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: Systems and methods are disclosed for isolated bands of fractional tracks in data storage devices, particularly devices employing shingled magnetic recording. In one embodiment, a device may comprise a data storage medium including a first data storage area including tracks overlapped in a shingled manner and having a first circumferential portion of a track to store data, a second data storage area, and a guard area disposed between the first data storage area and the second data storage area, the guard area including a second circumferential portion of the track as a partial guard track. In some embodiments, the guard area may include at least one sector in the first circumferential portion of the track, such that at least one sector of the guard area is interposed between data storage sectors of the first data storage area.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and apparatuses that provide for variable data density on a disc data storage medium, where the variable data density may have a circumferential definition and a radial definition. In some examples, devices and methods may include measuring a read or write performance attribute on a disc data storage medium and selectively setting a data density rate that may vary in a circumferential direction for the disc data storage medium based on the read or write performance attribute. In other examples, apparatuses can include a data storage device having a disc data storage medium and a controller configured to measure a performance attribute of the disc data storage medium and to selectively set different Bits Per Inch (BPI) for data storage within different areas of the disc.

Abstract: Data blocks to be stored on a disk-based data storage device (e.g., a hard disk drive, etc.) are coded together to form a plurality of linearly independent network coded blocks. The network coded blocks are then stored on the data storage device. Coded seeking may then be used to retrieve the original data blocks from the data storage device in a time-efficient manner. A read request may be sent to the data storage device requesting an innovative coded packet associated with the original data blocks. In response to the read request, the data storage device may read an innovative coded packet from the disk that is closest to current position of a read element of the device.

Abstract: The present inventions are related to systems and methods for data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for detecting patterns in a data stream. In one case, a data processing system is disclosed that includes: a pattern detector circuit operable to generate a pattern value based upon a comparison of a defined pattern to a first portion of a received input; and a comparator circuit operable to compare the pattern value to an adapted threshold, and to selectively assert a pattern found signal based at least in part on the comparison of the pattern value and the adapted threshold, where the adapted threshold is adjusted based at least in part on a noise component of a second portion of the received input.

Abstract: A product, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetic recording tape having opposite ends, a longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape being defined between the ends. The magnetic recording tape has at least one servo track, the at least one servo track having a plurality of first magnetic bars and a plurality of third magnetic bars oriented to form chevron-like patterns with the first magnetic bars. The first magnetic bars each have a longitudinal axis oriented at a first angle between 2 and 88 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape. The third magnetic bars each have a longitudinal axis oriented at a second angle between 2 and 88 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape, the second angle having a different numerical absolute value than the first angle.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for performing a rewrite operation on recording bands of a data storage medium. In some embodiments, data may be read from a target band including a plurality of tracks, and modified. A portion less than all of the modified data is stored to a nonvolatile memory, and all of the modified data is written to the target band. In some embodiments, modified data corresponding to the first two tracks of the target band is stored to the nonvolatile memory, and modified data corresponding to the third track of the target band is written back to the first physical track. Each track may be written in order, ending with the modified data corresponding to the first two tracks. The result may be that data for each track in the band has shifted up two tracks, with data for the first two tracks moved to the end.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a system for selecting an optimum tape layout to store data on a tape medium may include a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to: select a family of data set layouts based on parameters associated with at least a tape drive and the tape medium, compute a set of all minimum distances for the selected family of data set layouts, calculate a first performance metric associated with each possible set of parameters, select a best first performance metric from all calculated first performance metrics and store a set of parameters associated with the best first performance metric, and select a data set layout algorithm which utilizes the set of parameters associated with the best first performance metric, wherein the data set layout algorithm and a rewrite layout algorithm combine to form an optimum tape layout.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a vehicular navigation control interface are included in the present disclosure. Some embodiments include a navigation system and a vehicle with a vehicle control module (VCM), a navigation control module (NCM), and a navigation control interface, where the VCM receives a manual command from an operator to implement a manual control function. In some embodiments the NCM receives an automatic command from the navigation system to implement an automatic control function via the VCM and the navigation control interface directly connects the VCM and the NCM to facilitate communication between the VCM and NCM for implementing automatic mode and for reporting implementation of a manual mode.

Abstract: A method of correcting repeatable run out (RRO) errors for a HDD in which RRO data is instead stored in consolidated form within the reserved area of the disk, instead of storing RRO data in the servo patterns for each HDD track or sector. RRO data is preferably stored in the reserved area of a hard disk drive in compressed form. The compressed RRO data is subsequently read into DRAM in compressed form and then decompressed for use. Predictive techniques determine what compressed RRO data is needed for upcoming read/write operations.

Abstract: A tape storage medium comprises at least one data band and the data band comprises a set of data sub-bands adjacent to each other. Each data sub-band contains a set of data tracks along a longitudinal extension of the tape storage medium and adjacent to each other. Each data sub-band of the set comprises a pair of servo tracks for supporting to determine positional information. The set of data tracks of each data sub-band is arranged between the servo tracks of the pair. The servo tracks of the pair contain the same servo pattern.

Abstract: Apparatuses, devices, and systems are presented with servo and data pattern formation using multi-dot arrays. In one example, an apparatus may comprise a data storage medium including a first patterned array of dots of magnetic material, a second patterned array of dots of magnetic material, and a non-magnetic space located between the first patterned array and second patterned array. In another example, a system may comprise a processor configured to store data to a data storage medium, the data storage medium including a first dot composite including a first patterned array of dots of magnetic material, a second dot composite including a second patterned array of dots of magnetic material, and a non-magnetic space located between the first dot composite and second dot composite. An order in which a dot composite and a non-magnetic space occur may define the value of one bit.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a processor, logic in the processor and/or memory configured to determine a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, and logic configured to store an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto. In another embodiment, a method includes determining a physical position on a magnetic medium that corresponds to an end of encrypted data written over residual unencrypted data, storing an indicator of the physical position on at least one of the magnetic medium and a memory coupled thereto.

Abstract: A disk device includes a recording medium having a plurality of recording surfaces, where each of the recording surfaces includes a system region for recording system data related to an operation of the disk device, and a controller configured to control recording of the system data in the system region. The controller is further configured to divide the system data to be recorded into a plurality of portions of divided data of the same size. The controller is further configured, after recording of a first portion of divided data in a first system region disposed on a first recording surface, to start recording a second portion of divided data in a second system region disposed on a second recording surface. The recording of the second portion of divided data is started after a switching time, during which switching from the first recording surface to the second recording surface transpires.

Abstract: Records or filemarks read from data segments are aggregated into at least one single data segment. The records and the filemarks are reorganized and restructured in the single data segment such that buffer utilization is improved.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose an orientation control bias point coupled to a magnetic index mark and having a bias point offset set at predetermined coordinates configured to substantially prevent concentricity run-out.

Abstract: A hard disc drive (HDD) of a larger native capacity is clipped to emulate a smaller capacity drive by allocating storage space in tracks in at least both a radially innermost region and radially outermost region of the platter(s). During normal operation, when data is written to or read from the clipped HDD, the actuator arm will move through its entire, normal range of motion, as the read/write heads seek tracks in both the radially inner and outer regions of the platter(s). In some embodiments, storage space is also allocated from tracks in regions interposed between the inner and outer regions. In one embodiment, all tracks on the platter(s) are divided into regions of substantially equal data storage capacity, and the storage space is allocated for the clipped HDD is divided substantially evenly across all the regions.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has disks with data sector preambles that allow for inter-track interference. The same data sector preamble is used for all data sectors in a track but the preamble in each track is different from the preamble in radially adjacent tracks. In a first embodiment each preamble includes a synchronization field (SF) and synchronization mark (SM) that are the same in each track but different from the SF and SM in radially adjacent tracks. Only two unique SFs and two unique SMs are required, with the two SFs and two SMs alternating in radially adjacent tracks. In a second embodiment the preambles are “integrated”, meaning that the preamble is a sequence of bits that does not include separate dedicated fields, like SF and SM. The preamble bit sequences are decoded using matched filters to provide bit synchronization and start-of-data information.

Abstract: An enlarged substrate for a magnetic recording medium used in a data storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD). In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 3½ inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 96.9 mm to 100.4 mm. In other embodiments, an apparatus comprises a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 2½ inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 66.9 mm to 71.8 mm. In other embodiments, a data storage device has a magnetic recording medium that uses an enlarged substrate as set forth above.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has disks with data sector preambles that allow for inter-track interference. The same data sector preamble is used for all data sectors in a track but the preamble in each track is different from the preamble in radially adjacent tracks. In a first embodiment each preamble includes a synchronization field (SF) and synchronization mark (SM) that are the same in each track but different from the SF and SM in radially adjacent tracks. Only two unique SFs and two unique SMs are required, with the two SFs and two SMs alternating in radially adjacent tracks. In a second embodiment the preambles are “integrated”, meaning that the preamble is a sequence of bits that does not include separate dedicated fields, like SF and SM. The preamble bit sequences are decoded using matched filters to provide bit synchronization and start-of-data information.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating address data. The method generates a first code corresponding to a cylinder number. The cylinder number is divided and recorded on servo sectors in association with an identification of a cylinder on a disk. The first code is formed of some codes obtained by dividing the cylinder number based on a number of each of the servo sectors. The method generates a second code corresponding to address data for each of the servo sectors, by encoding the first code based on the servo sector number and a servo format number. The servo format number is used to identify a format of each of the servo sectors.

Abstract: A hard disk drive has disks with data sector preambles that allow for inter-track interference. The same data sector preamble is used for all data sectors in a track but the preamble in each track is different from the preamble in radially adjacent tracks. In a first embodiment each preamble includes a synchronization field (SF) and synchronization mark (SM) that are the same in each track but different from the SF and SM in radially adjacent tracks. Only two unique SFs and two unique SMs are required, with the two SFs and two SMs alternating in radially adjacent tracks. In a second embodiment the preambles are “integrated”, meaning that the preamble is a sequence of bits that does not include separate dedicated fields, like SF and SM. The preamble bit sequences are decoded using matched filters to provide bit synchronization and start-of-data information.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a disk surface comprising a first spiral track, and a head actuated over the disk surface. While reading the first spiral track on the disk surface, a second spiral track is simultaneously written on the disk surface. In one embodiment, the second spiral track is written in an opposite radial direction as the first spiral track, and in another embodiment the second spiral track is written in the same radial direction as the first spiral track.

Abstract: Magnetic tape media according to one embodiment includes a servo track having a plurality of servo marks therealong. A distance of the servo marks, as originally written, from an edge of the tape media varies along the length of the magnetic tape media. Magnetic tape media according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks having physical characteristics of being written by an apparatus that monitors a lateral position of the magnetic tape media passing over a servo writing head during a servo track writing operation and writes servo marks to the magnetic tape media. A timing of the writing of each servo mark is based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape media.

Abstract: Methods are provided for determining the heater power level of a dynamic flying height (DFH) type write head at which a touch down (TD) occurs. Each method makes use of the DC component of a head-disk interference (HDI) sensor and the determination of the TD heater energy is deduced from certain characteristics of the function relating heater power to HDI DC signal strength. Characteristics that provide reliable indication of a TD include points of minimum slope, structure of the slope's slope and the properties of a linear fit to the slope if the slope does not converge to a consistent value. It is found that the use of all methods in combination allow a reliable TD determination under virtually all conditions.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system and method of generating soft-orthogonal syncmarks for at least a first set of tracks and a second set of tracks. Random pairs of sync patterns are searched to identify one or more pairs where the sync patterns of each pair exhibit delta-like autocorrelation and small cross-correlation with each other and with preamble portions of the tracks. Then a pair of sync patterns is selected from the one or more identified pairs, where the selected pair includes sync patterns that are distinguishable from the user data portions of the tracks at least partially based upon a data characteristic of the user data portions of the tracks. The selected pair of sync patterns is then used to generate a first syncmark for the first set of tracks and a second syncmark for the second set of tracks.

Abstract: Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for segmenting a data set and recovering the segmented data set. In one case, a system is disclosed that includes: a data transfer preparation circuit, a transfer characteristic determination circuit, and a a format insertion circuit. The data transfer preparation circuit is operable to receive a user data set and to generate an output data set based upon the user data set; the transfer characteristic determination circuit is operable to determine a distance between a first servo data wedge on a storage medium and a second servo data wedge on the storage medium; and the format insertion circuit is operable to dynamically augment the output data set with formatting information at a location selected based at least in part on the distance between the first servo data wedge and the second servo data wedge.

Abstract: An information recording device includes a recording medium with a plurality of data tracks and a controller that stores management information regarding data recorded in a group of adjacent data tracks, the recorded data including first data recorded in a first data track that is partially overwritten by second data subsequently recorded in a second data track that is adjacent to the first data track. The controller recovers management data of the recorded data based on whether or not a sector in the first data track that is adjacent to a sector in the second data track can be read by offset read processing when the sector in the second data track cannot be read by normal read processing.

Abstract: A tape storage medium includes a tape head for reading/writing data from/to a tape storage medium. At least one servo band along a longitudinal extension of the tape storage medium determines positional information. The servo band includes a set of servo tracks having a width extending along the longitudinal extension and arranged next to each other. A total of two different servo patterns are contained in the set of servo tracks. The tape head includes two servo readers. A width of each servo reader orthogonal to the longitudinal extension of the tape storage medium is at least half the width of a servo track. The two servo readers are offset from each other orthogonal to the longitudinal extension by d*wST+n*wST with wST being the width of the servo track, with 0<d<1, and with n being an integer.

Abstract: A product according to one embodiment includes a magnetic recording tape having opposite ends and at least one servo track, a longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape being defined between the ends. The at least one servo track has a plurality of first magnetic bars and a plurality of second magnetic bars. A width of each of the at least one servo track is defined in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the magnetic recording tape between sides of the servo track, the sides of each servo track extending along ends of the first magnetic bars. Lengths of the second magnetic bars between outermost ends thereof are less than the width of the associated servo track.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a system and method of a system and method for determining fundamental bit cell duration of a data record, which can be used for pattern-dependent write (PDW) current control. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, at least a first portion of a data record is fed through a plurality of delay units. A binary output of each delay unit is stored in at least one register when the delay units have received the first portion of the data record. The register contents are then decoded to determine fundamental bit cell duration of the data record based upon the stored binary outputs.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide for sequential readback of program data in from a cached data region of a storage device. In particular, the disclosed technology provides for storing a sequence of logical addresses associated with execution of a program, the sequence of logical addresses including at least two consecutive logical addresses associated with non-consecutive data blocks in a user data region; writing data corresponding to the at least two consecutive logical addresses to sequential data blocks in a cached data region; determining that a sequence of read commands from a host computer is associated with the data; and reading the data from the cached data region.

Abstract: Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for encoding and decoding information.

Abstract: A hard disk drive uses a second, reference burst field in a preamble to estimate burst phase and burst magnitude. Such estimations are used for position error signal integration and repeatable runout correction. Gain error is also derived from such estimations. Information contained in a preamble field is used in conjunction with the reference burst phase estimation to synchronize servo address marks.

Abstract: A tape medium uses a format to store data in which the tape medium is partitioned into an index partition (IP) and a data partition (DP). The latest metadata related to additional data newly added and written to the DP in accordance with the format is updated and stored in the IP. The same metadata is repeatedly written after the updated metadata (e.g. Index #1) in the IP. Alternatively, additional data newly added and written to the DP is stored in memory, and is called from memory and then added and written after metadata (e.g. Index #0) during the formatting. In either manner, data written prior to formatting may be recovered.

Abstract: Mechanisms for writing a file on a tape medium in a manner that enables high-speed reading are provided. A predetermined format is applied to the medium that divides the medium into a first region of a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction from a region of the medium, and a second region that extends from an end of the first region to a terminal region of the medium in a longitudinal direction and that has a predetermined width with respect to a width of the medium in a transverse direction. Writing a top data portion of a predetermined data amount of the data of the file in the first region and writing data of the file in the second region are performed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a data storage apparatus includes a disk, a head and a controller. In each track, first and second correction values for correcting a track runout in synchronization with rotation of the disk are recorded. The first correction value is for a first position located within a first track, and the second correction value is for a second position located within a second track adjacent to the first track, and separated from the first track by a predetermined distance. The head writes data to or read data from the tracks. The controller corrects the track runout with the first and second correction values, when the head is controlled to position at a target track.

Abstract: Host data to be written to a recording medium is categorized as one of sequential data or random data. The sequential data is written to a first track width on the recording medium. The random data is written to a second track width on the recording medium, the second track width being larger than the first track width.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for generating address data. The method generates a first code corresponding to a cylinder number. The cylinder number is divided and recorded on servo sectors in association with an identification of a cylinder on a disk. The first code is formed of some codes obtained by dividing the cylinder number based on a number of each of the servo sectors. The method generates a second code corresponding to address data for each of the servo sectors, by encoding the first code based on the servo sector number and a servo format number. The servo format number is used to identify a format of each of the servo sectors.

Abstract: Methods for formatting and using a linear magnetic recording medium. The medium in one embodiment has a servo band having a width b that is less than or equal to about 1.2 B/N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and B corresponds to a distance between data read/write transducers of a magnetic head usable with the medium in a direction transverse to a longitudinal length of the medium.

Abstract: Managing data objects in a Data Storage Device (DSD) including a disk and a volatile memory for storing data. A data object is written from the volatile memory in a data object zone of the disk of the DSD. At least one most recent version of a previously written data object is rewritten in the data object zone so that an earlier version of the data object written from the volatile memory does not interrupt a contiguous plurality of most recent versions of data objects stored in the data object zone.

Abstract: A bit patterned media (BPM) encoded recordable medium includes a servo control field including servo bits. Each servo bit is represented by a servo bit pattern of dots and gaps on the recordable medium. In the servo bit patterns, substantially no two dots are placed immediately next to one another, and substantially all servo bit patterns start with a gap and/or substantially all servo bit patterns end with a gap.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for performing bit-locked operations on media. A first control signal is received from a first source, and a second control signal is generated at a second source in response to receiving the first control signal. The media is accessed according to the second control signal. One or more synchronization markers are located during the accessing of the media, and bit-level synchronization between the second source and the media is achieved based, at least partially, on the one or more synchronization markers. A control operation is performed on the media with bit-level synchrony between the second source and the media.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk storage apparatus includes a disk, a detector, and a controller. The disk includes a first recording area for recording with a first track density, and a second recording area for recording with a second track density lower than the first track density. The detector is configured to detect a variation of an outside environment. The controller is configured to select a nonvolatile memory or the second recording area as a storage destination of write data transferred from a host, based on a content of the variation of the outside environment detected by the detector, and a state of capability or incapability of storage of the nonvolatile memory.

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: A disk drive includes an environmental monitor, a controller and a writing mechanism. The controller acts in response to an output from the environmental monitor to determine if the data capacity of a disk drive could be increased from a first value to a second value. The controller determines the second increased value. The writing mechanism, controlled by the controller, writes data to the disk to realize the increased data capacity of the disk drive. A method for increasing the data capacity of a disk drive from the factory settings for data capacity includes determining if the disk drive is in a favorable or stable environment, writing data to at least one portion of the disk drive at a higher capacity than the factory setting for the at least one portion of the disk drive, and resetting the capacity for at least one portion of the disk drive.

Abstract: A magnetic storage system includes a magnetic storage medium, a random-access memory (RAM), and a controller. The controller interfaces with both the magnetic storage medium and the RAM, and implements a refresh algorithm that determines when a data track on the magnetic storage medium should be refreshed. The controller maintains in the magnetic storage medium a plurality of finer-granularity damage count tables, each table having finer-granularity damage counts each representing damage to one or more sectors within each of the plurality of tracks associated with the table. The controller maintains in RAM a plurality of track-level damage count values, each associated with one of the plurality of data tracks and representing estimated damage to one of the plurality of data tracks. Based on data written to the plurality of data tracks, the controller utilizes finer-granularity damage count tables stored in the magnetic media to update the track-level damage.

Abstract: Provided herein is an apparatus, including a first region corresponding to a data region in a patterned recording medium; a first set of features in the first region; a second region corresponding to a servo region in a patterned recording medium; and a second set of features in the second region including rhomboidal protrusions, wherein the first set of features and the second set of features are circumferentially aligned in accordance with concentrically circular lines etched into the apparatus across the first region and the second region.

Abstract: A method for reducing skew angle variation range in a shingled magnetic recording system, the method including the following steps: 1) determining whether a starting magnetic track is in an inner recording zone; if yes, proceeding to step 2), otherwise proceeding to step 4); 2) using an inner writing corner to start shingled magnetic recording at a starting track; 3) using a shingled magnetic method to write rest magnetic tracks sequentially by the inner writing corner, keeping a writing pole moving in a direction from an inner recording zone to an outer recording zone; 4) determining whether the starting magnetic track is in the outer recording zone; 5) using an outer writing corner to start shingled magnetic recording at the starting track; and 6) using the shingled magnetic method to write the rest magnetic tracks sequentially by the outer writing corner.

Abstract: Improved threshold adaptation is provided for a predefined pattern in data. A detection threshold employed by a Euclidean detector to detect a pattern (such as a Servo Address Mark) in data is adapted by determining a minimum Euclidean distance metric Dp before the pattern is declared in a given portion of the data; determining a Euclidean distance metric Ds at a time when the pattern is found in the given portion, wherein at least one of the patterns is found using a Hamming detector; determining, for a plurality of the portions, a minimum Dp value, Dpmin, that is a substantial minimum Dp value for the plurality of portions and a maximum Ds value, Dsmax, that is a substantial maximum Ds value for the plurality of portions; and determining the detection threshold based on the minimum Dp value, Dpmin, and the maximum Ds value, Dsmax. The detection threshold is optionally based on a configurable margin gain value.