Abstract: Systems and methods for redundant write transfer detection are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include identifying a starting logical block address (LBA) associated with a request to write a first data set to the storage device, storing the first data set on a storage medium of the storage device, storing the identified starting LBA of the first data set in a memory associated with the storage device, identifying a starting LBA associated with a request to write a second data set to the storage device, comparing the starting LBA of the second data set to the starting LBA of the first data set stored in the memory, and upon identifying a match between the starting LBA of the second data set and the starting LBA of the first data set, suspending the request to write the second data set to the storage device.

Abstract: A storage device includes a controller configured to adjusts direct offline scan (DOS) parameters for a scan of a storage region based on a workload affecting the storage region to mitigate data loss due to adjacent track interference (ATI) while also mitigating performance delays due to DOS execution. In one implementation, a type of workload occurring in a region is determined by assessing a distribution of write track counter values corresponding to data tracks in the region.

Abstract: Systems and methods for redundant write transfer detection are described. In one embodiment, the systems and methods may include identifying a starting logical block address (LBA) associated with a request to write a first data set to the storage device, storing the first data set on a storage medium of the storage device, storing the identified starting LBA of the first data set in a memory associated with the storage device, identifying a starting LBA associated with a request to write a second data set to the storage device, comparing the starting LBA of the second data set to the starting LBA of the first data set stored in the memory, and upon identifying a match between the starting LBA of the second data set and the starting LBA of the first data set, suspending the request to write the second data set to the storage device.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adaptively mitigating adjacent track interference (ATI) effects on a data recording medium. In some embodiments, a write count value is accumulated for a first track responsive to successive writes to a second track on the data recording medium. For each of the successive writes, the accumulated write count value for the first track is incremented by a different variable amount based on temperature. The first track is refreshed responsive to the accumulated write count reaching a selected threshold value.

Abstract: The method and apparatus herein identifies instability events occurring within a magneto-resistive head. The method commences by positioning magneto resistive head over a selected area of a disk that has no transitions, and then iteratively setting a read bias, and a thermal asperity threshold for counting and analysis of magneto resistive head instability events. The sensitivity of the thermal asperity detector is tuned to detect events that indicate magneto resistive head instability generated by the MR head over regions where magnetic transitions have been erased. The analyzed events are then used to determine the action taken related to the reliability of the head, that is, whether to reject or attempt to reduce the amount of instability related output. The apparatus includes without limitation a preamplifier, a read channel with a thermal asperity detector, and a comparator for counting and analyzing the resultant signals tested via biasing the magneto resistive head in a disc drive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting an optimized write current for a write head to improve read performance from a track-of-interest on a storage disc. Read error rates are detected from a test pattern written to the track-of-interest using a plurality of test write currents. The read error rates are detected over a range of read positions offset from the track-of-interest. Off-track read capability (OTC) values corresponding to each test write current are determined based on the read error rates that satisfy an acceptable error rate criterion. The test write current that corresponds to the maximum OTC value is selected as the optimized write current. An optimized write current value corresponding to the optimized write current and a head value corresponding to the write head are associatively stored in a storage unit, and the values are read from the storage unit and the optimized write current is supplied to the write head in accordance to the optimized write current value.

Abstract: A spacing between a transducer head and disk surface in a disk drive's head-disk interface is monitored. The transducer head includes a magneto resistive element. The surface of the disk includes a region containing at least one asperity extending from the surface to have a height. The transducer head is placed over the region containing the at least one asperity, and the disk is rotated. A determination is then made as to whether the transducer head contacts the at least one asperity.