Abstract: Example systems, read channels, and methods provide an oversampled digital phase lock loop for use in a read channel. The phase lock loop receives a digital data signal comprised of oversampled digital signal values with a sample rate that is a multiple of the baud rate of the channel. A set of oversampled digital signal values is selected for each iteration of the phase lock loop to correct the phase of an analog-to-digital converter. The phase lock loop determines a phase gradient, based on an iterative detector, and feeds back a phase correction for the next iteration of the phase lock loop. A baud rate digital data signal is provided to the rest of the channel based on down sampling or interpolated based on the phase gradient.

Abstract: Example systems, read channels, and methods provide an oversampled digital phase lock loop for use in a read channel. The phase lock loop receives a digital data signal comprised of oversampled digital signal values with a sample rate that is a multiple of the baud rate of the channel. A set of oversampled digital signal values is selected for each iteration of the phase lock loop to correct the phase of an analog-to-digital converter. The phase lock loop determines a phase gradient, based on an iterative detector, and feeds back a phase correction for the next iteration of the phase lock loop. A baud rate digital data signal is provided to the rest of the channel based on down sampling or interpolated based on the phase gradient.

Abstract: Example systems, read channels, and methods provide states equalization for a digital data signal in preparation for a soft output detector. The states equalizer determines a set of signal values from the digital data signal and filters the set of signal values through a set of finite impulse response filters configured to generate a set of state values for a target signal value, where each filter corresponds to a potential state of the target signal value. Based on the state values, a set of probabilities for possible states is determined and used to populate a decision matrix for a soft output detector.

Abstract: Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to provide a spiral data track format that is different from the underlying servo track format are described. The data storage device may include a storage medium configured with a plurality of tracks in at least one continuous spiral pattern and a head actuated over the storage medium. The data tracks may be written to the storage medium with track lengths that are different than a single revolution of the storage medium.

Abstract: Example channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods for using an adjustable code rate based on an extendable parity code matrix based on write verification determining extended parity are described. A data unit with a base set of parity bits may be written to a non-volatile storage medium and then read back for write verification. The data unit may be decoded using the base set of parity bits and corresponding primary parity matrix. Based on the decoding of the write verification read signal, a number of parity bits for an extended set of parity bits may be determined and the extended set of parity bits may be stored to an extended parity storage location for use during subsequent read operations.

Abstract: Example channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods for asynchronous sampling from an oversampled analog-to-digital converter are described. The channel circuit may include an analog-to-digital converter configured to generate an oversampled digital signal from an analog data signal using a sample rate that is an integer multiple of the baud rate of the channel circuit. A digital sample interpolator may then interpolate interpolated digital signal values from multiple signal values of the oversampled digital signal and select values at baud rate to generate a baud rate digital signal. The baud rate digital signal may be used by an iterative detector in a timing loop and, once a target timing is achieved, for the iterative detector to detect data bits from the interpolated digital signal.

Abstract: Example systems, read channels, and methods provide states equalization for a digital data signal in preparation for a soft output detector. The states equalizer determines a set of signal values from the digital data signal and filters the set of signal values through a set of finite impulse response filters configured to generate a set of state values for a target signal value, where each filter corresponds to a potential state of the target signal value. Based on the state values, a set of probabilities for possible states is determined and used to populate a decision matrix for a soft output detector.

Abstract: Example read channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods to provide overlapping processing of data tracks are described. The data storage device may include media configured with a plurality of tracks in a concentric or continuous pattern. The read signal for a data track may be processed using error correction codes (ECC) as it is read during a first track read operation period. Some portion of its data sectors may need additional ECC postprocessing after the first track is initially received and processed by the read channel circuit. While the read signal for a next data track is being read and processed, the read channel circuit may continue postprocessing of the portion of data sectors from the first track during the second track read operations. Various decision parameters for managing the data stream, additional postprocessing time, and rereading tracks for data recovery are also described.

Abstract: Example control circuitry, data storage devices, and methods to provide a spiral data track format that is different from the underlying servo track format are described. The data storage device may include a storage medium configured with a plurality of tracks in at least one continuous spiral pattern and a head actuated over the storage medium. The data tracks may be written to the storage medium with track lengths that are different than a single revolution of the storage medium.

Abstract: Example channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods for using an adjustable code rate based on an extendable parity code matrix are described. Data units may be read from a storage medium. Multiple sets of parity bits may be available for different data units, different sets of parity bits having a different number of parity bits corresponding to different parity matrices and desired code rates. A primary parity matrix may provide a base code rate and one or more extended parity matrices may provide increased code rates based on additional rows for increased decoding. Error correction code (ECC) decoding may be selectively performed based on the different sets of parity bits and corresponding parity matrices, resulting in the output of a decoded data units based on the data units from the read signal.

Abstract: Example systems, read channels, and methods provide bit value detection from an encoded data signal using a neural network soft information detector. The neural network detector determines a set of probabilities for possible states of a data symbol from the encoded data signal. A soft output detector uses the set of probabilities for possible states of the data symbol to determine a set of bit probabilities that are iteratively exchanged as extrinsic information with an iterative decoder for making decoding decisions. The iterative decoder outputs decoded bit values for a data unit that includes the data symbol.

Abstract: Example read channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods to provide overlapping processing of data tracks are described. The data storage device may include media configured with a plurality of tracks in a concentric or continuous pattern. The read signal for a data track may be processed using error correction codes (ECC) as it is read during a first track read operation period. Some portion of its data sectors may need additional ECC postprocessing after the first track is initially received and processed by the read channel circuit. While the read signal for a next data track is being read and processed, the read channel circuit may continue postprocessing of the portion of data sectors from the first track during the second track read operations. Various decision parameters for managing the data stream, additional postprocessing time, and rereading tracks for data recovery are also described.

Abstract: Example channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods for using an extendable parity code matrix are described. A data unit may be read from a storage medium. Multiple sets of parity bits may be available for the data unit, each set of parity bits having a different number of parity bits corresponding to different parity matrices, including a primary parity matrix and at least one extended parity matrix. The extended parity matrix includes the primary parity matrix and additional rows for increased decoding. Error correction code (ECC) decoding may be selectively performed based on the different sets of parity bits and corresponding parity matrices, resulting in the output of a decoded data unit based on the data unit from the read signal.

Abstract: Example systems, read channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods to provide signal correction based on soft information in a read channel are described. The read channel circuit includes a soft output detector, such as a soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) detector, and a signal correction circuit. The soft output detector passes detected data bits and corresponding soft information to the signal correction circuit. The signal correction circuit uses the soft information to determine a signal correction value, which is combined with input signal to return a corrected signal to the soft output detector for a next iteration. In some configurations, the signal correction value may compensate for DC offset, AC coupling poles, and/or signal asymmetries to reduce baseline wander in the read channel.

Abstract: Example systems, read channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods to provide signal correction based on soft information in a read channel are described. The read channel circuit includes a soft output detector, such as a soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) detector, and a signal correction circuit. The soft output detector passes detected data bits and corresponding soft information to the signal correction circuit. The signal correction circuit uses the soft information to determine a signal correction value, which is combined with input signal to return a corrected signal to the soft output detector for a next iteration. In some configurations, the signal correction value may compensate for DC offset, AC coupling poles, and/or signal asymmetries to reduce baseline wander in the read channel.

Abstract: Example systems, read channel circuits, data storage devices, and methods to use inter-symbol interference message passing (ISI-MP) data in a read channel are described. The read channel circuit includes a soft output detector, such as a soft output Viterbi algorithm (SOVA) detector, configured to determine both the first most likely and second most likely sets of symbols and output inter-symbol interference data based on the adjacent symbols and corresponding ISI in each set of symbols. The inter-symbol interference data may be used by an ISI-MP circuit configured to model ISI-MP and provide feedback to an iterative decoder during local iterations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling wireless signal transmissions, wherein problematic symbol patterns are relocated to an erasure region of a data packet prior to erasure encoding and transmission. Relocating the problematic symbol patterns is done so that, when the resulting erasure codeword is punctured and transmitted, the problematic patterns are not transmitted. Yet, those patterns can be restored by the decoder at the receiving device using an erasure decoder in accordance with erasure decoding techniques, e.g., punctured low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoding techniques. In this manner, problematic symbol patterns that may be corrupting during transmission due to noise are removed (punctured) prior to transmission, then restored by the decoder during decoding.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling wireless signal transmissions, wherein problematic symbol patterns are relocated to an erasure region of a data packet prior to erasure encoding and transmission. Relocating the problematic symbol patterns is done so that, when the resulting erasure codeword is punctured and transmitted, the problematic patterns are not transmitted. Yet, those patterns can be restored by the decoder at the receiving device using an erasure decoder in accordance with erasure decoding techniques, e.g., punctured low-density parity-check (LDPC) decoding techniques. In this manner, problematic symbol patterns that may be corrupting during transmission due to noise are removed (punctured) prior to transmission, then restored by the decoder during decoding.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile storage medium (NVSM). Problematic patterns in a block of input data are identified, and the problematic patterns are relocated from an initial location to an erasure region of the block to generate a modified block. The modified block is erasure encoded into an erasure codeword, at least part of the erasure codeword is stored in the NVSM.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a non-volatile storage medium (NVSM). Problematic patterns in a block of input data are identified, and the problematic patterns are relocated from an initial location to an erasure region of the block to generate a modified block. The modified block is erasure encoded into an erasure codeword, at least part of the erasure codeword is stored in the NVSM.