Abstract: A media storage system includes a disc input element for receiving a media disc, a disc output element for ejecting a disc, and a media reader for reading information from a disc. If insufficient information is readable from a disc, it may be obtained through a computer network. The system includes a disc transporter for moving received discs to respective internal storage locations. The system includes a data input device for entering disc catalogue data and a data output device such as a display for displaying disc catalogue data. The data input and output devices may be input buttons and a display on a remote control. Each disc and related information is associated with an identifier such that access to disc data may be by restricted by user identifier or content ratings.

Abstract: Servo control methods and apparatus for a tape drive. A read/write head reads and writes data on magnetic tape with at least one servo track providing transverse position information. At least two servo readers arranged for reading a servo track associated with the read/write head operate concurrently to generate servo read signals. A position estimator processes each servo read signal to generate a series of position values corresponding to respective time instants indicative of their transverse positions. A servo controller calculates a skew value indicative of tape skew relative to the read/write head and a tension variation value indicative of variation of tape tension. The servo controller is adapted to account for cross-coupling between tape skew and tension variation.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for adjusting the track pitches of the tracks on a data storage tape. In one variation, the method comprises adjusting the observed pitch between the tracks by applying variable amounts of pressure on the surface of the tape. In another variation, the pressure is applied to a localized region on the tape. The pressure can be modulated to induces a change in the physical characteristic of the tape in and around the area where pressure is applied. In another aspect, an apparatus is configured with a magnetic read-head for detecting written tracks on a magnetic tape, and an actuator is provided to apply pressure on the tape to control the track pitch of the written tracks.

Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a motor control device, and a disk drive device using the same, in which during emergency operation it is possible to supply necessary power to the motor while limiting enlargement of the circuit area. During the retraction operation, control is performed to alternate between a short-circuit mode in which each terminal U, V, W of the spindle motor Ml is short-circuited to the terminal ICOM, and a rectifying mode in which the back electromotive force of the spindle motor M1 is rectifies and output to the power supply line ISO3V, VGND while the input of power from the power supply line ISO3V, VGND to the spindle motor M1 is blocked.

Abstract: A storage medium driving apparatus includes a head slider opposed to a storage medium, an acceleration detector detecting an acceleration of the apparatus. A control circuit retracts the head slider from above the storage medium according to a result detected by the acceleration detector and selectively executes one or more operations from among a plurality kinds of operations according to an index that is derived from the result detected by the acceleration detector and represents an amount of an impact energy.

Abstract: A method for detecting ramp load/unload operations is disclosed. The method includes measuring a signal value generated by a transducer element during either a ramp unload operation or a ramp load operation in a data storage device. The method further includes analyzing the signal value to determine whether the ramp load operation or the ramp unload operation in the data storage device has occurred.

Abstract: A hard disk driving circuit for reducing a maximum amount of current for driving a spindle motor, and a method of driving the spindle motor. The hard disk driving circuit include spindle motor, a spindle motor driving circuit driving the spindle motor, a control circuit controlling the spindle motor driving circuit, and a plurality of functional blocks related to driving a hard disk, and further includes a mask clock signal generator generating a mask clock signal that is inactivated for a period of time when the spindle motor is driven, by using the clock signal. At least one selected from the group consisting of the control circuit, the spindle motor driving circuit, and the plurality of functional blocks operates according to the mask clock signal.

Abstract: A disk drive device includes a bearing unit and a drive unit. The bearing unit includes: a shaft; a sleeve configured to allow relative rotation, with the shaft as the axis; a flange projected in the radial direction of the shaft and configured to rotate integrally with the shaft; a flange housing space portion provided continuously from the sleeve and configured to rotatably house the flange; a counter plate structured with both a first surface, which faces the end surface in the axial direction of the flange and seals the flange housing space portion, and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface. The projected dimension of the flange is designed to be larger than the wall thickness of the flange surrounding wall portion in the radial direction of the flange, the flange surrounding wall portion defining the flange housing space portion.

Abstract: A data storage device having fall protection includes a rotatable media platter operable to receive and store data, a read/write head operable to communicate with the media platter by writing the data to the media platter and by reading the data from the media platter, an arm supporting the read/write head, a servo motor coupled the arm and operable to move the arm to and from the media platter, a drive controller operable to control the media platter, the read/write head and the servo motor, and a general purpose input/output (GPIO). In an embodiment, the GPIO is coupled with a fall sensor that is external to the data storage device so that when the fall sensor sends a floating interrupt trigger, signaling that the fall sensor is falling, the GPIO receives the interrupt trigger and the drive controller performs an emergency routine to cache data in flight to or from the data storage device and park the read/write head away from the media platter.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk controller includes a reader, a selector, and a combining module. The reader performs, when retrying reading data from a magnetic disk, a plurality of read operations with respect to the same area on the magnetic disk while offsetting a head that reads data from the magnetic disk. The selector selects likely read data from a plurality of pieces of read data obtained as results of the read operations performed by the reader based on a predetermined index with respect to each of data lengths shorter than the data length of the area. The combining module combines pieces of read data selected for the data lengths, respectively.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk controller includes a receiver, a read-modify-write controller, and a wait controller. The receiver receives data in units of predetermined data length. The read-modify-write controller performs a read-modify-write operation when the receiver receives the data to write the data to a sector on a disk medium the rotation of which is controlled. The sector is longer than the predetermined data length. The wait controller delays the start of the read-modify-write operation by the read-modify-write controller for within the time which the disk medium takes to rotate once and which is substantially the same as the time required to control the read-modify-write operation.

Abstract: A hard disk access method is disclosed. The hard disk access method includes the following steps. A port mapping table is established in the execution of a startup process. An access instruction for accessing a target hard disk is received. A target slot of a target back plate, which the target hard disk is plugged in, is obtained according to a target-hard-disk-identification number of the target hard disk. According to the target-hard-disk-identification number of the target hard disk, the port mapping table is inquired to obtain a target port, which the target back plate is connected with. The target hard disk plugged in the target slot of the target back plate is accessed through the target port.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a base, a drive section on the base, configured to rotate a disk storage medium, an actuator mounted with a head for processing data in the storage medium and configured to move the head along a surface of the storage medium, a cover laid over the base, and a plate opposed to the surface of the storage medium in a position outside a range of movement of the actuator. The plate includes a distal end portion located adjacent to the actuator and downstream with respect to a direction of rotation of the storage medium, a block extending from the distal end portion, located outside the outer periphery of the storage medium, and supported on the base side, and an elastically deformable plate arm extending from the block toward the cover and configured to abut an inner surface of the cover.

Abstract: A floppy module includes a floppy disk controller (FDC), a control circuit, and a display. The FDC has a first control terminal, a second control terminal, and a plurality of third control terminals. Wherein, the first control terminal and the second control terminal may respectively output a first control signal and a second control signal, and the first and second control signals having the same statuses are used for controlling a floppy disk. The display has a fourth control terminal and a plurality of data terminals respectively coupled to a portion of the third control terminals. Additionally, the control circuit may use the first control signal to replace the second control signal for controlling the floppy disk, and transmit the second control signal to the fourth control terminal such that a status information is shown on the display as the floppy disk being idle.

Abstract: A method for controlling data rate of a tape drive is disclosed. The tape drive is connected to a computer system. The tape drive stores data by dividing the data into multiple codeword quads (CQs). A local memory within the tape drive includes drive to iteratively monitor data rate during write operations. If a number of CQ skips exceeds a pre-defined threshold value, the drive code reduces a maximum allowable data rate of the tape drive.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording media includes a magnetic recording layer formed on a substrate, in which recording tracks and servo areas are prescribed as patterns of protrusions and recesses formed on the magnetic recording layer so that thin film portions of the magnetic recording layer are formed under the recesses, a thickness of magnetic recording layer at the thin film portion is smaller than a thickness of magnetic recording layer at the protrusion in the servo area, and a magnetization direction of the protrusion is antiparallel to a magnetization direction of the thin film in the servo area.

Abstract: In a method of implementing power savings in an automated storage system, a power savings mode authorization is sent from a library controller to a tape drive, such that the tape drive is authorized to enter an extended power savings mode that maintains an operational host interface in the tape drive for communicating with a host system. A media move command is received at a tape library of the automated storage system. The media move command comprises a command from the host system for the tape library to move a tape cartridge to the tape drive. In response to receiving the media move command, an instruction is issued to the tape drive to transition from the extended power savings mode to an active power mode. The instruction is issued prior to notifying the host system of completion of the media move command.

Abstract: A data transfer apparatus comprises drive apparatus to move a received tape along a path in a longitudinal direction of the tape, a transducer head to transfer data to and/or from the tape, a tape lifter to contact the tape; and control apparatus operable, in response to a tape speed related condition or event, to cause relative movement between the tape lifter and the tape into mutual contact, thereby biasing the tape away from surface to surface contact with the transducer head.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for reducing occurrences of tape stick conditions in magnetic tape, the method including stopping functional rotation of each of two bi-directionally rotatable reels of a reel-to-reel tape drive that includes a length of magnetic tape at least partially wound around each reel, a portion of the length of tape extending between the two moveable reels and contacting a head positioned between the two reels; wherein the stopping creates a stop condition in the tape drive, actuating a fractional rotation at least one of the two bi-directionally movable reels a fraction of a reel turn in a first direction during the stop condition, causing the portion of the length of tape to at least temporarily break contact with the head via the fractional rotation, and re-starting functional rotation of each of the reels, ending the stop condition via the re-starting.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that mitigates the effects of multiple vibration sources on a set of hard disk drives (HDDs) within a computer system. During operation, the system identifies a target HDD in the set of HDDs, wherein the performance of the target HDD is affected by mechanical vibrations. The system also identifies one or more primary vibration sources from the multiple vibration sources that affect the performance of the target HDD. Next, for each of the primary vibration sources, the system measures a first time-domain signal associated with the operation of the primary vibration source using a first vibration transducer associated with the primary vibration source. The system also measures a second time-domain signal associated with the target HDD using a second vibration transducer associated with the target HDD.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing problems and disadvantages associated traditional approaches to provisioning using access controllers are disclosed. A method may include storing a definition data structure in storage media associated with an access controller in an information handling system, the definition data structure including one or more parameters. The access controller may create a storage partition on the storage media based at least on the one or more parameters.

Abstract: A method of transferring disk drives within a disk drive testing system includes actuating an automated transporter to retrieve multiple disk drives presented for testing, and actuating the automated transporter to deliver each retrieved disk drive to a respective test slot of the disk drive testing system and insert each disk drive in the respective test slot.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic disk to be subjected to perpendicular recording, a first pole core including a main pole configured to record signals on the magnetic disk, a first coil wound around the first pole core, a second pole core magnetically independent of the first pole core, tip ends of which are arranged on both sides of the main pole, a second coil wound around the second pole core, a read unit including an element configured to read data recorded on the magnetic disk, and a correction unit configured to correct a current phase difference between the first and second coils.

Abstract: A system and method for use in an automated data storage cartridge library defines cartridges for use with an external host computer (“open” cartridges), and cartridges for use only internal to the library (“closed” cartridges). Cartridges may be “virtualized” by storing data from them on disk or closed cartridges, and then “realized” by writing data to physical cartridges. Virtual cartridges may be logically exported from one library to another. When new cartridges are introduced to the library, they may be designated with one of multiple designations or uses.

Abstract: A position control method of inertial drive actuator includes a movement-amount setting step of setting an amount of movement, a target-position setting step of setting a target position of a moving body, a position detection step of detecting a relative position of the moving body, a comparison step of comparing the target position and the relative position, a drive-voltage pattern setting step of setting a drive voltage pattern which is to be applied to the moving means, a first electrode, and a second electrode, based on the amount of movement which is set, and a comparison result, and a driving step of driving the moving body by controlling a frictional force between the vibration substrate and the moving body, by making an electrostatic force act on both, while synchronizing with a movement of the vibration substrate, by applying a drive voltage pattern which is set at the drive-voltage pattern setting step, between the first electrode and the second electrode, and the moving body is moved to the target

Abstract: Method and apparatus for logging of data within a data storage system, such as a tape drive library. The tape drive library includes a central storage (memory) providing storage space assigned to each tape drive in the tape drive library and allowing each tape drive to directly store data there, that is to log data files. The logging of the data files is at the instigation of each tape drive and not via polling, so as to perform logging synchronous with tape drive events. In one version, the tape drives are coupled to the central storage via an Ethernet network and the log files conform to a standard file protocol, such as a network file system.

Abstract: A hard disk drive, its use and production are described. A read/write disk stores digital data. A spindle motor supports the read/write disk for controlled rotation thereof. A head arrangement moves to selectively access the read/write disk in a data access mode and moves to a parked position. A dedicated input is receives a first sensor related input signal. A processing arrangement executes the data access mode by cooperatively controlling the spindle motor and the head arrangement, monitoring the sensor related input signal for a predetermined characteristic thereof, and responsive to detection of the characteristic, at least moves the head arrangement to the parked position. A hard disk drive multi-sensor group, monitoring technique and interface are described.

Abstract: A system and method for overcoming adhesion between media and a surface of a storage device in contact with the media. A storage device comprises a media velocity detector and a media drive motor controller. The media velocity detector detects storage media velocity as torque is applied to a storage media. The media drive motor controller causes a media drive motor to apply acceleration torque to the storage media. If the media velocity detector detects no increase in media velocity as acceleration torque is applied to the storage media, then the media drive motor controller causes the media drive motor to apply a torque pulse to the storage media.

Abstract: A drive section which moves a head above an information storage medium and a control section are provided, and each track on the information storage medium is made up of alternating first regions for writing in and reading out user information and second regions that store information for the positioning of the head. The control section is provided with a feedback control value determining section for eliminating the difference between the head position and the representative position of the first region, which is an access object, a performing control value determining section for determining the performing control value for the performing control by finding the logical control value associated with the first region where the feedback control value is determined and adding the feedback control value to this logical control value and a performing control section for actually controlling the drive section.

Abstract: A guide assembly (22) for guiding movement of a tape (26) past a head assembly (16) in a tape drive (10) includes a rotatable roller (36A) and a non-rotatable tape guide (38). The rotatable roller (36A) and the tape guide (38) each guides the tape (26) along the tape path (29). In certain embodiments, both the tape guide (38) and the head assembly (16) are positioned to contact a first side (30) of the tape (26). Further, the tape guide (38) is positioned between the rotatable roller (36A) and the head assembly (16) relative to the tape path (29). The tape guide (38) can include a first flange (348B-348F) that contacts the tape (26) during movement of the tape (26) along the tape path (29). The tape guide (38) can be positioned more closely to the head assembly (16) than the tape guide (38) is to the rotatable roller (36A). The tape (26) can form a tape wrap angle (240A, 240B) relative to the tape guide (38) that is less than approximately 20 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention relates to direct current (“DC”) pre-erasing servo channels of a magnetic tape prior to writing servo data in a servo channel. The present invention particularly relates to those servo recordings which were written with a uni-polar current waveform. The DC pre-erase is performed using a uni-polar direct current of a polarity that is opposite to the polarity of the direct current used to write the servo data. This pre-erase may be done with one or more heads. Also, as will be described, the pre-erase of a servo channel and writing to a servo channel may be done by making two passes over a single head or by using two or more heads to perform both steps. Also, it is within the scope of the present invention to have the heads mounted on a single mount or have the heads on separate mounts and on separate tape decks.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for interchanging testing. A test module moves a first tape from a tape pool to a first reserved slot of plurality of reserved slots using an accessor. In an embodiment, there is one (1) reserved slot corresponding to each of a plurality of tape drives. Each reserved slot is configured to store one tape for the corresponding tape drive. No other tape drive accesses the stored tape from the reserved slot.

Abstract: In one embodiment a tape drive system comprises a reel adapted to engage a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge comprising a tape media having a servo code written along a length of the tape media, a tape head comprising at least one servo element to detect the servo code, a drive assembly to induce relative motion between the tape and the tape drive, a servo system to control a rate of relative motion between the tape and the tape drive, wherein the servo system comprises a sampling module to sample servo code from the tape media and the sampling module implements a dithered sampling routine centered around a design sampling frequency.

Abstract: An in-vehicle navigation apparatus is equipped with (i) an HDD for recording map data for display and, further, (ii) an external memory, which is not an HDD and in which the map data recorded in the HDD can be copied. The navigation apparatus performs the following: when the main power is supplied to the map display device, the altitude of the position of the vehicle (startup altitude) is specified; when the specified startup altitude is equal to or higher than a reference altitude, the map data are read from the external memory and the corresponding map is thereby displayed on an image display device, with the HDD not activated; and when the specified startup altitude is lower than the reference altitude, the map data are read from the HDD and the corresponding map is thereby displayed on the image display device.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for automatic unthreading and storage of storage media helps prevent damage to the media, which can otherwise occur when the storage media is left threaded in a storage media drive over an extended period or under adverse conditions. A sensing device may generate a signal or a detector may receive a signal indicating that a predetermined period of time has lapsed or that some other criteria has been met indicating that the storage media should be removed from the storage media drive. An unthread module in the storage media drive receives the signal and automatically unthreads and stores the storage media. A location on the storage media can be marked by the unthread module prior to unthreading such that the media may be returned to the location upon rethreading.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided having a data transfer member, and a medium supported by a base adjacent the data transfer member. A medium tilting device supports the base and is selectively positionable to tilt the medium with respect to the data transfer member to simulate presenting the head to the medium at a desired angular orientation. A sensor measures a characteristic associated with a data transfer relationship between the data transfer member and the medium.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes receiving signals from multiple readers; and performing more error control processing on a signal from an outer reader than on a signal from an inner reader. A method according to one embodiment includes receiving signals from multiple readers; and performing different amounts of error control processing on signals from at least two of the readers. A tape drive system according to one embodiment includes a tape head having an array of readers; and a processor coupled to the head for performing error control processing, wherein the processor performs more error control processing on a signal from the outer reader than on a signal from the inner reader.

Abstract: Provided are a method, storage controller, and tape drive for adjusting read heads based on misregistration calculated from servo patterns. A plurality of first read heads read a plurality of servo patterns on a storage medium. A determination is made from the read servo patterns a skew at which the first read heads are positioned with respect to the servo patterns written to the storage medium. A determination is made of an adjustment factor to eliminate the determined skew. A plurality of second read heads that read the storage medium are adjusted by the adjustment factor.

Abstract: In a particular embodiment, a controller is adapted to control a spindle motor that controls rotation of at least one rotatable disc of a storage device. The controller is adapted to increase a spindle speed associated with the spindle motor to an unload spindle speed that is greater than an operating spindle speed during a ramp unload operation.

Abstract: There is provided a library device which can be restored to working order quickly and reliably even when a control board containing information necessary for the operation of the library device is replaced. The library device includes a cell array which consists of an array of multiple cells each of which contains one cartridge containing a magnetic tape, magnetic tape drives in which the cartridges are removably mounted and which access the storage medium contained in the cartridges, a robot which transfers the cartridges between the cell array and the magnetic tape drives, a main control board which controls the operation of the entire library device, a barcode label which represents ID information for identification of the library device, and cell flags which are marks used to recognize the locations of the cells composing the cell array.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk provided with a data recording area and a servo-pattern area. The data recording area includes a non-magnetic area scattered with magnetic regions, and the servo-pattern area includes a plurality of magnetic regions each having a larger area than the magnetic regions in the data recording area. The magnetic disk apparatus also includes a reader for reading magnetization in the data recording area and the servo-pattern area, and a magnetizer for application of a magnetic field to the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area for equalizing magnetization directions of the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area before the reader starts to read the servo-pattern area.

Abstract: A feeding mechanism includes a first feeding mechanism and a second feeding mechanism that operates during non-operation of the first feeding mechanism. A movement control unit that performs a control of moving the feeding mechanism towards a housing cabinet. A swivel mechanical unit swivels an inclination angle of the feeding mechanism to a predetermined angle along with an operation by the movement control unit. A movement stopping unit stops a movement of the feeding mechanism based on the inclination angle of the feeding mechanism.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk has a set of tracks thereon. A controller performs refresh control for reading data by a head from a track on the disk to be refreshed and for writing the read data by the head to a spare track adjacent to the track from which the data has been read. The controller switches the track from which the data has been read to a new spare track after the writing.

Abstract: A disk storage device is disclosed including at least one disk unit, a first processor to control the disk unit making possible access of its data and a second processor communicating with the first while operating a file system for disk access and at least one network interface. The network interface is operated to receive an access request. The file system is operated based upon the access request to organize access of the data to create an access response. The disk units are disclosed as a hard disk unit and/or a solid state data unit. The disk storage unit may further include at least one multi-media interface and/or at least one serial interface and/or a Bluetooth interface. An integrated circuit and an assembled circuit board are disclosed including both processors.

Abstract: An apparatus for writing data to a data storage medium on which data is stored in data groups (N?3 to N+1) comprising tracks extending across and spaced from a reference edge of the storage medium includes a control system operable to cause i) a track reference difference value representative of a difference in a distance between the tracks of an existing data group (N?1) on the storage medium and the reference edge and a distance between the reference edge and the tracks of a data group (N) to be written to the storage medium such that it is the next data group following the existing data group (N?1) or ii) data from which such a difference value can be derived to be included in at least one of frame (A1 to A5) to be written between the existing data group and the next data group such that the tracks of the at least one frame are spaced from the reference edge by substantially the same distance as the tracks of the existing data group.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for controlling access to a magnetic storage medium. As one example, a method for controlling access to a storage medium is disclosed that includes calculating a point to point error amount, and generating a incremental error value based at least in part on the point to point error amount. The incremental error value is applied incrementally across a defined number of clock cycles.

Abstract: According to the present invention, heat generation amount control information for controlling a heat generation amount of a heat generating section (20) is arranged to correspond to each of temperatures so that a predetermined heat generation amount is obtained at each of the temperatures. The present invention includes a first computing section (41) that controls the heat generation amount of the heat generating section (20) according to the heat generation amount control information that is arranged in advance to correspond to temperature information that is obtained from a temperature sensor (13). This easily makes it possible to appropriately carry out at least either recording or reproduction with respect to a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Methods and devices are shown that identify suitable second data operations after experiencing an off track event in a first data operation and perform the second data operations before correcting an off track event. Methods and device as shown provide increased efficiency in a hard disk drive. Time that normally would be wasted waiting for the read/write head to spin around for another try to correct an off track error is used to complete other nearby operations.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for adaptive control and/or use of a vibration sensor in a hard disk drive (HDD). The HDD, an assembled circuit board and a control circuit are disclosed. The control circuit is configured to electrically couple to piezoelectric devices and includes a sensor interface and a processor. The processor may be configured to receive a sensor reading from the sensor interface and may further be configured to send a gain control signal and/or an input selection signal to the sensor interface. The sensor interface includes pads for electrically coupling to the piezoelectric devices. The sensor interface may respond to the gain control signal by altering a gain of a signal from one pad used and/or may respond to the input selection signal in certain states by disabling one of these signals from affecting the sensor reading. Manufacturing by calibration of the gain control is disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention improve the safety against a fall of a disk drive device. In one embodiment, when an HDD has recognized detection result data of a fall sensor to indicate a fall, the HDD unloads a head slider from above a disk to a stand-by position. The HDD checks whether or not the detection result data of the fall sensor indicates a fall on the occasion of a seek start. If the data indicates a fall, the controller unloads an actuator. The HDD issues a seek fake error on the occasion of a seek completion. On the occasion of a re-seek start in the error recovery process, the HDD conducts a fall check referring to the detection result data.