Abstract: A system can include a first buffer storing a first fragment of data for a first data sector in a first track of a storage medium, a second buffer storing a second fragment of data for a second data sector in a second track of the storage medium adjacent to the first track, a processor configured to determine an estimated region of overlap between the first data fragment and the second data fragment, and a circuit configured to refine the estimated region of overlap by determining an offset value to offset an estimated beginning portion of overlap by the second fragment.

Abstract: Method and system for determining spin pad length in a data storage system. The data storage system has a data storage medium having at least one track for storing a plurality of data sections, a timing reference mark for the at least one track, and a recording head for writing the plurality of data sections on and for reading the plurality of data sections from the data storage medium. The data storage system further has a spin pad length determining mechanism for determining the length of a spin pad to be written on the at least one track as a function of distance from the timing reference mark during an operation of writing a data section on the at least one track. By writing spin pads of proper length on the at least one track, the total space occupied by the spin pads on the at least one track is minimized, thus providing additional space to store data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and respond to low-amplitude-write/skip-write events in a disc drive. The invention involves characterizing the gain factor of a variable gain amplifier embedded in the read path of a disc drive during at least two instances in which the read head passes over a servo sector, prior to a write event. Next the write event is executed. After the write event, the gain factor employed by the variable gain amplifier is acquired as the read head passes over the following servo sector. Finally, the acquired gain factor is compared to the characterization in order to detect a low-amplitude-write/skip-write event.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting and respond to low-amplitude-write/skip-write events in a disc drive. The invention involves characterizing the gain factor of a variable gain amplifier embedded in the read path of a disc drive during at least two instances in which the read head passes over a servo sector, prior to a write event. Next the write event is executed. After the write event, the gain factor employed by the variable gain amplifier is acquired as the read head passes over the following servo sector. Finally, the acquired gain factor is compared to the characterization in order to detect a low-amplitude-write/skip-write event.