Abstract: A storage device includes a data degradation management module that tracks a risk of data degradation by incrementing a track write counter of a first data track responsive to each data write command to a second data track, such as a data track directly adjacent to the first data track. If a count of the track write counter exceeds a count threshold, one or more post-write scan operations are performed to assess and/or repair data degradation of the first data track.

Abstract: A writer core of a transducer is configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and comprises an upper core and a lower core. At least one of the upper and lower cores comprises a return pole having a return shield. The apparatus also comprises a writer pole between the upper and lower cores, and a writer gap defined between the writer pole and the return shield. The apparatus further comprises a sensor element within one of the upper and lower cores that includes the writer gap. The sensor element has a temperature coefficient of resistance and is configured to sense for a change in temperature indicative of one or both of a change in spacing and contact between the transducer and the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: The MAMR head comprises a main pole, a spin torque oscillator (STO) positioned over the main pole, and write coils coupled to the main pole. The STO generates a high frequency magnetic field on a magnetic medium. The controller is configured to supply the STO with first bias current at a first bias current level, and further supply the STO with second bias current at a second bias current level. The controller is further configured to time the second bias current to coincide with an electrical current overshoot in the write coils.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device includes a magnetic recording medium, a microwave assisted magnetic head having a main magnetic pole for generating a recording magnetic field, and a spin torque oscillator provided near the main magnetic pole for generating a microwave magnetic field, a recording current supply part for supplying a recording current to recording coils according to recording current waveform data, a drive current supply part for supplying a drive current to the spin torque oscillator, and a drive current control part for controlling supply of the drive current by the drive current supply part based on the data. Taking into consideration as an indicator whether a polarity reversal interval included in the data exceeds a threshold time, the drive current control part controls the drive current supply part so as not to substantially lower the quality of signals recorded on the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: An information processing device that inputs and outputs data into and from a storage device having a plurality of regions, and includes a processor that: changes a first counter value corresponding to a first region serving as a writing target and being retained in a retainer retaining multiple counter values one representing the number of times of data writing into each of the regions; obtains the first counter value from the retainer; generates block data by attaching the first counter value to data to be written into the first region; writes the block data into the first region; when the first counter value satisfies a predetermined condition, reads the block data from the first region after the writing, and compares the read block data with the block data written into the first region, and when the read block data does not match the written block data, notifies an error.

Abstract: A method comprises storing a first laser current value in response to a photodetector sensing that a threshold current for a laser diode of a HAMR head has been reached, the photodetector situated proximate the laser diode. The method also comprises storing a second laser current value in response to a sensor sensing that the threshold current for the laser diode has been reached, the sensor situated away from the laser diode. The method further comprises determining a difference (delta) between the first and second laser current values, repeating the storing and determining processes during subsequent use of the laser diode, and detecting a change in the delta indicative of a malfunction of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a recording transducer configured for microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) and a magnetic recording medium. The recording transducer comprises a write pole configured to generate a write magnetic field and a write-assist arrangement proximate the write pole. The write-assist arrangement is configured to generate a radio frequency assist magnetic field at a plurality of different frequencies. The magnetic recording medium comprises a plurality of tracks, wherein adjacent tracks of the medium have different ferromagnetic resonant frequencies.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk, a head, a shock sensor, and an oscillator circuit responsive to the shock sensor and configured to generate an oscillating signal using positive feedback. A resonant frequency of the shock sensor is detected based on the oscillating signal. A physical shock affecting the head actuated over the disk is detected based on a response of the shock sensor to the physical shock and based on the detected resonant frequency of the shock sensor.

Abstract: A test track is written to a recording medium and includes a repeated series of reference patterns. The reference patterns each include a first portion with a high frequency pure tone and a second portion with a higher frequency component. A length of the first portion is greater than a length of the second portion. The series of reference patterns are read to determine first and second harmonic amplitudes, and a head-to-media clearance is determined based on the first and second amplitudes at first and second harmonic frequencies.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to contact at the disk by the recording head in a hard disk drive. In one embodiment, a direct current is applied to an element in a HAMR head. An alternating current is then applied to the element over top of the direct current to cause the HAMR head to dither. By monitoring the head signal at the dither frequency, a touchdown or contact of a NFT on a disk may be detected based upon variations in the produced signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, in the case of rereading of data from a storage area of a storage is performed, data is read from the storage area a plurality of times, and a weighted average of pieces of the data read from the storage area the plurality of times is calculated, according to weights added to the pieces of data, as data reread from the storage area, in which the weights decreases as quality of the pieces of data read from the storage area decreases.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for provisioning storage devices. An example method includes determining a write status of an adjacent track that is adjacent to a target track of a shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk drive. The method may further include determining an offset for a write head based on the write status of the adjacent track and positioning the write head according to the offset.

Abstract: A storage device includes a main block including a plurality of sub-blocks, a peripheral circuit configured to perform a program operation, a read operation or an erase operation on the sub-blocks, and a control logic configured to control the peripheral circuit so that the erase operation of the sub-blocks is performed in a reverse order to an order of the program operation.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device according to an embodiment includes a disk including a plurality of tracks, a head configured to write and read data to and from the disk, and a controller configured to control an off-track of the head, which occurs when data is written to one track included in the plurality of tracks, within an allowable range of an amount of the off-track, which is set based on a count value of at least another track other than the one track.

Abstract: Methods, computing systems and computer program products implement embodiments of the present invention that include arranging multiple storage devices as a RAID array and receiving, from a given storage device storing a dataset, a number of error messages exceeding a threshold. A mirrored subset of the dataset is retrieved from the given device, and a calculated subset of the dataset is retrieved from remaining devices in the RAID array. In a first embodiment, the mirrored subset is created first, and the calculated subset includes a relative complement of the mirrored subset with respect to the dataset. In a second embodiment, the calculated subset is created first, and the mirrored subset includes a relative complement of the calculated subset with respect to the dataset. The mirrored and the calculated datasets are stored to an additional storage device, and the given device is replaced with the additional device in the RAID array.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a heat-assisted magnetic recording head configured to write to and read from a magnetic recording medium. The head comprises a reader and a writer including a near-field transducer (NFT). The reader comprises a center which is laterally offset relative to a center of the writer to define a reader-writer offset (RWO) therebetween. A magnetic recording medium comprises a plurality of tracks. The plurality of tracks comprises at least one track used as a region to test for a shift in the RWO. A processor is coupled to the recording head and configured to detect the RWO shift.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for modulating a position error signal detection gate signal responsive to a track crossing velocity are discussed. The position error signal can be used to detect position information. A track crossing velocity can be estimated and then used via the modulating. Phase errors due to the track crossing velocity can be minimized.

Abstract: A storage apparatus of an embodiment includes a magnetic disk, a head, and a controller. The head includes a writing unit that outputs a magnetic field to record write data into a recording region of the magnetic disk to which light is irradiated and a reading unit that reads read data from the recording region of the magnetic disk. Based on a first spectrum of first read data read by the reading unit at a first position of the magnetic disk and a second spectrum of second read data read by the reading unit at a second position which is a following position of the first position, the controller detects whether an offset of the writing unit occurs while writing into the recording region of the magnetic disk is performed by the writing unit.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a shift register memory device includes a shift register, a program/read element, and a rotating force application unit. The shift register includes a plurality of rotors arranged along one direction and provided with a uniaxial anisotropy. Each of the plurality of rotors has a characteristic direction rotatable around a rotational axis extending in the one direction. The program/read element is configured to program data to the shift register by causing the characteristic direction of one of the rotors to match one selected from two directions conforming to the uniaxial anisotropy and configured to read the data by detecting the characteristic direction. The rotating force application unit is configured to apply a rotating force to the shift register to urge the characteristic direction to rotate. The plurality of rotors are organized into a plurality of pairs of every two mutually adjacent rotors.

Abstract: An image processing system, and a method of operation thereof, includes: a local patch ternarization module for receiving an input image, for calculating a mean value of a local patch of pixels in the input image, and for calculating ternary values for the pixels based on the mean value; and an artifact removal module, coupled to the local patch ternarization module, for removing a residue artifact based on the ternary values and for generating an output image with the residue artifact removed for sending to an image signal processing hardware.

Abstract: A system and method can support data interoperability in a distributed data grid. The system can provide an acceptor in the distributed data grid, wherein the acceptor is associated with a cache that is based on the distributed data grid. Furthermore, the acceptor can receive incoming data from a first client, which can be a non-native client that is associated with a client application. Additionally, the system allows a second client, which can be a native client associated with the distributed cache, to share the received incoming data with the first client.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for a host device to request and obtain failure information from a solid state drive (SSD). In operation, an error is detected during an operation associated with a solid state drive. Additionally, a command to return failure information is provided to the solid state drive by a host device. Further, the failure information is sent from the solid state drive to the host device, the failure information including failure information associated with the solid state drive.

Abstract: A current temperature of a data storage device having a heat assisted recording (HAMR) device is measured while in idle. A threshold laser diode power output of the HAMR device is calculated at the current temperature when there is a change between a previous temperature and the current temperature. A new laser diode current that produced the calculated threshold laser diode power output is applied to the HAMR device when there is a change between the currently applied laser diode current and the new laser diode current.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed to perform media certification with different recording widths, in accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure. An apparatus may be configured to record data using at least two selectable recording widths. In some embodiments, the recording width may be controlled by adjusting a laser current supplied to a laser emitter of a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) device. Certification data may be recorded to a storage medium at a selected recording width, with wider widths reducing testing time and narrower widths reducing wear on write heads. In some embodiments, an apparatus may be configured to record servo data using a first recording width to a storage medium, and record certification data using a second recording width. The drive may record servo data and certification during a first disc rotation, and may record servo data and read certification data during a second disc rotation.

Abstract: Vibration mitigation for a Data Storage Device (DSD) including a disk for storing data and a solid-state memory for storing data. An input is received indicating a vibration condition for the DSD and a write command is received from a host to store data in the DSD. At least a portion of the data for the write command is stored in a dedicated segment of the solid-state memory based on the received input indicating the vibration condition.

Abstract: A method for moving magnetic heads in a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, which comprises the steps of writing high-frequency signals in the magnetic recording/reproducing tracks; and then, either (i) conducting DC erasing or AC erasing to inspect extra pulse signals reproduced from the erased tracks, or (ii) inspecting concurrently occurring signals of missing pulse and spike pulse, which are reproduced from the written signals, whereby minute protrusions on a surface of the tracks were detected. Reading and writing of information are conducted while the magnetic heads are moved in a manner controlled so that reading and writing of information in specific tracks having defects is avoided. This method enhances reliability and life of the magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: Managing the flying height of a read-write head slider, such as in the context of a short or head switch seek, involves pre-heating the switched-to head while the active head is still performing a data read or write operation. Thus, both the active head and the switched-to head may be heated simultaneously, and once the switched-to head is switched to an active state upon the active head completing its corresponding operation, the switched-to head can immediately begin its operation with minimal or no further delay.

Abstract: A system and method is described that allows random write operations regions utilizing shingled magnetic recording. The method includes receiving a request to re-write a logical block address (LBA) with new data, wherein the LBA is mapped to a physical block address (PBA) on a storage medium. The method further includes determining whether the data is eligible for a write-in place update wherein the data is written to an area of the I-region that has previously been written with shingled data tracks, wherein the eligibility determination is based on a mapping list of LBAs to PBAs. The method also includes writing the new data to the area of the I-region determined to be eligible for a write-in place update, wherein writing the new data further includes writing management information to the I-region that identifies a starting LBA of the write-in place update, and a length of the write-in place update.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk comprising a plurality of data tracks each comprising a plurality of data sectors, and a head actuated over the disk. A first frequency preamble is written to a first data sector of a first data track and a second frequency preamble is written to a second data sector of a second data track, wherein the first frequency is different from the second frequency and the first data track is adjacent to the second data track.

Abstract: A selective band management scheme for storage devices is disclosed that may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR). SMR uses bands consisting of tracks separated by guard regions. The replacement of a defective sector may be attained by selecting a suitable guard region and by displacing the selected guard region onto the physical location of the defective sector. The boundaries of the bands may be shifted. The portion of the disk surface that is necessary for the guard regions may simultaneously function as a spare sector area for defective sectors without additional space requirements. In at least one embodiment, guard regions are selectively placed onto tracks with an elevated number of primary defects by means of an optimization algorithm.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes determining whether a current position error signal sample exceeds a stopwrite threshold, disabling writing in response to determining that the current position error signal sample exceeds the stopwrite threshold, and enabling writing in response to determining that the current position error signal sample does not exceed the stopwrite threshold.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head is configured to write data to and read data from a magnetic recording medium. The head comprises a reader and a writer including a near-field transducer (NFT). The reader comprises a center which is laterally offset relative to a center of the writer to define a reader-writer offset (RWO) therebetween. A controller is configured to control the writer to write data to data tracks of the medium, detect a shift in the RWO, and in response to the detected shift in the RWO, control the writer to write data to a plurality of tracks defining a reserved band during an open period of the reserved band.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for selecting an optimum tape layout to store data on a tape medium includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to compute a set of all minimum distances corresponding to a plurality of data set layouts, wherein each minimum distance is computed between a location of a first codeword interleave (CWI) and locations of all other CWIs in a common sub data set (SDS), and calculate a first performance metric associated with each possible set of parameters using the set of all minimum distances for the plurality of data set layouts, the parameters being associated with at least a tape drive and the tape medium. More systems, methods, and computer program products for selecting optimum tape layouts to store data on tape media are described in accordance with other embodiments.

Abstract: A technique implemented by a processor may include controlling a write head to write data to at least one partition of a data track of a magnetic data storage medium. The data track may include a plurality of partitions. The technique also may include determining, for each partition of the at least one partition, whether the partition has been previously written to by inspecting a partition overlap register associated with the data track. The partition overlap register stores a respective entry for each partition indicating whether the partition has been previously written to. The technique also may include, in response to determining that at least one respective partition of the at least one partition has been previously written to, incrementing a damage counter of at least one adjacent track and resetting each entry of the partition overlap register to indicate that each respective partition has not been previously written to.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide systems and methods for data write management in a storage device responsive to detection of a disturbance. Responsive to the detection of the disturbance, a write operation is paused and a transducer head is moved from a first position on the target data track to a second position separated from the first position by at least one data track. At the second position, the write operation is resumed.

Abstract: To provide enhanced operation of data storage devices and systems, various systems, methods, and software are provided herein. In a first example, a data storage system is configured to provide at least a portion of a first data storage device as a verification cache for a storage region of a second data storage device, write data for storage in the verification cache of the first data storage device and write the data for storage in the storage region of the second data storage device. The data storage system is configured to perform a verification process on the data written to the storage region after a verification trigger condition has been met. The data storage system is configured to transfer portions of the data that fail to pass the verification process from the verification cache to supersede the one or more parts of the data in the storage region.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable media can receive an indication that a drive included in a set of drives has experienced an error. Acquiring first data associated with the drive can be attempted. The drive can be prompted to undergo a power-cycle. Acquiring second data associated with the drive can be attempted. At least one of the first data or the second data can be analyzed to determine that the drive is remediable. At least the drive included in the set of drives can be remediated, such as by being rebuilt or reconfigured.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a media; a head over the media; a read channel, coupled to the head, configured to extract data from the media; control circuitry, coupled to the read channel, configured to execute a read command; and wherein the read channel is further configured to: generate, based on extracting the data from the media, a data condition indicator, and provide, for use by the control circuitry, the data and the data condition indicator.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the anti-wear nature of a surface of given article to test the article or coating thereon for wear and abrasion resistance. A selected abrasive paper strip or tape is pulled under controlled tension from a first feed reel which can control tension on the strip onto another second reel controlled at a selected speed and torque. The test part apparatus is capable of repetitive cycles. For example, a test cycle process may include the steps of pushing a finger probe against the moving selected abrasive paper in contact with a the test sample surface having a selected surface area, holding the finger probe against the paper which between the finger probe and surface of the article for a selected time and distance, and removing the finger probe pressure from the paper and the test article surface. The number of cycles required to wear through the coating on the sample is recorded and compared to other test samples.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for improved operation of a data storage device such as a hard disk drive. The overhead for data rewriting may be reduced by the periodic remapping of logical block addresses to avoid excessive adjacent track interference effects on data blocks having lower data writing rates. It may employ the indirection system to remap data “hot spots” to new locations neighboring on spare data blocks. In circumstances where it is not possible to write data next to spare data blocks, the active LBA may be periodically moved after a predefined number of write operations.

Abstract: A defect management system for storage devices is disclosed, which may be used in connection with shingled magnetic recording (SMR). Overlapping data tracks, separated by guard regions, are written by a write element whose track width is at least twice as wide as the track width of a read element. Depending on the embodiment, data recovery of a defective track or sector is attained by evaluating the contents of an adjacent track or guard region: if the adjacent track or guard region encompasses equivalent data, due to the width of the write element, this data may be used as a complement or as a substitute for the defective track or sector. This may reduce the risk of data loss. The capacity of a storage device may be increased by balancing out the probability of read errors with the probability that an adjacent track may encompass equivalent data.

Abstract: Discrete events that take place with respect to a hard disk drive or other I/O device or port are indicated to logic that implements Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology (SMART) or similar technology. These events are communicated to SMART as event data. Examples of such discrete events include power on, power off, spindle start, and spindle stop, positioning of the actuator, and the time at which such events occur. SMART then compiles event data to create compiled activity data. Compiled activity data represents summary statistical information that is created by considering some or all of the event data. Examples of compiled activity data include the Time Powered On and Power Cycle Count. Collection logic then writes the compiled activity data to a memory medium. An analyst can then read data from log file(s).

Abstract: Tape head with thermal tape-head distance sensor to reduce the distance between the tape and the head to allow an increase in areal density. A tape head designed for reading and/or writing to a tape, including: a tape bearing surface shaped to form an air bearing when moving the tape with respect to the tape bearing surface; a thermal tape-head distance sensor circuit adapted to sense heat dissipated at the level of the tape bearing surface by the tape and thereby sense a distance between the tape bearing surface and the tape; and tape-head distance control means connected to the thermal tape-head distance sensor circuit to receive a signal provided by the tape-head distance sensor circuit and configured to alter the distance according to a signal received from the tape-head distance sensor circuit. This invention is further directed to a method of tape-head distance control for the above tape head.

Abstract: A recording head writes data to a recording medium for one or more iterations. Each iteration involves adjusting a linear data density, a track pitch, and a laser power. From the iterations, a selected linear data density, a selected track pitch, and a selected laser power are determined that together achieve a target areal density and are used to write user data to the recording medium during operation of a hard disk drive.

Abstract: An audio signal distortion detection device for simplifying the detection of harmonic distortion to aid in setting an amplifier's gain control to match an audio source unit's output voltage. The audio signal distortion detection device generally includes a housing having a plurality of status indicators thereon for indicating the status of an audio signal being fed into the housing's audio input. By utilizing a scaling circuit and processing unit, the present invention may be configured to detect four audio frequencies and compare DC levels of the frequencies to each other to determine if harmonic distortion is present. A distortion illuminator will illuminate when such distortion is detected and thus significantly reduce the effort required to setting an amplifier's gain control.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes storing data received from at least two data sources in a buffer, writing the data from the at least two data sources to regions in a first wrap of a tape on a data-source basis in a first predetermined order, and writing the data from the at least two data sources to regions in the second wrap in a second predetermined order, the second predetermined order being a reverse order relative to the first predetermined order.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device according to an embodiment includes a magnetic head including a write head with a high-frequency oscillator and a read head, a recording medium, a driving unit configured to moves the magnetic head on the recording medium, a measuring unit configured to obtain a first read signal with no current or a smaller current and a second read signal with a normal current supplied in the normal writing operation, a comparison unit configured to calculate comparative data indicating a comparison result between the first and second read signals, and a determination unit configured to determine an oscillation characteristic from the comparative data.

Abstract: A device comprises a first storage media and a controller. The controller configured to generate a first operational metric using a first set of operational data at a first frequency and a second operational metric a second set of operational data at a second frequency different than the first frequency; receive a write command to write data to the first storage media; and divert the write command to write data to a second storage media instead of the first storage media when at least one of the first operational metric and the second operational metric indicates that writing data to the first storage media may be harmful to the magnetic rotating disk or result in data loss.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a method and system for preserving data of a data storage device are disclosed. The method can include determining a number of times data is written to a target track of a storage medium; rewriting data from a track adjacent the target track if the number of times data is written to the target track exceeds a first predetermined threshold; determining a number of times data is rewritten to the adjacent track; copying data from the target track to a first storage location of a media cache if the number of times data is rewritten to the adjacent track exceeds a second predetermined threshold; writing subsequent data designated for the target track to the first storage location of the media cache; and relocating data from the first storage location of the media cache to the target track.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a measurement method is applied to a disk device including a disk, and a head configured to protrude toward the disk when power is supplied thereto. In the method, a reference value for each of areas of the disk is acquired from a measurement-value distribution including pre-measured values that correspond to power supplied to a heater when the head is brought into contact with the disk. In each area, a data group calculated from the distribution and the reference value is acquired. An area where the data group has lower values than in the other areas is selected as a first area to be firstly measured. An area to be measured subsequent to the first area based on the data group is selected.