Abstract: A method of operating a multiphase power supply includes identifying a least efficient phase of a plurality of phases in the multiphase power supply based on a comparison of a pulse width for each phase in the plurality of phases, and decreasing an amount of power supplied to a load by the identified least efficient phase.

Abstract: Methods, systems and computer program products for measuring hardware performance are provided. Aspects include receiving an indication of a start to a hardware operation. A number of clock cycles are counted from the start of a hardware operation to the completion of the hardware operation. A first region comprising a first set of bit location is defined. A second and third region is defined each including a set of bit locations. Based on the first set of bit locations being equal to zero, a granularity flag is set to zero in the sample buffer and the second and third set of bit locations are written to the sample buffer. And based on the first set of bit locations being greater than zero, the granularity flag in the sample buffer is set to one and the first and second set of bit locations are written to the sample buffer.

Abstract: A measurement transducer, comprising: a sensor module having a sensor element, sensor electronics and a main electronics module. The sensor element emits sensor signals, and the sensor electronics processes the digitized sensor signals with a transmission function and provides processed sensor measurement values on a digital interface. The main electronics module is functionally connected to the sensor electronics and a logic unit, and a communications interface. The logic unit is configured to receive the sensor measurement values provided on the digital interface and to cause the output of a measurement signal corresponding to the sensor measurement values through the communications interface. The logic unit is configured to carry out a monitoring function. The monitoring comprises, in addition to a currently provided sensor measurement value, the reception of the associated digitized sensor signals, with the aid of a test function which comprises the transmission function.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a plurality of tracks and a controller. The controller receives write data to be written to a first sector of a track, generates a first data string based on the write data and a logical identifier for the first sector, attempts to cause the first data string to be written to the first sector, determines whether a write error has occurred while the first data string is written to the first sector, generates a second data string based at least in part on the first data string, and in response to determining that no write error has occurred while the first data string is written to the first sector, writes a parity data string that is based at least in part on the second data string to a second sector of the track that stores parity data for the track.

Abstract: Methods and devices are discussed where a plurality of input signals having different phases are provided. From the input signals, a plurality of signal pairs are selected, and intermediate signals are generated based on the signal pairs. The intermediate signals are then combined.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium having a plurality of data tracks. At least one data track of the plurality of data tracks includes a number of super parity sectors. The number of super parity sectors selected for the at least one data tracks is selected based on a distance between an inner diameter of the storage medium and the data track. The number of super parity sectors provides error correction code for the at least one data track.

Abstract: Linguistic analysis based correlation of distinct events is provided. In examples, trouble shooting tickets may be received over a time period. A linguistic analysis may be performed on one or more portions of the one or more comments using a linguistic model and a similarity score may be computed for one or more keywords within the one or more portions of the one or more comments based on criteria associated with each of the keywords. The similarity score for each of the keywords may be compared to a validation threshold and if the similarity score for a subset of the keywords within a trouble shooting ticket exceeds the validation threshold, the trouble shooting ticket may be validated as associated with the incident. If a number of trouble shooting tickets are validated as being associated with the incident exceeds a service outage threshold, an alert may be issued for the service outage.

Abstract: During a startup process of a host, a request is sent to a DSD to identify storage media of the DSD. Identification information is received from the DSD before executing a driver on the host for interfacing with the DSD. The identification information identifies a first storage media of the DSD in response to the request. A second storage media is later identified using the driver.

Abstract: Data is written to a magnetic recording medium of a drive using a read/write head. The read/write head has an energy source that applies a hotspot to the magnetic recording medium while recording. During the writing, a steady-state current applied to the energy source is changed by a step value. A timing error induced by the change in the steady-state current is measured based on reading back the data. A thermal gradient of the hotspot is determined based on the step value and the timing error.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for implementing unequal error correction code (ECC) in multi-track recording. A device may comprise a circuit configured to implement an error correction coding scheme applying different code rate error correction codes on adjacent tracks within a same recording zone. The circuit may perform a read operation, including simultaneously detecting bits from a first track and a second track of the adjacent tracks, iteratively applying detected bits from the first track to perform adjacent track interference cancellation (ATIC) to decode bits from the second track, and iteratively applying detected bits from the second track to perform ATIC to decode bits from the first track.

Abstract: A storage device includes a storage medium having a first set of non-adjacent data tracks having a number of super parity sectors and a second set of non-adjacent data tracks interlaced with the first set of non-adjacent data tracks. The number of super parity sectors on a data track of the first set of non-adjacent data tracks is selected based on a distance between the data track and an inner diameter of the storage medium.

Abstract: Two or more reader sensors are commonly mounted on a read/write head that is configured to read data from a heat-assisted recording medium. For a region of the recording medium, a separation is determined for the reader sensors. A track spacing that provides a target areal density for the region is determined. The track spacing for the region is adjusted to approach a predetermined ratio of the separation.

Abstract: A semiconductor apparatus is provided herein for reducing power when transmitting data between a first device and a second device in the semiconductor apparatus. Additional circuitry is added to the semiconductor apparatus to create a communication system that decreases a number of state changes for each signal line of a data bus between the first device and the second device for all communications. The additional circuitry includes a decoder coupled to receive and convert a value from the first device for transmission over the data bus to an encoder that provides a recovered (i.e., re-encoded) version of the value to the second device. One or more multiplexers may also be included in the additional circuitry to support any number of devices.

Abstract: Devices and/or methods may detect data located in adjacent tracks. A signal representative of a first data unit having a higher signal-to-noise ratio may be detected prior to a signal representative of a second data unit having a lower signal-to-noise ratio, and then may be used to improve the signal representative of the second data unit.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for testing an electronic information storage device having a read and write head includes writing a plurality of pattern periods along a single track of a magnetic recording medium of the electronic information storage device using the write head. The method also includes mapping read head signals for each pattern period across the single track and surrounding regions of the magnetic recording medium. Additionally, the method includes determining a condition of the electronic information storage device based on an average of the read head signals. The condition can include adjacent track degradation of the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Inter-track interference cancelation is disclosed, including: receiving an input sequence of samples associated with a track on magnetic storage; using a processor to generate inter-track interference (ITI) data associated with a first side track including by performing a correlation between the input sequence of samples and a sequence of data associated with the first side track.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for detecting adjacent track interference in a storage device using a size-adjustable sliding window. A value for an inter-track interference factor associated with at least one adjacent track is determined for a first area of a data track of the storage device. The first area may encompass a plurality of sectors of the data track. Next, it is determined whether the value of the calculated inter-track interference factor is greater than a threshold value, and if so, an indication of inter-track interference corresponding to the first area is stored in the storage device.

Abstract: A hard disk drive circuit includes first and second inter-track interference detection modules. The first inter-track interference detection module is configured to generate a first measured inter-track interference value based on a first read signal from a first read sensor positioned over a magnetic medium. The second inter-track interference detection module is configured to generate a second measured inter-track interference value based on a second read signal from a second read sensor positioned over the magnetic medium. A position error signal generation module is configured to generate a position error signal based on the first measured inter-track interference value and the second measured inter-track interference value. An arm control module is configured to control rotation of an arm in response to the position error signal. The first read sensor and the second read sensor are located at a distal end of the arm.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for cancelling inter-track interference in a storage device utilizing size-adjustable segments. Data is read from one or more sectors on a data track adjacent to a target sector on a target track of a recording medium of the storage device. The target sector is divided into a plurality of segments and data is decoded from the read signal read from each of the segments individually using corresponding data from the one or more sectors of the adjacent track and independent inter-track interference factor values.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for decoding data, such as from a rotatable magnetic recording medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of sensors is provided, with each sensor configured to generate a sense signal from an adjacent pattern. A processing circuit is configured to decode data from the adjacent pattern using the generated sense signals.

Abstract: A data storage device with improved data storage densities, coupled with lower hard error and write-inhibit events is described. A feed-forward write inhibit (FFWI) method enables data tracks to be written more densely. Alternatively, the FFWI method may reduce the hard error and write inhibit events to improve data storage performance. A concept of virtual tracks enables the FFWI method to be applied to the writing of circular data tracks with non-circular servo tracks, or to the writing of non-circular data tracks with PES data from circular servo tracks—in both cases, improvements to performance and/or storage densities are enabled. The FFWI method may also be applied to the case of both non-circular servo and data tracks.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a method of cancelling inter-track interference (ITI) from one or more sectors read from a desired track of a storage medium. A read channel reads sectors in a desired track of the storage medium. A decoder of the read channel decodes the read sectors, and if the read sectors are incorrectly recovered from the storage medium, selected sectors of a first adjacent track and a second adjacent track are read. An ITI canceller of the read channel estimates ITI in the read sectors of the desired track corresponding to the selected sectors of each adjacent track and subtracts the estimated ITI of each adjacent track from the data for the sectors of the desired track, providing updated sector data. The ITI cancelled data is replayed to the decoder, Which decodes the ITT cancelled data and provides the decoded ITI cancelled data as output of the read channel.

Abstract: Technologies are described herein for cancelling inter-track interference in a storage device utilizing size-adjustable segments. Data is read from one or more sectors on a data track adjacent to a target sector on a target track of a recording medium of the storage device. The target sector is divided into a plurality of segments and data is decoded from the read signal read from each of the segments individually using corresponding data from the one or more sectors of the adjacent track and independent inter-track interference factor values.

Abstract: A data storage system may be configured with at least a data storage device that has a controller connected to at least a first data writing transducer and a second data writing transducer. The controller may be adapted to set different first and second healing thresholds for the respective data writing transducers in response to passive data track testing.

Abstract: Hardware-based methods and apparatus are provided for inter-track interference mitigation in magnetic recording systems using averaged values. Inter-track interference (ITI) is mitigated in a magnetic recording system by obtaining ITI cancellation data; and providing the ITI cancellation data for ITI mitigation, wherein the ITI mitigation is performed in combination with an averaging procedure for one or more of ITI mitigation of averaged data and averaging of ITI mitigated data. The sector is optionally decoded using the ITI mitigated samples. Samples for one or more side track sectors can also be averaged. The averaged side track samples can be provided as ITI cancellation data for ITI mitigation. The averaging procedure optionally applies a scaling factor to each read value.

Abstract: A system detects adjacent track interference (ATI)/far track interference (FTI) in a data storage system. The system includes a micro-transition generator that introduces micro-transitions into data write patterns written to a magnetic media. A spectrum analyzer analyzes in the frequency domain read-back signals generated in response to the data write patterns. In particular, the spectrum analyzer calculates first and second signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) based on read-back signals generated before and after a center track stress test. Adjacent track interference/far track interference effects are determined based on the first and second SNR values.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a method of cancelling inter-track interference (ITI) from one or more sectors read from a desired track of a storage medium. A road channel reads sectors in a desired track of the storage medium. A decoder of the read channel decodes the read sectors, and if the read sectors are incorrectly recovered from the storage medium, selected sectors of a first adjacent track and a second adjacent track are read. An ITI canceller of the read channel estimates ITI in the read sectors of the desired track corresponding to the selected sectors of each adjacent track and subtracts the estimated ITI of each adjacent track from the data for the sectors of the desired track, providing updated sector data. The ITI cancelled data is replayed to the decoder, which decodes the ITI cancelled data and provides the decoded ITI cancelled data as output of the read channel.

Abstract: Storing data in a hard disk drive may include determining a percentage of storage usage (SU %) of the data tracks. If the SU % is less than a first threshold percentage (TP1), the method may include storing data to Nth data tracks. If the SU % is greater than or equal to TP1, but less than a second threshold percentage (TP2), the method may include storing data to about N/2 data tracks between said Nth data tracks. If the SU % is greater than or equal to TP2, the method may include storing data to data tracks between said N/2 data tracks and said Nth data tracks.

Abstract: Hardware-based methods and apparatus are provided for inter-track interference mitigation in magnetic recording systems. Inter-track interference (ITI) is mitigated in a magnetic recording system by obtaining ITI cancellation data; and providing the ITI cancellation data to an ITI mitigation circuit using a write data path in the magnetic recording system. The write data path can optionally operate substantially simultaneously with the read data path performing the read operation. The ITI cancellation data comprises, for example, user data and/or media data.

Abstract: A method for reading a current track of data from a storage device includes using a first read head to read the current track of data and at least a first portion of at least one adjacent track of data, using at least a second read head to read at least a portion of the current track of data and at least a second portion of the at least one adjacent track of data, and decoding the data read from the current track, including processing signals from the first read head and the at least a second read head, to at least partly remove, from the signal from the first read head, contributions from the first portion of the at least one adjacent track of data. The decoding may include deriving expressions relating contributions from the current and adjacent tracks, and solving the expressions using least-mean-square analysis.

Abstract: Systems, methods, devices, circuits for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for adapting noise predictive filters for inter-track interference cancellation in a data processing system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to estimating or calculating interference between tracks on a storage medium.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for improved detection of servo sector data in a magnetic recording system using single bit error correction. Servo sector data is processed by detecting the servo sector data; determining whether a single bit error occurred in the detected servo sector data; and flipping a bit value of an individual bit in the detected servo sector data having a lowest amplitude sample among the samples of the detected servo sector data when a single bit error is detected in the detected servo sector data. The servo sector data comprises, for example, a servo address mark, Gray data, an RRO address mark and/or RRO data. For example, the bit value can be flipped by changing a binary value of one to a binary value of zero and changing a binary value of zero to a binary value of one.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for reducing inter-track interference in relation to processing data retrieved from a storage medium.

Abstract: A method for detecting a data sequence includes generating a sample stream, which is a time-sequenced digital signal associated with samples of an analog signal. The sample stream is input to n equalization filter banks, which each have m equalization filters to generate m equalized sample streams. The m equalized sample streams from each equalization filter bank are input to a corresponding one of n noise predictive filters. Each noise predictive filter is an m-tap noise predictive filter that receives the m equalized sample streams from a corresponding one of the n equalization filter banks. Each noise predictive filter is associated with one of n data patterns. A filtered equalization stream is generated by each noise predictive filter. Noise sample streams are generated using the filtered equalization streams generated by the n noise predictive filters. A data sequence is detected using the noise sample streams.

Abstract: Devices and/or methods may detect data located in adjacent tracks. A signal representative of a first data unit having a higher signal-to-noise ratio may be detected prior to a signal representative of a second data unit having a lower signal-to-noise ratio, and then may be used to improve the signal representative of the second data unit.

Abstract: Described embodiments provide a method of cancelling inter-track interference (ITI) from one or more sectors read from a desired track of a storage medium. A read channel reads sectors in a desired track of the storage medium. An iterative decoder of the read channel decodes the read sectors, and if the read sectors are incorrectly recovered from the storage medium, selected sectors of a first adjacent track are read. An ITI canceller of the read channel estimates ITI in the read sectors of the desired track corresponding to the selected sectors of the adjacent track and subtracts the estimated ITI of the adjacent track from the data for the sectors of the desired track, providing updated sector data. The ITI cancelled data is replayed to the iterative decoder, which decodes the ITI cancelled data and provides the decoded ITI cancelled data as output data of the read channel.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for mitigating inter-track interference using pre-equalized data samples.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is discussed that includes: a data buffer, an inter-track interference response circuit, and an inter-track interference signal estimator circuit. The data buffer is operable to store a previous track data set. The inter-track interference response circuit is operable to estimate an inter-track interference response from the previous track data set based at least in part on the previous track data set and a current track data set. The inter-track interference signal estimator circuit is operable to calculate an inter-track interference from the previous track data set based at least in part on the previous track data set and the inter-track interference response from the previous track data set.

Abstract: An assembly and method to determine adjacent track coherence is disclosed. The assembly includes coherence circuitry configured to receive phase and frequency offsets from timing recovery circuitry and determine an inter-track phase and frequency coherence between the encoded data on a first track and the encoded data on a second track adjacent to the first track utilizing the frequency and phase offsets from the timing recovery circuitry for the output signals corresponding to the first and second tracks.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information reproducing apparatus is configured to obtain, from a read sample value sequence obtained by sampling a read signal read from a first recording track of a magnetic recording medium, an interference-component-removed read sample value sequence, from which an interference component from a second recording track adjacent to the first recording track is removed. The apparatus includes a decoding module. The decoding module is configured to generate a first interference-component-removed read sample value sequence based on a cancellation weight column which varies according to a difference in polarity between a first bit of the first recording track and a second bit of the second recording track adjacent to the first bit.

Abstract: Inter-track interference cancelation is disclosed, including: receiving an input sequence of samples associated with a track on magnetic storage; using a processor to generate inter-track interference (ITI) data associated with a first side track including by performing a correlation between the input sequence of samples and a sequence of data associated with the first side track.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a block-wise data processing circuit is discussed that includes: a data buffer, an inter-track interference response circuit, and an inter-track interference signal estimator circuit. The data buffer is operable to store a previous track data set corresponding to a block. The inter-track interference response circuit is operable to estimate an inter-track interference response from the previous track data set across the block based at least in part on the previous track data set and a current track data set. The inter-track interference signal estimator circuit is operable to calculate an inter-track interference from the previous track data set across the block based at least in part on the previous track data set and the inter-track interference response from the previous track data set.

Abstract: A hard disk drive (HDD) has a high track misregistration (TMR) mode of writing data. If the position error signal (PES) from the servo positioning information exceeds a first write inhibit threshold (WI-1), writing is not inhibited but a high TMR mode of operation is enabled. In high TMR mode, prior to writing data to the target track, the data on the adjacent tracks is read and stored in a buffer. The data to be written to the target track is also stored in the buffer, and is flagged to indicate that the data needs to be written. The data is then written to the target track. However, if during writing the PES exceeds a second threshold (WI-2), then the data from the adjacent encroached track in the buffer is flagged for writing and the process repeated with the encroached track set as the target track.

Abstract: Detecting track information involves receiving first and second overlapping track signals from first and second read elements that read first and second tracks from a data storage medium. Information of the first and second tracks is estimated using the respective first and second track signals. An improved information estimate of the first track is obtained using the first track signal and the estimated information of the second track, and an improved information estimate of the second track is obtained using the second track signal and the estimated information of the first track. First and second track data are decoded using the respective improved information estimates of the first and second tracks.

Abstract: Systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to estimating or calculating interference between tracks on a storage medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a method, implemented in a magnetic disk drive, for adjusting a linear recording density. The method obtains a first flying-dependent error sensitivity for each of two or more heads. The first flying-dependent error sensitivity represents a change in read error rate corresponding to a change in flying height of the head during write. In addition, the method reduces the linear recording density of a first recording surface associated with a first head of the two or more heads if the first flying-dependent error sensitivity is a second flying-dependent error sensitivity higher than a threshold and corresponds to the first head.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data reproduction apparatus includes a decoder, a cancellation process module and a calculator. The cancellation process module cancels, from equalized-waveform data of a read signal, the interference between a signal read from a first track and a signal read form a second track adjacent to the first track. The calculator calculates, for a specific window, a first cancellation coefficient necessary to cancel the interference. The calculator further calculates a second cancellation coefficient by correcting the first cancellation coefficient based on a ratio of the number of adjacent bits of opposite polarity to the number of all bits in the specific window.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording disk drive with sector error correction code (ECC) has the disk recording surface divided into multiple zones. Each zone is assigned a sector-ECC strength, i.e., a unique number of ECC sectors associated with a block of data sectors. The zone in which data is to be written is determined from the time average of the position-error signal (PES), which is an indication of the track misregistration (TMR) and thus the current environmental condition to which the HDD is subjected.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for reducing inter-track interference in relation to processing data retrieved from a storage medium.