Abstract: Format efficiency of a hard disk of a hard disk drive having a rotary actuator and a read/write head having a read element that is offset from a write element is improved by writing a data track having a length that is based on an arc of the rotary actuator, the radial position of the read/write head with respect to the hard disk and the offset between the read element and the write element.

Abstract: A compound actuator self-servo writes a hard disk. The compound actuator moves to track n+1. A first head on the compound actuator track follows on track n. The other heads servo write on track n+2. One of the other heads track follow on track n. The first head servo writes track n+2. The value of n is incremented by one, and the process repeats until the entire hard disk is servo written.

Abstract: The performance capability of different heads that are part of the same hard disk drive (HDD) are utilized by an adaptive format that includes a plurality of storage zones and at least one reset zone that are distributed along a radius of the hard disk such that a reset zone is disposed between two adjacent storage zones. Each storage zone has a plurality of associated data tracks and each reset zone includes a plurality of data tracks. The number of data tracks associated with each respective storage zone is based on a performance capability of a head associated with the hard disk and includes at least one data track of at least one reset zone adjacent to the storage zone when the number of data tracks associated with the storage zone exceeds the number of data tracks that are between each reset zone adjacent to the storage zone.

Abstract: The present invention involves a recordable disk having a first plurality of S1 servo sample wedges in a first servo zone at an outermost position on the disk, a second plurality of S2 servo sample wedges in a second servo zone which is radially adjacent the first servo zone, and a third plurality of S3 servo sample wedges in a third servo zone which is radially adjacent the second servo zone. The S1 servo sample wedges of the first plurality are equally spaced apart circumferentially around the disk by a first angle ?1, the S2 servo sample wedges of the second plurality are equally spaced apart circumferentially around the disk by a second angle ?2=?1*N1, and the S3 servo sample wedges of the third plurality are equally spaced apart circumferentially around the disk by a third angle ?3=?2*N2.

Abstract: A multi-actuator disk storage device has at least two actuators respectively mounting plural product heads. Servo writing is performed using the product heads themselves. A first servo write operation is performed that includes operating a product head of the first actuator as a first clock head to generate first clock reference information for the product heads of the second actuator, which are operated as servo write heads to perform servo writing of disk areas associated with the second actuator using the first clock reference information. To servo write disk areas associated with the first actuator, a second servo write operation is performed. This operation includes operating a product head of the second actuator as a second clock head to generate second clock reference information for the product heads of the first actuator, which are operated as a servo write heads to perform servo writing using the second clock reference information.

Abstract: A compound actuator self-servo writes a hard disk. The compound actuator moves to track n+1. A first head on the compound actuator track follows on track n. The other heads servo write on track n+2. One of the other heads track follow on track n. The first head servo writes track n+2. The value of n is incremented by one, and the process repeats until the entire hard disk is servo written.

Abstract: The present invention involves a recordable disk having a first plurality of S1 servo sample wedges in a first servo zone at an outermost position on the disk, a second plurality of S2 servo sample wedges in a second servo zone which is radially adjacent the first servo zone, and a third plurality of S3 servo sample wedges in a third servo zone which is radially adjacent the second servo zone. The S1 servo sample wedges of the first plurality are equally spaced apart circumferentially around the disk by a first angle &thgr;1, the S2 servo sample wedges of the second plurality are equally spaced apart circumferentially around the disk by a second angle &thgr;2=&thgr;1*N1, and the S3 servo sample wedges of the third plurality are equally spaced apart circumferentially around the disk by a third angle &thgr;3=&thgr;2*N2.

Abstract: A flexible cable consists of trace conductors disposed on a first flexible insulating substrate, and a second flexible insulating upper substrate. Holes are placed on one of the substrates to expose the central conductor. The cable is then washed and sputter deposited with a thin gold film of a thickness of about 10 angstroms. Finally, an aluminum layer of thickness of more than 100 angstroms is sputtered over the cable. The aluminum sputter layer is connected to the central conductor and then they are both electrically grounded. A cost-effective method of making such cable to solve the adhesion problem of the aluminum coating in the prior art.

Abstract: A multi-actuator disk storage device has at least two actuators respectively mounting plural product heads. Servo writing is performed using the product heads themselves. A first servo write operation is performed that includes operating a product head of the first actuator as a first clock head to generate first clock reference information for the product heads of the second actuator, which are operated as servo write heads to perform servo writing of disk areas associated with the second actuator using the first clock reference information. To servo write disk areas associated with the first actuator, a second servo write operation is performed. This operation includes operating a product head of the second actuator as a second clock head to generate second clock reference information for the product heads of the first actuator, which are operated as a servo write heads to perform servo writing using the second clock reference information.

Abstract: A method and means for performing logical-combining functions such as XOR operations in a RAID 3 or 5 array or a combinational configuration of disk drives. The logical combining occurs below the device attachment interface and is used in generating new parity for write update operations and data rebuilding. Each disk drive is modified to use a segmented and address synchronized buffer in the write and read paths, and a logical circuit that combines the data in the write path before buffering with the data in the read buffer as it is read out from the buffer. The logically combined result is presented at the device read path interface. The combined data from a first disk drive interface is introduced into the write path of a second path through the second device interface and the logical combining repeated ad seriatim, the device interfaces being connectable in a daisy-chain manner and configurable by array controller commands.