Abstract: There is disclosed a disk for use in a disk drive and a method for making the disk. The position error signal (PES) fields for each track on the disk are written with predetermined data, e.g. servo data, encoded thereon. In the preferred embodiment: a) the data such as the track number is mapped into codewords of an error correction code (ECC); b) bit-vectors are used to encode the symbols for further redundancy; and c) the raw data written in the PES fields is constrained to equalize the analog signal characteristic used by the servo system for positioning. Thus, the invention allows the PES fields to be used as in the prior art while also being used as a source of digital data which is robustly recorded therein. In one aspect of the invention, the track ID's are written in the PES fields in a selected pattern in which the track ID for each track is recorded in two PES field groups.

Abstract: Disclosed is an error tolerant binary encoded synchronization mark concatenated with a known pattern, such as a VFO pattern, comprising an encoded pattern of a fixed plurality of bits, the encoded synchronization pattern being at maximum Hamming distance from the concatenated known pattern for the number of bits in the fixed plurality of bits. The error tolerant synchronization mark may also be concatenated with the VFO pattern seen in reverse, and the synchronization pattern additionally is at maximum Hamming distance from the concatenated known VFO pattern seen in reverse.

Abstract: A data recording disk drive has a plurality of servo sectors containing error-detectable and error-correctable servo timing marks (STMs). Each STM is represented as a pattern of n bits of digital information, with each track having a set of m unique STM patterns, and wherein each of the m unique STM patterns of n bits has a minimum sliding distance d to every other STM pattern in the set, where d is greater than one. The error-tolerant STMs are achieved by the use of a set or code of fixed STM bit patterns, where the STM patterns have a specified minimum Hamming distance against all the patterns in the search, called the sliding distance d. These STM patterns may include any bits associated with the servo sectors, such as bits indicating track index, servo sector number, and recording head number.

Abstract: A zoned recording, embedded servo disk drive includes a sector architecture in which the recording head locates and identifies data sectors without using data identification (ID) fields, but instead using information obtained from electronic storage and from servo sectors which need not be adjacent to the data sectors. Each data track contains servo information and data, but not data sector ID information, and is circumferentially divided into identical segments. Included in each track segment is a number of data regions separated from one another by servo sectors. The data regions in each track segment may contain partial data sectors and complete data sectors, and each data sector is identified by a number indicating its location relative to the beginning of the track segment.