Abstract: A solid state storage device includes a flash memory and a controller configured to store data in the flash memory via a plurality of channels. The stored data is encoded using a low-density parity-check code. Hard-decision decoders are configured to decode encoded data received from the flash memory via respective channels of the plurality of channels using the low-density parity-check code and to provide decoded data to the controller in response to one or more read commands from the controller. A soft-decision decoder is configured to decode the encoded data received from the flash memory using the low-density parity-check code and to provide the decoded data to the controller in response to one of the plurality of hard-decision decoders failing to decode the encoded data. The encoded data is obtained by the soft-decision decoder using a plurality of read-retry operations.

Abstract: A MAP detector system operates in a parallel mode for on-the-fly operations and in a serial mode for error recovery operations. In the parallel mode, a plurality of Viterbi operators process a block of input sampled data in parallel. In the serial mode a selected forward Viterbi operator and two associated reverse Viterbi operators process the entire block of data, in order, to produce soft decision data.

Abstract: A magnetic tape is packed prior to removal from a tape drive. The tape is packed by completely unwinding the tape and then completely rewinding the tape without reading or writing to the tape. Completely unwinding the tape and then completely rewinding the tape reduces air entrainment and thereby reduces the susceptibility of the tape to damage after removal from the tape drive.

Abstract: A magnetic tape is packed prior to removal from a tape drive. The tape is packed by completely unwinding the tape and then completely rewinding the tape without reading or writing to the tape. Completely unwinding the tape and then completely rewinding the tape reduces air entrainment and thereby reduces the susceptibility of the tape to damage after removal from the tape drive.

Abstract: A multi-transducer magnetic head includes an array of transducer pairs positioned across at least a portion of a cross section of a magnetic tape path. Each transducer pair includes at least one write transducer and at least one read transducer. Within each transducer pair, a first centerline through the write transducer is generally parallel to a second centerline through the read transducer. Distances between the first and second centerlines within individual transducer pairs increase with distances of the transducer pairs from a head position reference point. In the preferred embodiment, the write transducers have a first pitch and the read transducers have a second pitch. However, the read transducers are biased toward the head position reference point, so that the pitch of the read transducers is smaller than the pitch of the write transducers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of recording and reading data to and from a multi-track magnetic tape utilize a multi-transducer magnetic head that is able to change its azimuth angle relative to the magnetic tape to compensate for variations in tape width due to sources of dimensional instability, such as age-related tape shrinkage. In one embodiment, the magnetic head contains at least eight write/read pairs positioned between two servo readers. Each servo reader includes a servo read transducer. During the original recording operation, the magnetic head is positioned at a write azimuth angle, for example, twenty degrees, such that a small change in the azimuth angle can compensate for age-related tape shrinkage. A read operation includes aligning two servo read transducers to two recorded servo tracks by laterally moving the magnetic head and changing the azimuth angle of the magnetic head to a read azimuth angle.

Abstract: A device for reading data from or writing data to magnetic storage media, the device comprising a head having a plurality of read/write elements for reading data from or writing data to magnetic storage media in respective tracks, and a plurality of servo elements for reading servo code from the media in respective bands different from the data tracks, the read/write elements and servo elements being arranged such that a plurality of the tracks operated on by the read/write elements are disposed between two servo bands operated on by two of the servo elements.