Abstract: A storage medium format is provided having a first band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having user data stored thereto, a second band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having other user data stored thereto, and a guard track medially disposed therebetween the first band and the second band and having system data stored thereto.

Abstract: A method to map defects is provided. A select data track of a storage medium is scanned for a defect. At least one data wedge affected by the defect on the select data track is identified. Each data wedge includes available area for writing user data defined between two servo wedges that include position information. The at least one affected data wedge is identified as unusuable.

Abstract: A storage medium having a boundary located along a surface of the storage medium that functions as a transition point for selectively operating a first writer and a second writer of a plurality of writers, where the location of the boundary is set based on writing capabilities of the plurality of writers.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes determining that a data sector included in a select data track is in error, the data sector in error includes at least one identified data wedge. The at least one defective data wedge in the data sector in error is located. The method also includes moving the at least one defective data wedge by utilizing at least one spare wedge on the select data track.

Abstract: A storage medium having a boundary located along a surface of the storage medium that functions as a transition point for selectively operating a first writer and a second writer of a plurality of writers, where the location of the boundary is set based on writing capabilities of the plurality of writers.

Abstract: A multistage decoder circuit has an error reduction stage that includes an adaptation circuit. The adaptation circuit provides adaptable error reduction as a function of bit error rate. The multistage decoder circuit has an energization control circuit that couples to the adaptation circuit. The energization control circuit controls an energization of the adaptation circuit as a function of actual or expected channel quality.

Abstract: A method of recovering data on a storage medium is provided. A first error correction scheme is performed on a high risk region of the storage medium. A second error correction scheme is performed on a remaining portion of the storage medium.

Abstract: A method, and system configured to implement the method, are provided. The method includes the steps of identifying a last usable track on a surface as a function of a parameter, and defining a standoff band of tracks relative to the last usable track to obtain an achieved maximum track on the surface. The last usable track is, in exemplary embodiments, a track beyond a default maximum track on a surface of a data storage medium.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that regulate head fly height so as to compensate for variation in height of a disk surface. An exemplary apparatus includes a circuit that detects disk height variation in response to variation in the gain of a variable gain amplifier, within an automatic gain control loop, that amplifies a read signal as the head reads from the disk surface. The circuit regulates the head fly height so as to compensate for the detected variation in disk height.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed that regulate head fly height so as to compensate for variation in height of a disk surface. An exemplary apparatus includes a circuit that detects disk height variation in response to variation in the gain of a variable gain amplifier, within an automatic gain control loop, that amplifies a read signal as the head reads from the disk surface. The circuit regulates the head fly height so as to compensate for the detected variation in disk height.

Abstract: A storage medium format is provided having a first band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having user data stored thereto, a second band of a plurality of consecutive data storage tracks having other user data stored thereto, and a guard track medially disposed therebetween the first band and the second band and having system data stored thereto.

Abstract: A method to map defects is provided. A select data track of a storage medium is scanned for a defect. At least one data wedge affected by the defect on the select data track is identified. Each data wedge includes available area for writing user data defined between two servo wedges that include position information. The at least one affected data wedge is identified as unusuable.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus includes a surface having a plurality of data tracks with leading track portions. A head moves along head paths over the data tracks to provide data access. The data access has a reduced reliability along a limited number of the leading track portions. Trailing path additions follow the head paths for the limited number of leading track portions. The trailing path additions providing overlapping data access for the limited number of leading track portions.

Abstract: A data storage medium and data storage system with improved efficiency of formatting are provided. One illustrative embodiment of the present invention pertains to a data storage medium. The data storage medium includes a first zone having servo information written with a first frequency, a second zone having servo information written with a second frequency, and a guard band disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The use of different frequencies in different zones contributes to optimizing the properties of the data storage medium, and the guard band contributes to optimizing the usage of the different zones.

Abstract: A computer process establishes data frequencies for recording data in zones of a zone bit recording medium in a disc drive. At least three data points are identified for each zone correlating data frequencies and corresponding bit error rates, and a slope of a curve between each two data points is calculated. The slopes are averaged, and the data frequency is calculated based on the average slope. If a difference between the average and default slopes exceeds a first threshold value, or if a spread of the slopes exceeds a second threshold value, the data frequency is calculated based on the average slope and the default slope. In one embodiment, each of the three data points is generated by recording data in the zone at each of three selected data frequencies, reading the recorded data, and calculating bit error rates based on the recorded and read data.

Abstract: A method is provided. The method includes determining that a data sector included in a select data track is in error, the data sector in error includes at least one identified data wedge. The at least one defective data wedge in the data sector in error is located. The method also includes moving the at least one defective data wedge by utilizing at least one spare wedge on the select data track.

Abstract: A method of recovering data on a storage medium is provided. A first error correction scheme is performed on a high risk region of the storage medium. A second error correction scheme is performed on a remaining portion of the storage medium.

Abstract: The thermal decay of data written to a magnetic mass storage medium is determined by measuring and analyzing the time-domain equalized-signal-to-noise ratio (ESNR) and equalized signal-to-total-distortion noise ratio (ESTDR) of written data. In some embodiments, a test track and a reference track are initialized from data. Subsequently, the reference track is re-initialized from the test data, and the time-domain ESNR and/or ESTDR measurements are made of the test track and the reference track, at predetermined time intervals. Later, the time-domain ESNR and ESTDR measurements are analyzed to determine the thermal decay of the data written. In another embodiment of the present invention, the ESNR and/or ESTDR measurements includes reading the data through a non-return-to-zero bus in phases, in which the phases are selected in sequence.

Abstract: A data storage medium and data storage system with improved efficiency of formatting are provided. One illustrative embodiment of the present invention pertains to a data storage medium. The data storage medium includes a first zone having servo information written with a first frequency, a second zone having servo information written with a second frequency, and a guard band disposed between the first zone and the second zone. The use of different frequencies in different zones contributes to optimizing the properties of the data storage medium, and the guard band contributes to optimizing the usage of the different zones.

Abstract: A multistage decoder circuit has an error reduction stage that includes an adaptation circuit. The adaptation circuit provides adaptable error reduction as a function of bit error rate. The multistage decoder circuit has an energization control circuit that couples to the adaptation circuit. The energization control circuit controls an energization of the adaptation circuit as a function of actual or expected channel quality.