Abstract: Systems and methods for servo zone transition optimization are described. In one embodiment, the storage system device includes a disk drive and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to assess at least one operation of a read/write head of the disk drive; and format, based at least in part on the assessing of the read/write head, a disk surface of the disk drive with a first servo zone, a second servo zone, and an overlap region extending between a start point of the second servo zone and an end point of the first servo zone. In some cases, the overlap region starts towards a disk inner diameter (ID) and ends towards a disk outer diameter (OD).

Abstract: Systems and methods for servo zone transition optimization are described. In one embodiment, the storage system device includes a disk drive and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to assess at least one operation of a read/write head of the disk drive; and format, based at least in part on the assessing of the read/write head, a disk surface of the disk drive with a first servo zone, a second servo zone, and an overlap region extending between a start point of the second servo zone and an end point of the first servo zone. In some cases, the overlap region starts towards a disk inner diameter (ID) and ends towards a disk outer diameter (OD).

Abstract: Systems and methods for servo zone transition optimization are described. In one embodiment, the storage system device includes a disk drive and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to assess at least one operation of a read/write head of the disk drive; and format, based at least in part on the assessing of the read/write head, a disk surface of the disk drive with a first servo zone, a second servo zone, and an overlap region extending between a start point of the second servo zone and an end point of the first servo zone. In some cases, the overlap region starts towards a disk inner diameter (ID) and ends towards a disk outer diameter (OD).

Abstract: Systems and methods for servo zone transition optimization are described. In one embodiment, the storage system device includes a disk drive and a controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to assess at least one operation of a read/write head of the disk drive; and format, based at least in part on the assessing of the read/write head, a disk surface of the disk drive with a first servo zone, a second servo zone, and an overlap region extending between a start point of the second servo zone and an end point of the first servo zone. In some cases, the overlap region starts towards a disk inner diameter (ID) and ends towards a disk outer diameter (OD).

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes measuring a first amplitude and a second amplitude in a servo pattern signal derived from a transducer head interacting with a medium; and providing an indication of a change in a spacing distance between the head and the medium, wherein the change in the spacing is evaluated using a spacing relation derived from a ratio of the first harmonic amplitude and the second harmonic amplitude.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that includes measuring a first amplitude and a second amplitude in a servo pattern signal derived from a transducer head interacting with a medium; and providing an indication of a change in a spacing distance between the head and the medium, wherein the change in the spacing is evaluated using a spacing relation derived from a ratio of the first harmonic amplitude and the second harmonic amplitude.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensation for variation in timing skew in a disc drive having at least one rotating disc is provided. A first head is positioned over a first disc surface and a second head is positioned over a second disc surface. The first disc surface includes a track having a first plurality of sectors and the second disc surface includes a track having a second plurality of sectors. Each sector of the second plurality of the sectors corresponds to a different sector of the first plurality of sectors, thereby forming a plurality of pairs of corresponding sectors. A timing skew value for each pair of corresponding sectors is computed to obtain a sequence of timing skew values. Data related to the sequence of timing skew values is utilized to compensate for variation in timing skew.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for certifying servo sectors on recording surfaces of a disc stack of a data storage device to promote servo sector alignment among the various recording surfaces. A reference servo sector pattern is written to a first recording surface, the reference pattern comprising a plurality of angularly spaced apart servo sectors. Multiple interleaved sets of servo sector patterns are written to each of the remaining recording surfaces, each interleaved pattern respectively comprising a plurality of angularly spaced apart servo sectors. A selected interleaved pattern is identified from each of the remaining surfaces that provides a desired alignment with the reference servo sector pattern, and the non-selected servo sector patterns are overwritten. The servo patterns can be written to the discs prior to installation using a multiple disc writing (MDW) station, or after installation of the discs into the data storage device using a servo track writing (STW) station.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, comprises steps of providing a non-magnetic substrate for a magnetic medium, the substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone; and forming a pattern of recesses in the substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone by embossing utilizing a stamper having a surface including a negative image pattern of said pattern of recesses. Embodiments of the invention include magnetic media comprising a non-magnetic substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone, said substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone comprising an embossed pattern of recesses. In addition, the data zone of the substrate surface may include an embossed servo pattern formed simultaneously with the embossed pattern of recesses formed in the landing zone.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a data storage medium having a plurality of servo sectors and a plurality of data sectors, wherein each of the servo sectors includes a phase locked loop field and a track identification field, a controller for controlling the position of a recording head with respect to the data storage medium, and a servo demodulator for recovering timing information from both the phase locked loop field and the track identification field, and for producing a timing estimate. The method performed by the apparatus is also included.

Abstract: Using a “reference” sensor, a reference position is detected in a frame of reference that is moving along a predetermined path relative to the reference sensor. The reference position is used to derive a position-dependent indicator of a position-dependent “longitudinal” offset component (i.e. along the path). An output from the target sensor is monitored using a “target window” that is partially based on the position-dependent indicator.

Abstract: In a method for generating a confidence level of a position error signal (PES) component that is indicative of a quality of the PES component, a PES component is generated using position signal samples of a read back signal corresponding to a servo burst pattern. Next, a noise level corresponding to noise in the read back signal is extracted using the position signal samples. A confidence level is then generated based on the PES component and the noise level. A system for performing the method includes a transformation block, a position error signal (PES) component extractor, a noise extractor, and a confidence level generator. The transformation block is configured to receive position signal samples of a read back signal corresponding to a servo burst pattern taken at a sampling frequency. A transformed domain representation of the position signal samples is then generated by the transformation block based on the sampling frequency and the servo burst pattern.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, comprises steps of providing a non-magnetic substrate for a magnetic medium, the substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone; and forming a pattern of recesses in the substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone by embossing utilizing a stamper having a surface including a negative image pattern of said pattern of recesses. Embodiments of the invention include magnetic media comprising a non-magnetic substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone, said substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone comprising an embossed pattern of recesses. In addition, the data zone of the substrate surface may include an embossed servo pattern formed simultaneously with the embossed pattern of recesses formed in the landing zone.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for repeatable run-out errors in a disc drive is disclosed. The compensation is created by determining transfer function values for a servo loop in the drive as well as a sequence of repeatable run-out values for a portion of a disc. The repeatable run-out values are divided by respective transfer function values to produce compensation values that are inverse transformed to produce time-domain compensation values. These time-domain compensation values are injected into the servo loop to compensate for repeatable run-out errors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for certifying servo sectors on recording surfaces of a disc stack of a data storage device to promote servo sector alignment among the various recording surfaces. A reference servo sector pattern is written to a first recording surface, the reference pattern comprising a plurality of angularly spaced apart servo sectors. Multiple interleaved sets of servo sector patterns are written to each of the remaining recording surfaces, each interleaved pattern respectively comprising a plurality of angularly spaced apart servo sectors. A selected interleaved pattern is identified from each of the remaining surfaces that provides a desired alignment with the reference servo sector pattern, and the non-selected servo sector patterns are overwritten. The servo patterns can be written to the discs prior to installation using a multiple disc writing (MDW) station, or after installation of the discs into the data storage device using a servo track writing (STW) station.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, comprises steps of providing a non-magnetic substrate for a magnetic medium, the substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone; and forming a pattern of recesses in the substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone by embossing utilizing a stamper having a surface including a negative image pattern of said pattern of recesses. Embodiments of the invention include magnetic media comprising a non-magnetic substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone, said substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone comprising an embossed pattern of recesses. In addition, the data zone of the substrate surface may include an embossed servo pattern formed simultaneously with the embossed pattern of recesses formed in the landing zone.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium, comprises steps of providing a non-magnetic substrate for a magnetic medium, the substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone; and forming a pattern of recesses in the substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone by embossing utilizing a stamper having a surface including a negative image pattern of said pattern of recesses. Embodiments of the invention include magnetic media comprising a non-magnetic substrate including at least one major surface having a contact start/stop (CSS) or landing zone and a data zone, said substrate surface in said CSS or landing zone comprising an embossed pattern of recesses. In addition, the data zone of the substrate surface may include an embossed servo pattern formed simultaneously with the embossed pattern of recesses formed in the landing zone.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensation for variation in timing skew in a disc drive having at least one rotating disc is provided. A first head is positioned over a first disc surface and a second head is positioned over a second disc surface. The first disc surface includes a track having a first plurality of sectors and the second disc surface includes a track having a second plurality of sectors. Each sector of the second plurality of the sectors corresponds to a different sector of the first plurality of sectors, thereby forming a plurality of pairs of corresponding sectors. A timing skew value for each pair of corresponding sectors is computed to obtain a sequence of timing skew values. Data related to the sequence of timing skew values is utilized to compensate for variation in timing skew.

Abstract: Using a “reference” sensor, a reference position is detected in a frame of reference that is moving along a predetermined path relative to the reference sensor. The reference position is used to derive a position-dependent indicator of a position-dependent “longitudinal” offset component (i.e. along the path). An output from the target sensor is monitored using a “target window” that is partially based on the position-dependent indicator.

Abstract: A robust and efficient method for determining the location of a transducer head in a mass storage system. A position-indicative signal characterized by a fundamental frequency F is received from a data path including the transducer head. Energy in the signal at frequencies smaller than F/10 is substantially attenuated by a special filter, which may be an analog or digital differentiator. A sequence of bits indicative of the transducer head position indicator is then extracted from the digitized, filtered signal.