Abstract: Systems and methods for managing errors on a magnetic tape having a plurality of partitions accessed by a tape drive having an associated tape drive processor in communication with a host computer having an associated host processor include receiving mapping information from the host computer that designates at least first and second logically adjacent partitions for reading/writing consecutive data, receiving a read/write request to transfer the consecutive data for the first and second partitions, detecting a data error when attempting to read/write the data for the second partition and communicating a corresponding data error message to the host computer, and receiving modified mapping information from the host computer that designates a third partition as logically adjacent to the first partition for reading/writing the consecutive data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of writing initial clock patterns to a disk in a magnetic disk drive is disclosed. The method can write a first timing mark in a location on a circumference of a disk using a head based on a first clock signal corresponding to a frequency of oscillation of an oscillator. The method can adjust the frequency of oscillation of the oscillator or a rotational speed of a spindle motor by detecting, as a first timestamp, a time interval at which the first timing mark is read by the head from the disk so as to coincide with a second timestamp targeted by the first timestamp. In addition, the method can write the initial clock patterns to the disk based on a second clock signal corresponding to the adjusted frequency of oscillation or the adjusted rotational speed after the adjustment.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device having a disk, includes: a flag updating module configured to register a flag used when data is written onto the disk, the data is read from the disk and whether to verify the data or not is determined, so as to be associated with each of a plurality of predetermined temperature sections; a temperature detector configured to detect an environmental temperature of the magnetic disk device; a verifying module configured to determine whether to execute the verification or not according to a flag where the detected environmental temperature corresponds to one temperature section of the plurality of temperature sections and that is registered by the flag updating module so as to be associated with the one temperature section; and a measuring module configured to measure an error rate at a same point in time as the verification.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein include systems and methods for correcting for errors caused by disturbances to disk drives, such as disturbances due to shocks or vibrations incident on the drive. For example, systems and methods described herein advantageously correct for corruption to current data as well as previously written. Data may be rewritten in the current track that was being written to when the disturbance occurred, and may also be rewritten to one or more nearby previously written tracks, such as one or more adjacent tracks. According to some aspects, the direction of head deviation is used to select the appropriate corrective action.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk storage device includes: a disk on which a servo pattern is recorded; a head; a driver; a signal generator; a demodulator; and a controller. Position signals for detecting an offset position from a center of a track are recorded in a recording area of a servo pattern. The signal generator generates a first timing signal indicating a timing for reading the position signals. When the controller performs a seek operation for moving the head to a target track, the signal generator generates a second timing signal. The period of the second timing signal for reading each of the position signals is made shorter than that of the first timing signal. A center time of the period of the second timing signal is shifted closer to a demodulation center time corresponding to a center of the recording area than that of the first timing signal.

Abstract: [Problem] A perpendicular magnetic recording medium and a magnetic disk device that are suitable for a shingle recording type are provided. [Solution] The perpendicular magnetic recording medium of the present invention is a perpendicular magnetic recording medium for a shingle recording type having a laminated film including a soft magnetic layer 13 and a main recording layer 16 formed on base 11, the soft magnetic layer 13 having a thickness found from a core width of a magnetic head for recording and reproduction with respect to the perpendicular magnetic recording medium and a track pitch narrower than the core width.

Abstract: A recording and/or reproducing apparatus, a recording and/or reproducing method, and an information storage medium, wherein the recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes: a writing and/or reading unit writing data to or reading data from an information storage medium having one or more information recording layers; and a control unit controlling the writing and/or reading unit to write the data to the information storage medium by referring to one or more disk information structures including recording related parameter information corresponding to recording characteristics of the information storage medium, and recording characteristic information to which the recording related parameters are applied. According to the apparatus and method, parameters of recording characteristics appropriate to a recording and/or reproducing apparatus and compatibility between different specifications can be achieved.

Abstract: Methods, computer systems, and computer program products are provided for determining an access sequence of a plurality of data groups stored on a tape medium. A first data group in the access sequence is selected based on which data group in the plurality of data groups has a beginning closest to a current position of the tape medium. A second data group in the access sequence is selected based on which remaining data group in the plurality of data groups has a beginning closest to an end of the first data group in the access sequence.

Abstract: A method and disk drive for calibrating a phase of a clock in the disk drive. The phase of the clock in the disk drive is changed such that a rate of change for the phase is substantially constant. A pattern of data is written to a magnetic material in the disk drive after the rate of change for the phase becomes substantially constant and while changing the phase of the clock. A selected phase of the clock at which the pattern of data that is written on the magnetic material has a desired quality is identified using the rate of change for the phase, a first point in time at which a timing mark on the magnetic material is read, a second point in time at which the timing mark is read, and a third point in time at which the pattern of data has the desired quality.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a signal processing circuit processes a signal read from a magnetic disk including a servo region and a user data region, the servo region including a servo address mark, the user data region including a data sector, and includes a counter and a gate controller. The counter is configured to count a first clock when having detected the servo address mark based on the signal read from the magnetic disk. The gate controller is configured to generate a pulse for locating the data sector in synchronization with a second clock when the counter counts a first value.

Abstract: The relative trajectory of a transducer head over bit-patterned media (BPM) may be skewed with respect to a down-track direction on the media (i.e., skew error). In order to resolve the skew error, the presently disclosed technology measures the skew error without adding additional patterning on the media. A detector circuit detects a sequential series of data bits on a storage media. The sequential series of data bits alternate between at least two tracks on the storage media. The sequential series of data bits are sent to a timing circuit, which sets a time stamp indicating when each data bit is received using, for example, a delay chain or a voltage ramp. A time elapsed between receiving a first data bit, a second data bit, and a third data bit is tracked. Transducer head skew is adjusted based on a signal containing the time elapsed between the bits.

Abstract: Inter-track interference cancelation is disclosed, including: receiving an input sequence of samples associated with a track on magnetic storage; using a processor to generate inter-track interference (ITI) data associated with a first side track including by performing a correlation between the input sequence of samples and a sequence of data associated with the first side track.

Abstract: A method and system for reading readback pulse shapes representing a magnetization state transition between such written magnetization states of a two-layer continuous magnetic recording medium. A readback pulse shape representing a written magnetization state transition is read. The written magnetization state transition is uniquely identified from the readback pulse shape of the transition or from both the readback pulse shape of the transition and the readback pulse shape of one or more next magnetization state transitions.

Abstract: Storage architecture for bit patterned media uses both erase band and shingled magnetic recording. A hard disk drive may comprise a disk having bit patterned media with a plurality of data tracks arrayed in architecture pages having at least one of erase band mode (EBM), shingled mode (SM) and unallocated space. An actuator has a head for writing data to the data tracks of the bit patterned media. A control system monitors, reallocates and reconfigures the architecture pages from EBM, SM or unallocated space to a different one of EBM, SM or unallocated space to enhance performance of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A length of a separator to be skipped on the storage disk is compared with a threshold. The threshold is associated with a maximum value for which a timing loop is able to be paused without causing the timing loop to have inaccurate timing. If the length is greater than the threshold, a first split sector format is assigned to the split sector and that information is recorded. In such cases, a first portion and a second portion both include synchronization information. If the length is less than the threshold, a second split sector format is assigned to the split sector and that information is recorded. In such cases, the first portion includes synchronization information and the second portion of the split sector excludes synchronization information.

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 HDD including write components configured to operate within an operating voltage range, charging circuitry comprising a charging capacitor. The charging capacitor includes a higher voltage when charged than the operating voltage range. The HDD also includes pulse circuitry configured to pulse power from the charging circuitry to the write components within the operating voltage range during a controlled shut down of the write components such that remaining data-sector bits are written during the controlled shut down.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing adaptive disturbance compensation with multi-rate synchronized sampling is disclosed herein. The dynamic disturbance occurring in a media drive during read/write operations is attenuated using the adaptive disturbance compensation scheme. A plurality of compensation filters are used, each of the compensation filters configured to attenuate a disturbance caused by a particular source within the media drive. Each of the compensation filters is computed based on a sampling rate relevant to the respective disturbances.

Abstract: A method of writing to a disk using a disk drive includes determining a first sensing value using a first output value output from a disturbance sensor during a writing operation for multiple servo sectors on the disk, and determining a second sensing value using a second output value output from the disturbance sensor during the writing operation for the multiple servo sectors. Discontinuance of the writing operation is determined based on the difference between the first sensing value and the second sensing value.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing noise in a communication signal is provided. The method includes converting raw channel data from the communication signal to a sequence of transition code symbols, each symbol having a plurality of bits, each bit having a position within the symbol. The method also includes sending the bits of each symbol to a plurality of bins, each bin corresponding to the position of each bit within the symbol. For each bin having a number of transitions greater than a number of non-transitions, the method also includes flipping every bit in the bin and setting a corresponding bit in a flip control word to a first value. The method still further includes binary adding the flip control word to each transition code symbol.

Abstract: A current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) or giant magnetoresistance (GMR) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer and seed layers is proposed for high-resolution magnetic recording. The ferromagnetic buffer layer is preferably formed of an amorphous Co—X (where X is Hf, Y, Zr, etc.) film. It provides the CPP read sensor with microstructural discontinuity from a ferromagnetic lower shield, thus facilitating the CPP read sensor to grow freely with preferred crystalline textures, and with ferromagnetic continuity to the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting as a portion of the ferromagnetic lower shield. The ferromagnetic seed layer is preferably formed of a polycrystalline Ni—X (where X is Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, etc.) film. It exhibits a face-centered-cubic (fcc) structure and does not exchange-couple with the antiferromagnetic pinning layer.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a block-wise data processing circuit is discussed that includes: a data buffer, an inter-track interference response circuit, and an inter-track interference signal estimator circuit. The data buffer is operable to store a previous track data set corresponding to a block. The inter-track interference response circuit is operable to estimate an inter-track interference response from the previous track data set across the block based at least in part on the previous track data set and a current track data set. The inter-track interference signal estimator circuit is operable to calculate an inter-track interference from the previous track data set across the block based at least in part on the previous track data set and the inter-track interference response from the previous track data set.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is discussed that includes: a data buffer, an inter-track interference response circuit, and an inter-track interference signal estimator circuit. The data buffer is operable to store a previous track data set. The inter-track interference response circuit is operable to estimate an inter-track interference response from the previous track data set based at least in part on the previous track data set and a current track data set. The inter-track interference signal estimator circuit is operable to calculate an inter-track interference from the previous track data set based at least in part on the previous track data set and the inter-track interference response from the previous track data set.

Abstract: A tubular or spherical nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of the plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of the 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a disk with servo bits. The hard disk drive also includes a central processing unit that performs a servo routine using the servo bits, and a separate a notch hardware engine that is utilize by the central processing unit to perform a notch filter function in the servo routine. Off-loading the notch filter function onto a hardware engine reduces the overhead on the central processing unit when performing a servo routine. Utilizing the notch hardware engine can improve the speed of the central processing unit by a factor of 10×.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic recording layer. The magnetic recording layer includes a first magnetic layer formed as a pattern portion that is a data portion in a servo region, a second magnetic layer formed as a non-pattern portion that is magnetized to be antiparallel with a magnetization direction of the first magnetic layer and of which coercive force is lower than a coercive force of the first magnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic layer formed between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: A timing detector adapted for timing recovery on a read-channel is disclosed to improve signal quality of an input signal and maintain a small loop latency. The timing detector selects bits within the input signal that are high quality for timing recovery and discards bits that are low quality. The selected bits are used to synchronize phase and frequency of a bit sampler with a read-back analog signal. High-pass and low-pass analysis filters may split the input signal into high-frequency and low-frequency sub-bands and equalizers may re-shape the sub-bands. High-pass and low-pass synthesis filters may construct an output signal from the high-frequency and low-frequency sub-bands. Scaling factors may correct for signal and disturbance variations in the sub-bands. A comparator may eliminate sampled bits within the detector signal that have a magnitude less than a threshold and assign a common magnitude to sampled bits that meet or exceed the threshold.

Abstract: A method for physically laying out data on tape is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, such a method includes receiving a data set, wherein the data set includes S sub data sets (SDSs) of fixed size and each SDS includes N codeword interleaves (CWIs). The method further distributes the CWIs for the S SDSs across T tracks on a physical tape medium such that the distances between CWIs of the same SDS are substantially maximized on the physical tape medium. To maximize the distances, the method periodically rotates the tracks within the data set by a track rotation value R, wherein the number of tracks T is equal to 2k, and the track rotation value R is equal to 2k?1?1. A corresponding apparatus is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for extending a read bandwidth and increasing a high-frequency signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a front-end of a read path of a hard disk drive (HDD) by introducing a high impedance section at the front-end of the read path. The high impedance section may mitigate capacitive effects found at the front-end of the read path, thereby improving signal transfer by extending the read bandwidth.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a storage-device-implemented method for estimating one or more channel parameters of a storage device including a read channel and a storage medium with a bit sequence stored on the storage medium. The method includes: (a) the storage device reading at least a portion of the bit sequence from the storage medium to generate a bit response; (b) the storage device convolving the bit response to compute an impulse response of the read channel; and (c) the storage device estimating one or more channel parameters based on the computed impulse response.

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

Abstract: There is described apparatus (800) to decode longitudinal position (LPOS) information from non-shifted servo elements (a1, a4, a7) and an unbroken sequence of plural shifted servo elements (a2-a3, a5-a6), variations in the relative displacement of the non-shifted and shifted elements encoding the LPOS information. The apparatus is operable to receive signals (905) from a transducer head apparatus (131) that detects the servo elements as they move past the transducer head apparatus, and to process the signals to obtain data (L1, L4, L5, L8) related to relative displacement of mutually adjacent shifted and non-shifted elements within respective ones of the servo bursts, and data (L2, L3, L6, L7) related to relative displacement of mutually non-adjacent shifted and non-shifted elements within the respective ones of the servo bursts, and also to process the data to determine LPOS bit values corresponding to the respective ones of the servo bursts.

Abstract: A substrate for mounting a preamp chip thereupon, fabricated using a stiffener layer made of a conductive material; an insulating layer provided over the circuitry area of the substrate; a circuitry made of a conductive material provided over the insulating layer; and a flap which is an extension of the stiffener layer having no insulating layer provided thereupon. The flap is fabricated to fold over the preamp chip to remove heat therefrom.

Abstract: In a controller of a tape drive, a CM input-output unit recognizes a tape format; a tape variable acquisition unit acquires tape variables; a setting variable acquisition unit acquires setting variables; and a minimum number calculator calculates a minimum number m of sub datasets, which are to be written to a tape to secure resistance to burst error, by using the tape variables and setting variables. When a command processor receives a synchronization command, the buffer manager generates n sub datasets for storing data in the buffer. If n is smaller than m, m sub datasets are padded out and set as write data. If n is m or more, the n sub datasets are set as write data. Then, the channel input-output unit writes the write data to the tape.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method related to reading from memory an indicia that is dedicated to identifying a first portion less than an entirety of an addressable storage medium, the first portion having previously been subjected to a certification scrutiny. In relation to results of the reading, a second portion less than the entirety of the addressable storage medium is selected for subsequently subjecting the second portion to the certification scrutiny.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic recording/reproduction device 2 including: a recording/reproduction head 7; and a recording/reproduction head 7 for detecting a leakage magnetic field of each of the plurality of magnetic recording cells 1 so as to reproduce information, the recording/reproduction head 7 carrying out the recording on the magnetic recording medium 4 so that the magnetic recording medium 4 includes continuous recording regions that (i) satisfy Nmin?2 and that (ii) include a continuous recording region that satisfies N?n×Nmin, where N represents a number of magnetic recording cells 1 in a continuous recording region; Nmin represents a minimum value for N; and n represents a positive integer, the continuous recording regions each being a region on a reproduction track in which region magnetic recording cells 1 sharing an identical magnetization direction are sequentially arranged in a circumferential direction of the magnetic recording medium 4.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a disk with data written onto a plurality of tracks, a spindle motor that rotates the disk, and a head that is coupled to the disk. The disk drive also includes a circuit that writes data onto a first writable shingle band of tracks if the first writable shingle band is adjacent to a guard band of tracks. The first writable shingle band includes a number of tracks that is a function of a head width. The guard band of tracks is capable of becoming a writable shingle band. Changing the designation of a shingle band between guard and writable creates floating guard bands. The creation of floating guard bands allows for the writing of a single band without having to move and restore adjacent tracks until reaching a fixed guard band as required in the prior art.

Abstract: A data demodulating device which converts an RLL code string obtained by converting a data string in which information bits including a special bit having a value representing the content of a signal process at the time of demodulating data within a target section included in an input signal are inserted with a constant interval in accordance with a modulation table having a variable length conversion rule, in accordance with a demodulation table corresponding to the modulation table, includes: a shaping unit configured to subject to two or more signal processes; and a selecting unit configured to select the content of the signal process by the shaping unit based on the information bits.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing writing to a bit patterned media includes: reading bits from skipped blocks on the bit patterned media, using timing of bits read from the skipped blocks to update a write clock, and writing request data to physical blocks on the bit patterned media, interleaved with the skipped blocks. An apparatus that operates in accordance with the method is also provided.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a plurality of disk surfaces and a plurality of corresponding heads. The disk drive further comprises a preamp including a first integrated circuit coupled to a first plurality of the heads. The first integrated circuit comprises a first read-output for outputting a preamplified read signal, a first write-input for receiving a first write signal, a write-output-passthrough for outputting a passthrough write signal in response to the first write signal, and a read-input-passthrough for receiving a passthrough read signal. The preamp further comprises a second integrated circuit coupled to a second plurality of the heads, wherein the second integrated circuit comprises a second read-output for outputting the passthrough read signal, and a second write-input for receiving the passthrough write signal.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head is fabricated by forming a substrate from opposing ferrite blocks which have a ceramic member bonded between them. This structure is then diced to form a plurality of columns, wherein each column has a ferrite/ceramic combination. Each column represents a single channel in the completed head. A block of ceramic is then cut to match the columned structure and the two are bonded together. The bonded structure is then cut or ground until a head is formed, having ceramic disposed between each channel. A ferrite back-gap is then added to each channel, minimizing the reluctance of the flux path. The thin film is patterned on the head to optimize various channel configurations.

Abstract: A disk drive with patterned-media disks has information recorded in the servo sectors that identifies misplacement of the data islands in the data regions between the servo sectors. This misplacement information is read from the servo sectors prior to writing to correct either or both the radial position of the write head and the timing of the write pulses to the data islands. The misplacement information may include radial deviation of the data tracks, circumferential or along-the-track misplacement of the data islands, or the location of defective data islands.

Abstract: A method of protecting information written to a recording medium includes magnetizing the recording medium to form a first magnetic pattern corresponding to information to be stored, and magnetizing the recording medium to form a protective magnetic pattern having a phase difference of 180° from the first magnetic pattern at a position adjacent to where the first magnetic pattern is formed, with adjacent bits of the first magnetic pattern opposite and the protective magnetic pattern opposite to each other.

Abstract: A disc drive system provides increased reliability by detecting and correcting errors associated with bit-patterned media. Write synchronization errors associated with bit-patterned media are addressed by including data storage for temporarily storing data that is being written to the disc drive. The data is read from both the disc drive and the storage medium and compared to detect write synchronization errors. The disc drive system utilizes the identified write synchronization errors for at least one of timing recovery, equalizer training detection, error correction code application, and error recovery.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head for perpendicular recording includes a first magnetic core includes a main pole configured to produce a recording magnetic field, and a return pole configured to reflux magnetic flux from the main pole to form a magnetic circuit in conjunction with the main pole, a first coil configured to excite magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit, side shields arranged individually on opposite sides of the main pole transversely relative to a track so as to be magnetically separated from the main pole and formed integrally with the return pole, a second magnetic core configured to form a physically closed magnetic path, a part of which comprises the return pole, and a second coil wound around the second magnetic core and configured to excite magnetic flux in the closed magnetic path.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes: deciding to perform a refresh operation on a media cartridge having a tape wrapped around a spool; determining which drive of a plurality of drives is available to perform the refresh operation; causing the media cartridge to be mounted to the available drive; causing the drive to unwrap the tape from the spool of the media cartridge to about an end of the tape; and causing the drive to wrap the tape back onto the spool after the unwrapping, wherein at least some data on the tape is overwritten with new data, and a verification operation is performed using the new data.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for writing repeating patterns of features to a substrate, such as a data storage medium. In accordance with some embodiments, a multi-dimensional pattern of discrete features of different sizes to be written to a substrate is divided into a plurality of contiguous regions. A unique set of compensation values is assigned to each region. A write beam of a write system is used to write the features to the substrate responsive to said unique sets of compensation values so that all of the features having a common size in at least one region are written using the same compensation values from the associated set.

Abstract: A system and method for trapping electron assisted magnetic recording is disclosed. A magnetic recording system comprises a magnetic storage media, a read/write head, and a power supply for applying a negative DC electrical bias to the magnetic storage media in order to reduce the media switching field during the writing process. Recording is performed by applying an AC magnetic field produced by a write pole and a DC electrical field to assist in the writing. An embodiment of the invention uses a high electrical field to trap free electrons into an unfilled electronic shell of magnetic particles of the magnetic storage media, in particular, (3d) shell of transition elements, (4f) shell of rare earths of lanthanides series, and (5f) shell of actinides series. The trapped electron decreases anisotropy of magnetic particles due to reduced number of Bohr magnetron. As a result, a conventional head is able to write very high anisotropy magnetic storage media.

Abstract: A sequential data storage medium, such as for example and without limitation a magnetic tape, comprising a sequence of plurality of servo patterns encoded therein, which provide lateral position information and LPOS information. Each servo pattern comprises a first burst comprising a first pulse, a second pulse, a third pulse, a fourth pulse and a fifth pulse and a second burst comprising a sixth pulse, a seventh pulse, an eighth pulse, a ninth pulse and a tenth pulse. The widths of the plurality of pulses, in combination with the spacings between the plurality of pulses, encode two bits of data.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole, a shield, and a stacked structure body. The shield is provided to oppose the main magnetic pole. The stacked structure body is provided between the main magnetic pole and the shield. The stacked structure body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer. The first magnetic layer has coercivity lower than a magnetic field applied from the main magnetic pole. A size of a film surface of the second magnetic layer is larger than a size of a film surface of the first magnetic layer. The intermediate layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer and is made of a nonmagnetic material. A current is configured to pass between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.