Abstract: A system is described for constructing maximum transition run modulation code based upon a multi-level run-length limited finite state machine. A processor is configured to receive information from a hard disk drive via a read channel and recover data from the hard disk drive using maximum transition run modulation code. A memory has computer executable instructions configured for execution by the processor to model a magnetic recording channel as a partial response channel, model a source of information to the magnetic recording channel to provide an optimized Markov source, and construct a maximum transition run modulation code to mimic the optimized Markov source based upon a finite state machine having a limited transition run length and a multi-level periodic structure.

Abstract: A system including a tape library and a tape drive. The tape library identifies which tapes in the tape library include one or more migrated tapes. The tape drive provides access to each migrated tape of the one or more migrated tapes by an original application.

Abstract: A high frequency, AC-modulated heater current is applied to a heater of a magnetic head. A resistance change of a temperature sensor located at a region of proximity to a magnetic media is determined. The resistance change occurs in response to the heater current.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide for a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) media comprising: a magnetic recording layer; a barrier layer disposed under the magnetic recording layer; a first underlayer disposed under the barrier layer; and an amorphous seedlayer disposed under the first underlayer. For some embodiments, the recording medium may comprise: a magnetic recording layer including FePt alloy, a CoPt alloy, or a FePd alloy; a barrier layer including MgO, TiC, TiN, CrN, TiCN, ?-WC, TaC, HfC, ZrC, VC, NbC, or NiO; a first underlayer including RuAl-oxide, NiAl, FeAl, AlMn, CuBe, or AlRe; or an amorphous seedlayer including a Cr—X alloy, where X comprises Al, B, C, Cu, Hf, Ho, Mn, Mo, Ni, Ta, Ti, V, W, or Ru.

Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, an actuator arm comprising a suspension, and a head coupled to a distal end of the suspension, wherein the head comprises a write coil. The disk drive further comprises a preamp operable to generate a write current applied to the write coil in response to a single polarity supply voltage which may be positive or negative. In one embodiment, the transmission lines that couple the write coil to the suspension comprise respective, parallel plate sections that form a capacitance which enables driving the preamp with the single polarity supply voltage.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a thermally assisted magnetic recording method performs heating at a temperature higher than the ambient temperature of the perpendicular recording medium and lower than a temperature at which a nucleation magnetic field Hn of the recording portion is 0, decreases a coercive force Hc of a recording portion by heating a perpendicular recording medium, and records magnetic information by applying a recording magnetic field from a recording magnetic pole to the recording portion having the decreased coercive force.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for write delay stabilization. A write driver is adapted to output bipolar write currents to write data to a memory. A preconditioning circuit is adapted to output first and second thermal preconditioning currents through the write driver to stabilize a write delay associated with the write driver to a steady-state level prior to the writing of data to the memory.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic data storage system includes a main pole power supply adapted for supplying an excitation current to a main pole coil, a microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) device including a spin-torque oscillator (STO) element, the STO element having a field generation layer (FGL) and a polarization layer, a timing-control circuit adapted for determining a duration of a main pole magnetic moment inversion process and signaling a start of the main pole magnetic moment inversion process, and a current-regulating circuit comprising an STO power supply adapted for supplying current to the STO element, wherein the STO power supply prevents degradation of a single rotating magnetic domain structure in the FGL into a closure magnetic domain structure in the FGL. Other systems and methods for preventing degradation of the single rotating magnetic domain structure in the FGL into a closure magnetic domain structure are described for more embodiments.

Abstract: A tape drive is disclosed. The tape drive determines a current tape width and adjusts the length of a tape head to more closely match the current tape width. The tape drive adjusts the length of the tape head by controlling the power to a heating element coupled to the tape head.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. For example, a data processing system is discussed that includes: an analog to digital converter circuit, a data detector circuit, a filter circuit, an error generation circuit, and a target parameter adaptation circuit. The analog to digital converter circuit converts an analog input into corresponding digital samples. The data detector circuit applies a data detection algorithm to a data set derived from the digital samples to yield a detected output. The filter circuit convolves the detected output with a target parameter to yield a target output. The error generation circuit calculates an error value based on the digital samples and the target output. The target parameter adaptation circuit updates the target parameter based at least in part on the error value.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a medium, a magnetic head having a write element adapted for writing data to the medium, a MAMR element and/or a TAMR element adapted for assisting recording on the medium, the MAMR element having a microwave-generating portion that receives current for operation thereof, the TAMR element having a localized heat-generating portion that receives current for operation thereof, and a read element adapted for reading data from the medium, a device adapted for measuring environmental conditions relating to the TAMR/MAMR elements and the medium, and a controller adapted for controlling operation of the magnetic head and adjusting operating parameters of the system based on the environmental conditions. The environmental conditions include temperature, a reproduced signal of the read element, and/or clearance between the TAMR/MAMR elements and the medium. The operating parameters include the clearance, amount of current injected to the TAMR/MAMR elements, and/or write current.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a head includes a writer portion having coils positioned near a writer, a reader portion separate from the writer portion and a single-layer heating circuit positioned near the writer portion. The heating circuit includes at least two resistive elements. In certain embodiments, a slider includes a single layer heating circuit including at least two heating element resistors.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for implementing spin-torque oscillator (STO) sensing with an enhanced delay control feedback circuit for hard disk drives. A detector receives an input signal from a STO read sensor having an oscillation frequency related to the strength of the detected magnetic signal field. The received input signal is mixed with a time delayed input signal for providing a detector output signal. A low frequency component signal of the detector output signal is monitored and a delay control feedback is applied to an adjustable time delay to bias the DC signal of the detector output signal.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive system that has a suspension assembly that includes a slider having a heating element and a suspension configured with a protective structure that protects the heating element. The heating element of the slider can extend through the suspension to extend from the suspension assembly from a side that is opposite the slider. The protective structure is configured to protect the heating element and to prevent the heating element from contacting the heating element of an adjacent suspension during an event such as a physical shock to the disk drive system.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk medium, at least one magnetic head having at least one of: a magnetic read element adapted for reading data from the magnetic disk medium and a magnetic write element adapted for writing data to the magnetic disk medium, and a heating element adapted for generating heat upon application of a voltage/current thereto, wherein the heating element is positioned on, near, or within the magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, wherein the controller is configured to retract the at least one magnetic head from a flying state above the magnetic disk medium and apply the voltage/current to the heating element while the magnetic head is retracted.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes forming a conducting material above an insulating film, applying a mask to portions of the conducting material in a shape of a TFC structure, removing exposed portions of the conducting material to form the TFC structure, depositing an insulating film above the TFC structure, and planarizing the insulating film to form a planar upper surface of the insulating film. In another embodiment, a magnetic head includes a TFC structure positioned between insulating films and a magnetic element positioned above the TFC structure, the TFC structure configured for providing localized thermal protrusion of the magnetic head on a media facing surface thereof, wherein an upper surface of an upper of the insulating films is planar, the magnetic element includes at least one of a main magnetic pole and a read sensor, and the TFC structure is configured for providing thermal protrusion of the magnetic element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a signal for driving a heating element in a TAR or HAMR enabled disk storage system that includes an optical transducer (or near-field optical source) for further focusing the beamspot of a laser onto a magnetic media, thereby heating the media. The storage system includes a temperature sensor proximate to the near-field transducer which provides a feedback loop to the laser driver to adjust the power of the laser.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic medium includes at least one recording layer including a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer is form of a first magnetic material having a first magnetic anisotropy. The second magnetic layer is made of a second magnetic material having a second magnetic anisotropy different from the first magnetic anisotropy. The non-magnetic layer is made of a non-magnetic material and between the first and second magnetic layers, the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer being coupled such that directions of magnetization of the first and second magnetic layers are opposed to each other.

Abstract: A portable media player device includes a built-in mobile virtual private network and housing. A touch screen is mounted on the housing. A memory unit within the housing stores local and remote movie, video, photo, music and game files. A processing unit within the housing is adapted to execute media file stored in the memory unit and stored in the remote home computer and display the files on the touch screen. A user using the portable media player device can utilize the local and remote files by touching specific keys on the touch screen.

Abstract: A head assembly including one or more transducer elements for controlling head-media spacing is disclosed. The assembly includes detection circuitry configured to receive an input detection signal responsive to the spacing between the head and the data storage media and provide an output measure indicative of the head-media spacing. The output signal is utilized by control circuitry to provide a control input to one of a plurality of transducer elements on the head to protrude a localized portion of the head to adjust head-media spacing.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a medium facing surface that faces a surface of a recording medium, a write head section, a contact sensor that detects contact of the medium facing surface with the surface of the recording medium, and a heat sink adjacent to the contact sensor. The write head section has a magnetic pole that produces a write magnetic field for writing data on the recording medium. The contact sensor and the heat sink have respective end faces located in the medium facing surface. The contact sensor varies in resistance in response to temperature variations, and is to be energized. The heat sink includes an intermediate layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, and two ferromagnetic layers made of a metal-based magnetic material, the two ferromagnetic layers being disposed with the intermediate layer therebetween, and being antiferromagnetically exchange-coupled to each other via the intermediate layer.

Abstract: A voltage adjustment circuit for a storage medium includes a storage medium interface, a storage medium control chip, and a switch module. When the storage medium is read or written to by the storage medium control chip, the storage medium control chip transmits a pair of differential signals to the storage medium interface so that the switch module can control a power supply to power the storage medium. And the switch module will control the power supply not to power the storage medium when the storage medium control chip does not operate to read or write the storage medium.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a first MAMR element positioned above and wider than the main magnetic pole that is positioned to extend beyond sides of the main magnetic pole in a track width direction, a spin-rectifying-current-pinned-magnetic layer, a magnetic interlayer, a FGL, a magnetic-zone-control layer, and a second MAMR element that is wider than the main magnetic pole and is positioned to extend beyond sides of the main magnetic pole in the track width direction positioned above the first MAMR element, and a trailing shield positioned above the second MAMR element, wherein the main magnetic pole is adapted for producing a high-frequency magnetic field comprising oscillating microwaves, wherein during a writing operation, current is applied to the first and second MAMR elements to produce magnetic fields which oppose bit-switching in the magnetic medium to avoid adjacent track bit reversal.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) disk drive that uses “shingled” recording and a rectangular waveguide as a “wide-area” heat source includes a controller that counts the number of writes to each annular band of data tracks. The wide-area heater generates a heat spot that extends across multiple tracks, so that each time an annular band is written, the data in tracks in adjacent bands are also heated. Because the bands are written independently, the number of passes of the heat spot and thereby the number of times the data tracks in a band are exposed to elevated temperatures without being re-written is related to the number of re-writes of the adjacent bands. The number of writes to each band is counted and when that count reaches a predetermined threshold value, one or more tracks in an adjacent band are re-written to avoid reaching an unacceptable level of magnetization decay in the tracks of the adjacent band.

Abstract: In one embodiment, there is provided a head controller for controlling a head of a read/write device which reads/writes data from/into a recording medium. The head controller includes: a controller configured to adjust a gap between the head of the read/write device and a surface of the recording medium by increasing/decreasing a power supplied to a heater, wherein the heater is configured to heat and expand the read/write device; and an acquisition unit configured to acquire output differences of the read/write devices for two or more rotation speeds of the recording medium, wherein the controller is configured to increase or decrease the power supplied to the heater based on the output differences of the read/write device.

Abstract: A channel circuit includes a reader, a decoder, a prediction module, and a seek module. The reader reads data written in a medium. The decoder performs iterative decoding of the read data. The prediction module predicts whether an early read is possible or not without waiting for arrival of the read data. The seek module continuously initiates a seek when the prediction module predicts that the read is possible.

Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.

Abstract: A method for randomizing data to mitigate false VFO detection is described. In one embodiment, such a method includes simultaneously receiving multiple input data streams. Each input data stream is associated with a different track on a magnetic tape medium. The input data streams are simultaneously scrambled to produce multiple randomized data streams. The input data streams are scrambled such that different bit patterns are produced in the randomized data streams even where corresponding bit patterns in the input data streams are identical. The randomized data streams are simultaneously written to their associated data tracks on the magnetic tape medium.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a magnetic head having a main magnetic pole and a wrap around shield positioned around the main magnetic pole at an ABS thereof, a magnetic medium, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the magnetic head, and a controlling mechanism electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head that initiates rewriting of information of a recording track of the magnetic medium if a recording magnetic field applied to the recording track exceeds a threshold. In another embodiment, a method includes writing data to a first track of a magnetic medium using a magnetic head, determining characteristics consistent with data degradation from tracks adjacent to the first track and far tracks away from the first track using a controlling mechanism, and rewriting data in tracks determined to be degraded due to ATI and/or FTI.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for format efficient data storage. As an example, a data storage device is described that includes: a storage medium, a read/write head assembly, and a read channel circuit. The read/write head assembly is disposed in relation to the storage medium and operable to sense information corresponding to an encoded codeword. The read channel circuit is operable to receive the encoded codeword. The read channel circuit includes a missing symbols insertion circuit, a codeword de-scramble circuit, an address insertion circuit, and a data decoder circuit. The missing symbols insertion circuit, the codeword de-scramble circuit, and the address insertion circuit together are operable to pad a derivative of the encoded codeword with a plurality of symbols, to de-scramble the derivative of the encoded codeword, and to insert address information corresponding to the derivative of the encoded codeword to yield a modified encoded codeword.

Abstract: Shingled magnetic recording (SMR) devices according to embodiments of the invention include unshingled cache regions that can be used for storage of data. The unshingled cache regions can be used in a variety of flexible ways including in an implementation of write-twice caching or for opportunistic temporary storage to improve performance. The cache regions can be offset between top and bottom surfaces of the disk and staggered between disks to provide shorter seek times to the nearest cache region. Embodiments of the invention are adapted for use with symmetric or asymmetric heads.

Abstract: A system that is capable of monitoring tribological data, such as friction, in a data storage device. In accordance with various embodiments, a magnetoresistive head is separated from a rotating data storage media by an air bearing and attached to a slider that is adjusted through deformation controlled by a heating element. A measurement circuit concurrently monitors friction from the head and power applied to the heating element to determine an MR head clearance. The measurement circuit includes at least a phase filter that eliminates off-phase friction from contributing to the determination of the MR head clearance.

Abstract: A shingled magnetic recording hard drive is presented to a resource manager of a host device as an emulated device such as one or more optical media, an array of sequential access media, and/or write-once, read-many device. Data targeted for the emulated device is written to the shingled magnetic recording hard drive.

Abstract: A magnetic head for data recording having a pair of heating elements that self regulate in response to temperature to distribute heat for thermal actuation. The head includes a first heating element located adjacent to the read sensor and away from the writer, and a second heating element located adjacent to the writer. The first and second heating elements have different coefficients of thermal resistance that cause the heating of the second heating element to increase relative to that of the first heating element when the overall temperature increases or when power provided by a power source increases. There, thereby prevents the read sensor from extending too much and possibly contacting the disk.

Abstract: Data of a target capacity calculated by a nominal capacity of a tape medium minus a data capacity lost due to execution of backhitchless writing is written to the tape medium. In a tape drive, a command processing unit 41 receives a synchronization command, and a buffer management unit passes data in a buffer to a channel input-output unit. Upon completion of writing the data to the tape, a backhitch determination unit determines whether a mode information storage unit stores information indicating that a high data rate mode is on, whether data of a target capacity can be written to the tape, and whether the written data can be read at a target read data rate. An operation signal output unit issues a command to execute backhitch in case these conditions are not satisfied.

Abstract: A hybrid disk drive transfers a data stream to or from a host at an increased data transfer rate by time-multiplexing the data-carrying capacity of the system bus connecting the host and the disk drive. A portion of the data stream is stored on a non-volatile solid state memory device in the disk drive and a portion is written to a magnetic storage disk. The portion of the data stream written to the storage disk may be written on data tracks that are separated by empty data tracks corresponding to the data stored in the non-volatile solid state memory device.

Abstract: A magnetic recording element records information by applying a recording magnetic field to a magnetic recording medium having an information recording area to form a plurality of recording columns extending in a first direction. Recording by the magnetic recording element is performed so that a first recording column and a second recording column formed before the first recording column partially overlap each other in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and that a recording start position of the first recording column is positioned upstream, relative to the recording direction, of a recording start position of the second recording column.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data writing. As an example, a heat assisted loopback circuit is discussed that includes: a read circuit, a magnetic write circuit, a heat write circuit, and a loopback circuit. The read circuit is operable to sense data from a storage medium, and to provide the sensed data as a read output. The magnetic write circuit is operable to provide a write output corresponding to an excitation signal of a write head. The heat write circuit is operable to provide a heat output corresponding to an excitation signal of a heat source. The loopback circuit is operable to selectively couple a derivative of the heat output to the read output and to selectively couple a derivative of the write output to the read output.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data writing. As an example, a heat assisted data write circuit is discussed that includes a heat write output, a magnetic write output, and a variable phase shift circuit operable to modify a relative phase of the heat write output to the magnetic write output.

Abstract: A magnetic media for heat assisted magnetic data recording. The magnetic media includes a thermal insulation layer structure formed near the substrate of the media provide more efficient heating of the write layer by allowing less heat dissipation to the substrate. The thermal insulation layer structure can be one or more layers of an oxide such as SiO2 and one or more layers of a material such as NiTa. Increasing the number of oxide layers and NiTa layers increases the thermal insulation of the thermal insulation layer structure thereby further increasing the efficiency of the heat assisted writing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transferring data. First data is transferred in a first direction on a surface of a selected magnetic disk in a plurality of magnetic disks using a first actuator assembly. Second data is transferred in a second direction on the surface of the selected magnetic disk in the plurality of magnetic disks using a second actuator assembly, while the first data is being transferred in the first direction by the first actuator assembly.

Abstract: A storage device includes a processor, a vibration detecting sensor that detects a vibration, a plurality of disk drives, and a disk control device that causes the processor to perform an operation of generating a vibration for a disk drive selected from among the plurality of disk drives so that the generated vibration vibrates in a cycle that is shorter than a cycle of the vibration detected by the vibration detecting sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method is presently disclosed for a control circuitry capable of managing a heat source used in data storage applications. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a heat source directed at a data storage medium with a synchronization signal and a serial interface that are each selectively activated via a demultiplexed write gate signal. The selective activation allows for pulsed operation of the heat source resulting in reduced duty cycle and temperature during a write operation.

Abstract: An object is to provide a magnetic recording method that demonstrates an additional high assistance effect to magnetic recording by applying an alternate current magnetic field in the in-plane direction to a magnetic recording medium having a large coercive force, and a method of the present invention for magnetic recording using a magnetic recording head to a recording layer of a magnetic recording medium arranged to oppose the magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head including a main pole, an auxiliary pole, a main coil for generating a perpendicular recording magnetic field to the main pole, and either a sub-coil for generating an in-plane alternate current magnetic field of a microwave band to the main pole or a microwave radiator that is arranged in vicinity of the main pole and that radiates microwaves, the method including: a step for modulating an amplitude of the in-plane alternate current magnetic field by modulating an amplitude of microwave alternating current that is applied to either

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for data processing. As an example, a data processing circuit is disclosed that includes a read circuit and a combining circuit. The read circuit is operable to provide a first instance of a user data set, a second instance of the user data set, and a third instance of the user data set. The combining circuit is operable to: combine at least a first segment of the first instance of the user data set with a first segment of the second instance of the user data set to yield a first combined data segment; provide a second combined data set that includes a combination of one or more second segments from the second instance of the user data set and the third instance of the user data set; and provide an aggregate data set including at least the first combined data set and the second combined data set. The second combined data set does not incorporate a second segment of the first instance of the user data set.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording method includes first and second steps. The first step applies heat to part of a hard disk medium and forms a moving high-temperature region in a magnetic recording layer of the hard disk medium. The high-temperature region is higher in temperature than a region therearound and has a temperature equal to or higher than the maximum coercivity vanishing temperature of a plurality of magnetic grains contained in the magnetic recording layer. At least one magnetic grain that is adjacent to the rear end of the high-temperature region in the direction of movement of the high-temperature region has a coercivity of a value other than 0. The second step applies a write magnetic field to the hard disk medium such that the write magnetic field applied to the at least one magnetic grain adjacent to the rear end of the high-temperature region is 3 kOe or smaller in magnitude.

Abstract: A method of detecting a contact between a transducing head and a storage medium is provided. The method applies an input signal, having a select power level and known frequency, to an actuator for actuating the head. An output signal is obtained in response to the input signal. At least one signal component is extracted from the output signal at the same or a harmonic of the same known frequency as the input signal applied to the actuator. Whether the at least one extracted signal component indicates a contact between the head and the medium is determined. The power level of the applied wave pattern is increased incrementally until the extracted signal component indicates a contact between the head and the storage medium.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for detecting contact. For example, a method for detecting head contact is disclosed that includes: receiving an interface signal operable to indicate a physical contact between a sensing device and a storage medium; band pass filtering a data set derived from the interface signal to yield a band pass filtered output; comparing the band pass filtered output to a level threshold to yield a comparator output; summing the comparator output with at least one prior instance of the comparator output to yield an aggregated value; and comparing the aggregated value to an aggregate threshold to yield a contact output.

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

Abstract: A method of calibrating a servo reader and a read/write head for a data storage tape machine that reads and writes data to a data storage tape. The data storage tape has a servo pattern that is recorded on the tape in a known location. The servo pattern is used to provide precise position information for the data storage tape. According to the method, data is recorded on the data storage tape and the location of the data storage track is read. The location of the data storage tape is compared to the known location of the servo pattern to establish a reader offset value. The data storage tape machine is updated based upon the reader offset value to adjust the position of the read/write head.