Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for medium utilization control. As an example, a method for identifying potentially damaged media regions is discussed that includes receiving a data set; performing a data detection process on the data set to yield a detected output and a status value corresponding to the data set; performing a data decoding process on the detected output to yield a decoded output; and identifying a region of a storage medium from which the data set was derived as failing based at least in part on the status value.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting battery cell abnormalities in a multi-cell series battery for effectively and quickly detecting abnormalities with a simple, small circuit that provides improved reliability, safety and service life of the multi-cell series battery. In the voltage monitoring device 12, immediately after the start of the monitoring cycle of any battery cell BTi, cell voltage abnormality detector 14 checks whether cell voltage Vi is outside of the normal operating range. The cell voltage abnormality detector 14 has: a group of selection switches 18 for selecting any battery cell BT of multi-cell series battery 10 and retrieving its voltage to first and second monitoring terminals A, B; cell voltage/monitoring current converter 20; monitoring current/monitoring voltage converter 22; comparison/evaluation circuit 24; evaluation signal output circuit 26 and abnormality detection controller 28.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes an optical disc drive, a measuring module in the optical disc drive, and a measurement value reception module. The measuring module is configured to measure a value related to an operation of a predetermined motor in the optical disc drive, which is executed during a time period of power-up of the optical disc drive. The measurement value reception module is configured to receive a measurement value related to the operation of the predetermined motor from the optical disc drive in response to an event of being requested to turn off the power of the optical disc drive, and to store the received measurement value in a storage device.

Abstract: In an in-vehicle navigation apparatus, a present position is detected, an altitude of the present position is acquired from map data, and a temperature inside of a hard disk drive is acquired with a temperature sensor. An atmospheric pressure of the present position is then calculated from the altitude and temperature. When the calculated atmospheric pressure is less than a predetermined atmospheric pressure, it is presumed that a magnetic head cannot be floating against a magnetic disk in the hard disk drive. Access to the hard disk drive is thereby prohibited. Thus, in the hard disk drive of the navigation apparatus, contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk is prevented when running a place with a low atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: With an object of executing excellent finishing processing when information is recorded to a rewritable type record medium or a write once type record medium, the finishing processing is switched by whether a kind of a medium for recording information is the rewritable type record medium or the write once type record medium and a method of executing the finishing processing is switched based on a state of supplying power.

Abstract: Detecting a defect on a storage device is disclosed. Detecting includes receiving a signal read from a storage device, sampling the signal to obtain a set of signal samples, wherein the sampling starts at an arbitrary time, computing a defect value for a defect type using the set of signal samples, comparing the defect value with a threshold associated with the defect type, determining whether there is a defect of the defect type based at least in part on the comparison, and in the event that a defect is detected, outputting an indication associated with the defect.

Abstract: A control unit is caused to drive a collimator lens from a position of an origin, by a clock number A of drive pulses of a pulse rate T1, thereby to move the collimator lens, and is caused to return the lens to the position of the origin at a pulse rate T2 higher than the pulse rate T1, and counts a clock number B of drive pulses required for returning the lens, and repeats the counting while raising the rate T2 stage by stage, until the clock numbers A and B do not become equal. When the clock numbers A and B are not equal, the control unit judges the occurrence of the step-out, and determines the rate T2 being one stage lower than the rate T2 at which the occurrence of the step-out has been judged, as the pulse rate of the operation of correction of spherical aberration.

Abstract: A hard disk drive frame is provided. The distances from its hard disk drive fixing parts to the substrate center are not the same. During the process of vibrational energy transfer, three-dimensional reactions are induced correspondingly to cancel the kinetic energy transfer. The reactions generated at the static balance point in the three dimensions interfere one another to destroy vibrational frequencies in specific directions. Therefore, the disclosed hard disk drive is resistant to vibrations and suffers less from the resonance effect.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus includes an access display unit of a hard disk and a failure diagnosis unit to carry out a failure diagnosis by using error information of data reproduced from the hard disk, in which either a video recorded in the hard disk is displayed on the access display unit or an access on the reproduction is displayed thereon, and a warning content obtained from a diagnostic result of the hard disk is displayed after the access is completed.

Abstract: A method and infrastructure are provided for monitoring and analyzing the storage media quality and the drive hardware performance of a media library. The media library comprises a plurality of removable storage media, a plurality of drive units for said storage media and means for moving said storage media to and from appropriate drive units. The media library is managed by a management system being connected to said media library. At least one reference medium of a known and proven quality to compare the performance of at least one of said storage media in a given drive unit with the performance of said reference medium in said given drive unit and/or to test the performance of at least one given drive unit of said media library when acting on said reference medium.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processor includes an optical disc drive, a recorder, and a determination module. The optical disc drive includes a loading mechanism that loads and ejects an optical disc. The recorder obtains state information indicating the operating state of the loading mechanism to record the state information. The determination module determines that, when a value related to failure prediction of the loading mechanism satisfies a predetermined condition, there is a risk of failure in the loading mechanism. The value is calculated from a combination of a plurality of indices contained in the state information.

Abstract: Disc drive data recovery methods and systems that utilize off center track information are provided. A disc drive data track is illustratively read at a first position along a width of the data track and at a second position along the width of the data track. The data read from the track is stored and tagged with indications of the first and the second positions. The tagged data is optionally used to calculate average waveforms for each of the first and the second positions and to identify the average waveform having the highest signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: Provided is an optical disk device installed in a personal computer, including: an information creation unit that creates identification information for identifying the type of the personal computer based on a command transmitted from the personal computer; and a parameter selection unit that conducts switching, for parameter selection, concerning a parameter indicating an amount of unbalance of an optical disk, which has previously been determined depending on the type of the personal computer, in accordance with the identification information created by the information creation unit.

Abstract: Magnetic tape devices encounter read and/or write errors when the tape is not being passed across the head with the proper tension and/or skew angle. According to one embodiment, a system which corrects for these problems comprises a head having an array of at least one of readers and writers, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic recording tape over the head, a skew-inducing mechanism coupled to the head for adjusting a skew angle of a longitudinal axis of the array relative to a direction normal to a direction of tape travel over the head, and a controller in communication with the head. The system also determines a tape dimensional stability state of the tape and adjust the skew angle away from normal to the direction of tape travel and lowers a tension of the tape across the head if the tape dimensional stability state is in a contracted state.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) for controlling a rotating data storage device comprises a drive module that is implemented by the integrated circuit and that at least one of processes data, stores data and controls operation of the rotating storage device. An audio monitoring module is implemented by the integrated circuit, communicates with the drive module and analyzes audio signals that are based on noise generated by the rotating storage device during operation.

Abstract: An optical disk drive capable of reproducing data even when defects, such as flaws or stains, are present in the disk. A system controller of an optical disk drive reproduces data by setting the maximum speed in accordance with the type of an optical disk, an amount of side-to-side runout, and the like. When reproduction of data becomes impracticable for reasons of meandering of a track, or the like, in the middle of reproduction of data, the rotational speed is decreased, and a retry is performed. However, when reproduction of data becomes impracticable for reasons of flaws or stains, the rotational speed is reversely increased, and a retry is performed.

Abstract: Provided is an optical disc device for reading a signal recorded on an optical disc medium, which detects surface reflection at a surface of the optical disc medium, a fake signal generated based on the surface reflection, and light reflected by a data recording layer of the optical disc medium while an objective lens is moved relative to the surface of the optical disc medium, and discriminates a type of the optical disc medium based on a ratio of a first time period between an instant when the surface reflection is detected and an instant when the fake signal is detected, and a second time period between the instant when the surface reflection is detected and an instant when light reflected by the data recording layer is detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the likelihood that a hard-disk drive (HDD) will experience an imminent error in operation is provided. The HDD comprises a differential pressure sensor capable of measuring the difference in the pressure between the interior and the exterior of the enclosure. The differential pressure sensor may reside in a breather filter covering an air passage within the enclosure. The HDD also comprises a risk assessment component capable of (a) determining an expression of how likely it is that the HDD will experience an imminent error in operation based, at least in part, upon the difference in pressure measured by the pressure sensor, and (b) communicating the expression to a user of the HDD. The HDD may optionally comprise one or more of an atmospheric pressure sensor, a particle counter, and a chemical vapor sensor which may be used by the risk assessment component.

Abstract: A method includes acquiring, by a data storage device, signals generated by one or more sensors that relate to a mechanical vibration of the data storage device. The one or more sensors are in electrical communication with the data storage device. The method includes storing a representation of the signals as data in the data storage device.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus which makes it possible to accurately manage a plurality of storage media realized by cooperation with each other while maintaining a combination or combinations thereof, and manage data for each OS. A storage media supporting device removably supporting at least one storage medium is removably attached to the information processing apparatus. When the storage media supporting device is attached to the information processing apparatus, the storage media housed in the storage media supporting device is electrically connected to the information processing apparatus. The contents of data stored in the storage media are detected, and a visible identifier provided on the storage media supporting device is changed into a state corresponding to the detection result.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information recording apparatus for recording, in a free area, first low-quality recorded data having an error rate not less than a first error rate upon finalization of a recording medium, the information recording apparatus includes a reader, a measurement module, a detector, and a recorder. The reader is configured to read recorded data from a recording area of the recording medium. The measurement module is configured to measure an error rate of the recorded data of each predetermined data block. The detector configured to detect the first low-quality recorded data based on an error rate measurement result of the measurement module. The recorder is configured to correct an error in the first low-quality recorded data, and record error-corrected recorded data corresponding to the first low-quality recorded data at a spare recording position of the free area of the recording medium.

Abstract: A data storage system controller having a shock detection sensor and methods utilizing such a controller are provided. The data storage system controller receives information or signals regarding shock events from the associated shock sensor, enabling the data storage system controller to take remedial action. The particular remedial action taken may be dependent on the severity of the detected shock event. The data storage system controller may also receive information regarding shock events from shock sensors provided separately from the data storage system controller, allowing the data storage system controller to take remedial action that is tailored to the locale of a shock event.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processor includes an optical disc drive, a recorder, and a determination module. The optical disc drive includes a loading mechanism that loads and ejects an optical disc. The recorder obtains state information indicating the operating state of the loading mechanism to record the state information. The determination module determines that, when a value related to failure prediction of the loading mechanism satisfies a predetermined condition, there is a risk of failure in the loading mechanism. The value is calculated from a combination of a plurality of indices contained in the state information.

Abstract: An optical disk drive capable of detecting occurrence of step-out or tooth jump in a mechanism for transferring an optical pickup. The optical pickup is transferred in a radial direction of the optical disk by means of a stepping motor. Upon receipt of a seeking operation command from a host machine, a control section drives the stepping motor by way of a controller, to thus cause the optical pickup to perform seek up to a target address. When logical contradiction has arisen in a stepper pointer showing the amount of rotation of the stepping motor, the control section determines that step-out or tooth jump has arisen. Moreover, even when a difference exists between an address indicated by the value of the stepper pointer and an actual address, step-out or tooth jump is determined to have arisen. When the step-out or tooth jump has arisen in the transfer mechanism, the rotational speed of a spindle motor or the rotational speed of the stepping motor is decreased.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device is provided with a tray (3) having holders (2, 4) for holding a disc (9) on a disc placing part (11) by permitting the disc to overhang on a part of the disc placing part (11) in a vertically laid status. The information recording/reproducing device is provided with a means for detecting an abnormally mounted status, wherein the disc (9) is placed on the disc placing part (11) through the holding holders (2, 4), by comparing a number of rotations or load torque measured at a prescribed time after a rotating means (8) is started, a measured time required for the number of rotations to reach a fixed number of rotations or a drive current measured when the number of rotations became the prescribed umber of rotations, with a previously stored threshold value. Thus, detection of the abnormally mounted status can be completed for the disc prior to starting recording or reproducing operation.

Abstract: A system and method for an improved multiple hard-disk-drive data-storage enclosure. Some embodiments position drives in counter-rotating pairs, each simultaneously accessing half the data, such that seek-caused actuator rotational-acceleration vibration cause simultaneous canceling rotational torque. Some embodiments position the edge of a first drive (or drive pair) at an angle to the actuator midpoint of a nearby second drive (or drive pair), such that rotational-acceleration vibration from a seek-caused actuator rotation in the first drive does not cause a rotational movement into the second drive that affects the tracking or seek operation. Some further embodiments position drives in a herringbone pattern to redirect air flow in addition to reducing rotational-acceleration vibration interaction. Other embodiments include a printed wire circuit board mounted to reduce the rotational-acceleration vibration interaction.

Abstract: An optical defect detection method for patterned media includes: irradiating a laser beam onto a patterned medium and obtaining reflected light by reflection very close to a sample; outputting the reflected light as an analog electrical signal from an optical receiver; converting the analog signal to a digital signal; obtaining a surface profile in a track direction by sampling the analog signal; obtaining a servo area profile by setting a slice for detecting servo area; calculating an average value in a track width direction based on plural servo area profiles; generating a master servo area profile based on the average value; obtaining a difference between the master servo area profile and the specific servo area profile; and detecting the presence of a defect including surface roughness, process fluctuation, and adhesion of foreign matters, from a differential waveform.

Abstract: A device and method for determining defect sectors on an optical disc receives writing commands and data by a processor, and saves the writing data in a memory. An error correction code (ECC) encodes the writing data into encoded digital signals, and the encoded digital signals form modulated digital signals by a modulation device which are saved back into the storage. The processor controls a pick-up head to write and read the modulated digital signals. A comparing unit generates a number of errors by comparing the modulated digital signals before and after writing. The defect sector is directly determined if the number of errors are low or high. The modulated digital signal is decoded to determine the defect sector based on the failure or success of decoding if the number of errors lie in the middle of the range.

Abstract: [Problems] To effectively perform optimal tilt adjustment. [Means for Solving the Problems] A tilt adjusting method adjusts a tilt angle of an actual incident light and reflected light with respect to an incident light and a reflected light under optimal tilt when recording and reproducing data onto/from an information recording medium. Two or more output signals having a balance between a signal component and a noise component changing with respect to a parameter of a correction object are extracted from the reproduction signal of the information recording medium and the signal component and the noise component are evaluated for performing signal correction, thereby calculating a first and a second coefficient. When the first coefficient is out of a set reference range, the tilt adjustment is performed by the first coefficient and when the first coefficient in the set reference range, the tilt adjustment is performed by the second coefficient.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk drive includes a medium scanner and a threshold manager. The medium scanner measures the write count of each head with respect to a disk. The medium scanner executes a read verify process by which data is read out from the disk, during idle state, when the write count is equal to or larger than a predetermined threshold value. The medium scanner rewrites the recovered data to the disk, if a read error occurs and the error is recoverable. The threshold manager initially sets the write count threshold value of each head in accordance with the head performance, and dynamically changes the write count threshold value in accordance with the error rate when the device is in operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of methods and systems comprise identifying failing media and/or drives for a media library. Error data can be collected from media libraries. For each tape exhibiting an error rate of interest, a determination can be made whether the tape would still have been of interest had it not been loaded in certain drives. This information can be analyzed to identify failing drives or tapes.

Abstract: A defect is detected on a storage medium of a disk drive. A location of the defect is determined, within a smallest addressable unit of data stored on the storage medium. An indication of the location is stored in a memory. A location of a sensor of the disk drive relative to the data stored on the storage medium is monitored. A response of at least one of a defect detector of the disk drive, a read channel controller of the disk drive, and a servo controller of the disk drive is changed based on the location of the sensor relative to the data stored on the storage medium and the stored indication of the location of the defect.

Abstract: A method for identifying an abnormal disc includes the steps of: forming three testing spherical aberration (SA) values including an SA value of a thinner data layer, a standard SA value and an SA value of a thicker data layer; adjusting to one of the testing SA values; performing focus for a target disc and recording a focus error signal; obtaining a maximum focus error signal and a corresponding testing SA value by way of comparison; and checking whether the corresponding testing SA value is equal to the standard SA value, and identifying the target disc as a normal disc if yes, or otherwise identifying the target disc as the abnormal disc and re-adjusting the SA value to enhance the signal quality.

Abstract: An information recording/reproducing device diffracts laser light into main- and sub-beams, irradiates evanescent light in relation to the main beam by an evanescent light generating element to a track where a recording pit provided on a recording surface of a recording medium is formed and evanescent light in relation to the sub-beam to be separated to a track where no recording pit provided on the recording surface of the recording medium is formed. A moving element moves the evanescent light generating element to change a gap with the recording surface. Return light in relation to the sub- and main-beam are received by sub- and main-light receiving elements, respectively. A control element controls the moving element so as to make the gap become a predetermined target value in accordance with a gap error signal containing a signal indicative of an amount of the return light in relation to the received sub-beam.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus that transmits transmission data to another first information processing apparatus through an access point includes: a detection unit configured to detect the access point; a reproduction unit configured to reproduce the transmission data from a recording medium in which the transmission data is recorded; a transmission unit configured to transmit to the another first information processing apparatus the transmission data reproduced by the reproduction unit when the access point is detected by the detection unit; and a power control unit configured to control supply of power to the reproduction unit. The power control unit controls the supply of power such that power is supplied to the reproduction unit when the access point is detected by the detection unit and power is not supplied to the reproduction unit in other cases.

Abstract: A recording and replaying device is provided in which a user can easily diagnose failure when a built-in storage device of the device fails. In a normal operation state, a microcomputer controls a signal path switching mechanism to connect a signal processing device and a hard disk drive (HDD). In an abnormal operation state, the microcomputer sets a USB interface device to effective state, and controls the signal path switching mechanism to connect the USB interface device and the hard disk drive (HDD), so that the hard disk drive is recognized by an external personal computer as a USB mass storage.

Abstract: A method for radial tracking in an optical disc drive (1) is described. A DTD tracking error signal (S3) is derived from the wobble-induced signal components (WA, WB, WC, WD) of the optical detector signal (SR). This tracking error signal is relatively insensitive to beamlanding errors, and to differences in the signal amplitudes K of the output signal of individual detector segments. Further, the need for a 3-spot grating is eliminated. A distinction is made between on the one hand a situation where the track being followed is empty and on the other hand a situation where the track being followed is written. In case the track being followed is empty, a DTD tracking error signal is derived from the wobble-induced signal components of the optical detector signal, whereas, in case the track being followed is written, a DTD tracking error signal is derived from the data-induced signal components of the optical detector signal.

Abstract: A multilayer optical disk apparatus comprises an optical pickup that emits N (N represents an integer of two or more) laser beams of the same wavelength. The optical pickup emits the N laser beams at the same time, focuses the N laser beams on a first recording layer group alternately configured by N recording layers of the multilayer optical disk and performs a recording operation on the N recording layers at the same time. When changing the recording layers the optical pickup focuses the N laser beams on a second recording layer group configured by recording layers adjacent to the respective recording layers configuring the first recording layer group and performs a recording operation on the N recording layers at the same time.

Abstract: A driving apparatus includes: a driving mechanism slider-driving a head including a first optical pickup and a second optical pickup, the first optical pickup and the second optical pickup having a same specification; a calculating mechanism performing predetermined calculation using a first slide-error signal obtained by filtering a signal from the first optical pickup and a second slide-error signal obtained by filtering a signal from the second optical pickup; and an outputting mechanism outputting a signal from the calculating means as a slider control signal for driving the driving mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided an image recording/reproducing device that can discriminate a disk separation error that is specific to removable hard disks. A disk error detector (51) detects an occurrence of a disk error depending on whether a removable hard disk (15) can be recognized or not. A mount status detector (55) detects a presence or absence of the removable hard disk (15) as a disk mount status. The mount status detector (55) may detect the disk mount status based on a detection result of a write-protect switch (19) of the removable hard disk (15). An error type discriminator (57), based on the detected disk mount status, discriminates an error type of the disk error, and determines that the error type is disk separation if the removable hard disk (15) has become nonexistent. An error handler (59) performs error handling in accordance with the error type discriminated by the error type discriminator (57).

Abstract: A media player may occasionally be unable to play or continue to play a particular item of media. When that occurs, the media player outputs an error indication that is related to the type of media that the problem media item is representative of. For example, if the problem item is a movie, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of broken movie film. If the problem media item is music, then the media player may display an error indication having the appearance of a broken compact disc (“CD”). Thus whatever the type of media that is not playing, the media player outputs an error indication that is appropriate for that type of media. The error indications output by the player are therefore context-based or media-appropriate.

Abstract: A fault detection circuit, for detecting a fault condition associated with a sensor (wherein non-fault detection signals output by the sensor include high frequency noise components), includes: an input unit to receive a raw signal from the sensor and to provide a corresponding detection signal; and a determination unit to determine if the detection signal includes components in significant amounts corresponding to the non-fault high frequency noise components, and to output an indication that the fault condition is satisfied if the detection signal does not include components in significant amounts corresponding to the non-fault high frequency noise components.

Abstract: A vibration measuring system is used for measuring vibration characteristics of an optical disk drive. The vibration measuring system includes a command setting unit, a command sending unit, and a signal receiving unit. The command setting unit is used for setting a measure command. The command sending unit is used for sending the measure command to the optical disk drive. The signal receiving unit is used for receiving a feedback signal from the optical disk drive, and extracting measured information on the vibration characteristics from the feedback signal. A vibration measuring method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Proposed is a disk controller capable of notifying that a hard disk drive needs to be replaced even when the power of such hard disk drive is turned off. When a controller is to control the supply of electrical power to a disk in the respective disk units, the controller turns off a green LED and turns on a red LED when a disk in a disk group becomes a replacement target disk, turns off the power of the replacement target disk by opening a power switch corresponding to the respective replacement target disks, turns on the disk power source by closing the power switch when the replacement target disk is replaced with a new disk, and recognizes information concerning the new disk.

Abstract: A logic circuit, for controlling display lights of a hard disk, includes a flip-flop, a logic gate and a buffer. The flip-flop receives a clock signal, a reset signal and a data signal and generates an output signal, in which the clock signal and the reset signal are obtained by a timing process of the data signal. The logic gate generates a logic signal according to the data signal and the output signal. The buffer receives the logic signal and an action signal. The logic signal enables the buffer such that the action signal passes through the buffer to drive a normal light during the normal operation of the hard disk, and the data signal drives a failure light during the failure or rebuilding operation of the hard disk. A method for controlling the display lights of the hard disk is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and infrastructure are provided for monitoring and analyzing the storage media quality and the drive hardware performance of a media library. The media library comprises a plurality of removable storage media, a plurality of drive units for said storage media and means for moving said storage media to and from appropriate drive units. The media library is managed by a management system being connected to said media library. At least one reference medium of a known and proven quality to compare the performance of at least one of said storage media in a given drive unit with the performance of said reference medium in said given drive unit and/or to test the performance of at least one given drive unit of said media library when acting on said reference medium.

Abstract: A method to map defects is provided. A select data track of a storage medium is scanned for a defect. At least one data wedge affected by the defect on the select data track is identified. Each data wedge includes available area for writing user data defined between two servo wedges that include position information. The at least one affected data wedge is identified as unusuable.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing a malfunction of a disc drive due to an operation error of a correction function for a minimum pit length by selectively performing the correction function based on an operative state of the disc drive. The method includes a first monitoring operation determining whether an operative state of the disc drive is stable when a disc is loaded into the disc drive, controlling a turning on of a correction function for a minimum pit length if the operative state of the disc drive is stable, and a second monitoring operation determining whether the operative state of the disc drive is stable after turning the correction function for the minimum pit length on and turning the correction function off if the operative state of the disc drive is determined to be unstable based on the second monitoring result.

Abstract: In some embodiments, storage devices, such as a storage drive or a storage node, in an array of storage devices may be reintroduced into the array of storage devices after a period of temporary unavailability without fully rebuilding the entire previously unavailable storage device.

Abstract: System stability is managed. It is determined that a data storage system is responsive to an enclosure that is unstable. Based on the determination, the enclosure is temporarily prevented from being added to the data storage system.