Abstract: A system may have a data storage medium that contains at least one data bit that is accessed by a transducing head that has a near-field transducer. A controller can be connected to the transducing head and store a plurality of near-field transducer operating currents in a memory. The controller may identify a change in efficiency of the near-field transducer from the plurality of near-field transducer operating currents.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present disclosure includes a controller coupled to a read/write head wherein the controller is configured to perform various operations. More specifically, the controller is configured to monitor an operational parameter of the read/write head and to detect a fault based on the operational parameter. The fault indicates that a write enabling energy source is malfunctioning during a write operation. The controller is additionally configured, in response to the fault, to take remedial action to protect data associated with the write operation.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present disclosure includes a controller coupled to a read/write head wherein the controller is configured to perform various operations. More specifically, the controller is configured to monitor an operational parameter of the read/write head and to detect a fault based on the operational parameter. The fault indicates that a write enabling energy source is malfunctioning during a write operation. The controller is additionally configured, in response to the fault, to take remedial action to protect data associated with the write operation.

Abstract: A system may have a data storage medium that contains at least one data bit that is accessed by a transducing head that has a near-field transducer. A controller can be connected to the transducing head and store a plurality of near-field transducer operating currents in a memory. The controller may identify a change in efficiency of the near-field transducer from the plurality of near-field transducer operating currents.

Abstract: A system may have a data storage medium that contains at least one data bit that is accessed by a transducing head that has a near-field transducer. A controller can be connected to the transducing head and store a plurality of near-field transducer operating currents in a memory. The controller may identify a change in efficiency of the near-field transducer from the plurality of near-field transducer operating currents.

Abstract: A system may have a data storage medium that contains at least one data bit that is accessed by a transducing head that has a near-field transducer. A controller can be connected to the transducing head and store a plurality of near-field transducer operating currents in a memory. The controller may identify a change in efficiency of the near-field transducer from the plurality of near-field transducer operating currents.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring, by a data storage device, signals generated by one or more sensors that relate to a mechanical vibration of the data storage device. The one or more sensors are in electrical communication with the data storage device. The method includes storing a representation of the signals as data in the data storage device.

Abstract: A data storage subsystem in a distributed storage system having a plurality of predictive failure analyzing data storage devices. The subsystem furthermore has a circuit that is responsive to a predicted failure indication by a data storage device in relation to predetermined rules stored in memory for deterministically initiating a preventive recovery either by a data recovery procedure in the data storage device or by a fault tolerance storage arrangement in the subsystem.

Abstract: In a method for predicting failure of a disc drive during operation of the disc drive, a write fault count is maintained that corresponds to write faults encountered during write operations to a disc of the disc drive. Additionally, a frequency domain representation of a position error signal of a head of the disc drive is obtained. Finally, failure of the disc drive is predicted based on the write fault count and the frequency domain representation of the position error signal. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a disc drive that is capable of performing the above-described method.