Abstract: Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self-servowriting include correcting for random errors. Random errors may be caused by variations in disk velocity and therefore, one technique for correcting for random errors includes reducing velocity jitter. Additionally, random errors can be corrected by improving interval control during the propagation of trigger patterns used in writing timing information on storage media. Further, random errors, in the writing of timing information, can be corrected during a single revolution of the storage media. This eliminates additional rotations, thereby providing a large capital cost savings.

Abstract: Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self-servowriting include correcting for random errors. Random errors may be caused by variations in disk velocity and therefore, one technique for correcting for random errors includes reducing velocity jitter. Additionally, random errors can be corrected by improving interval control during the propagation of trigger patterns used in writing timing information on storage media. Further, random errors, in the writing of timing information, can be corrected during a single revolution of the storage media. This eliminates additional rotations, thereby providing a large capital cost savings.

Abstract: Methods and systems for self-servowriting a data storage medium are disclosed, including servoing to propagation bursts of a propagation pattern located in tracks other than an immediately preceding track. Reference levels used to position a recording head are accordingly kept in a usable dynamic range necessary to keep servo track spacing constant across the medium. The methods and systems are disclosed in connection with a rotary actuator having spaced read and write heads. Similar methods are disclosed for writing trigger or timing bursts of the propagation pattern.

Abstract: Methods and systems for self-servowriting a data storage medium are disclosed, including servoing to propagation bursts of a propagation pattern located in tracks other than an immediately preceding track. Reference levels used to position a recording head are accordingly kept in a usable dynamic range necessary to keep servo track spacing constant across the medium. The methods and systems are disclosed in connection with a rotary actuator having spaced read and write heads. Similar methods are disclosed for writing trigger or timing bursts of the propagation pattern.

Abstract: Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self servo writing include correcting for random and systematic errors due to geometric effects. In a disk drive having a recording head with separate read and write elements, a method for determining separation between the elements and for correcting for such errors as a function of skew angle between the head and the disk. Errors resulting from misalignment and non-parallelism of the elements as well as misalignment of the head on it its actuator are also detected and corrected. Errors due to changes in rotational velocity of the disk and misplacement of timing patterns with respect to adjacent timing patterns are detected and corrected. In general, a single revolution process may be used to both write and detect random errors on each track and corrected on subsequent tracks.

Abstract: A mechanism for servowriting on a storage medium of a storage device. The storage device has a transducer and a servo loop for positioning the transducer with respect to the storage medium. At least one transition is written on a track of the storage medium, while servoing on other transitions previously recorded on the storage medium. A reference waveform is derived as a function of a closed loop response of the servo loop and a position error waveform. The position error waveform corresponds to one or more position errors of the transducer relative to the previously recorded transitions. The reference waveform is usable in writing subsequent tracks on the storage medium. Using the reference waveform for writing subsequent tracks provides a substantial rejection of mechanical disturbances by the servo loop.

Abstract: Improvements in placement of timing patterns in self servo writing include correcting for random and systematic errors due to geometric effects. In a disk drive having a recording head with separate read and write elements, a method for determining separation between the elements and for correcting for such errors as a function of skew angle between the head and the disk. Errors resulting from misalignment and non-parallelism of the elements as well as misalignment of the head on it its actuator are also detected and corrected. Errors due to changes in rotational velocity of the disk and misplacement of timing patterns with respect to adjacent timing patterns are detected and corrected. In general, a single revolution process may be used to both write and detect random errors on each track and corrected on subsequent tracks.

Abstract: An accurate and time-efficient method and system for self-servowriting wherein at least one reference value used to position the transducer is updated for some, but not all, of the tracks to be written. The reference value(s) is dependent upon a predefined indicium of transducer position, such as the amplitude of the readback signal obtained from a written track when the transducer is positioned on the track. In a first embodiment, updating of the reference value(s) is performed at every Nth track written, where N is a fixed number or range of numbers determined by an expected track-to-track variation of the indicium. The servowriting system may be designed to dynamically increase or decrease N during servowriting in response to actual variations in the indicium. According to a second embodiment, updating is only performed when needed, e.g. when the variation of the measured indicium between two written tracks (not necessarily adjacent tracks) exceeds a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: During a write revolution of a storage medium, a transition is written on the storage medium while servoing on another transition previously recorded on the storage medium. During that write revolution, a position error signal corresponding to the position error of the transducer relative to the previously recorded transition is determined.

Abstract: A self-servowriting system and method for implementation in a storage device such as a disk drive are described. Two problems associated with self-propagation are greater mechanical disturbances and the growth of errors during many thousands of servowriting steps. Error growth is attributable to the special properties of servo loops as applied to a repetitive self-propagation process. Greater resistance to mechanical disturbances and reduction in error growth are achieved, in part, by adjusting a step amplification factor, S, at the initiation of servowriting to within desired parameters. However, S is known to vary with movement of the head in a direction transverse to the direction of the tracks. This problem is addressed by the present invention, wherein S is determined at a plurality of transverse transducer positions. S is dependent upon the closed loop response of the servo system C and upon a set of step-to-step correction factors f.

Abstract: Methods and systems for self-servowriting a data storage medium are disclosed, including servoing to propagation bursts of a propagation pattern located in tracks other than an immediately preceding track. Reference levels used to position a recording head are accordingly kept in a usable dynamic range necessary to keep servo track spacing constant across the medium. The methods and systems are disclosed in connection with a rotary actuator having spaced read and write heads. Similar methods are disclosed for writing trigger or timing bursts of the propagation pattern.

Abstract: A mechanism for servowriting on a storage medium of a storage device. The storage device has a transducer and a servo loop for positioning the transducer with respect to the storage medium. At least one transition is written on a track of the storage medium, while servoing on other transitions previously recorded on the storage medium. A reference waveform is derived as a function of a closed loop response of the servo loop and a position error waveform. The position error waveform corresponds to one or more position errors of the transducer relative to the previously recorded transitions. The reference waveform is usable in writing subsequent tracks on the storage medium. Using the reference waveform for writing subsequent tracks provides a substantial rejection of mechanical disturbances by the servo loop.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a fine line resistance image of a conductive pattern. A magnetic recording medium is placed in close proximity to the conductive pattern and a varying magnetic field is applied to the conductive pattern such that eddy currents in the conductive pattern are created. The eddy currents produce a magnetization pattern indicative of line resistance. The applied magnetic field is time varying and the varying magnetic field may be applied perpendicular to the recording medium or it may be applied in the plane of the recording medium.