Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for data storage on hard disk drives (HDD) is described. The method and apparatus employ sequential data recording techniques ideal for sequential recording applications thus enabling the production of cheaper, more reliable and conveniently accessible systems. The sequential recording method may be employed with arrays of low-cost HDD and/or with the sequential employment of sectors, or groups of sectors, located within the individual HDDs themselves. An important feature of the system is that data are never deleted and so is only ever lost when overwritten with new data. Particular embodiments of the invention describe mirrored data storage systems which also provide for protection against data loss should one or more data storage elements fail.

Abstract: In a servo control loop, the rate of change of filter coefficients used by an adaptive filter to counteract external disturbances to head position is regulated in response to a characteristic of an acceleration signal. Regulating the rate of change of the filter coefficients may improve the stability of the servo control loop.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for hard disk power failure protection. The method includes receiving power from a battery through a battery power input wire when the hard disk drive is out of power, supplying battery power to the cache of the hard disk drive, and performing data protection for the cache. A wire of the hard disk interface (HDI) may be set as the battery power input wire, and the battery power voltage is less than or equal to the standard voltage of the wire used as the battery power input wire. The method can ensure cache data security and integrity with low cost and maintain compatibility with existing interface configurations.

Abstract: A servo writer according to the present invention is a servo writer which writes a servo signal on a servo band of a magnetic tape. It comprises a magnetic tape driving system in which a magnetic tape supplied from a supply reel is taken up by a take-up reel to drive the magnetic tape; a DC erasing head which is slidably in contact with said driving tape and which DC-magnetizes said servo band with imparting an azimuth relative to said servo band; and a servo signal writing head provided on a downstream of said DC erasing head in the driving direction of the magnetic tape, which is slidably in contact with said driving tape and which magnetizes the servo band by a magnetizing force having a component with a reverse magnetizing force relative to the magnetizing force of the DC erasing head in the lengthwise direction of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for gradually transitioning a slider from operation over a patterned data zone to landing on a patterned CSS zone. The ratio of raised area width to recessed area width of a pattern in a transition zone and/or CSS zone may be varied across the radial dimension of the disk. By changing the ratio of raised area width to recessed area width of the pattern in the transition from slider operation over the data zone to landing in the CSS zone, it is possible to gradually change the height of the slider from flying to non-flying conditions.

Abstract: A method of controlling a memory device connectable to an information apparatus for sending out a command to the memory device, the memory device having a medium for storing data and a head for writing data into and reading data from the medium, the method includes storing parameter information for writing data into and reading out the data from the medium into the medium when formatting the medium, writing into the medium history information indicating user data has been written into the medium in accordance with the parameter information, and determining whether to allow the parameter information to be changed when a command for writing new parameter information is received from the information apparatus in accordance with the history information.

Abstract: To provide a resist pattern forming method including: cleaning off fine powder at least on an edge of a base material to be processed; forming an imprint resist layer on a surface of the base material whose edge has been cleared of the fine powder; and forming a resist pattern on the surface of the base material by pressing, against the imprint resist layer, a concavo-convex pattern which is provided in a surface of a concavo-convex mold and which is composed of a plurality of convex portions and concave portions formed between the convex portions, so that the resist pattern is an inversion of the concavo-convex pattern.

Abstract: Provided is a read channel incorporated in a storage device to process signals read from a storage medium. The read channel includes an equalizer equalizing input read signals to produce equalizer output signals. A detector senses an adjusted equalizer output signal to determine an output value comprising data represented by the input read signals. An equalizer adaptor receives the output value from the detector to determine a first error signal used to adjust the equalizer operations. A component adjusts the equalizer output signals being transmitted to the detector, wherein the component is adjusted by a second error signal calculated from the output value from the detector, wherein the first and second error signals are different.

Abstract: A method for playing a media file from a hard disc drive (HDD) within a portable personal computer without interruption is disclosed. The portable type personal computer is provided with an impact protection system for the HDD. A media player plays a media file by reading a group of data blocks constituting the media file out of the HDD in order. The media player invokes a function for reading any of the data blocks into a buffer. The function is hooked by a media driver, and the media driver writes a data block that has a larger size than the data blocks in a media cache, in response to an operation to read any of the data blocks. The media player then plays the data blocks transferred from the media cache to a buffer region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for writing data to be played back onto a tape is provided. Included is an acquisition unit for acquiring data to be written onto the tape, a writing unit for writing the data to the tape, and a determination unit for determining a data amount of a leading part of the data to be stored in a place separate from a place where the data is stored so that a part following the leading part is made ready to be played back before playback of the leading part ends, to reduce the time taken to read the data from the tape. Also included is an extraction unit for extracting the data and a storage unit for storing the leading part of the data.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a microdisk array apparatus using semiconductor automated equipment, and the apparatus is installed into a space of a 3.5-inch IDE hard disk of the semiconductor equipment to substitute the hard disk directly. The apparatus includes a frame, and the frame has a connecting interface, a disk array controller and storage devices. During use, the semiconductor equipment stores, reads, updates and copies data with the storage devices through the connecting interface and the disk array controller. The storage device can be a 2.5-inch IDE hard disk or solid state disk. Since the IDE hard disk becomes a mainstream storage device of the semiconductor equipment, and the solid state disk has the quiet, fast, compact and long-life features, the apparatus is compatible to the storage devices of these two specifications, so as to provide better data storage and backup.

Abstract: A recorder of the present invention includes an optical disk drive section recording data on an optical disk, and a host section transferring data recorded on an arbitrary recording medium to the optical disk drive section to record the data on the optical disk, wherein the optical disk drive section intermittently records the data transferred from the host section on the optical disk.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a device (10) comprising a layer (12) having a pattern of disjunct portions (14) of magnetic material (18) generating a corresponding pattern of local magnetic fields (2). The magnetic material (18) is constituted of particles (22) dispersed in a solid substance (24). The particles are magnetically stable and substantially aligned for generating the local magnetic fields (2). The method comprises the steps of: providing a substance (32) having the particles (22) dispersed in the substance (32), the substance (32) having a viscosity for allowing the particles (22) to move in the substance (32), creating the pattern of disjunct portions (14) of the substance (32) in the layer (12) of the device (10), applying an external magnetic field (50) for substantially aligning the particles (22) in the disjunct portions (14) of the substance (32), and solidifying the substance (32) for obtaining the solid substance (24).

Abstract: A write head for a magnetic storage system energizes a write coil for a plurality of bit intervals and selectively shutters the magnetic field to alter a magnetic domain of a magnetic storage medium for each bit interval. The position of the shutter may be controlled using a micro-electro mechanical system. Magnetic pole segments provide a loop between the write coil and the magnetic storage medium. Magnetic shielding on the shutter mechanisms controls the reflection of the magnetic fields. In a rewritable magnetic storage system, a first write coil generates a positive magnetic field and a second write coil generates a negative magnetic field. A shutter is associated with each write coil to selectively allow the positive or negative magnetic fields to alter the magnetic domain of the magnetic storage medium. The positive or negative magnetic fields can alter the magnetic domain in a collocated region of the magnetic storage medium to avoid jitter.

Abstract: A tape has a component of magnetization pointing out of a plane of the tape. To write a pulse of a servo pattern to the tape, the tape is passed over a write head with a conventional write gap. Current having a fixed polarity is provided to the write head. Once the current achieves a desired value, the current is no longer provided to the write head.

Abstract: An arrangement of an information storage apparatus is provided. The arrangement includes a first circuit board, a base, a control circuit board, and first and second connectors. The first circuit board includes circuitry for storing information written to or read from an information storage apparatus. The base has a first major surface and a second major surface and is configured with an opening extending from the first major surface to the second major surface. The first major surface is relatively closer to the first circuit board, and the second major surface is relatively distant from the first circuit board. The control circuit board includes control circuitry to control components of the information storage involved in accessing the information storage apparatus. At least one of the first connector and second connector is configured to extend within the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing integrated circuits is disclosed. The apparatus for testing integrated circuits comprises an integrated circuit and a tester. The integrated circuit undergoing testing receives an input signal, and outputs an output signal from a first output terminal or a second output terminal according to a first pulse width of the input signal, and outputs an error signal according to a difference between the first pulse width and a second pulse width. The tester outputs the input signal according to the output signal and the error signal.

Abstract: A media information distribution and recording system for distributing media information from a central apparatus to terminal apparatus through a network and for recording the media information on a detachable recording medium in the terminal apparatus, wherein the terminal apparatus serves not only as a transmitting terminal apparatus, but also as a receiving terminal apparatus, is proposed, together with the terminal apparatus, a media information recording apparatus for use in this system, and a recording medium which stores a program that controls the operation of a computer for use in this system as well as in the media information recording apparatus.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes: a recording section for recording an information signal in a magnetic recording medium including a magnetic layer including hexagonal ferrite; a reproducing section for reproducing the information signal recorded in the magnetic recording medium, the reproducing section including: a reproducing head for reading the information signal from the magnetic recording medium; an equalizer for equalizing the information signal read from the magnetic recording medium, wherein a partial response of the information signal after equalization by the equalizer satisfies a condition that 0.4?a<3.0, ?0.6?b<2.0, ?2.0<c??0.2, ?3.0<d??0.4, and ?1.0<e?0.0. A corresponding reproducing method, a corresponding reproducing apparatus, and the magnetic recording medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A downloading system which can be used freely by many and unspecified persons. A recording medium is loaded in a public downloading apparatus, and use condition confirmation processing is performed by using information recorded on the medium. Processing for downloading various sorts of information using the public downloading apparatus is allowed to be started according to a result of the use condition confirmation processing. Communication of information necessary for use condition confirmation processing with respect to use of the public downloading apparatus or for downloading processing can be performed between the public downloading apparatus and a server system.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method and apparatus to write and read copy protected data on a disc drive storage system by encoding and decoding data to be copy protected using servo wedge data as the encoding element. In one aspect, the drive is marked by a number generated from the servo wedge data.

Abstract: A method and system for magnetic recording using self-organized magnetic nanoparticles is disclosed. The method may include depositing surfactant coated nanoparticles on a substrate, wherein the surfactant coated nanoparticles represent first bits of recorded information. The surfactant coating is then removed from selected of the surfactant coated nanoparticles. The selected nanoparticles with their surfactant coating removed may then be designated to represent second bits of recorded information. The surfactant coated nanoparticles have a first saturation magnetic moment and the selected nanoparticles with the surfactant coating removed have a second saturation magnetic moment. Therefore, by selectively removing the surfactant coating from certain nanoparticles, a write operation for recording the first and second bits of information may be performed.

Abstract: A method of self servo writing is shown. In example embodiments, spirals or other indexing patterns can be written entirely within a hard disk drive, thus enabling self servo writing of the entire disk surface. Increased accuracy in spiral writing in turn increases the track density achievable using self servo writing techniques. One example method includes writing a first indexing pattern, then using the first indexing pattern to servo and write an adjacent second indexing pattern. Other example methods further include the use of back electromotive force (EMF) to increase accuracy in writing patterns such as spirals.

Abstract: A magnetic storage media includes a magnetic south-north servo band section and a magnetic north-south servo band section. The magnetic south-north servo band section includes a magnetic south-pole polarity initialized servo track segment and a magnetic north-pole polarity servo pattern recorded on the magnetic south-pole polarity initialized servo track segment. The magnetic north-south servo band section includes a magnetic north-pole polarity initialized servo track segment, and a magnetic south-pole polarity servo pattern recorded on the magnetic north-pole polarity initialized servo track segment. The magnetic south-north servo band section and the magnetic north-south servo band section are recorded relative to each other on a servo track to represent magnetic polarity encoded servo position information based on the magnetic north-pole polarity servo pattern and the magnetic south-pole polarity servo pattern.

Abstract: An asperity data storage system wherein asperities are used to represent stored data. The asperity data storage system includes an asperity transducer that thermally interacts with a data storage medium adapted to store an information-encoded pattern of asperities thereon, such as a rotatable disk, a streamable tape, or a fixed medium. A drive system produces relative motion between the data storage medium and the asperity transducer, while electrical signals corresponding to the asperities are processed as stored information. A positional relationship can be maintained between the asperity transducer and the data storage medium using the asperities on the data storage medium for reference. A related asperity data storage method and the asperity data storage medium itself are further disclosed.

Abstract: A hydrodynamic bearing device comprises a sleeve composed of a sintered member, a shaft that is inserted in a state of being capable of relative rotation into a bearing hole provided to the sleeve, and a hydrodynamic groove formed in the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and/or the inner peripheral surface of the sleeve. The sleeve has a surface porosity of 1.5% or less, and the ridge width is at least 0.10 mm.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a first magnetic layer; and a second magnetic layer formed on the first magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer make exchange coupling therebetween and also, have their magnetizing direction in anti-parallel to one another. A net residual area magnetization of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer is expressed by the following formula: |Mr1×t1?Mr2×t2| where Mr1 and Mr2 denote respective residual magnetizations of the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and t1 and t2 denote respective film thicknesses of them; and the net area magnetization at a first temperature is larger than the net area magnetization at a second temperature lower than the first temperature.

Abstract: To effectively suppress a signal in a low frequency region in which the medium noise and the signal distortion are concentrated, and in order to effectively utilize a detected component of the reproduced signal in the low frequency region, a target of partial response equalization to the perpendicularly recorded/reproduced signal is set so that the low-frequency component around the direct current is suppressed to a regulated quantity for both the effective suppression and the effective utilization. Accordingly, a maximum-likelihood decoding process is carried out through the target of partial response equalization. Reliability of data detection is made higher and a signal-to-noise ratio is improved, so that the noise from the recording medium can be reduced more and it is possible to provide a high-density magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for writing timing based (servo) tracks on magnetic recording tape using complementary servo writer pairs. A magnetic tape intended to store, for instance, computer data conventionally contains servo tracks in addition to the data tracks. Typically many servo tracks and data tracks are arranged laterally across the width of the tape. The adjacent servo tracks (bands) here are complementary in terms of the orientation of their stripes and are written (recorded) by a complementary arranged servo writer pair. This advantageously reduces the position error signal by a substantial amount, even to nearly zero. In one version the servo writers are straight in configuration and in another version they are curved or chevron shape. These complementary servo writer pairs write adjacent servo bands.

Abstract: Methods and recording systems are configured for recording different data simultaneously at two different depths of a tilted magnetic medium, the tilted magnetic medium having a hard axis of magnetization, the axis being out of a plane of the medium and at an angle of ?10 to ?80 degrees with respect to a direction along which data are recorded, the medium being capable of having two depths of recording. A method embodies writing with selected magnetic fields whose amplitudes and whose angles with respect to the medium hard axis direction differ at the two depths of the medium such that the recorded direction of magnetization at the respective two depths can be set independently.

Abstract: A disk drive apparatus is shown that provides multi-tasking of firmware and hardware separately. A shared data structure is shown that permits queuing of multiple task requests and storing of multiple task results for later use, decreasing a need for wait time between components such as disk drive firmware and hardware. Further efficiencies are provided, including power saving modes when higher power disk drive components are not in use.

Abstract: A data storage device comprises: a data member comprising means for storing data on a surface thereof; and a data retrieval member. The data retrieval member comprises: a plurality of heads for reading data from the data member; and a plurality of storage buffers each arranged to store data read from one of more of said heads. The retrieval member is arranged so as to output the contents of a plurality of said storage buffers sequentially. This allows fast and efficient reading of the data stored. Also disclosed is a telecommunications switch which may employ such a storage device. The switch dynamically assigns data packets to nodes as an output path becomes available to minimise queuing delays.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device includes: a laminated body including: a first ferromagnetic layer with a magnetization substantially fixed in a first direction; a second ferromagnetic layer with a variable magnetization direction; a first nonmagnetic layer disposed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer; and a third ferromagnetic layer with a variable magnetization direction. The magnetization direction of the second ferromagnetic layer is determinable in response to the orientation of a current, by allowing electrons spin-polarized by passing a current in a direction generally perpendicular to the film plane of the layers of the laminated body to act on the second ferromagnetic layer, and by allowing a magnetic field generated by precession of the magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer to act on the second ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: Recording sections configured to record titles on a disk based on a management method in which additional recording and erasing of each title is possible, and each of the titles are recorded consecutively in a recording region, and the recorded each title is managed by a manager table which corresponds with the title candidate attached before the finalizing processing is carried out, the start position, and size, and in the case where a recorded title is erased, the region where erasure has been done becomes a recordable empty region and reference to the start position and size from the title candidate of the erased title becomes impossible on the manager table, and a first control section configured to designate the appropriate empty region for recording the title for which reserve recording is requested, from the empty regions present on the disk when the reserve recording of the title on the disk has been requested.

Abstract: A magnetic storage media includes one or more magnetic polarity encoded servo bands with each magnetic polarity encoded servo band including one or more magnetic south-north servo band sections and one or more magnetic north-south servo band sections. Each magnetic south-north servo band section includes a magnetic south-pole polarity initialized servo track segment and a magnetic north-pole polarity servo pattern recorded on the magnetic south-pole polarity initialized servo track segment. Each magnetic north-south servo band section includes a magnetic north-pole polarity initialized servo track segment, and a magnetic south-pole polarity servo pattern recorded on the magnetic north-pole polarity initialized servo track segment.

Abstract: A read/write head for use with bit-patterned media detects write synchronization errors between a write clock and the bit-patterned media. In particular, the read/write head writes data to the bit-patterned media using a write clock. The data is then read from the bit-patterned media and used to detect write synchronization errors between the write clock and the location of bit-islands on the bit-patterned media. Based on detected write synchronization errors, the phase associated with the write clock is modified to align the write clock with the location of bit-islands on the bit-patterned media.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductive coil that carries current to induce a first field in the write element. A first conductor is proximate a leading edge of the write pole tip for carrying current to generate a second field that augments the first field.

Abstract: A method for reading data from a magnetic recording tape having multiple adjacent data tracks according to one embodiment includes simultaneously detecting signals from a plurality of read devices, at least some of the read devices being positioned over multiple data tracks while other of the adjacent read devices are positioned over single data tracks; determining which of the read devices is positioned over a single data track; and simultaneously reading data from the data tracks using only those read devices over the single data tracks. A method for reading and writing data to a magnetic recording tape according to another embodiment includes simultaneously writing data tracks to a magnetic medium; and simultaneously reading the data tracks on the magnetic medium using a plurality of adjacent read devices; wherein the number of the adjacent read devices is at least twice the number of the adjacent write devices.

Abstract: A data recording apparatus and a data recording system of the present invention includes buffer memories 2a to 2c that accumulate data in a plurality of channels transferred from an external appliance on a channel basis, a data selector 3 that reads the data accumulated in the buffer memories 2a to 2c, and a data drive 4 that records the data read by the data selector 3 onto a magnetic tape, wherein the data selector 3 selectively reads the data accumulated in the buffer memories 2a to 2c, and outputs the data in an order of recording onto a magnetic tape in the tape drive 4. According to such a configuration, a data recording apparatus that can be realized at low cost and a recording system using the data recording apparatus can be provided.

Abstract: A method for efficiently saving data to tape, preferably within the ANSI X3.27 standard format sends signals to the tape drive to allow the tape drive to buffer the required tape marks, which the standard requires. Although the standard presumed these would be required for synchronization and would be written when produced, we do not adhere to that thinking. Instead we synchronize only at the logical end of the application constructed file, or at the end of the tape in one embodiment, saving time in writing through avoiding stop-start activities of the tape drive, thus allowing newer tape drives to take advantage of the features of the ANSI X3.27 standard. We also provide an embodiment, which allows for non-ANSI standard (i.e., unlabeled) tapes to be used.

Abstract: A method of forming a conductive pattern can form a conductive pattern where the aspect ratio of the height to the width is high with favorable electrical connectivity.

Abstract: Operating parameters and other read channel registers are updated with a lesser burden on the disc drive's primary processor. After a zone transition event, table values indexed by a zone identifier are retrieved from a memory, preferably by a direct memory access controller. In one method, updates are performed via the same NRZ bus that is used for transmitting user and servo data.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention make it possible to conduct stable recording on a magnetic disk, even in case of changes in flying height due to thermal protrusion. In one embodiment, a compensatory recording current value A2 is used when a first section of user data is recorded in the required number of data sectors from the data sector of the starting address for recording the user data to the data sector of an intermediate address. A recording current value A3 smaller than the compensatory recording current value is used when a second section of user data is recorded in the data sectors existing from the data sector of the intermediate address towards the ending address.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention includes a system for writing data onto a magnetic disk. An output driver provides a first write current through a first output transistor in a first state and provides a second write current through a second output transistor in a second state. The first and second write currents can be provided to a disk write head to store opposing binary values, respectively. A bias current generator switches a first bias current between an intermediate voltage node in the second state and the first control node in the first state, and switches a second bias current between the intermediate voltage node in the first state and the second control node in the second state. The first and second bias currents can be provided to set a bias voltage at the first and second control nodes to bias the first and second output transistors, respectively.

Abstract: A data writing method to write data on a disk in a disk device. The data is written in one radial direction. The method includes detecting a first deviation amount from a center in a current track and sector in the direction of a track on which data was previously written. A second deviation amount from the center in the current track and sector in the direction of a track on which data will be subsequently written is also detected. Data is written on the current track when the first deviation amount is equal to or smaller than a first threshold and the second deviation amount is equal to or smaller than a second threshold.

Abstract: In the present invention, by making the width of the write element larger than the track pitch and securing a write magnetic field strong enough to reverse the magnetization of the magnetic layer, and further by writing while shifting a write head comprising the write element, a magnetic disk drive, of which the track width is narrower than the write element width, and the storage capacity is large, is realized.

Abstract: A magnetic media that has at least one groove. The groove is created by a process that includes initially forming a temporary layer over a magnetic layer of the disk. One or more grooves are formed in the temporary and magnetic layers. The temporary layer is removed and a protective layer is formed over the magnetic layer and within the groove.

Abstract: An asperity data storage system wherein asperities are used to represent stored data. The asperity data storage system includes an asperity transducer that thermally interacts with a data storage medium adapted to store an information-encoded pattern of asperities thereon, such as a rotatable disk, a streamable tape, or a fixed medium. A drive system produces relative motion between the data storage medium and the asperity transducer, while electrical signals corresponding to the asperities are processed as stored information. A positional relationship can be maintained between the asperity transducer and the data storage medium using the asperities on the data storage medium for reference. A related asperity data storage method and the asperity data storage medium itself are further disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for generating a hard drive write signal are here in disclosed. A disclosed method comprises generating a hard drive write signal on an output of a switch based on an edge of the first control signal and reducing the hard drive write signal based on an edge of a second control signal via a second switch.

Abstract: A discrete track recording method records information on a magnetic recording medium having mutually adjacent tracks that are separated in advance by a groove. The discrete track recording method carries out a recording using a recording head having a core width in a range greater than or equal to a first value CW1 and less than a second value CW2 satisfying CW1<CW2 with respect to a first magnetic recording medium having a first track pitch TP1, and carries out a recording a recording head having a core width in a range greater than or equal to the second value CW2 and less than a third value CW3 satisfying CW2<CW3 with respect to a second magnetic recording medium having a second track pitch TP2 satisfying TP1<TP2.