Abstract: A method includes designating a first sampling phase for a signal captured from a magnetic storage medium, where the signal is representative of information stored by the magnetic storage medium. The method further includes capturing a first waveform associated with the signal at the first sampling phase. The method also includes designating a second sampling phase different from the first sampling phase for the signal. The method further includes capturing a second waveform associated with the signal at the second sampling phase. The method also includes interleaving the first waveform and the second waveform to form an oversampled waveform. The first waveform and the second waveform are captured at a rate at least substantially equal to a rate at which the information stored by the magnetic storage medium was written to the magnetic storage medium.

Abstract: An architecture for a contactless smart card or payment device, where the smart card is intended for use in both commerce transaction payment and transit fare payment (or other venue access) environments. The payment device may function as both an electronic wallet for commerce transactions and as a transit system card, for access to and fare payment of transit services. Implementation of both functions may be achieved by use of a dynamic memory management system that permits data for both the payment and transit applications to be stored on the card, with the transit data and storage locations isolated from those used to store data intended for use in paying for commerce transactions. The transit application specific data may include access control data (keys, passwords, identification data) or data required for fare calculations (rates, historical data on system use), for example.

Abstract: SMR disk drives with hybrid E-regions that include a nonvolatile solid state memory E-region in addition to the magnetic media E-regions on disk are described. The memory E-region can be used in operations that will be referred as destaging and/or restaging to sequentialize sets of exception records to reduce the time and energy spent in executing seeks in the disk E-region. The ratio of the size of the solid state memory E-region to the total E-region capacity on the disks can be optimized for selected applications according to the invention using tradeoffs between performance and cost. For example, an embodiment with a memory E-region size that is 10% of the total disk E-region capacity achieves substantial performance enhancement over a disk-only E-region implementation and also results in smaller costs than would be required in a NAND-only memory E-region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a patterned medium includes depositing a magnetic recording layer and applying an ultraviolet curable resin on both surfaces of a medium substrate, pressing a first resin stamper and a second resin stamper each including patterns of recesses and protrusions, corresponding to a patterned medium, against both surfaces of the medium substrate in such a manner that a direction from a center of the medium substrate toward a center of the first resin stamper is off-oriented from a direction from the center of the medium substrate toward a center of the second resin stamper to imprint the patterns of recesses and protrusions on the ultraviolet curable resin, and irradiating the ultraviolet curable resin with an ultraviolet ray through each of the first and second resin stampers to cure the ultraviolet curable resin.

Abstract: SMR disk drives with hybrid E-regions that include a nonvolatile solid state memory E-region in addition to the magnetic media E-regions on disk are described. The memory E-region can be used in operations that will be referred as destaging and/or restaging to sequentialize sets of exception records to reduce the time and energy spent in executing seeks in the disk E-region. The ratio of the size of the solid state memory E-region to the total E-region capacity on the disks can be optimized for selected applications according to the invention using tradeoffs between performance and cost. For example, an embodiment with a memory E-region size that is 10% of the total disk E-region capacity achieves substantial performance enhancement over a disk-only E-region implementation and also results in smaller costs than would be required in a NAND-only memory E-region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to creating an identical copy of a data storage tape cartridge. In one aspect, data contents of a source tape cartridge are copied to a destination tape cartridge. The source tape being formatted by a file system and includes at least one file system metadata block. Data blocks are read from the source tape to a memory buffer. Whether the blocks read are file system metadata blocks and whether the metadata blocks include cartridge-specific and/or cartridge-dependent content is determined. The content is adapted to the destination cartridge, thereby creating consistent file system metadata on the destination tape. The buffered blocks are written to the destination tape, thereby creating a file system on the destination tape that is a physical copy of the file system and data contents on the source tape.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for robust servo patterns that comply with planarization constraints and also allow use of a single master template for manufacture of both the front and back of a magnetic disk. Planarization constraints are met because only a portion of servo data is hard patterned on the magnetic disk and the hard patterned servo data areas comply with planarization constraints. The servo pattern has two symmetrical servo write assist patterns, one on each side of a central burst pattern. The servo sync, SAM, track-ID, sector-ID, and/or RRO values can be written magnetically by the write head onto these servo write assist patterns after the completion of the planarization process. The symmetric design of the servo pattern allows both a left-to-right and a right-to-left servo write and read back, thereby enabling use of a single master template in magnetic disk manufacture.

Abstract: Records and 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: A “write-squeeze-verify” method is used for verification of the data that has been written in the annular bands of a shingled magnetic recording disk drive. The writing of data along a track overwrites a portion of the previously written track and thus “squeezes” the data of the previously written track to thereby form a “shingled data track” (SDT). The data in each SDT is read back and verified by an error correction check using error correction bits associated with the data written in the SDT, or by comparing the readback data with the data stored in memory. If the data read back is not verified, a write error counter is incremented and a write error frequency is calculated. One or more attempts to write the data can be performed. If the data in the SDT cannot be verified after the attempted rewrite(s), then a “re-try fail” is reported.

Abstract: A partitioning format for magnetic tape media that includes at least a first portion (e.g., a file directory) having a plurality of dynamically updateable (e.g., non-shingled) partitions and a second portion (e.g., a data portion) having a plurality of linearly or sequentially written shingled partitions. Use of both shingled and non-shingled partitions on the same length of magnetic tape allows for an increase in capacity over those applications that perform linear recording of non-shingled partitions while allowing for the dynamic updating of a local file directory free of disturbing the linearly written data of the shingled partitions.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and analyzing operation of a tape infrastructure. The system includes a plurality of real and virtual tape libraries each including a plurality of tape drives and tape media. The system includes a server linked to the tape library. On the server, a storage tape analytics application is provided that functions to extract raw data sets from the tape library corresponding to operations of the tape library. The data pertains to use of the drives and media during data storage operations and data about the activities of the real or virtual tape libraries. The analytics application stores the extracted data sets in an analytics database. The analytics application provides a user interface for viewing data in the analytics database, e.g., a GUI operable by monitoring personnel to view and interact with the gathered and processed tape operations monitoring data to provide historical and user-driven analysis of data for an entire data center.

Abstract: A first data group in an access sequence is selected based on which data group in the data groups has a beginning closest to a current position of the tape medium. Those data groups located in specified regions of the tape medium are separated from other data groups located in alternative specified regions of the tape medium. The distance from the current position of the tape medium is set to be a logical distance value, determined by a calculation function, that is substituted for the physical distance value for the data groups that are located in the specified regions as compared with other data groups located in the alternative specified regions. A second data group in the access sequence is selected based on which remaining data group in the data groups has a beginning closest to an end of the first data group in the access sequence.

Abstract: A method for data storage includes encoding input data with an Error Correction Code (ECC), to produce encoded data. The encoded data is formatted in a super-frame consisting of a given number of burst sequences arranged in parallel, each burst sequence consisting of one or more bursts of multiple bytes of the encoded data. The burst sequences of the super-frame are stored in respective memory devices over a single data bus having a bus width, in bytes, that is equal to the given number.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus configured to record information onto a magnetic recording medium by a shingled write recording method, the magnetic recording apparatus includes: a recording head configured to cover a plurality of dot arrays and an end portion of which is situated at one dot array of a recording target; an actuator configured to move the recording head by one array after the recording to one dot array by the recording head; and a controller configured to perform recording compensation of the magnetic dot based on prestored recording data of a peripheral dot of a magnetic dot when input user data is recorded to the magnetic dot.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information recording device includes: a magnetic recording medium having tracks; and a recording controller configured to control recording of information on a track provided between a first track group and a second track group adjacent to the first track group, the first track group and the second track group being included in a plurality of track groups, each of which includes a plurality of adjacent tracks partially overlap each other.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a spindle motor operable to rotate the disk. A bootstrap spiral track is written to the disk, wherein the bootstrap spiral track comprises a high frequency signal interrupted by sync marks. A first sync mark is written while writing a first part of the bootstrap spiral track, and a second sync mark is written while writing a second part of the bootstrap spiral track. A switch between writing the first sync mark and the second sync mark is made in response to a spindle BEMF voltage, thereby generating a sync mark seam in the bootstrap spiral track.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, an auxiliary layer formed on the substrate, and at least one perpendicular magnetic recording layer formed on the auxiliary layer. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer includes a magnetic dot pattern. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer is made of an alloy material containing one element selected from iron and cobalt, and one element selected from platinum and palladium. This alloy material has the L10 structure, and is (001)-oriented. The auxiliary layer includes a dot-like first region covered with the magnetic dot pattern, and a second region not covered with the magnetic dot pattern. The first region is made of one metal selected from (100)-oriented nickel and (100)-oriented iron. The second region contains an oxide of the metal used in the first region.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes an initial calculation module and a simple determination module. The initial calculation module, in a simple determination expression describing a magnitude relation between a first value calculated from a first half part of the burst data and a second value calculated from a second half part of the burst data, starts a calculation of the first value before the reading of the second half part of the burst data is completed. The simple determination module performs a determination by the simple determination expression after the reading of the second half part of the burst data is completed.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for patterned media concentric zones with an alternating series of concentric servo zones and overlap zones. The overlap zones facilitate the writing of servo data between servo zones of different servo frequency. The overlap zones may be dual frequency zones. The dual frequency zones have a first set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering lower frequency servo zone and a second set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering higher frequency servo zone. A bootstrap zone can be included near the inner diameter to assist initial servo writing. Alternatively the overlap zones are bootstrap zones. Such bootstrap zones have both bootstrap patterns and overlap patterns, the overlap patterns have the substantially identical pattern as a bordering servo zone. Bootstrap patterns only require DC magnetization for servo operability.

Abstract: A patterned-media magnetic recording disk drive has head positioning servo sectors on the disk that do not contain special patterns but merely use the same type of dots that are used for data. The “data” dots in angularly spaced sectors of the data tracks function as the servo sectors and are denoted as D-servo regions. The D-servo regions extend across an annular band of the disk, which may be a bootstrap band for self-servowriting. The dots in the annular band are randomly magnetized so that each track in each D-servo region provides a generally random readback signal at the data frequency. The precise radial and circumferential position of the read/write head within a D-servo region is determined by comparing the readback signal with a set of reference signal waveforms from a look-up reference table and finding the reference signal waveform that matches the readback signal.

Abstract: The present inventions are related to systems and methods for transferring information to and from a storage medium, and more particularly to systems and methods for positioning a sensor in relation to a storage medium. For example, an apparatus for determining a sensor position is disclosed that includes discrete Fourier transform calculators operable to process input data to yield a magnitude response of the input data at each of a number of candidate frequencies, a comparator operable to compare the magnitude responses to yield a winning candidate frequency, a servo controller operable to process at least one servo field in the input data to identify a position of a sensor based on the at least one servo field, and a servo frequency synthesizer operable to establish a frequency of operation in the servo controller based at least in part on the winning candidate frequency.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for patterned media concentric zones with an alternating series of concentric servo zones and overlap zones. The overlap zones facilitate the writing of servo data between servo zones of different servo frequency. The overlap zones may be dual frequency zones. The dual frequency zones have a first set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering lower frequency servo zone and a second set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering higher frequency servo zone. A bootstrap zone can be included near the inner diameter to assist initial servo writing. Alternatively the overlap zones are bootstrap zones. Such bootstrap zones have both bootstrap patterns and overlap patterns, the overlap patterns have the substantially identical pattern as a bordering servo zone. Bootstrap patterns only require DC magnetization for servo operability.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium may include a stacked structure of orientation control, lower recording, intermediate, and upper recording layers. The lower recording layer has a coercivity higher than that of the upper recording layer. The lower recording layer includes a first layer with a granular structure that includes magnetic particles including Co, Cr, and Pt, and an oxide covering a periphery of the magnetic particles, and a second layer with a non-granular structure that includes magnetic particles including Co, Cr, and Pt. The lower recording layer includes columnar crystals continuous with crystal particles forming the orientation control layer in a stacking direction of the stacked structure.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for patterned media concentric zones with an alternating series of concentric servo zones and overlap zones. The overlap zones facilitate the writing of servo data between servo zones of different servo frequency. The overlap zones may be dual frequency zones. The dual frequency zones have a first set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering lower frequency servo zone and a second set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering higher frequency servo zone. A bootstrap zone can be included near the inner diameter to assist initial servo writing. Alternatively the overlap zones are bootstrap zones. Such bootstrap zones have both bootstrap patterns and overlap patterns, the overlap patterns have the substantially identical pattern as a bordering servo zone. Bootstrap patterns only require DC magnetization for servo operability.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects of optical tape technology, tape manufacturing, and tape usage. Methods and systems of tape technology disclose optical tape media including: configurations, formulations, markings, and structure; optical tape manufacturing methods, systems, and apparatus methods and systems including: curing processes, coating methods, embossing, drums, testing, tracking alignment stamper strip; optical tape methods and systems including: pick up head adapted for the disclosed optical tape; and optical tape uses including optical storage media devices for multimedia applications.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a pattern detection circuit is discussed that includes a distance calculation circuit and a comparator circuit. The distance calculation circuit is operable to calculate a noise whitened distance between a reference signal and a received input to yield a comparison value. The comparator circuit is operable to compare the comparison value with a threshold value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a tape channel for reading data from a magnetic tape medium to produce a signal, a bank of noise whitening filters positioned subsequent to the tape channel adapted for receiving the signal, the bank of noise whitening filters being adapted for minimizing variance of noise affecting the signal at an output of the bank of noise whitening filters, wherein each noise whitening filter in the bank of noise whitening filters is dependent on a different possible data pattern, a soft DMAX detector adapted for calculating first soft information, dependent on the different possible data patterns, about each bit of the signal from the bank of noise whitening filters, and sending the first soft information to a soft decoder adapted for calculating second soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the second soft information to the soft DMAX detector.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a tape channel for reading data from a magnetic tape medium to produce a signal, a noise whitening filter positioned subsequent to the tape channel adapted for receiving the signal, wherein the noise whitening filter is adapted for minimizing variance of its output signal, a soft detector adapted for receiving output from the noise whitening filter, the soft detector adapted for calculating first soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the first soft information to a soft decoder, and the soft decoder positioned subsequent to the soft detector, the soft decoder being adapted for calculating second soft information about each bit of the signal and sending the second soft information to the soft detector. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described according to more embodiments.

Abstract: A method is described for allowing disk drives, such as shingle-written magnetic recording (SMR) drives, to be shipped for customer use with portions of the magnetic media being left untested. The testing is then completed by the drive self-testing in the field. The drive is made functional at the factory by fully testing at least one operational set of regions including an I-region, an E-region and a write cache region. The operational set of regions works as a separate self-contained virtual disk drive and can be used immediately. The remaining untested areas on the media can be tested in the field by a background task and/or when the first write command is received that requires a new track or operational set of regions (on-the fly testing).

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk including a plurality of contiguous servo tracks for defining a plurality of data tracks. A first write command comprising first write data is received, and a first density of first data tracks over a first plurality of the contiguous servo tracks is selected, wherein the first write data is written to the first data tracks. A second write command comprising second write data is received, and a second density of second data tracks over the first plurality of the contiguous servo tracks is selected, wherein the second density is different than the first density. The second write data is written to the second data tracks.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a patterned magnetic recording layer above a substrate, the patterned magnetic recording layer including recording regions and separating regions for separating the recording regions and a non-magnetic alloy layer positioned in the separating regions, wherein the non-magnetic alloy layer includes Ti. In another embodiment, a method for producing a magnetic recording medium includes forming separating regions in a magnetic recording layer by removing portions of the magnetic layer, wherein the separating regions separate recording regions in the magnetic layer, and depositing a non-magnetic alloy layer in the separating regions. Other media and methods are described according to more embodiments.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) disk drive has concentric shingled data tracks having data sectors with physical block addresses (PBAs), with the tracks being arranged in annular bands separated by annular inter-band gaps. The disk drive also has an on-disk extended cache region and may have writable inter-band cache (IBC) tracks in the inter-band gaps. A count is maintained in memory for each band and each IBC, and the count is incremented for each writing to a band or an IBC. When a count for a band or IBC reaches a predetermined threshold, the data is read from the tracks in the boundary region of the adjacent band that are within the range of the FTE and that data is then written to the extended cache. The FTE-affected tracks are then invalidated, meaning that PBAs can no longer be assigned to the data sectors in those tracks.

Abstract: A magnetic tape drive has a drive system to move a magnetic tape longitudinally; servo head(s) for reading servo band information from a magnetic tape as the magnetic tape is moved longitudinally; a magnetic tape read write head configured to read and to write the magnetic tape, having a data write width (w) greater than a normal shingled track pitch width (p) of the magnetic tape; an actuator system for positioning the read write head laterally; and a control. The magnetic tape drive stores an overwrite erase format of non-shingled track pitch longitudinal pattern(s) whose pitch is greater than the normal shingled track pitch width (p); and, the control, in response to activation of overwrite erasure of the tape drive, operates the actuator system and the magnetic tape read write head to write non-data to magnetic tape in the stored overwrite erase format.

Abstract: In an optical tape drive having optical heads for writing data in tracks on an optical tape, each track having an off-track threshold, a system and method are disclosed for off-track write prevention. The system includes multiple actuators, each actuator configured to control a position of an associated optical heads. The system also includes a controller configured to determine a position of each of the optical heads relative to an associated track on the optical tape and to prevent, in response to an event causing an optical heads to have a position outside the off-track threshold of the associated track, only that optical head from writing data to the optical tape and to buffer a stream of data for that optical head for later processing.

Abstract: Optimization of tracks on a hard disk includes: determining I/O characteristics for data clusters to be stored on the hard disk; generating a set of solutions for each possible placement configuration; for each solution, calculating a plurality of cost functions using the I/O characteristics for the plurality of data clusters; for each solution, calculating a membership value using the cost function values; for each solution, calculating a fitness value using the membership value; retaining the solutions with the fitness value greater than a predetermined threshold; determining whether at least one stopping condition has been met; if not, adding new solutions to the retained solutions to generate the next set of solutions; and repeating the calculating the membership value, the calculating the fitness value, and the retaining the solutions with the fitness value greater than the predetermined threshold until at least one stopping condition has been met.

Abstract: A method, system, and computer program product for mitigating adjacent track erasures in hard disks, includes: determining input/output (I/O) characteristics for a plurality of blocks on a hard disk; assigning the plurality of blocks to a plurality of categories of I/O characteristics by the processor; and clustering content of the blocks assigned to the same category in one or more continuous tracks on the hard disk. Each block is assigned to one category. Blocks with similar I/O characteristics are clustered on one or more continuous tracks. By performing this clustering, blocks with a high number of I/O operations are grouped and stored on fewer tracks than if they were scattered across numerous tracks. This reduces the number of tracks experiencing a high number of I/O operations, and in turn, the amount of refreshing of adjacent tracks is reduced.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for forming a high quality master pattern for patterned media, including features to support servo patterns, is disclosed. Block copolymer self-assembly is used to facilitate the formation of a track pattern with narrower tracks. E-beam lithography forms a chemical contrast pattern of concentric rings, where the spacing of the rings is equal to an integral multiple of the target track pitch. The rings include regions within each servo sector header where the rings are offset radially by a fraction of a track pitch. Self-assembly is performed to form a new ring pattern at the target track pitch on top of the chemical contrast pattern, including the radial offsets in the servo sector headers. When this pattern is transferred to disks via nanoimprinting and etching, it creates tracks separated by nonmagnetic grooves, with the grooves and tracks including the radial offset regions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of storing data on a tape medium in at least one data recording session employing a tape drive apparatus operable to record the data in accordance with a format specifying an unused area of the tape medium. The method comprises formatting the tape medium according to the format, and recording a tape medium identifier in the specified unused area of the tape medium.

Abstract: Injecting pad bits during a read operation to improve format efficiency is disclosed. In some embodiments, a pad sequence associated with error correction is not stored in a sector on a disk. Instead, the pad sequence is merged at a read channel with data stored in a sector that is accessed by the read channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technique of providing a perpendicular magnetic recording medium in which high-quality servo information enabling high-density recording of 500 kTPI or more is recorded, and a magnetic storage device of an adaptive track formatting type having large capacity, high reliability and high performance with high device manufacturing yield. At a servo area of the perpendicular magnetic recording medium, a servo sequence such as a burst pattern for positioning in a servo track is recorded in a seamless manner without big recording footprint (several times longer than the servo bit) and in a magnetization pattern such that a total amount of the recording magnetization is substantially zero.

Abstract: Testing procedure (Integrated Head Spiral Testing) for disk media utilizes a single head with both write and read elements that are offset to allow spiral testing. The offset allows a write element to write one portion of a spiral track while a read element simultaneously reads a previously written portion of the spiral track.

Abstract: This magnetic recording device is provided with a magnetic write head having a magnetic pole, and a magnetic recording medium having a plurality of data recording blocks. Each of the data recording blocks is formed with a plurality of write tracks, and separated, in a write track width direction, from neighboring one of the data recording blocks with a writing exudation suppression section in between. With this configuration, a magnetic mutual interference of the adjacent data recording blocks at the time of a data rewriting process is avoided even when a mutual interval of the data recording blocks is narrowed, and a good recording state is maintained in each of the data recording blocks. Therefore, it is possible to achieve an improvement in a recording density, while realizing the good and brief data rewriting process for each of the data recording blocks.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording (SMR) hard disk drive (HDD) essentially eliminates the effect of far track erasure (FTE) in the boundary regions of annular data bands caused by writing in the boundary regions of adjacent annular data bands. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written. Based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range, a count increment (CI) table or a cumulative count increment (CCI) table is maintained for all the tracks in the range. For every writing to a track in a boundary region, a count for each track in an adjacent boundary region, or a cumulative count for the adjacent boundary region, is increased. When the count reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that band and rewritten to the same band.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide for patterned media concentric zones with an alternating series of concentric servo zones and overlap zones. The overlap zones facilitate the writing of servo data between servo zones of different servo frequency. The overlap zones may be dual frequency zones. The dual frequency zones have a first set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering lower frequency servo zone and a second set of overlap patterns with the substantially identical pattern as the bordering higher frequency servo zone. A bootstrap zone can be included near the inner diameter to assist initial servo writing. Alternatively the overlap zones are bootstrap zones. Such bootstrap zones have both bootstrap patterns and overlap patterns, the overlap patterns have the substantially identical pattern as a bordering servo zone. Bootstrap patterns only require DC magnetization for servo operability.

Abstract: Embodiments herein illustrate patterned servo data that allows the patterned disk to be planarized with a relatively simple planarization process. A magnetic disk, in this regard, includes a data region having a plurality of tracks. The magnetic disk also includes a plurality of servo bursts patterned in the magnetic disk at a plurality of locations in each track. The servo bursts are operable to direct a controller to center a write head over a track in the data region and write a track identification. The servo bursts include magnetic lands and nonmagnetic grooves. The magnetic lands of the servo burst are generally configured with a uniform polarity of magnetization and a first uniform width. The nonmagnetic grooves are configured with a second uniform width.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, a magnetic recording tape includes a plurality of servo tracks, each servo track comprising a series of magnetically defined bars, wherein an average stripe width of the bars is between about 1.0 micron and about 2.2 microns, where an average servo frame length of groups of the bars comprising a servo frame is between about 120 microns and about 180 microns. In another general embodiment, a system includes a head having at least one servo reader and an array of data transducers of a type selected from a group consisting of readers and writers; and a controller operative to selectively enable every other transducer of a particular type in the array in a first mode of operation, and operative to selectively enable every transducer of the particular type in the array in a second mode of operation.

Abstract: Servo pattern read-back signal processing for storage devices is described. In an example, a method of processing a read-back signal derived from a servo pattern on a storage medium in a storage device includes differentiating the read-back signal in an analog domain to produce a differentiated signal; and converting the differentiated signal into digital samples.

Abstract: An implementation of a system disclosed herein provides a method of deferring decoding of a data sector received at a read channel of a storage device, in response to determining that a data sector cannot be decoded by a first decoder and storing the data sector for further processing by a second decoder.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a disk arrangement, a first signal processing path configured to output data from the disk arrangement according to a first protocol, a second signal processing path configured to output data from the disk arrangement according to a second protocol, and an interface including a set of electrical conductors and a mode control unit. The mode control unit is configured to output data from the first signal processing path on the set of electrical conductors according to the first protocol and to output data from the second signal processing path on the set of electrical conductors according to the second protocol according to a control signal received by the mode control unit. The second protocol is different from the first protocol.

Abstract: This invention provides an information processing method and apparatus, which can set all extent sizes of data divisionally recorded on a disk to be equal to or larger than the minimum recording unit, and can guarantee continuous reproduction of the divisionally recorded data. Of data divisionally recorded on a recording medium (5), data which corresponds to an end portion of that data and cannot be recorded as a recording area equal to or larger than a minimum recording unit specified in the recording medium (5) due to the presence of a recording area (6) of another data, that has already been recorded on the recording medium (5), is re-recorded on a recording area equal to or larger than the minimum recording unit. At this time, new data is generated by combining data less than the minimum recording unit, and data recorded in another recording area, and the new data is re-recorded on a new recording area.