Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for validating elements of storage devices. A an example, various embodiments of the present invention provide semiconductor devices that include a write path circuit, a read path circuit and a validation circuit. The write path circuit is operable to receive a data input and to convert the data input into write data suitable for storage to a storage medium. The read path circuit is operable to receive read data and to convert the read data into a data output. The validation circuit is operable to: receive the write data, augment the write data with a first noise sequence to yield a first augmented data series; and augment a derivative of the first augmented data series with a second noise sequence to yield the read data.

Abstract: A mobile event data recorder is described providing a contained environmental control system for a hard drive module for use in, or with, a vehicle. A hard drive housing with multiple hard drives and a vibration isolation system are provided within a hard drive module chassis. The vibration isolation system simultaneously provides triaxial isolation in each of two different orientations of the hard drive module. First and second vibration isolators connect the hard drive housing with adjoining walls of the chassis, the first and second vibration isolators positioned to achieve a natural resonant frequency suitable to isolate frequencies in the hard drive operating range, taking into account the forces that will be applied to the vehicle. The natural resonant frequency can be about 10 Hz or less, in order to isolate the hard drives from frequencies of greater than about 10 Hz.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk having a plurality of tracks. A pattern is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and the read signal is sampled to generate read samples. Predictable disturbing samples are generated as a function of the pattern. The predictable disturbing samples are added to the read samples to generate disturbed samples, and a data sequence is detected from the disturbed samples.

Abstract: Provided is a method for receiving a DSS sequence and a DSS readback sequence, which is a function of a channel processing of the DSS sequence by a read channel. A coefficient cyclic equalizer vector is generated as a function of the DSS sequence and the DSS readback sequence. An error signal is generated as a function of a comparison of the DSS sequence and an equalization of the DSS readback sequence based on the coefficient cyclic equalizer vector. An unacceptable error signal indicates a need to adjust the coefficient cyclic equalizer vector to yield an acceptable comparison of the DSS sequence and an equalization of the DSS readback sequence based on the coefficient cyclic equalizer vector.

Abstract: A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head and system has a spin-torque oscillator (STO) located between the write pole of the write head and a trailing shield that alters the write field from the write pole. The STO is a stack of layers whose planes lie generally parallel to the X-Y plane of an X-Y-Z coordinate system, the stack including a ferromagnetic polarizer layer, a free ferromagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer between the polarizer layer and the free layer. In the presence of the write field from the write pole the polarizer layer has its magnetization oriented at an angle between 20 and 80 degrees, preferably between 30 and 70 degrees, with the Z-axis. In the presence of a direct electrical current through the STO stack, the free layer magnetization rotates or precesses about the Z-axis with a non-zero angle to the Z-axis.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes an analog input for receiving an analog signal; a variable gain amplifier coupled to the analog input; a first gain control circuit coupled to the variable gain amplifier for controlling the gain of the analog signal; an analog to digital converter for converting the analog signal to a digital signal; a first gain error generation circuit for generating a first gain error signal based on an output of the analog to digital converter, the first gain error signal or derivative thereof being received by the first gain control circuit; and a second gain error generation circuit for generating a second gain error signal based on the digital signal, the second gain error signal or derivative thereof being received by the first gain control circuit, wherein the first gain control circuit uses at least one of the gain error signals to control the gain of the analog signals.

Abstract: A magnetic head, includes a magnetic oscillation element, the oscillation frequency of which is modulated by a medium magnetic field, and a reproducing device configured to detect a phase difference between the adjacent oscillation signals derived from the magnetic oscillation element and output a phase difference signal as a reproduced signal.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and systems describing digital techniques to decode signals extracted from computer-readable storage media. A digital signal that includes a digital representation of a repeatable runout signal having a magnitude and included in an analog signal is obtained. An estimate of the magnitude of the RRO signal based on the digital signal is determined. The estimate is provided for decoding the digital signal to extract the included data by adapting a detector gain target in accordance with the estimate. The detector gain target is a function of a desired amplitude of the RRO signal.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to embed information while making effective use of a recording area at the time of recording data. To this end, a controller in a tape drive includes: a storage unit which stores information desired to be embedded; an acquisition unit which acquires the information stored in the storage unit; a writing unit which repeatedly writes a CQ set determined on the basis of the acquired information the number of times determined on the basis of this information; a reading unit which reads data in which information is embedded; and an identification unit which identifies information embedded in the read data, and which determines whether or not the read data can be used and the like, in comparison with this information and the information stored in the storage unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting write synchronization of a magnetic storage device with respect to magnetic storage media and its corresponding writable magnetic bits, or dots. In particular, these systems and methods involve using time-shifting principles to calibrate the magnetic storage devices to correct slow drifts of reader-writer timing. It is to be appreciated that time-shifting techniques can be applied in a variety of manners. For example, the very dots on the media can be positioned in time-shifted fashion. In another example, the writing to the dots can be time-shifted.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for providing a corrected dibit signal. As an example, various embodiments of the present invention provide dibit correction circuits. Such dibit correction circuits include a dibit sample buffer, a maximum sample detector circuit, a side sample detector circuit, and a dibit correction circuit. The dibit sample buffer includes a plurality of samples of an uncorrected dibit signal. The maximum sample detector circuit identifies a maximum sample of the plurality of samples of the uncorrected dibit signal, and the side sample detector circuit identifies a first side sample prior to the maximum sample on the uncorrected dibit signal and a second side sample following the maximum sample on the uncorrected dibit signal.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided having a data transfer member, and a medium supported by a base adjacent the data transfer member. A medium tilting device supports the base and is selectively positionable to tilt the medium with respect to the data transfer member to simulate presenting the head to the medium at a desired angular orientation. A sensor measures a characteristic associated with a data transfer relationship between the data transfer member and the medium.

Abstract: A magnetic tape of the present invention includes a plurality of data bands in which a data signal can be recorded and servo pattern portions composed of a burst signal. The servo pattern portions are formed at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape in a plurality of data bands, and positions of the servo pattern portions formed in the respective data bands in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape vary. According to such a configuration, a magnetic tape can be provided, which is traced stably by the magnetic head even if the magnetic tape is deformed due to temperature and humidity.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). In an illustrative example, a device includes a magnetic write pole having a convex pole tip; a magnetic opposing pole longitudinally displaced from the magnetic write pole; and a thermal-source component disposed proximate to the magnetic write pole and comprising a laterally elongated thermal-source peg disposed proximate to the convex pole tip.

Abstract: A magnetic racetrack memory device includes; a magnetic track having a plurality of magnetic domains partitioned by at least one magnetic domain wall, a current source applying current to the magnetic track sufficient to move the at least one magnetic domain wall and the plurality of magnetic domains along the magnetic track, a writing device disposed at a first location along the magnetic track and storing write data to the magnetic domains, a reading device disposed at a second location along the magnetic track and retrieving read data from the magnetic domains, and a write-back loop connecting the reading device and the writing device and communicating read data obtained by the reading device to the writing device.

Abstract: Writing data to magnetic tape is performed by receiving data from a host, establishing sub data sets, computing C1 and C2 ECC, forming Codeword Quad sets, writing a beginning Data Set Separator to a magnetic tape, writing a plurality of contiguous instances of the CQ Set to the magnetic tape and writing a closing DSS. The number of instances of each Codeword Pair is increased, thereby allowing the benefits of writing short tape records and improving reading reliability while reducing susceptibility to mis-tracking errors and large defects, and while reducing the negative impact on data reliability. Otherwise unused latency times are utilizing and therefore no performance penalty is incurred.

Abstract: Methods, logic, apparatus and computer program product write data, comprising less than a full Data Set, to magnetic tape. Data is received from a host, a do-not-interleave command is issued and C1 and C2 ECC are computed. Codeword Quad (CQ) sets are then formed. At least one CQ set of the Data Set is written to a magnetic tape in a non-interleaved manner and a Data Set Information Table (DSIT) is written to the magnetic tape immediately following the at least one written CQ set. An address transformation may be used to cancel interleaving. Writing a CQ set may include writing a plurality of contiguous instances of the CQ set to the magnetic tape to maintain the effectiveness of ECC capability.

Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for equalization include a first adaptive equalizer to process read data or write data to respectively produce equalized read data or write data; a first detector to detect the equalized read data or the equalized write data to respectively produce detected read data or detected write data; a first comparator to determine an adjustment input based on a comparison of the equalized read data to the detected read data, or the equalized write data to the detected write data; and a second adaptive equalizer to process refined equalized read data or refined equalized write data to respectively produce twice equalized read data or twice equalized write data. The refined equalized read data or the refined equalized write data is respectively produced based on (i) the equalized read data and the adjustment input or (ii) the equalized write data and the adjustment input.

Abstract: A device comprising at least one sensor configured to sense disturbances applied to the data storage device and to generate signals based on the sensed disturbances, and a controller configured to receive the signals from the at least one sensor and to detect jerk events in the sensed disturbances based at least in part on vector differentials of the received signals.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide data processing circuits that include a multiplexer, a memory buffer, a data processing circuit, and a channel setting modification circuit. A first input of the multiplexer receives an input data set and a second input of the multiplexer receives a buffered data set. The multiplexer provides either the input data set or the buffered data set as a multiplexer output based upon a select signal. The memory buffer receives the multiplexer output and provides the buffered data set. Operation of the data processing circuit is at least in part governed by channel settings. The data processing circuit receives the multiplexer output and performs a data detection process. The select signal is asserted to select the buffered data set when the data detection process fails, and is asserted to select the input data set when the data detection process succeeds.