Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic recording head comprising a read head. The read head comprises a first sensor disposed at a media facing surface (MFS) comprising at least one free layer, a second sensor disposed at the MFS comprising at least one free layer, a first spin generator spaced from the first sensor and recessed from the MFS, and a second spin generator spaced from the second sensor and recessed from the MFS. The first and second spin generators each individually comprises at least one spin orbit torque (SOT) layer. The SOT layer may comprise BiSb. The first and second sensors are configured to detect a read signal using a first voltage lead and a second voltage lead. The first and second spin generators are configured to inject spin current through non-magnetic layers to the first and second sensors using a plurality of current leads.

Abstract: A double mask process may be used to define layers of a near field transducer (NFT) to enable independent control over each layer. Controlling critical features of the NFT, including the apex width, taper angles, and flare angles is important for achieving desired areal density capabilities (ADC) of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) devices. By using a first mask to define a first layer of the NFT then a second mask to define a second layer of the NFT, limitations of the single mask NFT definition process may be overcome. For example, the limitation of using the same flare shape for both the first and the second NFT layers. Further, since the apex width of the NFT is defined by a separate mask, further scaling down of the apex width may also be achieved in a double mask NFT definition process.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape head module assembly and a tape drive including the tape head module assembly. The tape head module assembly comprises a first tape head module disposed on a first actuator and a second tape head module disposed on a second actuator. The first actuator is configured to move the first tape head module in a first direction and a second direction opposite the first direction to tilt the first tape head module, and the second actuator is configured to move the second tape head module in the first direction and the second direction to tilt the second tape head module. The first tape head module is operable to write data to a tape using perpendicular magnetic recording, and the second tape head module is operable to read-verify the newly written data.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sliders with at least one notch in the trailing pad, methods of making them, and data storage devices comprising them. In some embodiments, a slider comprises a leading-edge surface, a trailing-edge surface, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) that includes a trailing pad situated closer to the trailing-edge surface than to the leading-edge surface, wherein the trailing pad comprises a main portion, a mini-pad situated between the main portion and the trailing-edge surface, and a neck portion connecting the mini-pad to the main portion, wherein a minimum width of the neck portion in a cross-track direction is less than a minimum width of the mini-pad in the cross-track direction.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and a bridge device for a data storage device array that enables data transfer between data storage devices without transferring data to the host system are described. The bridge device receives a data transfer command from the host system, such as a fused read and write command, and converts it to separate read and write commands for the source and destination storage devices. The bridge device may operate in a non-volatile memory express over fabric (NVMe-oF) environment and manage the command queues, connection verifications, and command conversions to enable data transfer among storage devices connected to a shared peripheral component interface express (PCIe) root complex without using host network bandwidth or memory.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises a disk; a head configured to read data from and write data to the disk; and a current balancer configured to receive a first voltage supply having a load limit and to receive a second voltage supply. The current balancer is further configured, to reduce power consumption, to sample a first current drawn from the first voltage supply, to maintain the first current at a target level that approximately equals the load limit, and to draw a second current from the second voltage supply to satisfy a part of a total load on the first voltage supply that exceeds the load limit.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to spin-orbit torque (SOT) device comprising a bismuth antimony (BiSb) layer. The SOT device comprises a seed layer and a BiSb layer having a (012) orientation. The seed layer comprises at least one of an amorphous/nanocrystalline material with a nearest neighbor x-ray diffraction peak with a d-spacing in the range of about 2.02 ? to about 2.20 ?; a polycrystalline material having a (111) orientation and an a-axis of about 3.53 ? to about 3.81 ?; and a polycrystalline material having a cubic (100) or tetragonal (001) orientation and an a-axis of about 4.1 ? to about 4.7 ?. When the seed layer comprises an amorphous material or a polycrystalline material having a (111), the BiSb layer is doped, and the seed layer has a lower a/c ratio than when the seed layer comprises polycrystalline material having a cubic (100) or tetragonal (001) orientation.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing hard disk drives (HDDs) includes assembling a first HDD including a first slider having a first air bearing surface (ABS) configuration, configuring the first HDD to rotate its disk media at a first revolutions-per-minute (RPM), and sealing the first HDD with a first internal pressure level. Continuing, the method includes assembling a second HDD including a second head slider having the same first ABS configuration, configuring the second HDD to rotate its disk media at a second RPM that is lower than the first RPM, and sealing the second HDD with a second internal pressure level that is higher than the first pressure level. Thus, in the context of using a common slider among different RPM drives, a higher internal pressure for the lower RPM drive can compensate for loss in fly height that might otherwise occur due to the lower operational RPM.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to magnetic recording heads of magnetic recording devices. To protect and lubricate magnetic elements of the magnetic recording heads (e.g., reader sensors), a coating of carbon is applied to the magnetic element. When there are defects in the carbon coating, the sensor is exposed to air and may corrode causing reader sensor failure. Protrusions and/or recesses may form on the MFS of the sensor when materials that are too hard (e.g., CoHf or Ru) or too soft (e.g., IrMn) are used in the spacer or capping layer of the sensor. By laminating, co-sputtering, or using an alloy with hard materials (e.g., Ta, Ru, and/or Hf) and/or soft materials (e.g., Al, Ti, Cr, and/or Ni) in the spacer and capping layer of the sensor, the formation of protrusion and recesses in the reader sensor may be mitigated.

Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device, method, and one or more processing devices that are configured to: store heater power history data defining historic levels of heater power applied to the heater in the selected head; based on the heater power history data, select one or more calibrations from plural calibrations that define relationships between the fly height of the selected head and different levels of heater power change; and determine a predicted fly height of the selected head over a target sector of the one or more disks using the selected one or more calibrations and the heater power history data.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises a disk and a recording head. The recording head comprises a write thermal sensor, a read thermal sensor, and a laser configured for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). Control circuitry shapes a bias signal applied to the read thermal sensor to mirror a thermal response of the write thermal sensor during laser operation, generates a differential signal based on a difference between the write thermal sensor response and the read thermal sensor response, and monitors the differential signal to detect laser mode hopping.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic recording system comprising a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a main pole, a shield, and a spintronic device disposed between the main pole and the shield. The spintronic device comprises a field generation layer (FGL) spaced a distance of about 2 nm to about 3 nm from the main pole, a first spacer layer disposed on the FGL, a spin torque layer (STL) disposed on the first spacer layer, a second spacer layer disposed on the STL, and a negative polarization layer (NPL) disposed between the second spacer layer and the shield. The spintronic device has a length of about 17 nm to about 21. During operation, the STL has a magnetization precession of about 16 degrees to about 170 degrees, and the FGL has a magnetization precession of about 60 degrees to about 70 degrees.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a bismuth antimony (BiSb) based STO (spin torque oscillator) sensor. The STO sensor comprises a SOT device and a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure. By utilizing a BiSb layer within the SOT device, a larger spin Hall angle (SHA) can be achieved, thereby improving the efficiency and reliability of the STO sensor.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a top head actuated over a top surface of a first disk, a bottom head actuated over a bottom surface of the first disk, a top head actuated over a top surface of a second disk, and a bottom head actuated over a bottom surface of the second disk. A dual channel preamp circuit is coupled to the top and bottom heads of the first and second disks, wherein a selection signal is applied to the dual channel preamp circuit to select between the first disk and the second disk. A concurrent access operation of the top and bottom surface of the selected disk is executed using the dual channel preamp circuit.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape drive comprising a tape head assembly. The tape head assembly comprises a head block having a first end and a second end, the second end being opposite the first end, one or more tape head modules disposed on the head block, the one or more tape head modules each comprising a plurality of data elements, a first spring disposed at the first end of the head block, a piezoelectric element disposed in contact with the second end of the head block, a counterweight disposed adjacent to the second end of the head block, and a second spring disposed adjacent to the second end of the head block. The counterweight has a first weight. The head block and the one or more tape head modules have a collective second weight. The first weight is equal to or greater than the second weight.

Abstract: An external data storage device, without a battery, provides a user-selectable low power mode. The external data storage device includes storage media for storing data and a data port for receiving power and transmitting data to a host device. The external storage data device includes control circuitry configured to negotiate delivery of a first amount of power from the host device in response to connecting the external data storage device to the host device, receive the first amount of power from the host device, receive a selection, via an input device, of a reduced power mode from a user, and reduce power consumption from the host device to a second amount of power lower than the first amount of power in response to receiving the selection of the reduced power mode.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a tape drive comprising a tape and a tape head. The tape drive comprises a processor configured to perform a disturbance profile identification detecting one or more disturbances along a length of a tape. The disturbance profile identification is used to create a peak filter array, which is used to instruct the piezoelectric and/or voice coil motor actuators to move the tape head to adjust a frequency of the disturbances. The peak filter array is further used to partition the tape into a plurality of zones based on a size of the peak filter array. Servo parameters of a servo head are then updated based on the peak filter array within each zone to adjust the control strategy specific to each zone. Utilizing the disturbance profile identification prevents track following capability loss against the dynamic lateral tape motion of the tape drive.

Abstract: A hard disk drive enclosure base includes a groove extending from an internal sidewall surface into the sidewall and a gasket seal embedded in the groove. In the context of progressively larger recording disk diameters, corresponding expanding disk shrouds, and corresponding narrower baseplate sidewalls, such a baseplate is configured to enable a first cover to physically engage with a portion of the embedded gasket seal that extends inward away from the sidewall surface, thereby providing a suitable drive sealing mechanism.

Abstract: A data storage device stores a set of pre-trained machine learning (ML) models along with corresponding customer digital certificates and other information. Techniques are provided herein for allowing customers to access selected ML models using a digital certificate and a public key so that the selected ML models may then be loaded into a data storage controller of the data storage device for use, for example, by firmware of the controller to intelligently control data pre-fetch, data relocation, or other data processing functions. Techniques are also provided to allow customers to selectively update or replace ML models with customer-supplied models, subject to authentication of the customer and verification of the compatibility of the ML model within the data storage controller. Still other techniques are provided for allowing ML models from the data storage device to be loaded into a secure enclave within the host to execute within the secure enclave.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to spin-orbit torque (SOT) devices comprising a bismuth antimony (BiSb) layer. The SOT devices further comprises a nonmagnetic buffer layer, a nonmagnetic interlayer, a ferromagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic barrier layer. One or more of the barrier layer, interlayer, and buffer layer comprise a polycrystalline non-Heusler alloy material, or a Heusler alloy and a material selected from the group consisting of: Cu, Ag, Ge, Mn, Ni, Co, Mo, W, Sn, B, and In. The Heusler alloy is a full Heusler alloy comprising X2YZ or a half Heusler alloy comprising XYZ, where X is one of: Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Ir, Pt, and Au, Y is one of: Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, and W, and Z is one of: B, Al, Si, Ga, Ge, As, In, Sn, Sb, and Bi.