Abstract: A method of protecting data on a recording medium against an adjacent track erase (ATE) effect, and a recording medium having a program therefor are provided. The method includes accumulating a number of turns of write operations in respective sub-areas, wherein the recording medium is divided into a plurality of sub-areas; and rewriting data on a sub-area of which an accumulated number of turns of write operations is greater than a limited number of turns of write operations. Accordingly, before data written on an adjacent track can be damaged by the ATE effect, data is rewritten and safely preserved.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention improve efficiency in alternating-current demagnetization of a magnetic recording medium. In specific embodiments, magnet fields in a direction slanting to an easy direction of magnetization of recording layer magnetization of a medium in rotation are applied.

Abstract: A solution to the problem of long, e-beam mastering times needed for patterning masters for patterned magnetic disk media is disclosed. A process for fabrication of masters takes advantage of the circular symmetry of magnetic disks and reduces the total required mastering time by an order of magnitude over prior art processes. This process relies on e-beam mastering of one small arcuate portion of the master, and then replicating that portion around a circular path on the master several times to create a full disk master. The architecture of this design also corrects for errors in head positioning on the final patterned media disk that may be introduced by the mastering process.

Abstract: A recording control apparatus includes a waveform rectification section for receiving a digital signal generated from an analog signal representing information reproduced from an information recording medium, and rectifying a waveform of the digital signal; a maximum likelihood decoding section for performing maximum likelihood decoding of the digital signal having the waveform thereof rectified, and generating a binary signal representing a result of the maximum likelihood decoding; a reliability calculation section for calculating a reliability of the result of the maximum likelihood decoding based on the digital signal having the waveform thereof rectified and the binary signal; and an adjusting section for adjusting a shape of a recording signal for recording the information on the information recording medium based on the calculated reliability.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to measuring characteristics of a head with an actuator put in a state of being pushed against a crush stop. In one embodiment, with a head placed on an innermost ID side or with the current of a VCM sustained at a magnitude I_mid, a burst pattern is written onto a recording disk. At this stage, the gain of a VGA is equal to its maximum value Gmax. Then, while the current of the VCM is being changed gradually, the gain of the VCA is measured. As the current of the VCM becomes equal to a magnitude I_center, a read element of the head is positioned right above the burst pattern. At that time, the gain of a VGA is equal to its minimum value Gmin. As the read element is further moved to the OD side, the gain of the VGA again becomes equal to the maximum value Gmax. A read/write offset of the head is identified by the magnitudes I_center and I_mid.

Abstract: Described herein are media drives for writing information to a media (e.g., a tape media), systems for storing information on a storage medium, and methods of writing information to a media. The devices, systems and methods described herein are error tolerant in that they may permit only a limited number (or arrangement) of bad blocks in an envelope to be written before they erase at least a portion of the envelope that has already been written, and move to a different region of the storage media and re-write the envelope.

Abstract: Provided is a read channel, storage drive, and method to process signals read from a storage medium. At least one data channel including an interpolator and equalizer and a servo channel includes an interpolator. A timing recovery function processes a timing error from the interpolator in the servo channel to calculate interpolation timing information used by the interpolator to interpolate a servo channel signal. A path is coupled to the timing recovery function and the interpolator in the at least one data channel to communicate the interpolation timing information to the interpolator in the at least one data channel. The interpolator in the at least one data channel is configured to use the interpolation timing information to interpolate an asynchronous data channel signal.

Abstract: A disk drive stores overhead information corresponding to multiple servo sectors within a dedicated data sector in a customer data region of a data storage disk. The overhead information includes servo data for which the information content does not depend upon the physical location of the data on the disk surface. During a data storage operation, the overhead data is read from the dedicated data sector and stored in a buffer memory within the disk drive. A portion of the overhead data is then retrieved from the buffer memory for each servo sector subsequently traversed by the transducer for use in performing a data processing task related to the servo sector.

Abstract: A readback system includes a magnetic sensor that receives a sensor current. The magnetic sensor senses magnetic bits at a bit frequency and generates a sensor output. The readback system includes a channel circuit that modulates the sensor current at a modulation frequency higher than the bit frequency. The channel circuit samples the sensor output and combines multiple samples of the sensor output per magnetic bit into a combined sample output.

Abstract: A magnetic transfer wherein the exchange of master mediums is made easy to perform is provided, whereby the operational efficiency and transfer efficiency are improved, leading to an overall improvement in productivity in the manufacture of preformatted slave mediums. A master fixing base for determining and supporting the position of a master medium, which bears transfer data, and a conjoining apparatus for conjoining the master medium and the slave medium that is to receive the transfer therefrom are provided. The master medium is exchanged along with the master fixing base. It is preferable that a cleaning means be provided.

Abstract: A recording control apparatus includes a waveform rectification section for receiving a digital signal generated from an analog signal representing information reproduced from an information recording medium, and rectifying a waveform of the digital signal; a maximum likelihood decoding section for performing maximum likelihood decoding of the digital signal having the waveform thereof rectified, and generating a binary signal representing a result of the maximum likelihood decoding; a reliability calculation section for calculating a reliability of the result of the maximum likelihood decoding based on the digital signal having the waveform thereof rectified and the binary signal; and an adjusting section for adjusting a shape of a recording signal for recording the information on the information recording medium based on the calculated reliability.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device capable of reducing the size of a writing circuit and the power consumption by readily adjusting the overshoot of the write current pulses is provided. Two or more transmission lines having different characteristic impedances are provided between an output driver having an impedance Zs and a magnetic head, the transmission lines are formed so that the characteristic impedances Z1, Zn?1, and Zn (n?2) thereof on the output driver side are higher than those on the magnetic recording head side (Z1>Zn?1>Zn), and the impedance Zs of the output driver is equal to or higher than the characteristic impedance Z1 of the transmission line.

Abstract: A method for operating a tester for testing heads and disks of a magnetic recording disk drive during manufacturing calculates the readback signal amplitude asymmetry in the frequency domain without the need for measurement in the time domain with a peak detection channel. The tester first signals the write head to write a first pattern on the disk to generate a readback signal with positive pulses. The read head then detects this first recorded pattern and sends the readback signal to a spectrum analyzer connected to the tester. The tester then signals the write head to write a second pattern on the disk to generate a readback signal with negative pulses. The read head then detects this second recorded pattern and sends the readback signal to the spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer measures the amplitudes of the first and second readback signals in the frequency domain using a bandpass filter.

Abstract: A disc drive including a transducer supported on the head suspension assembly to induce a transducer signal in response to head vibration. The transducer signal is level detected to output a level detected signal indicative of head vibration. A method for detecting head vibration via a transducer on a head suspension assembly. The transducer on the head suspension assembly operating between a detection mode and an actuator mode for selectively detecting vibration and actuating the head.

Abstract: A read channel and method using that read channel are disclosed. The read channel comprises an analog to digital converter which asynchronously samples at a fixed rate an analog signal formed by reading a data track, where that data track was written to a data storage medium at a symbol rate and an interpolator interconnected with the analog to digital converter. The read channel further comprises a fractionally-spaced equalizer, where the interpolator provides an interpolated signal to the fractionally-spaced equalizer at an interpolation rate, where that interpolation rate is greater than the symbol rate. The fractionally-spaced equalizer forms a synchronous equalized signal. The read channel further comprises a gain control module interconnected with the fractionally-spaced equalizer, and a sequence detector interconnected with the gain control module.

Abstract: A broadband transmission path apparatus connects a head IC and a head in a suspension. Either one of the head IC and the head is assumed as a transmission terminal and the other is assumed as a reception terminal to divide a required transmission frequency band into at least two, one of which is assumed as a low band transmission path for low frequency transmission band and the other of which is assumed as a high band transmission path for high frequency transmission band. The high band transmission path forms a resonant circuit by a resistor component, an inductance component and a capacitor component of the transmission path itself, and realizes the high frequency transmission band characteristic by a resonant frequency characteristic of the resonant circuit.

Abstract: A preamplifier that includes an input configured to receive a preamplifier control signal and a fault detection circuit configured to monitor the preamplifier control signal received at the input is provided. The fault detection circuit is further configured to identify a fault condition triggered by an improper temperature control signal provided by the preamplifier.

Abstract: A medium storage device reads device specific information from a medium to a memory and performs read/write operation to the medium, which allows receiving commands from a host even if a read error of the device specific information occurs. When an error occurs during the device specific information read processing of the medium storage device after power ON, the alternate data stored in the medium is developed so as to recover the power ON error artificially. For this alternate data, the data at factory shipment is saved in a ROM or a system area of a medium in advance, and is developed from here when necessary. Since commands can be received and executed, a disabled startup of the host system can be prevented.

Abstract: Upon obtaining a detection signal of a shock sensor that detects a shock applied to an apparatus for output, a write disabling unit disables writing by a head on a medium over a predetermined time corresponding to a shock convergence. A determining unit determines, during the write disable, whether an output of the shock sensor is a detection output of the shock sensor due to a shock or an erroneous detection output of the shock sensor due to power supply fluctuations. A sensitivity control unit increases a detection sensitivity of the shock sensor when the determining unit determines that the output is a detection output due to the shock, and decreases the detection sensitivity of the shock sensor and clears the write disable when the determining unit determines that the output is an erroneous detection output due to power supply fluctuations.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a servo frame that includes servo windows written with different frequencies to provide redundant positioning information. The servo frame includes a set of first servo windows recorded at a first frequency and a set of second servo windows recorded at a second frequency arranged in a checkerboard-like pattern. The different frequencies of the servo windows allow the servo frame to achieve improved positioning information redundancy. A servo track may include a plurality of the servo frames described herein to accurately position data read/write heads adjacent corresponding data tracks. The redundancy built into each of the servo frames substantially minimizes errors in the positioning information.