Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile storage medium (NVSM), and control circuitry configured to receive a plurality of access commands, process the plurality of access commands using a customer prediction model to predict a customer of the data storage device, wherein the customer prediction model is trained off-line based on access patterns of a plurality of different customers. The control circuitry then configures access to the NVSM based on the predicted customer.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile storage medium (NVSM), and control circuitry configured to receive a plurality of access commands, process the plurality of access commands using a customer prediction model to predict a customer of the data storage device, wherein the customer prediction model is trained off-line based on access patterns of a plurality of different customers. The control circuitry then configures access to the NVSM based on the predicted customer.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface, and a second head actuated over a second disk surface. During a first revolution of the disk surfaces, a first set of servo sectors are written to the first disk surface and a second set of servo sectors are written to the second disk surface, wherein the first set of servo sectors are circumferentially offset from the second set of servo sectors. During a second revolution of the disk surfaces, at least one of the servo sectors in the first set is read from the first disk surface and at least one of the servo sectors in the second set is read from the second disk surface to control a position of the first head over the first disk surface.

Abstract: A data storage system includes a plurality of storage devices that are each configured to store host data from a host and to be in a first operating mode or a second operating mode. The second operating mode is a reduced power mode relative to the first operating mode. A bridge of the data storage system is configured to indicate to the host that the plurality of storage devices is in the first operating mode when one or more of the plurality of storage devices is in the second operating mode.

Abstract: A data storage system including a plurality of storage devices, each of the storage devices in the plurality of storage devices comprising a plurality of logical block addresses (“LBAs”) and configured to be in a first operating mode or a second operating mode, wherein the second operating mode comprises a reduced power mode relative to the first operating mode, and a bridge configured to be connected to the plurality of storage devices and a host configured to transmit a host command to access an LBA. The bridge is configured to receive the host command to access the LBA, determine a storage device in the plurality of storage devices where the LBA is located, and indicate only to the storage device where the LBA is located, that the storage device where the LBA is located should transition from the second operating mode to the first operating mode.

Abstract: A combination of a host system and a storage system is disclosed that facilitates improved responsiveness of the host system to user requests. In one embodiment, the host system includes a cache management module, a partitioning module, and a driver. The cache management module determines write data to cache to a dedicated zone of a hard disk media of the storage system. The partitioning module partitions the hard disk media into one partition including the dedicated zone and another partition not including the dedicated zone. The driver transmits storage access commands to the storage system to cache data in and retrieve cached data from the one partition. Thereby, the host system can access the write data from the hard disk media more quickly than if the write data were cached in and accessed from another zone of the hard disk media.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks. A defect scan of at least one of the tracks is executed, and a log entry is generated when a defect is detected. After the defect scan, a verify operation is executed for at least two of the detected defects. A number of times the verify operation detects a false defect is counted, and whether the head is defective is determined based at least partly on the count.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk surface, a first head, and a first microactuator configured to actuate the first head over the first disk surface. The first microactuator is configured into a first sensor, and a first load operation is executed to load the first head over the first disk surface. A fly height instability of the first head is detected during the first load operation based on a first sensor signal generated by the first microactuator.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed including a disk having a plurality of sectors, and a head actuated over the disk. A defect threshold is initialized, and a first sector is read to generate a first read signal. The first read signal is processed to detect a defect in the first sector relative to the defect threshold. After detecting the defect, the defect threshold is adjusted and the first sector is reread to generate a second read signal. The second read signal is processed to detect the defect in the first sector relative to the adjusted defect threshold.

Abstract: A storage device including a non-volatile memory configured to store data from a host, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect when the host is in a low power periodic update mode, the detecting based at least on part on a timing of a communication from the host, and place the storage device in a power up in standby mode when the host is in the low power periodic update mode.

Abstract: A storage device including a first storage unit including a first media of a first type, a second storage unit including a second media of a second type, and a controller. The controller initializes the storage device for a host by receiving an initialization query from the host, identifying, to the host, that the storage device comprises the second storage unit but not the first storage unit, receiving an indication from the host indicating that the host is compatible with the first storage unit, and identifying, to the host, that the storage device comprises the first storage unit and the second storage unit. The host initializes the storage device by initializing the second storage unit, transmitting the indication to the controller indicating that the host is compatible with the first storage unit, receiving the identification of the first storage unit from the controller, and initializing the first storage unit.

Abstract: A storage device including a non-volatile memory configured to store data from a host, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect when the host is in a low power periodic update mode, the detecting based at least on part on a timing of a communication from the host, and place the storage device in a power up in standby mode when the host is in the low power periodic update mode.

Abstract: A hard disk drive assembly (HDA) operable with a host computer that comprises a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) including a system on a chip (SOC). The HDA including a plurality of disks configured to store data, a plurality of heads configured to read and write data stored on the plurality of disks, a flex circuit board including a preamplifier, and configured to couple to the plurality of heads and the SOC, a flex circuit cable coupled to the flex circuit board, and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM) located in the HDA. The NVSM is configured to store configuration data for read and write operations of the HDA, wherein the configuration data is to be retrieved by the SOC for controlling the read and write operations of the HDA, and the NVSM is coupled to at least one of the flex circuit cable, the flex circuit board, or the preamplifier.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of tracks, and a head actuated over the disk. One of the tracks is read to generate a read signal, and a noise signal is injected into the read signal to generate a noisy read signal. An off-track read capability (OTRC) is measured based on the noisy read signal, and a parameter of the disk drive is adjusted based on the OTRC.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive that is operable with a host computer that includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a system on a chip (SOC). The disk drive comprises: a hard disk drive assembly (HDA); and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). The NVSM is located within a preamplifier of the HDA and is couplable to the SOC of the host computer. The NVSM is configured to store configuration data for disk drive operation. The configuration data is configured to be retrieved by the SOC for controlling disk drive operations.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive that is operable with a host computer that includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a system on a chip (SOC). The disk drive comprises: a hard disk drive assembly (HDA); and a non-volatile semiconductor memory (NVSM). The NVSM is located in the HDA and is couplable to the SOC of the host computer. The NVSM is configured to store configuration data for disk drive operation. The configuration data is configured to be retrieved by the SOC for controlling disk drive operations.

Abstract: Defects are identified in a disk drive by first writing a pattern of tracks to a disk surface in the disk drive, the pattern of tracks including written tracks alternating with unwritten tracks. The written tracks of the pattern of tracks are read, and a defect in a portion of a first written track is detected. An unread portion of a first unwritten track is then identified as comprising a defect based at least in part on the defect in the first written track, the first unwritten track located proximate the first written track.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk having top and bottom surfaces, and top and bottom heads actuated over the top and bottom surfaces, respectively. Control circuitry detects a warping of the disk by writing a first test pattern to the top surface, reading the first test pattern to generate a first read signal, monitoring a first read signal value proportional to an amplitude of the first read signal, writing a second test pattern to the bottom surface, reading the second test pattern to generate a second read signal, monitoring a second read signal value proportional to an amplitude of the second read signal, and processing the first and second read signal values to detect a negative correlation between the amplitudes of the first and second read signals.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk and a voice coil motor (VCM) for rotating an actuator arm about a pivot in order to actuate a head over the disk. During a park operation, a latching characteristic associated with latching the actuator arm is measured and used to configure a latching parameter that reduces acoustic noise. The latching parameter is used to latch the actuator arm by seeking the head to a latching track, maintaining the head over the latching track for a predetermined interval, applying an acceleration pulse to the VCM for an acceleration pulse period, applying a braking pulse to the VCM for a brake pulse period, and applying a latching current to the VCM.