Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes determining a stopwrite threshold based on a standard deviation or a variance at a current position error signal sample, and determining whether the current position error signal sample exceeds the stopwrite threshold. Writing is disabled in response to determining that the current position error signal sample exceeds the stopwrite threshold. Writing is enabled in response to determining that the current position error signal sample does not exceed the stopwrite threshold.

Abstract: A data writer can be configured with at least a write pole separated from a front shield by a non-magnetic gap layer. The front shield may consist of at least a seed layer and a shielding layer with the shielding layer having an easy axis coercivity along a first direction of 4 Oe or more and a hard axis coercivity along a second direction of 0.5 Oe or more.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a writer main pole for a perpendicular magnetic recording system is provided. The writer pole may have a constant sidewall angle from the ABS to yoke and may be formed out of an insulating material and a magnetic material. The sidewall angle of the yoke region may be adjusted during manufacture. The ABS region may correspond to the magnetic material and the yoke region may correspond to the insulating material. The insulating material may comprise Alumina. The magnetic material may comprise a NiFe alloy.

Abstract: An apparatus having a transducer structure with: a lower shield; an upper shield above the lower shield, the shields providing magnetic shielding; a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields; at least one of an upper electrical lead between the sensor and the upper shield and a lower electrical lead between the sensor and the lower shield, the at least one lead being in electrical communication with the sensor; and an insulating layer between the at least one of the leads and the shield closest thereto. Another embodiment includes a transducer structure having: a lower shield; an upper shield above the lower shield; a current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor between the upper and lower shields; an upper electrical lead between the sensor and the upper shield, the upper electrical lead being in electrical communication with the sensor; and an insulating layer between at upper electrical lead and the upper shield.

Abstract: A testing device tests a magnetic head with a read head structure including a read head element while applying an external magnetic field to the magnetic head. The testing device receives signals from the read head element and processes the signals to generate a spectral power density for the signals. The spectral power density is characterized for at least one frequency range. The characterization of the spectral power density is used to determine a characteristic of noise from the read head structure. The signals from the read head may be received with different applied magnetic fields and/or before or while thermally exciting the magnetic head. Additionally, a histogram of the signals may be generated and used to determine a second characteristic of the noise.

Abstract: One aspect of an actuator assembly configured for use in a disk drive includes an actuator body including a bore, an adhesive inlet port, and an adhesive vent, a pivot bearing disposed at least partially within the bore of the actuator body, an adhesive disposed between the pivot bearing and the actuator body, and a barrier coupled to the actuator body and positioned over the adhesive vent.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to an EAMR head having a plasmonic bulk metal plate adjacent thereto. The waveguide core has a trapezoidal shaped cross-section, when viewed from the ABS, and the plasmonic bulk metal plate is disposed adjacent the short side of the trapezoid. The plasmonic bulk metal plate reduces the temperature of the NFT.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes an inner module comprising an array of first transducers of a first type; and first and second outer modules flanking the inner module. Each outer module includes an array of second transducers of a second type that is different than the first type. Each of the second transducers in each array of second transducers being aligned with a corresponding one of the first transducers in a direction generally parallel to a path of tape travel thereacross. A number of active second transducers in each outer module is less than a number of active first transducers in the inner module.

Abstract: A magnetic tape storage medium includes at least one servo band with at least two sub-bands along a longitudinal extension of the medium. Servo bursts are written to the sub-bands to determine positional information of the medium. A first of the sub-bands includes a first burst with at least one servo stripe inclined at a first non-zero angle with respect to a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the medium followed by a second burst comprising at least one servo stripe inclined at a second non-zero angle with respect to the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the medium, which second angle is different from the first angle. A second of the sub-bands includes a first burst having at least one servo stripe followed by a second burst having at least one servo stripe, the first and the second bursts parallel to each other.

Abstract: Devices that include a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least one external surface; and at least one adhesion layer positioned on at least a portion of the at least one external surface, the adhesion layer including arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), selenium (Se), tellurium (Te), polonium (Po), bismuth (Bi), sulfur (S), or combinations thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed are a magnetic recording medium for a heat-assisted recording device, which has a high SNR at high density, and a manufacturing method thereof. The magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic substrate; a magnetic recording layer; a protective layer; and a liquid lubricating layer. The magnetic recording layer has a granular structure formed by magnetic portions and non-magnetic portions that surround the magnetic portions in which the non-magnetic portions between adjacent magnetic portions are recessed with respect to the magnetic portions. The non-magnetic portions have a volume percentage based on total volume of the granular structure ranging from 15 vol % to 30 vol % and include a carbon-based material. The magnetic recording medium has a surface having an arithmetic mean roughness Ra and an average length of roughness curve elements RSm such that Ra/RSm ranges from 0.05 to 0.15.

Abstract: A magnetic stack includes a heatsink layer comprising (200) Cu or (200) CuX, a magnetic recording layer, and an interlayer disposed between the heatsink layer and the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A data device may have at least a magnetic lamination with a thermal retention structure deposited on a substrate and configured to maintain a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time. Such predetermined temperature and amount of time may allow for the growth of a magnetic layer with a predetermined magnetic anisotropy.

Abstract: A method for patterning a magnetic thin film on a substrate includes: providing a pattern about the magnetic thin film, with selective regions of the pattern permitting penetration of energized ions of one or more elements. Energized ions are generated with sufficient energy to penetrate selective regions and a portion of the magnetic thin film adjacent the selective regions. The substrate is placed to receive the energized ions. The portions of the magnetic thin film are rendered to exhibit a magnetic property different than selective other portions. A method for patterning a magnetic media with a magnetic thin film on both sides of the media is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and a method for producing a magnetic recording medium having a lubricant membrane with a uniform thickness on a surface. The device for producing the magnetic recording medium includes: a hanger device that is inserted into the central hole of the magnetic recording medium and supports the magnetic recording medium in a hanging state; and a raising and lowering device that raises and lowers one of the hanging device and an immersion tank with respect to the other thereof. The hanger device includes a support plate of which an upper end comes into contact with an inner circumference of the magnetic recording medium and a liquid-cutting plate which extends from a lower end of the support plate and is distant by a space along the inner circumference of the magnetic recording medium from the inner circumference of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Provided is an optical pickup device and a method of aligning a twin-light source in an optical disc drive. The method operates two light emitting chips in the light source simultaneously to cause two laser beams to be transmitted through a grating element at the same time. Location errors and rotation errors of the two light emitting chips with respect to the grating element may be corrected while monitoring the laser beams transmitted through the grating element.

Abstract: An optical pickup device is one in which a lens holder is held by a movable base by using a resilient wire. A restricting abutting portion is formed at a lower portion of the lens holder. When the lens holder moves excessively downward, the restricting abutting portion comes into contact with a stopper portion to restrict a downward movement of the lens holder, so that it is possible to prevent the lens holder from contacting a unit chassis. When the unit chassis is not mounted on the movable base, it is possible to prevent excessive flexing of the resilient wire caused when an opposing abutting portion of the lens holder comes into contact with the unit chassis.

Abstract: A system includes a linear storage media tier; a second storage tier having higher performance than the linear storage media tier; a data controller for moving data between the tiers; and a host interface responsive to disk and/or network storage commands. The linear storage media tier includes: a rest area for storing reels having linear media thereon, at least one linear media drive configured for reading and/or writing the linear media, and at least one robot for transporting the linear storage media between the rest area and the at least one linear media drive. The robot moves along a first surface via contact with the surface. A system according to another embodiment includes a linear storage media tier characterized by having a read access time to any block of data stored on any reel in the rest area in less than 10 seconds.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus of this disclosure includes, reader writer 5 which acquires magazine identifying information and capacity information from RF tag 13 provided with magazine, information storage unit 6 which stores contents information recorded on optical discs 12 and the magazine identifying information and the capacity information acquired by the information acquiring unit 5, information comparing unit 7 which compares the capacity information acquired by reader writer 5 and the capacity information stored in information storage unit 6. When two pieces of the capacity information compared by information comparing unit 7 match, the contents information stored in information storage unit 6 is displayed on display unit 9. When two pieces of the capacity information compared by information comparing unit 7 are different, the contents information is read out from optical discs 12 by controlling drive 4, and the read-out contents information is displayed on display unit 9.

Abstract: Information from a position and/or gesture detection system can be transmitted to various devices in order to enable users to interact and/or view others users. In some embodiments, video is captured that includes a current view of the body of a user. In order to prevent an unauthorized, unintended, or undesired transmission of at least part of the body image data, one or more settings or policies can be specified that can control which portions are transmitted, received, and/or displayed. For example, a user can be prompted before body image or position data is transmitted, which enables a user to control the type of data that is sent. A recipient or intermediate entity or component can also specify one or more settings or policies to control the type of data that is transmitted and/or received. In some embodiments, an external service can be utilized to manage the transmission of data.

Abstract: A method for copy protection in which an audiovisual or audio data is divided into a plurality of portions. The plurality of portions is at least partly scrambled and prepared so as to be stored on a record carrier in the scrambled order. This is done so that a physical position on the record carrier, e.g., a sector of the record carrier, where a respective portions of the divided data is stored depends on the scrambled order.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) is described which includes a magnetic field-generating device in the vicinity of a load/unload ramp such that the write head moves into a magnetic field generated by the device while the head is being unloaded from disk, whereby the magnetic field pins in a predominant direction the direction of magnetization of a magnetic shield associated with the write head, and away from the direction toward the disk. Recording magnetic field leakage associated with the shield is thereby suppressed and corresponding far track interference is inhibited.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes reading and/or writing data to a magnetic medium using a head having an array of transducers. An axis of the array is defined between opposite ends thereof, and is tilted at an angle greater than 0° from a line oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross during the reading and/or writing. The method further includes at least one of: introducing, by a controller, a timing offset to at least one servo channel to compensate for offset in servo readback signals introduced by the tilt of the head, introducing, by the controller, a timing offset to at least some read channels to compensate for offset in readback signals introduced by a tilt of the head, and introducing, by the controller, a timing offset to at least some write channels to enable writing of transitions that are readable by a non-tilted head.

Abstract: A data storage device (DSD) includes a non-volatile memory (NVM) media for storing data. A last resort zone of the NVM media is associated with a higher risk of data loss or data corruption than other portions of the NVM media and is reserved as unavailable for storing data. It is determined whether a current data storage capacity and/or an environmental condition for the NVM media has reached a threshold. The last resort zone is set as available for storing data if it is determined that the threshold has been reached and data is written in the last resort zone.

Abstract: Herein disclosed are an editing apparatus, an editing method, and an editing program allowing quick editing of video data. In order to clip a section in the video data and play it to be broadcasted as a replay, receiving a request to start playback from a desired position, an in-point is set in response to the request, and an out-point is set in response to a request to finish playback. Then, other video data from the video data of a section between the in-point and the out-point is generated.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for editing moving image data of successive frames to which a time code of a same value is made to correspond every first predetermined number of frames, the moving image data being coded on a unit basis of a coding unit which includes a second predetermined number of frames, obtains information regarding the coding unit from management information of the moving image data, determines a candidate of an editing point of the moving image data based on the obtained information and the time code made to correspond to the frames of the moving image data, sets the editing point of the moving image data based on a designated editing point and the determined candidate, and edits the moving image data according to the set editing point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for a video playback control system for a vehicle having a front cabin and a rear cabin. The apparatus can include at least one first display located in the front cabin, and at least one second display located in the rear cabin. The apparatus can also include a source of video data for display on the at least one first display and the at least one second display. The apparatus can include a control module that outputs a single still video frame or series of still video frames from a continuous video stream provided by the source of video data for display on the at least one first display.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes monitoring a plurality of parameters relating to operation of a tape drive to collect data from the operation of the tape drive. A specification of one or more of the parameters to log during one or more collection windows is received. At least some of the data collected from the operation of the tape drive is logged to a memory during the one or more collection windows, where the at least some of the data collected is stored in a plurality of fields. The method further includes dynamically overlaying one or more of the fields with data corresponding to the one or more specified parameters.

Abstract: A drive carrier includes a first computing device with light source control capacity and a light source proximate to a front plate of the drive carrier. The first computing device receives a signal from a second computing device (external to the drive carrier) and controls the light source proximate to the front plate of the drive carrier based on the signal.

Abstract: Improving track following performance and reliability in a hard disk drive involves the use of disk separator plates positioned between adjacent recording disks, where a disk separator plate is made of stamped metal with plastic over-molded mounting portions coupled to the metal, thereby reducing the reliability risks associated with the use of fiber-filled materials.

Abstract: A memory array having memory cells and methods of forming the same. The memory array may have a buried digit line formed in a first horizontal planar volume, a word line formed in a second horizontal planar volume above the first horizontal planar volume and storage devices formed on top of the vertical access devices, such as finFETs, in a third horizontal planar volume above the second horizontal planar volume. The memory array may have a 4F2 architecture, wherein each memory cell includes two vertical access devices, each coupled to a single storage device.

Abstract: A circuit comprising a first power supply having a first voltage and a second power supplying having a second voltage, wherein said first and second voltages are different at least in some cycles of said circuit, a memory element, wherein said first and second power supplies are driven into said memory element, a voltage comparator having connected thereto said first and second power supplies, wherein said voltage comparator is an analog to digital converter configured to provide digital output indicting of a voltage difference over a predetermined threshold between said first and second power supplies, and a supply selector element, wherein said supply selector element is configured to disconnect said second power supply from said memory element in response to the digital output of said voltage comparator.

Abstract: The programming of programmable memory devices, e.g. one-time programmable (OTP) memory device is presented. In particular, efficient methods and systems for generating the supply voltage for programming a programmable memory device are described. A controller configured to control the programming of a data word into a programmable memory device is described. The controller is configured to set one or more digital control signals for programming the data word into the programmable memory device. Furthermore, the controller is configured to, subsequent to setting the one or more digital control signals, increasing a device supply voltage for the programmable memory device from a default operation level to a programming level.

Abstract: A memory controller of inventive concepts may include an active regulator configured to operate in an active mode and be inactive in a sleep mode, an active logic configured to receive a drive voltage, a power gating switch configured to connect the active regulator to the active logic after a transient state of the active mode, the transient state being an initial time period of the active mode, and a charging circuit configured to charge the active logic during the transient state.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a standby voltage providing unit. The standby voltage providing unit is configured to receive an external voltage, primarily clamp and secondarily clamp a predetermined voltage, and provide the predetermined voltage as an internal voltage, during a standby mode.

Abstract: A bypass system and method that mimics read timing of a memory system which includes a self-timing circuit and a sense amplifier. When prompted, the self-timing circuit initiates the sense amplifier to evaluate its differential input. The bypass system includes a memory controller that is configured to provide a bypass enable, to prompt the self-timing circuit, and to disable normal read control when a bypass read operation is indicated. A bypass latch latches an input data value, converts the input data value into an input complementary pair, and provides the complementary pair to the differential input of the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier, when initiated, evaluates the input complementary pair after its self-timing period and provides an output data value. The bypass latch and self-timing circuit may operate synchronous with a read clock in a read domain of the memory for more accurate memory read timing.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes first and second memory regions configured to store data in a mirrored fashion with respect to each other during a high speed operation period; and a read operation block configured to repeatedly and alternately select the first and second memory regions and read data from a selected memory region, in the case where the first or second memory region is repeatedly selected n read operations of at least two times during the high speed operation period.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for executing data transformations for a data storage device. A storage controller module controls a storage operation for a set of data within a data storage device. A transformation module determines to apply a data transformation to the set of data in response to a transformation indicator. A processing module applies the data transformation to the set of data internally on the data storage device prior to completing the storage operation.

Abstract: A system that calibrates timing relationships between signals involved in performing write operations is described. This system includes a memory controller which is coupled to a set of memory chips, wherein each memory chip includes a phase detector configured to calibrate a phase relationship between a data-strobe signal and a clock signal received at the memory chip from the memory controller during a write operation. Furthermore, the memory controller is configured to perform one or more write-read-validate operations to calibrate a clock-cycle relationship between the data-strobe signal and the clock signal, wherein the write-read-validate operations involve varying a delay on the data-strobe signal relative to the clock signal by a multiple of a clock period.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an apparatus that includes: a first terminal configured to receive a serial write data signal that includes at least four bits transferred in series with each other; a second terminal configured to receive a data strobe signal; a control circuit configured to produce a plurality of internal data strobe signals in response to the data strobe signal; and a serial-to-parallel conversion circuit configured to respond to the data strobe and internal data strobe signals to convert the serial write data signal into a parallel write data signal that includes at least four bits produced in parallel to each other.

Abstract: Memory systems are provided. A memory system may include a plurality of nonvolatile memories and a memory controller configured to control the plurality of nonvolatile memories. Moreover, the memory system may include an input/output buffer circuit connected between the memory controller and the plurality of nonvolatile memories. A data channel may be connected between the memory controller and the input/output buffer circuit, and first and second internal data channels may be connected between the input/output buffer circuit and respective first and second groups of the plurality of nonvolatile memories. The input/output buffer circuit may be configured to connect the data channel to one of the first and second internal data channels.

Abstract: An exemplary system of the present disclosure comprises a memory controller, a command bus, a data bus, a memory device and a memory. The memory device is coupled to the memory controller by the command bus and the data bus. The memory stores instructions that when executed by the computer system perform a method of requesting data from the memory device. This method comprises receiving a plurality of commands for the memory device from the command bus, the memory device clocked by a clock. At least one command of the plurality of commands includes a first command and a second command within a single clock cycle of said clock. At least one of the first command and second command is a data access command. The first command is executed during a first clock cycle and the second command is executed during a second subsequent clock cycle.

Abstract: A driver circuit includes an output driver including a plurality of output driver legs. The driver circuit further includes a duty cycle adjuster configured to adjust a duty cycle of a signal provided to the output driver. The driver circuit further includes an isolation module configured to isolate at least one output driver leg of the output driver legs from remaining output driver legs of the output driver legs. The driver circuit further includes a duty cycle monitor configured to monitor an output of the at least one output driver leg when the at least one output driver leg is isolated from the remaining output driver legs, and to provide the monitored output to the duty cycle adjuster.

Abstract: The problem was that the high-impedance state of the difference between signals DQS and DQSB cannot be prevented from being brought in. With this invention, a first comparator circuit outputs a signal DQSIN representing the difference between DQS and DQSB after the coupling of input terminals to a terminal potential and from before the start timing of a preamble of the two signals. A second comparator circuit compares the level of DQS or DQSB with a reference voltage Vref and outputs a signal ODT_DET representing the result of the comparison. A gate circuit masks the signal DQSIN with a signal EW in a masking state. A control circuit identifies the start timing of the preamble based on ODT_DET, and sets the signal EW to the masking state before the start of the preamble and to an unmasking state from the start timing of the preamble.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an output driver which outputs an output signal to a transmission line, the output driver includes a pre-driver and a main driver. The pre-driver changes the duty ratio of a first drive signal and the duty ratio of a second drive signal to a plurality of patterns in accordance with a control signal. The main driver connects in series a first driver driven by the first drive signal and a second driver driven by the second drive signal. The main driver outputs the output signal to the transmission line from a connection node of the first and second drivers.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory banks each including a plurality of circuit areas selected based on an address signal, any one of which is selected by a corresponding bank selective signal (source transistor control signals), and a selective activation circuit that, from among circuit areas included in a memory bank that is selected based on the bank selective signal, activates any one of the circuit areas based on the address signal, and deactivates at least one of rest of the circuit areas. According to the present invention, the power consumption can be reduced in an active state by a dynamic power control in response to an address signal, not by entire power control by an external command.

Abstract: Some embodiments relate to apparatuses and methods associated with blocks of memory cells. The blocks of memory cells may include two or more sub-blocks of memory cells. One such sub-block may comprise a vertical string of memory cells including a select transistor. An apparatus may include a sub-block disabling circuit. The sub-block disabling circuit may include a content-addressable memory. The content-addressable memory may receive an address, including a block address and a sub-block address. The content addressable memory may output a signal to disable a tagged sub-block if the received address includes the block address and the sub-block address associated with the tagged sub-block. The sub-block disabling circuit may further include a plurality of drivers to drive one or more of the select transistors based on the signal. Other apparatus and methods are described.

Abstract: A plurality of memory blocks; and a control block configured to independently operate a part of the plurality of memory banks as a first sub-channel and a remainder of the plurality of memory banks as a second sub-channel according to whether a sub-channel is set.

Abstract: A semiconductor device in which noise is reduced without an increase in chip area. The device is used as an MRAM in which a memory mat is formed on a silicon substrate surface and the central area of the memory mat is used as a memory array and the area around the memory array is used as a dummy memory array. In the dummy memory array, a capacitor is formed between each bit line, each digit line and a supply voltage line, and a grounding voltage line. Therefore the peak value of a current flowing in each of the bit lines, digit lines and supply voltage line is decreased.

Abstract: A semiconductor memory unit includes first to Nth variable resistance elements each having different resistance values according to values stored therein, wherein N is a natural number equal to or greater than 2; a reference resistance element having a first reference resistance value; and first to Nth comparison units which correspond to the first to Nth variable resistance elements, respectively, and each of which determines whether a resistance value of the corresponding variable resistance element is greater or less than a second reference resistance value, wherein the first to Nth comparison units are commonly coupled to the reference resistance element.