Abstract: In an approach to improving write performance by enabling host data transfer immediately after a reposition command, responsive to receiving on a tape drive a reposition command from a host, a ready response is returned to the host. Write data from the host is accumulated in a write buffer, where the write data is accumulated in the write buffer while simultaneously moving a tape media in the tape drive to a target location. The write data from the write buffer is written to the tape media immediately after the target location is reached on the tape drive.

Abstract: An external cavity laser of a recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light towards a media-facing surface of the recording head. The laser includes an externally mounted part with an active region having a longitudinal axis corresponding to a light propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The externally mounted part has a reflective back facet and anti-reflective front facet. The laser includes a near-field transducer at an end of the channel waveguide proximate the media facing surface. The reflective back facet and the near-field transducer define a resonator of the external cavity laser.

Abstract: A brake crawler assembly configured for vertically moving an arm assembly along a pivot member in a multi-disk hard disk drive is provided. The brake crawler assembly includes a first clamp, including a first recess within which is disposed a first actuator and a first clamp calibration element. The first clamp calibration element includes a first clamp calibration access portion adapted to be accessible externally of the first clamp and adapted to receive a first external adjustment and a first clamp internal compression modifier adapted to modify a force exerted by the first actuator on the first recess, responsive to the received first external adjustment, wherein the first clamp is configured to selectively engage the pivot member at a position along the pivot member relative to at least one disk of the multi-disk hard disk drive based on the modified force exerted.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), a head gimbal assembly for mounting a VCSEL, devices incorporating such articles, and to a process for forming a VCSEL. In an embodiment, a VCSEL device provided. The VCSEL device includes a chip for mounting on a slider, the chip having a plurality of surfaces and a notch, the plurality of surfaces comprising: a bottom surface for facing the slider; a top surface opposite the bottom surface; and a plurality of side surfaces, wherein the notch forms a recessed edge spaced away from the bottom surface and toward the top surface, the notch having a shoulder, a side, and an angle (?1) between the shoulder and the side. The VCSEL device further includes two laser diode electrodes positioned in any combination on one or more of the plurality of surfaces of the chip.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an operating condition determining device includes a memory, and a processer. The memory is configured to store a plurality of classifications relating to information corresponding to a vibration state of a magnetic recording/reproducing device, and a plurality of setting parameter sets relating to an operation of the magnetic recording/reproducing device. The setting parameter sets correspond to the classifications. The processer is configured to acquire a first data. The first data includes information of the vibration state of the magnetic recording/reproducing device. The information is measured. The processer is configured to acquire one of the setting parameter sets from the memory. The one of the setting parameter sets corresponds to one of the classifications corresponding to the first data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device including a disk, a head which writes data to the disk and reads data from the disk, and a controller which sets a first DOL for a first sector group and a second DOL for a second sector group to different values, the first sector group including one or more first sectors and a first parity sector, the first sectors which allow an error correction process to be performed for each track based on the first parity sector, and are continuously arranged in a circumferential direction of the disk from the first parity sector, the second sector group including one or more second sectors which allow no error correction process to be performed for each track, and are continuously arranged in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A recording head includes a channel waveguide that delivers light to a media-facing surface. A near-field transducer (NFT) is at an end of the channel waveguide and proximate to the media-facing surface. A laser including an active region has a longitudinal axis corresponding to a propagation direction of the channel waveguide. The active region includes a back facet and a front facet proximate the NFT. The front facet has a surface shape configured to suppress back reflection of the light.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprises a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT comprises a thermally-stabilized plasmonic alloy, wherein the thermally-stabilized plasmonic alloy comprises a plasmonic metal and at least one alloying metal.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a slider body, a laser, a submount, and a laser heater. The slider body is configured to contain components of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The laser is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. The submount is configured to couple the laser to the slider body. The laser heater is configured to apply heat to the laser. The laser heater disposed on a surface of the slider body.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) includes a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head. The HAMR head includes one or more features comprising a nanoparticle-reinforced plasmonic matrix. The nanoparticle-reinforced plasmonic matrix comprises a plasmonic metal and a plurality of nanoparticles dispersed in the plasmonic metal. The nanoparticles comprise a transparent conductive oxide.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises a disk having a plurality of data tracks and a plurality of servo wedges wherein the plurality of servo wedges comprise a plurality of wedge repeatable runout (WRRO) fields configured to store a plurality of WRRO compensation values in connection with the plurality of data tracks. The data storage device may also include a read/write head configured to be actuated over the disk, and a controller configured to gather position error signal (PES) data needed for computation of the WRRO compensation values during a field operation of the data storage device. The data storage device may be further configured to adjust a position of the read/write head based on the WRRO compensation values.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a tape drive comprising a tape head comprising one or more modules, wherein each module comprises a plurality of servo readers; a plurality of read elements; and a control circuitry configured to retrieve a priority servo reader designation for a bundle of data tracks of the plurality of data tracks, wherein the priority servo reader designation is one or more servo readers of the plurality of servo readers; use the designated priority servo reader to adjust a lateral position the tape head; retrieve a target delta Y position (?Ypos); and adjust a tilt of the tape head based on the target ?Ypos.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a protective multilayer confined to a window of the disk-facing surface of the slider that surrounds the near-field transducer (NFT) end and write pole end. The protective multilayer is made up of a first film of silicon nitride directly on and in contact with the NFT end and the write pole end and a second film of a metal oxide on and in contact with the silicon nitride film. The silicon nitride film is preferably formed by RIBD but is thin enough so that it does not contain any significant amount of other compounds. The metal oxide is preferably silicon dioxide, or alternatively an oxide of hafnium, tantalum, yttrium or zirconium, and together with the silicon nitride film provides a protective multilayer of sufficient thickness to be optically transparent to radiation and resistant to thermal oxidation.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT). The NFT includes a near-field emitter configured to heat a surface of a magnetic disk, and a heat sink. The heat sink includes at least one of rhodium, copper, tungsten, tantalum, iridium, platinum, ruthenium, nickel, or iron.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a recording head that includes a write pole extending to a media-facing surface of the recording head; a near-field transducer extending to a media-facing surface of the recording head; a trailing return pole positioned between the write pole and the trailing edge; and a recessed portion that is recessed relative to the media-facing surface by a distance when no power is applied to the recording head. The trailing return pole is located in the recessed portion. The present disclosure also includes relates methods of making and detecting contact between a recording head and recording medium.

Abstract: Various illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising data tracks N and N?1, and one or more processing devices, configured to measure signal to noise ratio (SNR) metrics for corresponding sectors of at least one of the data tracks N?1 and N, where the measuring is based at least in part on reading one or more of the data tracks N and N?1 using one or more read offsets, estimate a position of at least one of the data tracks based on measuring the one or more SNR metrics, and reconstruct one or more of risk values for at least a portion of the data track N?1 based on the one or more SNR metrics for the data track N?1, and a position error signal (PES) for at least one of the data tracks N?1 and N based on the corresponding estimated positions.

Abstract: A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head including a read head that reads data from the disk, a write head that writes data to the disk, and an assist element that generates energy to enhance write performance by the write head, and a controller that selects and performs a first recording mode and a second recording mode different from the first recording mode, and selects and performs one of the first recording mode and the second recording mode according to an assist effect of the assist element.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a disk, first and second heads, a motor, and a controller. The disk includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first head is configured to perform reading and writing with respect to the first surface. The second head is configured to perform reading and writing with respect to the second surface. The motor is configured to move the first and second heads with respect to the first and second surfaces, respectively, along a radial direction of the disk. The controller is configured to alternately activate the first and second heads to perform writing of a plurality of spiral patterns on the first and second surfaces of the disk, respectively, while controlling the motor to move the first and second heads at a predetermined constant speed with respect to the first and second surfaces in the radial direction.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device, including a disk, a head to write data to the disk and read data from the disk, a preamplifier to generate a recording current corresponding to data that the head writes to the disk, and a controller to convert a first data pattern in first write data, in accordance with a pattern length of a second data pattern previous to the first data pattern, to a different data pattern including a pseudo polarity inversion that does not cause a polarity inversion when converting the first data pattern to the recording current.