Abstract: An input waveguide is disposed on a substrate-parallel plane and configured to receive light from an input surface. A mode converter joins the input waveguide at a junction away from the input surface. The mode converter converts the light from a fundamental mode to a higher-order mode. An input coupler is proximate to and overlapping the input waveguide parallel to the substrate-parallel plane. The input coupler extending from the input surface to the mode converter and has an asymmetric taper that transitions from a wider crosstrack dimension near the input surface to a narrower crosstrack dimension away from the input surface.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems for detecting defective sectors on a recording medium. A defective sector detector apparatus comprises an error-corrected ECC symbol number calculator and a defective sector determination unit. The error-corrected ECC symbol number calculator is configured to count a total number of error correcting code (“ECC”) symbols that are error-corrected in data read from data sectors on a track of a recording medium of the storage device. The defective sector determination unit is configured to receive the total number of ECC symbols that are error-corrected for a data sector from the error-corrected ECC symbol number calculator and determine whether the total number of ECC symbols that are error-corrected exceeds a threshold value. If it is determined that the total number of ECC symbols that are error-corrected exceeds the threshold value, the defective sector determination unit outputs information indicating the data sector to be a defective sector.

Abstract: An environmental control module for use in a hard disk drive, the environmental control module including a body member having an outer peripheral wall defining an inner body member area, the peripheral wall comprising a top edge and a bottom edge, a dividing wall separating at least a portion of the inner body member area into a first section and a second section, and a bottom surface extending from the bottom edge of the outer peripheral wall and comprising an opening into the first section of the inner body member area. The module further includes a first permeable member covering the opening in the bottom surface, a desiccant positioned within the second section of the inner body member area, and a non-permeable member covering the second section of the inner body member.

Abstract: Systems and methods presented herein provide a controller is operable to increase a number of suspend operations during read Input/Output (I/O) operations of a storage device, and to detect an increase in response times for write commands due to the increased number of suspend operations. The controller is also operable to decrease the number of the suspend operations during the reads of the storage device to decrease the response times of the write commands.

Abstract: Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby.

Abstract: A controller is configured to perform various steps including receiving a plurality of user identification values. Another step includes determining a first range of the plurality of user identification values, the first range including a first minimum user identification value and a first maximum user identification value. Another step includes assigning a first user identification value to a first user from the first range of the plurality of user identification values to a first user based on the first minimum and maximum user identification values. Another step includes determining a second user identification value from the first range of the plurality of user identification values by incrementing the first user identification value based on the first minimum and maximum identification values. Yet another step includes assigning the second user identification value to a second user.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly for supporting a read/write head of a disk drive located on a rotatable drive actuator arm is disclosed. The head suspension assembly includes a baseplate end proximate to and operatively connected to a first microactuator pair, the first microactuator pair communicatively coupled to a controller. The head suspension assembly also includes a load beam movably connecting the first microactuator pair to a second microactuator pair. The head suspension assembly also includes a head transducer end proximate to and operatively connected to the second microactuator pair, the second microactuator pair communicatively coupled to the controller. The read/write head is located proximate to the head transducer end, the read/write head being flexibly connected to the load beam, and the controller is configured to selectably transmit control signals to the first and second microactuator pairs in order to improve tracking control of the read/write head.

Abstract: A hard disk drive mounting assembly that includes a disk drive assembly having a base structure that includes a screw hole and a damping insert at least partially surrounding the screw hole. The disk drive assembly further includes a threaded insert positioned in the screw hole of the damping insert.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for data storage. In some embodiments, a solid-state memory includes an array of non-volatile memory cells arranged into erasable blocks. A register stores a multi-bit sequence value. A controller randomizes input data to be written to a selected erasable block by combining the input data with the multi-bit sequence value shifted by a number of bit locations responsive to an accumulated access count for the selected erasable block.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for applying multi-stage multiple input single output (MISO) circuits for fast adaptation. An apparatus may comprise a first reader and a second reader configured to simultaneously read from a single track of a data storage medium, a MISO circuit. The MISO circuit may include a first stage filter having a first number of taps and configured to filter signal samples received from the first reader and the second reader and produce first filtered samples. The MISO circuit may also include a second stage filter having a second number of taps greater than the first number, and be configured to receive the first filtered samples corresponding to the first reader and the second reader from the first filter stage, filter the first filtered samples to produce second filtered samples, and combine the second filtered samples to produce a combined sample output.

Abstract: A slider comprises an air bearing surface (ABS) and is configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium. A writer is provided on the slider and comprises a write coil having a media-facing surface situated at the ABS. Cooling arms project laterally from peripheral surfaces of the write coil and extend along the ABS. The media-facing surface of the write coil and the cooling arms are exposed to the ABS to facilitate increased cooling of the write coil at the ABS.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS), a leading edge, and a trailing edge opposing the leading edge. A writer having a write pole is situated at or near the ABS. A near-field transducer (NFT) is situated at or near the ABS and between the write pole and the leading edge of the slider. An optical waveguide is configured to couple light from a laser source to the NFT. A contact sensor is situated between the write pole and the trailing edge. The contact sensor comprises a first ABS section situated at or near the ABS, a second ABS section situated at or near the ABS and spaced apart from the first ABS in a cross-track direction by a gap, and a distal section extending away from the ABS and connecting the first ABS section with the second ABS section.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a memory and a controller. The memory may be configured to store data. The controller may be configured to process a plurality of input/output requests to a plurality of blocks of the memory that are not marked as bad on a block list, perform a code rate test that programs the plurality of blocks of the memory at three or more code rates of an error correction code scheme, and mark any of the plurality of blocks identified as bad during the code rate test on the block list.

Abstract: A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording includes a laser diode optically coupled to a waveguide of the slider. A power supply is coupled to the laser diode. A preamplifier is coupled to the power supply. The preamplifier is configured to monitor a forward voltage across the laser diode while operating the laser diode at a constant current during a write operation, detect a change in the forward voltage indicative of laser power instability, and generate a signal in response to detecting the forward voltage change.

Abstract: A device may include a SSD having multiple storage units and a deduplication control circuit configured to determine whether selected data content to be stored is a duplicate of previous data content already in a first buffer of data buffered to be stored in a set of storage units. The deduplication circuit may be further configured to, based on a determination that the selected data content is a duplicate of first previous data content already buffered in the first buffer, instead of buffering another copy of the selected data content, buffer a first header including a first pointer that associates the first header with the first previous data content already buffered in the first buffer. The deduplication circuit may also be configured to reorder the first buffer such that individual data contents in the first buffer are grouped near headers associated with the individual data contents.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a light source configured to generate light, and a modulator coupled to the light source and configured to modulate the light above a predetermined frequency. A slider is configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and to receive the modulated light. A resistive sensor is integral to the slider and subject to heating by absorption of electromagnetic radiation and conduction of heat. Measuring circuitry is coupled to the resistive sensor and configured to measure a response of the resistive sensor due to absorbed electromagnetic radiation and not from the heat conduction. The measuring circuitry may further be configured to determine output optical power of the light source using the measured resistive sensor response.

Abstract: A slider configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording comprises an optical sensor coupled to first and second bond pads. The optical sensor comprises a bolometer and a reference sensor. The bolometer is situated at a location of the slider that receives at least some of the light and exposed to an ambient temperature at the slider. The bolometer produces a signal in response to a change in the ambient temperature and the change in output optical power. The reference sensor is situated at a location of the slider unexposed to the light and exposed to the ambient temperature. The reference sensor is coupled to the bolometer and configured to produce a signal in response to the change in the ambient temperature. The optical sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of changes in output optical power of a laser source without contribution due to ambient temperature changes.

Abstract: A near-field transducer has an enlarged portion with a layer of soft plasmonic material. A peg is embedded in a lower part of the enlarged portion that faces a media-facing surface. The peg has an elongated outer part that extends from a lower edge of the enlarged portion towards the media-facing surface and an embedded part that is embedded within the enlarged portion. The embedded part could be any shape. The peg is formed of a thermally robust plasmonic material.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider configured for magnetic recording. The slider comprises an air bearing surface (ABS), a writer, a reader, and a plurality of electrical bond pads. A thermocouple is situated at the ABS proximate the reader and coupled to a pair of the electrical bond pads. The thermocouple is dimensioned to sense for a thermal asperity on a surface of a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of signal lanes. The PCBA also includes at least one application-specific integrated circuit operatively mounted to the printed circuit board and connected with the plurality of signal lanes. The PCBA includes a first configuration element operatively mounted to the printed circuit board in a first orientation and at a first location and having a first bridging element for providing an electrical connection between at least a first pair of signal lanes selected from the plurality of signal lanes. The first configuration element also includes a second bridging element so that if the first configuration element were operatively mounted to the printed circuit board in a different, second orientation relative to the printed circuit board, the second bridging element would provide an electrical connection between at least a second pair of signal lanes.