Abstract: A data storage device includes a first read mechanism, a second read mechanism, and a data storage medium movable with respect to the first read mechanism and the second read mechanism. A first reference patch containing reference bits is positioned near a first corner of the data storage medium. The first read mechanism is configured to read the reference bits of the first reference patch and the second read mechanism is configured to read the reference bits of a second reference patch. The storage device also includes a controller configured to determine whether the first read mechanism and the data storage medium are offset with respect to each other based upon the reference bits read by the first read mechanism and the reference bits read by the second mechanism.

Abstract: A system for writing data using an electron beam to change the structure of a small section of a storage medium and includes at least one focused electron beam source. The duration of a write cycle of the focused electron beam source is controlled at least in part on an estimated or measured amount of charge transmitted by the focused electron beam source to the storage medium during the write cycle.

Abstract: A method of storing data in a storage device having a probe to form perturbations in a storage medium of the storage device includes receiving input write data bits and encoding the input write data bits to form coded write data bits. Perturbations are formed in the storage medium by contacting a probe to the storage medium, the perturbations corresponding to the coded write data bits, wherein the coded write data bits provide a generally uniform distribution of the perturbations on the storage medium.