Abstract: A multilayered ferromagnetic laminate includes a first magnetic film having a cobalt alloy and a second magnetic film having an iron-nitrogen alloy. The films are deposited upon one another and laminated to provide a multilayered film structure having an alternating plurality of the first and second magnetic films. The cobalt alloy may be a cobalt-zirconium-tantalum alloy. The nitrogen is incorporated interstitially in the crystalline structure of the iron of the second magnetic film. The laminate forms the magnetic shields and the write poles of magnetic disk and tape heads. The lamination of the first magnetic film which has high electrically resistive, high mechanical hardness, and high magnetic moment characteristics with the second magnetic film which has lower electrically resistive and very high magnetic moment characteristics yields the laminate which has very high magnetic moment and very hard pole material characteristics and has the ability to write at high frequencies.

Abstract: A method for adding intelligence into the tape drive subsystems of a media storage library. The present invention improves overall system availability by enhancing existing control, monitoring, and diagnostic functionalities. As a result of inserting intelligence into the drive trays, certain control and monitoring functions traditionally performed by the main library controller may be performed locally at the drive trays. Since certain functions are performed locally at the drive trays, fewer connections are required between the tape drive trays and the main library controller. Also, the main library controller's performance is not degraded as the number of tape drives increases. The present invention also provides flexibility to the storage system since new features and functions may be added to the drive tray subsystem without the need to modify the base library cabling infrastructure.

Abstract: An optical disk device of the present invention has a main PC board carrying a semiconductor element and attached at the rear of a drawer to efficiently dissipate a heat generated from the semiconductor element. The drawer is formed of a material having good thermal conductivity. A thermal conductive member having good thermal conductivity is interposed between the IC desired to be dissipate heat and the drawer.

Abstract: A system for page-based optical data storage includes a sensor array positioned to track a data page when the data page is optically read from or recorded to a storage medium. A servo mechanism is used to position the sensor array. A plurality of alignment points are defined relative to the photodetector pixel array. An alignment arrangement is located at each alignment point. The sensor array further includes servo-feedback signal generation logic operative to drive the servo mechanism based on error signals from the alignment arrangements, thereby aligning the two-dimensional photodetector array with respect to the two-dimensional data page.

Abstract: A system and method for Reverse Error Correction Coding. The system includes a Constraint encoder, an Error Correction Code encoder, and a uniform interleaver. The Constraint encoder receives a source data stream and generates a first intermediate encoded data stream satisfying a first predetermined timing data constraint. The Error Correction Code encoder receives the first intermediate encoded data stream and generates a second intermediate encoded data stream having one or more Error Correction Code based elements. The uniform interleaver receives the second intermediate encoded data stream and generates a channel data stream having the one or more Error Correction Code based elements and satisfying a second predetermined timing data constraint.

Abstract: A method is provided for inhibiting corrosion in a layer of Cu or other material in a GMR sensor, wherein the GMR sensor may be used in a magnetic data storage system such as a tape drive system to substantially improve read head sensitivity. The GMR sensor comprises stacked layers of ferromagnetic and non-magnetic materials. In one useful embodiment, a layer of Cu material is positioned between first and second layers of a specified ferromagnetic material, such as CoFe. Respective end surfaces of the Cu layer and first and second CoFe layers are initially located in substantially co-planar relationship with one another, in a common plane. The method further comprises etching the Cu layer to remove an amount of material therefrom. A new end surface is thus formed in the Cu layer, wherein the new end surface is selectively spaced apart from the common plane. A protective coating is then applied to the new end surface of the Cu layer, to inhibit corrosion of such layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible storage system through the use of portable, removable canisters holding multiple storage subsystems.

Abstract: A system for object-based archival data storage includes an object-based storage subsystem having respective data storage devices, an administration interface and a meta data subsystem for storing meta data about files. The system includes an algorithm for analyzing and conducting a reverse differential analysis and compression of data objects for storage and retrieval from the object storage subsystem.

Abstract: A system is provided to support dynamically changeable virtual mapping schemes in a data processing system. The present invention separates processing of data unit requirements from the selection of which storage subsystems to use for storage by using a storage methodologies inventory. A stored data management subsystem contains one or more hosts. A plurality of data storage elements is functionally coupled to the one or more hosts. The plurality of data storage elements is organized using a plurality of layers of mapping tables. The plurality of layers of mapping tables provides unique identification of location of the data such that individual data entries in a mapping table is variable and self-defining with respect to the amount of data managed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a thermally conductive packaging technique for cooling electronic systems. A heat source is partially surrounded by a set of thermal transfer media. A set of thermal transfer shells partially surround the set of thermal transfer media. The heat source connection means are left exposed and utilized for connection to the electronic system. The heat source, the set of thermal transfer media configured to partially surround the heat source, and the thermal transfer shell partially surrounding the set of thermal transfer media form a thermal transfer module. Thermal transfer modules may be placed in thermally conductive cells. A set of thermal transfer sheets are placed in contact with both or either of the thermal transfer module and the thermally conductive cell, facilitating a heat exchange with an environment external to the thermal transfer module.

Abstract: A magnetic head for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic recording medium includes an inductive-type writer, an anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) reader, and a giant magneto-resistive (GMR) reader. The AMR reader is used to read data from “high magnetic flux” recording mediums which have been recorded for use with AMR sensors. The GMR reader is used to read data from “low magnetic flux” recording mediums which have been recorded for use with GMR sensors. As such, the magnetic head provides for backward compatibility between the previously prevalent “high magnetic flux” recording mediums and the expected future prevalent “low magnetic flux” recording mediums. The magnetic head may be configured such that the writer and the AMR and GMR readers share sensor shields in various configurations in order to carry out their writing and reading functions.

Abstract: A tape cartridge transport assembly for moving a tape cartridge between a first library and a second library includes a guide arrangement disposable between the first and second libraries, and a cartridge carrier that is moveable along the guide arrangement. The cartridge carrier includes a carrier body having an opening for receiving the tape cartridge, and a retention device associated with the carrier body. The retention device is engageable with the tape cartridge for retaining the tape cartridge in the carrier body as the cartridge carrier moves along the guide arrangement. The assembly further includes a drive mechanism associated with the cartridge carrier for automatically moving the cartridge carrier along the guide arrangement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for managing power sequencing in a data storage system. The turn-on or spin-up sequence for the media drives in an array of media drives is selectively controlled such that the overall rush current is reduced. The individual drive components are characterized to determine a power profile for each such component. A closed-loop process is then used to manage and reduce peak power requirements when starting up or spinning up an array of media drives using the drive profiles. The media drives can also be organized as a plurality of sets of drives, and a power profile for each set of drives is used to manage and reduce peak power requirements.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetic writer includes depositing a wear-resistant bottom pole tip layer on a bottom pole; depositing a write gap layer on the bottom pole tip layer; and depositing a wear-resistant top pole tip layer on the write gap layer. The layers are patterned such that the write gap layer and the top pole tip layer each have a track width facing a media surface and the write gap layer and the top pole tip layer each have the same length equal to a throat height between the media surface and a zero throat location. The bottom pole tip layer and the bottom pole are patterned such that the bottom pole tip layer has the track width facing the media surface and the bottom pole has a bottom pole tip at the media surface with the bottom pole tip having the track width facing the media surface.

Abstract: An optical disk apparatus includes an optical pickup head which radiates a laser beam on the label surface of the optical disk, thereby printing the label image information, a laser driving unit which sets a laser power of the laser beam which is radiated from the optical pickup head, a memory which stores the label image information, and a control unit which determines a label image, which is to be printed on the label surface, on the basis of the label image information, sets a trial write region within a label image region on the label surface, causes the optical pickup head to radiate the laser beam on the trial write region, sets the laser power of the laser driving unit in accordance with a reflectance obtained from reflective light of the laser beam, and prints the label image information on the label surface.

Abstract: A giant magneto-resistive (GMR) transducer for reading data signals magnetically recorded on tape includes a GMR sensor and a separation structure formed on a front edge of the GMR sensor. The GMR sensor reads data signals magnetically recorded on a tape located at a head-tape interface. The separation structure physically separates the GMR sensor from the head-tape interface. The separation structure includes at least one film formed of at least one of non-magnetic and ferromagnetic materials such that the separation structure isolates the GMR sensor from physical contact with the tape at the head-tape interface while maintaining the ability of the GMR sensor to read data signals magnetically recorded on the tape even though the GMR sensor is physically separated from the tape at the head-tape interface. The separation structure may include an under-layer film and an isolation film. The GMR transducer is fabricated by a series of fabrication steps.

Abstract: A method, computer program product, and data processing system for continuously writing new data to a redundant array of independent storage devices without interrupting the writing of new data to the array to reconstruct missing data from a failed device or failed media is disclosed. A fault-tolerance scheme using multiple independent parity values is used to record data to the array. In the event that one of the volumes in the array fails, the remaining volumes continue being written to, but with fewer data or parity values being employed. The failed volume can then be reconstructed following the completion of writing the media set currently being written.

Abstract: Of the two coil units 2-1 and 2-2 constituting an upper-stage coil unit, the coil unit 2-1 is passed through the winding of a coil unit 1-2 that constitutes a lower-stage coil unit, together with a coil unit 1-1, from inside to outside of the winding. A wire led inwards from the coil unit 2-1 of the upper-stage coil unit is passed through the inside of the winding of the coil unit 1-1 of the lower-stage coil unit, and is pulled outside the winding of the coil unit 1-1.

Abstract: Error messages generated when accessing more then one physical storage device are handled by coalescing the status from each accessed physical storage device. A controller receives a virtual storage request from a computing device specifying a virtual data access. The virtual data access includes a plurality of blocks, each block associated with one of at least two target physical storage devices. An access sequence associating one target storage device with each block in the received virtual storage access request is determined. At least one physical access request is sent to each target storage device. At least one error message is received from a target storage device, each error message having an error type. An error response is determined based on the error message type and on the access sequence.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a data management appliance and ancillary technologies for replicating data written to a primary storage system. The data management appliance is a random-access storage system that at the logical block level replicates the contents of a primary storage system over time.