Abstract: A data storage device comprises a media including a memory layer within which are formable domains associated with information, and a conductive layer disposed over the memory layer, the conductive layer having anisotropically increased electrical conductivity in a thickness direction. A conductive tip contactable with the conductive layer is adapted to form domains within the memory layer and one of the conductive tip and the media is movable to access the memory layer.

Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be applied, in an embodiment, to a media comprising a phase change material to alter a resolved portion of the phase change material to have a resistance different from a resistance of the bulk material. A tip having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the resolved portion can be employed by applying such methods. A substantially anisotropic columnar material can focus a current applied between the tip and the media so that the portion is narrower in width than the radius of curvature. Such highly resolved portions form bits in the media. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from reviewing the figures, specification and claims. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: Methods in accordance with the present invention can be applied, in an embodiment, to a media comprising a phase change material to alter a resolved portion of the phase change material to have a resistance different from a resistance of the bulk material. A tip having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the resolved portion can be employed by applying such methods. A substantially anisotropic columnar material can focus a current applied between the tip and the media so that the portion is narrower in width than the radius of curvature. Such highly resolved portions form bits in the media. Other objects, aspects and advantages of the invention can be obtained from reviewing the figures, specification and claims. This description is not intended to be a complete description of, or limit the scope of, the invention.

Abstract: A method for defining and writing parallel and concentric magnetic signal tracks to a spinning disk surface of a magnetic data storage disk drive system using the components of the Head Disk Assembly (HDA) implemented by an appropriately programmed digital signal central processing unit (CPU) or micro code in an integrated circuit (IC) and a digital signal random access memory RAM is described wherein an initial magnetic signal track is written under least (minimum) energy equilibrium conditions with undulating boundaries and a meandering center line relative to axes of the spinning disk surface for one revolution of the surface. Then servoing to an edge of the just written track, a digitized position signal table is created in memory for storing digital position signals representing the amplitude of the signals read from n sampling points per disk revolution over a number of disk revolutions, where n is determined with reference to `Nyquist criteria`.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention is a disk drive comprising a rotating disk with a recording surface, a transducer in communication with the surface and swept radially over the surface by a servo-actuator, a variable gain read amplifier connected to the transducer, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) attached to the variable gain amplifier, an erase frequency oscillator coupled to the transducer for erasing of the disk surface, a memory for storing digital outputs appearing at the ADC, and a controller for signaling the servo-actuator to move to such radial positions that result in transducer read amplitudes that are a percentage of previous read amplitudes represented in the digital memory.