one measurable storage device aspect. The method also includes determining that the second storage device is operating sub-optimally and transmitting a notification that the second storage device is operating sub-optimally.

Abstract: A heat-assisted recording head is moved onto a ramp such that the recording head is thermally isolated from a moving disk. A heating device is activated on the recording head to cause the recording head to obtain a high temperature that is not obtainable when proximate to the moving disk. The recording head is moved over the moving disk such that the recording head reaches an operating temperature that is below the high temperature. One or more temperatures between the high temperature and the operational temperature are determined at which a laser of the recording head experiences mode-hopping. The one or more temperatures are stored and accessed by a controller to mitigate mode hopes during an operation of the recording head.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for enacting data security in a data storage device, such as by protecting against a differential power analysis (DPA) attack. In some embodiments, a programmable processor executes programming in a memory to perform a cryptographic function upon user data associated with a host command received from a host device. The cryptographic function involves multiple logical computations to arrive at an output value responsive to an input value over a time interval. During the time interval, the programmable processor is repetitively interrupted by a plurality of interrupt calls respectively selected responsive to a first series of random numbers and resumes operation by a corresponding plurality of function return calls respectively selected responsive to a second series of random numbers. Each of the interrupt calls causes the programmable processor to temporarily suspend the multiple logical computations and perform at least one non-cryptographic function.

Abstract: A write head includes a first surface-plasmonic plate proximate a magnetic pole and recessed from a media-facing surface of the write head. A bottom surface of the first surface-plasmonic plate faces away from the magnetic pole and towards a waveguide core. The first surface-plasmonic plate is formed of a first material having lower-loss in plasmonic coupling than a second material, the second material being more mechanically robust than the first material. A second surface-plasmonic plate is formed of the second material and located on the bottom surface of the first surface-plasmonic plate. A lower edge of the second surface-plasmonic plate extends closer to the media-facing surface than the first surface-plasmonic plate. An upper edge of the second surface-plasmonic plate is slanted in a downtrack direction.