SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160140993 | THERMAL RETENTION STRUCTURE FOR A DATA DEVICE - A data device may have at least a magnetic lamination with a thermal retention structure deposited on a substrate and configured to maintain a predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time. Such predetermined temperature and amount of time may allow for the growth of a magnetic layer with a predetermined magnetic anisotropy. | 05-19-2016 |
20160140334 | Device Functionality Access Control Using Unique Device Credentials - Apparatus and method for controlling access to protected functionality of a data storage device. In some embodiments, a plurality of identification (ID) values associated with a data storage device are combined to form a combined ID value. The combined ID value is cryptographically processed using a secret symmetric encryption key in combination with a hash function or a key derivation function to generate a unique device credential for the data storage device. The unique device credential is used as an input to a selected cryptographic function to control access to a protected function of the data storage device. | 05-19-2016 |
20160132699 | Split-Key Arrangement in a Multi-Device Storage Enclosure - Apparatus and method for data security in a multi-device data storage enclosure. In some embodiments, the storage enclosure has a housing with opposing first and second ends. A plurality of active elements are disposed within the housing including an array of data storage devices, a control board, and an interconnection arrangement which mechanically and electrically interconnects the plurality of storage devices with the control board. A control circuit encrypts user data stored on a selected data storage device using a cryptographic encryption function and an associated cryptographic key. The key is partitioned into a plurality of portions, with each portion stored in a different one of the active elements. | 05-12-2016 |
20160124808 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTER-CELL INTERFERENCE MITIGATION IN A FLASH MEMORY - The present inventions are related to systems and methods for accessing data from a flash memory, and more particularly to systems and methods for inter-cell interference handling in a flash memory. The systems and methods may include a soft information correction circuit that is operable to receive soft information corresponding to information accessed from a block of memory cells, and modify the soft information based upon a variance of the soft information and a median of the soft information to create corrected soft information, the corrected soft information being used to mitigate inter-cell interference in the block of memory cells. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124716 | Deriving Entropy From Multiple Sources Having Different Trust Levels - Apparatus and method for generating random numbers. In accordance with some embodiments, a first multi-bit string of entropy values is derived from a first entropy source having a first trust level and a different, second multi-bit string of entropy values is derived from a second entropy source having a different, second trust level. The first and second multi-bit strings of entropy values are combined in relation to the associated first and second trust levels to generate a multi-bit random number. The multi-bit random number is used as an input to a cryptographic function. | 05-05-2016 |
20160124681 | TRACKING HOT AREAS OF DISK DRIVE - Methods, apparatuses, systems, and devices are described for determining use of areas of a disk drive. In one method, a score of an area node of the disk drive may be increased each time the area node is accessed during a time interval of a series of time intervals. When each time interval elapses, each existing score of the area nodes (e.g., scores of area nodes that have non-zero scores) may be decreased. Further, after being decreased, each existing score may be saved. In such a manner, a time series analysis of data accesses may be implemented. The increases in score may account for the number of accesses during a given interval, and the decreases in score may account for time passage (e.g., time-weighting the scores). Thus, more frequent accesses and more recent accesses result in higher accumulated scores for the corresponding area nodes. | 05-05-2016 |
20160119146 | Secure Data Shredding in an Imperfect Data Storage Device - Apparatus and method for secure data shredding in an imperfect data storage device. In some embodiments, a hash function is applied to multi-bit random sequence to generate an output hash. A combinatorial logic function logically combines the output hash with a secret to provide an output value. The random string is processed into a plurality of secret shares which are stored in a first location in a non-volatile memory and the output value is stored in a different, second location of the memory. The secret is subsequently shredded by applying an erasure operation upon the secret shares in the first location of the memory. | 04-28-2016 |
20160118072 | Enlarged Substrate for Magnetic Recording Medium - An enlarged substrate for a magnetic recording medium used in a data storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD). In some embodiments, a data storage device has a housing member for a 3½ inch form factor storage device or a 2½ inch form factor storage device. A rotatable data recording disc is supported by the housing member. The disc has a plurality of tracks formed thereon. At least one track of the plurality of tracks has an average radius of greater than 47.5 mm for the 3½ inch form factor storage device or greater than 32.5 mm for the 2½ inch form factor storage device. A data read/write transducer is configured to be controllably advanced across a recording surface of the data recording disc and to record data to the plurality of tracks. | 04-28-2016 |
20160103621 | Multi-Block Data Storage Using Data Compression - Method and apparatus for data storage using data compression techniques. In some embodiments, a data recording medium has a recording surface with a plurality of concentric tracks accessible using a moveable data read/write transducer. A cache memory temporarily stores data during transfer operations with the data recording medium. A controller is configured to, responsive to receipt of input write data, retrieve from the data recording medium to the cache memory a selected multi-block data set associated with the input write data, use the received input data to update the retrieved multi-block data set, compress the updated retrieved multi-block data set to generate a compressed data set, and write the compressed data set to a selected band of adjacent tracks on the data recording surface. A portion of the compressed data set is generated during movement of the data read/write transducer to the selected band of adjacent tracks. | 04-14-2016 |
20160099020 | Perpendicular Recording Media with Enhanced Anisotropy Through Energy Assisted Segregation - Apparatus for recording data and method for making the same. In accordance with some embodiments, a magnetic layer is supported by a substrate and comprises a magnetic magnetic material, a non-magnetic material, and an energy assisted segregation material. The segregation material enhances segregation of the non-magnetic material into grain boundaries within the layer at an elevated, moderate energy level. | 04-07-2016 |
20160097118 | Inductively Coupled Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition - A deposition system may have at least a substrate mounted within a sealed chamber. A radio frequency energy can be supplied to an inductive source affixed to the sealed chamber with the inductive source having an inductive coil surrounding a tube. Coupling the radio frequency energy into a gas pumped into the sealed chamber creates plasma to uniformly deposit a thin layer on a surface of the substrate. | 04-07-2016 |
20160095246 | MULTIPLE DRIVE SLED IN A STORAGE ARRAY - An apparatus as associated method contemplating a housing and a midplane supported by the housing having a midplane connector. A printed circuit board (PCB) having a PCB connector is selectively connectable to the midplane connector. A plurality of data storage devices are arranged on the printed circuit board in a staggered pattern, each electrically connected to the PCB connector via a respective electrical trace in the PCB. | 03-31-2016 |
20160093396 | Read Retry For Non-Volatile Memories - An apparatus for reading a non-volatile memory includes a tracking module operable to calculate means and variances of voltage level distributions in a non-volatile memory and to calculate at least one reference voltage to be used when reading the non-volatile memory based on the means and variances, a likelihood generator operable to calculate at least one other reference voltage to be used when reading the non-volatile memory, wherein the at least one other reference voltage is based at least in part on a predetermined likelihood value constellation, and to map read patterns from the non-volatile memory to likelihood values, and a read controller operable to read the non-volatile memory using the at least one reference voltage and the at least one other reference voltage to yield the read patterns. | 03-31-2016 |
20160085623 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOFT DATA UTILIZATION IN A SOLID STATE MEMORY SYSTEM - Systems and methods relating generally to solid state memory, and more particularly to systems and methods for recovering data from a solid state memory. An example data processing system includes a first circuit operable to yield a modified soft data set from a data set accessed from a solid state memory device, and a second circuit operable to apply a data decoding algorithm to the modified soft data to yield a decoded output. | 03-24-2016 |
20160070496 | Scalable Data Structures for Control and Management of Non-Volatile Storage - Method and apparatus for managing data in a Non-Volatile Memory (NVD). In some embodiments, management information is stored in a buffer memory using a Solid-State Disk (SSD) controller circuit, the management information comprising a map data structure that associates storage addresses of a host device to physical addresses of the NVD. A location in the management information is determined responsive to a selected host storage address and a programmable parameter by arithmetically dividing in accordance with a divisor specified at least in part by the programmable parameter. The location in the management information is used to direct a transfer of user data by the SSD control circuit between the host device and the NVM. | 03-10-2016 |
20160064022 | Low Power Thermally Assisted Data Recording Media - In some embodiments, a thermally assisted data recording medium has a recording layer formed of iron (Fe), platinum (Pt) and a transition metal T selected from a group consisting of Rhodium (Rh), Ruthenium (Ru), Osmium (Os) and Iridium (Ir) to substitute for a portion of the Pt content as Fe | 03-03-2016 |
20160064017 | DATA WRITER WITH FLUX DENSITY INSERT - A data writer may be generally configured at least with a write pole adjacent to and separated from a side shield and a trailing shield. The side shield may be formed of a first material and configured with a trailing box region that is at least partially filled with a flux density insert formed of a second material that is different than the first material. | 03-03-2016 |
20160064015 | High Frequency Data Writer Field Generator Device - A data writing device may be constructed and operated with at least a data writer that has at least a write pole and a magnetic feature. A controller may selectively activate the magnetic feature to magnetically oscillate and produce a radio frequency signal proximal the write pole on an air bearing surface (ABS). | 03-03-2016 |
20160057886 | Modular Data Storage System - A modular data storage system can consist of at least first and second enclosures spanning a single pair of rails. The first and second enclosures may each have keyed couplers that mate to align the first and second enclosures along a common plane while being suspended between the single pair of rails. | 02-25-2016 |
20160055881 | Adaptive HAMR Laser Power Data Storage Device - A data storage device and associated methods may provide at least a data storage medium that is separated from a heat assisted magnetic recording data writer and is connected to a controller. The controller can be configured to change a laser power of the heat assisted magnetic recording data writer in response to a tested bit error rate of a median data track of a plurality of adjacent data tracks reaching an identified threshold. | 02-25-2016 |
20160055340 | LOCATION BASED DISK DRIVE ACCESS - Methods, apparatuses, systems, and devices are described for providing data security. In one method, data security is provided for a computing device having a data storage drive. A predetermined geographical area within which access to the data storage drive of the computing device is permitted may be identified. A geographical location of the computing device also may be identified. When the identified geographical location of the computing device is outside of the identified geographical area, access to at least a portion of the data storage drive may be denied. When the identified geographical location of the computing device is within the identified geographical area, access to the portion (or all) of the data storage drive may be allowed. | 02-25-2016 |
20160042176 | GREEN DRIVE WITH STATUS INDICATOR - Methods, systems, and devices are described for displaying information on a visual display of a data storage device. The device may be an internal data storage device and may display information associated with various operation parameters and a security confidence metric or states of the data storage device. The data storage device may display, on the visual display, an indication of a security confidence metric of the data storage device indicative of whether the data storage device has been compromised. The data storage device may be compromised by having one or more sub-components replaced, altered, or misused. The visual display may be electronic paper, mechanical, or chemical such that the information is displayed without power being applied to the data storage device. The visual display may be removable from the data storage medium. | 02-11-2016 |
20160041874 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENHANCED DATA RECOVERY IN A SOLID STATE MEMORY SYSTEM - Systems and method relating generally to data processing, and more particularly to systems and methods for accessing a data set from a solid state storage device, using a data decoding circuit to apply a data decoding algorithm to the data set to yield a decoded output, where the decoded output includes at least one error, identifying at least one critical location in the data set, and estimating a voltage associated with the data in the data set corresponding to the critical location. | 02-11-2016 |
20160041768 | STATUS INDICATOR ON A DATA STORAGE DEVICE - Methods, systems, and devices are described for displaying information on a visual display of a data storage device. The device may be an internal data storage device and may display information associated with various operation parameters or states of the data storage device. The data storage device may display, on the visual display, an indication that a data storage medium of the data storage device has been securely erased. The data storage medium may be securely erased by erasing an encryption key used to encrypt data stored on the data storage medium. The visual display may be electronic paper, mechanical, or chemical such that the information is displayed without power being applied to the data storage device. | 02-11-2016 |
20160037687 | AIRFOIL TO PROVIDE DIRECTED COOLING - An airfoil to provide directed cooling of active elements, such as in a multi-device storage enclosure. In accordance with some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing having opposing first and second ends. A first active element is mounted within the housing adjacent the first end, and a second active element mounted within the housing adjacent the second end. A fan assembly is mounted within the housing adjacent the second end to establish an airflow through the housing adjacent the first and second active elements for cooling thereof. An airfoil is mounted within the housing between the first and second active elements to accelerate and direct the airflow proximate the second active element. | 02-04-2016 |
20160036789 | SECURE HOST AUTHENTICATION USING SYMMETRIC KEY CRYTOGRAPHY - Methods of securely authenticating a host to a storage system are provided. A series of authentication sessions are illustratively performed. Each of the authentication sessions includes the host transmitting an authentication request to the storage system. The storage system authenticates the host based at least in part upon a content of the authentication request. After each successful authentication of the host to the storage system, an encryption key that was utilized in encrypting the authentication request that was transmitted to the storage system is deleted. After each encryption key deletion, a new encryption key that is different than the previous key is optionally stored and is utilized in the next authentication session. | 02-04-2016 |
20160035376 | Data Reader with Tuned Microstructure - A data reader may be configured with a tuned microstructure by initially cooling a substrate to a temperature of 100K or lower and subsequently depositing at least one layer of a data reader on the substrate while the substrate is maintained at the temperature. The tuned microstructure may consist of at least a grain size, grain size distribution, interface quality between multiple layers of the data reader, resistance-area product, and magnetoresistance. | 02-04-2016 |
20160027456 | Data Storage Device with Phase Lock Spin-Torque Oscillation Stabilization - A data storage device can be configured at least with a first spin-torque oscillator disposed between and contacting a write pole and a shield on an air bearing surface. A second spin-torque oscillator can be disposed between and contact the write pole and shield with the second spin-torque oscillator separated from the air bearing surface by a first stabilization distance and from the first spin-torque oscillator by a second stabilization distance. The first and second spin-torque oscillators can be configured to magnetostatically couple and phase lock to produce a single microwave frequency in response to a bias field. | 01-28-2016 |
20160025772 | ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY OF SCANNING AND IMAGE PROCESSING - Apparatus and associated method that contemplates performing a first atomic force microscope (AFM) scan of a first region of a sample centered at a first position at a first angle to produce a first scan image, the first AFM scan including a first component scan at a first speed and a second component scan at a second speed; performing a second AFM scan of the first region of the sample at a second angle to produce a second scan image, the second AFM scan including performing a third component scan at the first speed and a fourth component scan at the second speed; and correcting a first error in the first scan image based on the second scan image to produce a corrected image output. | 01-28-2016 |
20150378642 | FILE SYSTEM BACK-UP FOR MULTIPLE STORAGE MEDIUM DEVICE - A device may comprise a first data storage medium, a second data storage medium, and a controller. The controller may be configured to store file system information to the first data storage medium, storing a copy of file system information for the first data storage medium to the second data storage medium as a backup, loading the file system information from the first data storage medium to a cache memory when the file system information in the first data storage medium contains valid data, and loading the copy of the file system information from the second data storage medium to the cache when the file system information in the first data storage medium does not contain valid data. | 12-31-2015 |
20150378607 | Data Updating in Non-Volatile Memory - Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to an apparatus and associated method for updating data in a non-volatile memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory block is formed with a plurality of types of memory cell sectors arranged in data pages of a first type and log pages of a second type that can be updated in-place. A first updated sector is written to a first log page while maintaining an outdated sector in an original data page, and overwritten with a second updated sector. | 12-31-2015 |
20150364149 | ENLARGED SUBSTRATE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM - An enlarged substrate for a magnetic recording medium used in a data storage device such as a hard disc drive (HDD). In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 3- 1/2 inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 96.9 mm to 100.4 mm. In other embodiments, an apparatus comprises a substrate for a magnetic recording disc for installation in a 2- 1/2 inch form factor hard disc drive, the substrate having an overall diameter of nominally from 66.9 mm to 71.8 mm. In other embodiments, a data storage device has a magnetic recording medium that uses an enlarged substrate as set forth above. | 12-17-2015 |
20150340051 | LASER ARRAY FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING - An apparatus comprises a unitary laser diode comprising an array of two or more active regions, at least one of which outputs a light beam in response to an input current. The apparatus also includes two or more waveguides, each waveguide corresponding to an active region of the array. At least one of the waveguides receives the at least one light beam from the at least one active region. | 11-26-2015 |
20150339066 | NON-VOLATILE COMPLEMENT DATA CACHE - The disclosed systems include features to mitigate a risk of data corruption attributable to unexpected power loss events. In particular, the disclosed system identifies and retrieves complement data associated with each received write command and stores the complement data in a non-volatile cache while the complement data is overwritten via execution of the write command. | 11-26-2015 |
20150332725 | CONTROLLING LASER OUTPUT IN A HAMR DEVICE - A method of controlling laser output in a heat assisted magnetic recording device can be performed by control circuitry in a data storage device. The method includes measuring a temperature, measuring laser output power of a laser, determining a power error by subtracting an optimal laser output power from the measured laser output power and comparing the power error to at least one threshold to determine whether an applied current to the laser needs to be adjusted. The at least one threshold is related to how great the power error can be while maintaining the integrity of data on a recording medium. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332719 | SERVO TRACKING USING A SINGLE SERVO WRITING PASS PER TRACK FOR MULTI SENSORS - At least a portion of a first servo mark is read using a first read head during a rotation of a disk, the rotation comprising no more than 360 degrees. At least a portion of a second servo mark is read using a second read head during the rotation of the disk. Tracking positions of the first read head and the second read head are determined during the rotation based on reading the first servo mark and the second servo mark. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332716 | ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS FOR SLIDER ELECTRICAL CONNECTION CONTAINING THROUGH CIRCUIT ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS - Assemblies and methods that include a flex circuit having a slider facing surface and an opposing back surface; a slider having a back surface and an opposing air bearing surface (ABS), the slider including an electrical connection region; and a through circuit electrical connection, that is in electrical connection with the electrical connection region of the slider, the back surface of the slider interfacing with the slider facing surface of the flex circuit. | 11-19-2015 |
20150332713 | Increased Stability Magnetic Shield - A data storage device may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that contacts a magnetic shield. The magnetic stack can be disposed between first and second side shields and having at least one layer constructed of a CoFeNiB material. The magnetic shield may have a synthetic antiferromagnet with a non-magnetic layer disposed between first and second ferromagnetic layers. | 11-19-2015 |
20150325260 | SENSOR STACK STRUCTURE - A reader stack, such as for a magnetic storage device, the stack having a top synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer, a magnetic capping layer adjacent to the top SAF layer, an RKKY coupling layer adjacent to the magnetic capping layer opposite the top SAF layer, and a free layer adjacent to the RKKY coupling layer opposite the magnetic capping layer. Also included is a method for biasing a free layer in a reader stack by providing an exchange coupling between the free layer and a top synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer using a layer having RKKY coupling property positioned between the free layer and the top SAF layer and a magnetic capping layer between the SAF layer and the layer having RKKY coupling property. | 11-12-2015 |
20150324314 | STORAGE DEVICE WITH EXPANSION SLOT - Provided is an apparatus including a first storage device. The apparatus also includes an expansion slot configured to receive a removable card with a second storage device. The removable card with the second storage device is configured to provide faster read/write times to the second storage device than read/write times of the first storage device. The first and second storage devices are seen as a single storage device by a host computing device. | 11-12-2015 |
20150324304 | Techniques for Secure Storage Hijacking Protection - Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a storage device having a non-volatile memory, a Proof of Physical Access (PPA) mechanism and a controller circuit. The PPA mechanism generates a PPA value responsive to a direct physical user interaction with the storage device by a user. In response to receipt of a storage command from a host, the controller circuit executes the received storage command responsive to the storage command being determined to be a protected command and responsive to detection of the PPA value during a predetermined window of time. The controller circuit does not execute the received storage command responsive to the storage command being determined to be a protected command and responsive to an absence of the PPA value during the predetermined window of time. The protected command is a command that changes access to data stored in the non-volatile memory. | 11-12-2015 |
20150318004 | BOTTOM SHIELD STABILIZED MAGNETIC SEED LAYER - A data reader generally capable of sensing data bits may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has free and fixed magnetization structures atop a magnetic seed layer. A bottom shield may be positioned contactingly adjacent the magnetic stack opposite a top shield with the bottom shield having a fixed pinning magnetization set to a predetermined magnetic orientation. | 11-05-2015 |
20150318003 | METHODS OF FORMING PORTIONS OF NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCERS (NFTS) AND ARTICLES FORMED THEREBY - Methods that include forming at least a portion of a near field transducer (NFT) structure; depositing a material onto at least one surface of the portion of the NFT to form a metal containing layer; and subjecting the metal containing layer to conditions that cause diffusion of at least a portion of the material into the at least one surface of the portion of the NFT; and devices formed thereby. | 11-05-2015 |
20150311430 | MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR - Implementations disclosed herein provide a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor including a free layer comprising a first layer of CoFeB or CoFe/CoFeB and a second layer made of an alloyed layer including a ferromagnetic material and a refractory material. An implementation of the MR sensor further includes a cap layer adjacent to the second layer wherein the cap layer does not include any tantalum. | 10-29-2015 |
20150310938 | Temperature Tracking to Manage Threshold Voltages in a Memory - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with various embodiments, a first data access operation is conducted on a memory cell and a first temperature associated with the memory cell and associated with the first data access operation is measured. A second temperature associated with the memory cell is measured. At least one operational parameter is adjusted responsive to the first and second temperatures associated with the memory cell. A second data access operation is conducted on the memory cell using the adjusted operational parameter. | 10-29-2015 |
20150310892 | STORAGE SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE MEDIA SCRATCH PADS - A system or a device having a storage area with a plurality of circumferential tracks around a central axis, the tracks for storing data therein. The system or device includes at least two media scratch pads in the storage area, located at different radii from the central axis. In some implementations, the storage area has multiple discs. | 10-29-2015 |
20150301747 | DYNAMIC STORAGE DEVICE REGION PROVISIONING - Implementations disclosed herein provide for increasing storage drive performance by reserving a region of user-writeable storage space on a storage medium for overprovisioning uses, including performance-enhancing functions. Until a capacity condition of the storage drive is satisfied, write operations targeting the reserved region are written to another equal-sized region that does not contain user data. | 10-22-2015 |
20150296651 | SECURE ENCLOSURE - An apparatus and associated methodology contemplating an enclosure configured to securely contain a circuit board. The enclosure has a cover defining a flange operably extending substantially parallel to the circuit board in direct contact with the circuit board. The enclosure also has a body extending from the flange that is operably separated from the circuit board. A connecting member has opposing planar sides operably pressing to contain the flange against the circuit board in supporting the circuit board within the enclosure. | 10-15-2015 |
20150294735 | UNIT TESTING OF DATA STORAGE DEVICES AT A DATA CENTER - A plurality of data storage devices from a storage device provider are received, at a data center. A tester is received at the data center via the storage device provider. A unit test of the data storage devices is performed at the data center via the tester contemporaneously with using the data storage devices in the data center. | 10-15-2015 |
20150294684 | BAND REWRITE OPTIMIZATION - Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising comparing high-latency data sectors of a storage band, the high-latency data sectors having latency above a predetermined threshold, with target sectors for storing new data to determine one or more of the high-latency data sectors that may be skipped during retrieval of at-rest data from the storage band. | 10-15-2015 |
20150293858 | Encrypted Transport Solid-State Disk Controller - Method and apparatus for transferring protected data. In some embodiments, an encrypted transport solid state drive (SSD) has a non-volatile memory and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to, responsive to receipt of a write command from a host device to store an encrypted data set to the non-volatile memory, decrypt the encrypted data set using a first encryption key to generate a decrypted data set, apply lossless compression to the decrypted data set to generate a decrypted compressed data set, encrypt the decrypted compressed data set using a second encryption key to generate an encrypted compressed data set, and to direct storage of the encrypted compressed data set in the non-volatile memory. | 10-15-2015 |
20150293857 | ENCRYPTION KEY STORAGE AND MODIFICATION IN A DATA STORAGE DEVICE - Methods, systems, and devices are described for encryption key storage and modification in a data storage device. A portion of an encryption key may be stored in a first storage medium, and one or more bits of the encryption key may be stored in a one-time writable storage location. Data received at the data storage device may be encrypted using the encryption key, and may be stored in a storage medium. In the event that it is no longer desired to allow users to access the encrypted data stored in the storage medium, the one or more bits of the encryption key stored in a one-time writable storage location may be modified. Such modification thereby prevents decryption of the encrypted data and effectively precludes access to the encrypted data. | 10-15-2015 |
20150293705 | FORMATTING AND CAPACITY EXPANSION IN A DATA STORAGE DEVICE - Methods, systems, and devices are described for a data storage device, such as a hard disk drive or solid state drive, that may be initially formatted to an initial capacity. The data storage device may continue to be formatted to add additional capacity to the device. In some examples, a data storage device may be shipped from a factory having an initial capacity, with formatting completed in the field. According to certain examples, the additional capacity may be provided to a user of the data storage device upon satisfaction of one or more conditions. For example, a user may purchase additional capacity, upon which the data storage device may be instructed to provide the additional capacity for use by the user. | 10-15-2015 |
20150287453 | OPTIMIZATION OF READ THRESHOLDS FOR NON-VOLATILE MEMORY - An SSD controller dynamically adjust read thresholds in a NVM to reduce errors due to device threshold voltage distribution shifts, thus improving performance, reliability, and/or cost of a storage sub-system, such as an SSD. In a first aspect, the controller periodically performs offline tracking on a portion of the NVM. The controller reads a representative sub-portion with current read thresholds. If the read meets a condition, then the controller reads the sub-portion with sample read thresholds, estimates the device threshold voltage distributions, and adjusts the current read thresholds of the portion to calculated new operating read thresholds of the sub-portion. In a second aspect, the portion includes data with a known statistical average number of zero and/or one bits. | 10-08-2015 |
20150286524 | DATA INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT IN A DATA STORAGE DEVICE - Apparatus and method for data integrity management in a data storage device. In accordance with some embodiments, a controller transfers user data blocks between a host device and a main memory. Each user data block has an associated logical address. A data integrity manager generates and stores a verification code for each user data block in a table structure in a local memory. The data integrity manager uses the verification code to independently verify a most current version of a selected user data block is being retrieved by the controller from the main memory during a host read request. | 10-08-2015 |
20150285743 | FEATURES MAPS OF ARTICLES WITH POLARIZED LIGHT - Provided herein is an apparatus including an imaging lens assembly configured to collect reflected light from a surface of an article; an image sensor configured to receive reflected light from the imaging lens assembly, wherein the imaging lens assembly and the image sensor are each arranged at different angles for focusing on substantially an entire surface of an article; and a processing means configured to process signals from the image sensor corresponding to polarized reflected light and subsequently generate one or more features maps. | 10-08-2015 |
20150279430 | HAMR DRIVE FAULT DETECTION SYSTEM - A data storage apparatus includes a controller capable of being coupled to a read/write head. The controller is configured to receive a fault signal from a sensor of the read/write head. The sensor indicates whether an energy source used to heat the recording medium is malfunctioning during a write operation. In response to the fault signal, the controller takes remedial action to protect the data associated with the write operation. | 10-01-2015 |
20150279419 | MULTI-SENSOR MEDIA DEFECT SCAN - Apparatus and method for detecting media defects using a multi-sensor transducer. In some embodiments, a first pattern is written to a first track on a rotatable storage media and a second pattern is written to a second track on the media. A first read sensor of a multi-sensor transducer senses the first pattern from the first track and a second read sensor of the multi-sensor transducer concurrently senses the second pattern from the second track. At least one storage media defect is detected responsive to the sensed first and second patterns. | 10-01-2015 |
20150279399 | PLANAR PLASMON GENERATOR WITH THICKENED REGION AND PEG REGION - An apparatus (e.g., a heat assisted magnetic recording read/write element) that has an optical component that extends to a location adjacent a media-facing surface of a slider body. The apparatus further includes a planar plasmon antenna that is disposed between the tip portion of the magnetic write pole and the optical component. The planar plasmon antenna can be formed of a plasmonic material operationally capable of a plasmonic excitation in response to an evanescent coupling with an optical mode of the optical component. In some instances, the planar plasmon antenna includes an enlarged region spaced from the optical component and a peg region formed in the enlarged region. The peg region has a thickness in a direction substantially transverse to the optical component that is less than a thickness of a portion of the enlarged region that spaces the peg region from the optical component. | 10-01-2015 |
20150279395 | DATA WRITE MANAGEMENT - Implementations disclosed herein provide systems and methods for data write management in a storage device responsive to detection of a disturbance. Responsive to the detection of the disturbance, a write operation is paused and a transducer head is moved from a first position on the target data track to a second position separated from the first position by at least one data track. At the second position, the write operation is resumed. | 10-01-2015 |
20150279394 | BRANCHED WAVEGUIDE CONFIGURATION - An apparatus including a waveguide input coupler, a tapered branch waveguide, and a waveguide adaptor physically connected to the waveguide input coupler proximal end and to the branch waveguide proximal end. The waveguide input coupler includes a distal end having a distal end width and a proximal end having a proximal end width. The tapered branch waveguide includes a distal end having a distal end width and a proximal end having a proximal end width, the branch waveguide distal end width being greater than the branch waveguide proximal end width. The waveguide input coupler, the branch waveguide, and the waveguide adapter are configured to convert input light having a base transverse waveguide mode to output light having a higher-order waveguide mode. | 10-01-2015 |
20150277761 | STORAGE MEDIA PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT - A method or system for comprises determining a certification level of storage area for storing data of a write request based on a characteristic of the data, selecting a target storage area based on a media certification table and the determined certification level and storing data at the target storage area. | 10-01-2015 |
20150277039 | LAYERED OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE AND NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER - Waveguides that include a top cladding layer made of a material having an index of refraction n | 10-01-2015 |
20150269957 | NITROGEN-VACANCY NANOCRYSTAL MAGNETIC SOURCE SENSOR - A sensor may be configured with a nanocrystal that has a nitrogen-vacancy. The nanocrystal can be positioned proximal a magnetic source, mount, and articulable stage. Various embodiments configure the articulable stage configured to align the nanocrystal and the magnetic source along a common axis to sense magnetic fields about the magnetic source with a sub-nanometer resolution. | 09-24-2015 |
20150269081 | HDD WRITE BUFFER ZONE FOR VIBRATION CONDITION - Technologies are described herein for temporarily writing data to a buffer zone on a recording medium of a storage device when the device is operating in a vibration condition. A vibration condition is detected in the storage device, and upon detecting the vibration condition, data of a current write operation is written to a buffer zone on a recording medium of the storage device, the buffer zone being configured with a lower areal density of storage than primary storage zones on the recording medium. At a later time, an idle condition may be detected in the device, and upon detecting the idle condition, it may be determined whether the vibration condition exists. If it is determined that the vibration condition no longer exists, the data is transferred from the buffer zone to the primary storage zones on the recording medium. | 09-24-2015 |
20150268934 | RANDOM NUMBER GENERATION USING PULSED PROGRAMMING PARAMETERS - Apparatus and method for generating random numbers. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a random number generator circuit that generates a random number responsive to a total number of programming pulses used to transition a solid-state memory cell from a first programming state to a second programming state. | 09-24-2015 |
20150266233 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS UTILIZING ETCH STOP LAYERS - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a substrate; an etch stop layer overlying the substrate, wherein the etch stop layer is substantially resistant to etching conditions; and a patterned layer overlying the etch stop layer, wherein the patterned layer is substantially labile to the etching conditions, and wherein the patterned layer comprises a number of features including substantially consistent feature profiles among regions of high feature density and regions of low feature density. | 09-24-2015 |
20150263585 | FASTENER COUPLING RADIALLY INSIDE A STATOR ASSEMBLY - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a stator assembly and a hub configured to rotate relative to the stator assembly. The hub comprises a magnet radially outside the stator assembly. The apparatus further includes a fastener coupling radially inside the stator assembly. | 09-17-2015 |
20150262596 | APPARATUS WITH FIRST AND SECOND CLOSE POINTS ON MEDIA-FACING SURFACE OF MAGNETIC HEAD - A magnetic head includes a read transducer and a write transducer at a media-facing surface of the magnetic head. The magnetic head includes at least one heater that causes heat deformation at the media-facing surface in response to different first and second energizing currents. The first energizing current results in a first close point between the media-facing surface and a recording medium. The second energizing current results in a second close point between the media-facing surface and the recording medium. The second close point is at a different location in the media-facing surface than the first close point. | 09-17-2015 |
20150262099 | ADVANCED MATERIAL TRACKING SYSTEM - A method for tracking and reporting material movements and responding to material movements. Tracked-components are assigned a component identifier which can be associated with a location. The identifier is associated with a first location, and in response to a movement trigger, the location associated with the identifier is updated to a second location. A component can be comprised of multiple sub-components, each of which itself is a tracked component. When the location of the component is updated, the location of each sub-component is similarly updated. Each update of the location of a component can trigger reports or other actions within the system. | 09-17-2015 |
20150260757 | PROBE TIP STRUCTURE FOR BONDINGLESS ELECTRONIC LAPPING GUIDE CONNECTIONS - A lapping system including a substrate having an air bearing surface and at least one slider, wherein each slider comprises at least one electronic lapping guide pad, and a probe card comprising at least one extending probe comprising a body member and a distal end, the probe card being movable in a direction of compression between a first position in which the distal end of a first extending probe is spaced from a top surface of one of a first electronic lapping guide pad and a second position in which the distal end of the first extending probe contacts the top surface the first electronic lapping guide pad, wherein the first extending probe is pre-loaded with a predetermined spring force in the direction of compression. | 09-17-2015 |
20150260293 | CONICAL PUMPING SEAL - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a stationary component, a rotatable component configured to rotate relative to the stationary component, and a conical pumping seal formed between the stationary component and the rotatable component. | 09-17-2015 |
20150258655 | Lapping Device or Carrier with Adaptive Bending Control - An adaptive bending structure or insert for a lapping device is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments the bending structure provides a wider control width between bending nodes for imparting bending to a workpiece for lapping or longer beam length to increase stroke input at outer ends of the bending structure. In illustrated embodiments, outer bending fingers of the bending structure have a wider width than inner bending fingers to provide the wider control width of the adaptive bending structure. The wider bending fingers of the bending structure connect to actuator fingers of an actuator module to adapt the actuator module to provide an increased control width for controlling bow and curvature of the workpiece during the lapping process. | 09-17-2015 |
20150255092 | Multi-Sensor Reader with Different Readback Sensitivities - Apparatus for sensing data from a magnetic recording medium using a multi-sensor reader with different readback sensitivities. In accordance with some embodiments, a data transducing head has first and second read sensors. The first read sensor is optimized for reading data and the second read sensor is optimized to detect thermal asperity (TA) events. | 09-10-2015 |
20150248914 | Skew Compensation in a Patterned Medium - Apparatus for providing skew compensation in a patterned medium, such as but not limited to a self-assembling bit patterned medium. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus includes a transducer and a rotatable substrate. The substrate has a plurality of rows of spaced apart data recording dots. Each row of dots is angularly offset from an immediately adjacent row responsive to a skew angle of the transducer. The rows of dots are arranged into concentric zones of hypertracks. Each zone has an arcuate timing field segment which extends across the zone and is angularly discontinuous with the timing field segment of an immediately adjacent zone. | 09-03-2015 |
20150248913 | LIMITER WITH INCREASED STIFFNESS - A device including a first axial portion, a second axial portion, and a radial portion is disclosed. A portion of the second axial portion is configured to connect to a hub. An upper surface of the second axial portion may be positioned above an upper surface of a sleeve limiter shoulder when the portion of the second axial portion is connected to the hub. The radial portion connects the first axial portion to the second axial portion. The radial portion is configured to increase stiffness by increasing surface contact between the radial portion and the sleeve limiter shoulder. | 09-03-2015 |
20150248912 | FUSED DATA STORAGE DEVICE COMPONENTS - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a first part of a data storage device and a second part of the data storage drive. The second part of the data storage device is fused to the first part substantially throughout opposing surfaces of the first part and the second part, where the opposing surfaces are in contact with each other. | 09-03-2015 |
20150248568 | Device Security Using an Encrypted Keystore Data Structure - Apparatus and method for data security through the use of an encrypted keystore data structure. In accordance with some embodiments, first and second sets of input data are respectively encrypted using first and second encryption keys to form corresponding first and second encrypted data sets. The first and second encryption keys are combined to form a string. A hidden key stored within a system on chip (SOC) is used to encrypt the string to form an encrypted keystore data structure, and the first and second encrypted data sets and the encrypted keystore data structure are stored in a memory. | 09-03-2015 |
20150246476 | METHOD FOR FABRICATING RECTANGULAR PATTERED STACKS - The embodiments disclose an analyzer configured to determine positions of circumferential gratings track features and alignment patterns in a first template and a phase device configured to determine positions of radial gratings features and interspersed pattern fields in a second template, wherein the first template is transferred and cross-imprinted with the second template features and patterns to form a third template substrate as a rectangular patterned stack imprint template. | 09-03-2015 |
20150243313 | COMPENSATING FOR VOICE COIL MOTOR AND MICROACTUATOR DISTURBANCE IN A HARD DRIVE - In response to positioning a read/write head of a hard drive, a voice coil motor (VCM) input signal is applied to a voice coil motor and a microactuator (PZT) input signal is applied to a microactuator. A position signal is determined in response to positioning the read/write head. A PZT component is decoupled from the position signal to determine an estimated VCM response. The estimated VCM response used to determine an estimated VCM disturbance. A VCM component is decoupled from the position signal to determine an estimated PZT response. The estimated PZT response used to determine an estimated PZT disturbance. The VCM input signal and the PZT input signal are modified respectively to compensate for the estimated VCM disturbance and the estimated PZT disturbance. | 08-27-2015 |
20150243307 | MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR - In accordance with one implementation of the described technology, an apparatus comprises a sensor structure including a top shield which includes a top shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer and a bottom shield including a bottom shield synthetic antiferromagnetic layer, wherein the bottom synthetic antiferromagnetic shield layer acts as a seed layer structure. | 08-27-2015 |
20150243302 | READ HEAD WITH MULTIPLE READER STACKS - A read head includes a bottom shield configured as a bottom electrical contact. A bottom reader stack is disposed on and electrically coupled to the bottom shield. A middle electrical contact is electrically coupled to a top layer of the bottom reader stack. A top reader stack is disposed on the bottom reader stack. A bottom layer of the top reader stack electrically coupled to the middle electrical contact. A top shield is configured as a top electrical contact. The top shield is disposed on and electrically coupled to the top reader stack. | 08-27-2015 |
20150243301 | READ HEAD WITH MULTIPLE READER STACKS - A read head includes a bottom shield and a bottom isolation layer that electrically isolates the bottom shield. The read head includes left and right reader stacks having respective bottom layers disposed on at least a portion of the bottom isolation layer. The left and right reader stacks are cross-track adjacent to one another. The read head also includes left and right bottom contacts electrically coupled to respective left and right bottom layers. A top shield is configured as a common top contact electrically coupled to respective top layers of the left and right reader stacks. | 08-27-2015 |
20150235665 | NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER EFFICIENCY MONITORING SYSTEM - A system may have a data storage medium that contains at least one data bit that is accessed by a transducing head that has a near-field transducer. A controller can be connected to the transducing head and store a plurality of near-field transducer operating currents in a memory. The controller may identify a change in efficiency of the near-field transducer from the plurality of near-field transducer operating currents. | 08-20-2015 |
20150235658 | HEAT SINK LAYER ALONG AN APERTURE OF A NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER - A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes an aperture surrounded by walls of plasmonic material and a notch protruding within the aperture. The walls are oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture. A heat sink layer of the plasmonic material is disposed along the back surface and the aperture-facing surface of the write pole. The heat sink layer is thermally and optically coupled to the near-field transducer. | 08-20-2015 |
20150234741 | Command Execution Using Existing Address Information - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory module has a plurality of solid-state non-volatile memory cells. A controller communicates a first command having address information and a first operation code. The first operation code identifies a first action to be taken by the memory module in relation to the address information. The controller subsequently communicates a second command having a second operation code without corresponding address information. The memory module takes a second action identified by the second command using the address information from the first command. | 08-20-2015 |
20150227457 | MANAGING RESPONSE TIME - Implementations disclosed herein provide for a method comprising receiving a read request to read data from a target die of a storage device, and rebuilding the data stored on the target die using data stored on other dies of the storage device, if a current operation to the target die of the storage device prevents the servicing of the read request until completion of the current operation. | 08-13-2015 |
20150213901 | Programming a Memory Cell Using a Dual Polarity Charge Pump - Apparatus and method for managing data in a memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory array. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes an array of memory cells and a dual polarity charge pump. The dual polarity charge pump has a positive polarity voltage source which applies a positive voltage to a charge storage device to program a selected memory cell to a first programming state, and a negative polarity voltage source which applies a negative voltage to the charge storage device to program the selected memory cell to a different, second programming state. | 07-30-2015 |
20150213819 | LASER MOUNTED ON EDGE - An apparatus that includes a slider having a mounting surface, the mounting surface opposite a media-facing surface of the slider. The apparatus includes a laser diode mounted on a side surface to the mounting surface. The laser diode has an active region of the laser diode is disposed substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface. | 07-30-2015 |
20150213815 | SYNTHETIC ANTIFERROMAGNETIC READER - Implementations disclosed herein provide for an apparatus, comprising a synthetic antiferromagnetic reader structure, wherein total moment of a pinned layer is substantially greater than total moment of a reference layer. In one implementation, the pinning strength of the pinned layer is substantially reduced. | 07-30-2015 |
20150213813 | PREAMPLIFIER FOR ADJUSTABLE WRITE CURRENT - The implementations disclosed herein provide for a storage device including a preamplifier that dynamically adjusts at least one of a rise time and fall time of an analog write current pulse based on a length of a corresponding write transition and/or characteristics of a media location where the write transition is to be recorded. | 07-30-2015 |
20150211576 | LUBRICATING FLUID-FILLING METHODS AND APPARATUSES - Provided herein is an apparatus, comprising a stationary component comprising a cup having a volume reserved for receiving a predetermined amount of lubricating fluid; a rotatable component comprising a sleeve, wherein the rotatable component is fitted within the stationary component in a position substantially above the volume; and an annular member configured for forming a thrust bearing with the sleeve. | 07-30-2015 |
20150209839 | WORKPIECE CLEANING - Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards apparatuses and methods which autonomously decontaminate parts. Parts to be cleaned are identified, and based on the identification of the part, a part specific cleaning program is initiated. During the cleaning, the part is manipulated about a gas supply in such a way that the drag force on the contamination particles attached to the part exceeds the contamination particles' surface adhesion force and accordingly is removed from the surface of the part. The removed contamination is then evacuated from the atmospheric environment near the part by a low pressure zone of a second gaseous material near the part. | 07-30-2015 |
20150208550 | Dissipating Heat During Device Operation - Apparatus for dissipating heat during the operation of a device. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus compares spaced-apart first and second heat sources. A thermally conductive plate is disposed between the first and second heat sources. A thermal interface layer is contactingly disposed between the plate and the first heat source, and has a relatively higher thermal conductivity so that heat generated by the first heat source passes through the thermal interface layer and to the plate. A thermal barrier layer is contactingly disposed between the plate and the second heat source to mechanically support the plate relative to the second heat source. The thermal barrier layer has a relatively lower thermal conductivity to thermally isolate the conductive plate from the second heat source. | 07-23-2015 |
20150206549 | Chemical Pinning to Direct Addressable Array Using Self-Assembling Materials - A substrate having an arrangement of self-assembling magnetic domains and a method of fabrication therefor. In some embodiments, a substrate is patterned with a plurality of chemically contrasted alignment features, and a block copolymer having a magnetic component and a non-magnetic component is deposited onto the substrate. The block copolymer self-assembles into a sequence of magnetic domains responsive to the alignment features. The period of the alignment features is between about 2 times and about 10 times the period of the magnetic domains. | 07-23-2015 |
20150206548 | IMPRINT PATTERN GUIDED SELF-ASSEMBLY OF LAMELLAR BLOCK COPOLYMER FOR BPM - The embodiments disclose a method of using a trimmed imprinted resist and chemical contrast pattern to guide a directed self-assembly (DSA) of a predetermined lamellar block copolymer (BCP), creating chromium (Cr) lamellar guiding lines using the BCP and DSA in a dry Cr lift-off process and etching the Cr lamellar guiding line patterns into a substrate to fabricate the imprint template. | 07-23-2015 |
20150205531 | Adding Storage Capacity to an Object Storage System - Apparatus and method for adding storage capacity to an object storage system. In accordance with some embodiments, a first set of data storage devices store data objects in accordance with a first map structure. A management module detects a second set of data storage devices added to the first set and, in response thereto, generates a second map structure and migrates a portion of the data objects from the first set to the second set based on the second map structure to balance the first and second sets. | 07-23-2015 |
20150200833 | Adaptive Data Migration Using Available System Bandwidth - Apparatus and method for migrating data within an object storage system using available storage system bandwidth. In accordance with some embodiments, a server communicates with users of the object storage system over a network. A plurality of data storage devices are grouped into zones, with each zone corresponding to a different physical location within the object storage system. A controller direct transfers of data objects between the server and the data storage devices of a selected zone. A rebalancing module directs migration of sets of data objects between zones in relation to an available bandwidth of the server. | 07-16-2015 |
20150200707 | ADAPTIVE SPREAD-SPECTRUM CLOCKING - Technologies are described herein for adaptive spread-spectrum clocking to limit interference in a target band. Interference in the target band may be reduced by changing the frequency of the clock signal at a higher modulation rate for clock frequencies that interfere with, or are correlated to, the target band and changing the frequency of the clock signal at a lower modulation rate for the clock frequencies that are not correlated to the target band. | 07-16-2015 |
20150199983 | Varying Write Pole Side Shield Gap - A magnetic element can be configured with a write pole that continuously extends from an air bearing surface along a plane orthogonal to the air bearing surface. A magnetic shield can be separated from the write pole by a first gap distance on the air bearing surface throughout a tip portion of the write pole and by a second gap distance distal the air bearing surface along the plane orthogonal to the air bearing surface along a body portion of the write pole with the first and second gap distances measured parallel to the air bearing surface and the second gap distance being greater than the first gap distance. | 07-16-2015 |
20150199982 | Varying Write Pole Side Shield Gap - A magnetic element can be constructed by forming a write pole with a tip portion that continuously extends from an air bearing surface (ABS) along a plane orthogonal to the ABS to a body portion that continuously extends from the tip portion distal the ABS. A first write gap layer can then be deposited in contact with the write pole before a processing layer is deposited in contact with the first write gap layer. A magnetic shield may then be formed atop the processing layer with the magnetic shield being separated from the write pole by a first gap distance on the ABS throughout the tip portion and by a second gap distance distal the ABS along the plane orthogonal to the ABS along the body portion. The first and second gap distances can be measured parallel to the ABS with the second gap distance being greater than the first gap distance. | 07-16-2015 |
20150194172 | LIGHT BLOCKER FOR STRAY LIGHT REDUCTION WITHIN A SLIDER - A waveguide has an input end near a top of a slider coupled to receive light from an energy source. The waveguide delivers the light at an output end of the waveguide near a bottom of the slider. The apparatus includes light blocking members on respective first and second cross track sides of the waveguide. The light blocking members are configured to block stray light away from a light path. The light blocking members are at a location along a length of the waveguide between the top and the bottom of the slider. Confinement of light within the waveguide is near a maximum at the location. | 07-09-2015 |
20150179414 | APPARATUS WITH SIDEWALL PROTECTION FOR FEATURES - Provided herein is an apparatus, including a patterned resist overlying a substrate; a number of features of the patterned resist, wherein the number of features respectively includes a number of sidewalls; and a sidewall-protecting material disposed about the number of sidewalls, wherein the sidewall-protecting material is characteristic of a conformal, thin-film deposition, and wherein the sidewall-protecting material facilitates a high-fidelity pattern transfer of the patterned resist to the substrate during etching. | 06-25-2015 |
20150179268 | Using Different Programming Modes to Store Data to a Memory Cell - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory cell is provided with a plurality of available programming states to accommodate multi-level cell (MLC) programming. A control circuit stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using single level cell (SLC) programming to provide a first read margin between first and second available programming states. The control circuit subsequently stores a single bit logical value to the memory cell using virtual multi-level cell (VMLC) programming to provide a larger, second read margin between the first available programming state and a third available programming state. | 06-25-2015 |
20150179202 | Exchange Decoupled Data Storage Medium - A magnetic data storage medium capable of storing data bits may be configured at least with a magnetic underlayer structure and a recording structure. The recording structure can have at least a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer with the first magnetic layer decoupled by being constructed of an alloy of cobalt, platinum, and a platinum group metal element. | 06-25-2015 |
20150179199 | OPTICAL DEVICES INCLUDING LAYERS THAT WRAP THE NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER (NFT) - A device having an air bearing surface (ABS), the device including a near field transducer (NFT), the NFT having at least a portion thereof at the ABS; a first wrap layer, the first wrap layer surrounding at least a portion of the NFT, the first wrap layer having a thickness of not greater than about 30 nanometers (nm), and the first wrap layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is not greater than 2.0; a second wrap layer, the second wrap layer surrounding at least a portion of the first wrap layer, the second wrap layer having a thickness that is not greater than 100 nm, and the second wrap layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is at least about 1.9; and a top cladding layer surrounding at least a portion of the second wrap layer, the top cladding layer being made of a material that has a refractive index (n) that is not greater than 2.0. | 06-25-2015 |
20150162046 | APPARATUS WITH REPULSIVE FORCE BETWEEN STATIONARY AND ROTATABLE COMPONENTS - Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a fluid dynamic bearing, a hub, and an induction housing. The fluid dynamic bearing is defined by a stationary component and a rotatable component. The hub is configured to rotate relative to the stationary component. A current is induced within the induction housing resulting from the relative rotation. The induced current creates a repulsive force between the stationary component and the hub. | 06-11-2015 |
20150162040 | ADJUSTING A CLEARANCE BETWEEN A MAGNETIC HEAD AND A MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM USING A MAGNETIC FORCE - A media-facing surface of a magnetic head is positioned proximate a moving magnetic recording medium. A current is applied to an electromagnet of the magnetic head. The current induces a magnetic force between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium that adjusts a clearance therebetween. | 06-11-2015 |
20150162039 | MULTIPLE HEATERS INDEPENDENTLY CONTROLLING CLEARANCE OF TWO OR MORE READ TRANSDUCERS - A apparatus includes first and second read transducers arranged on a media-facing surface. The read transducers detect magnetic fields of a recording medium. First and second heaters are disposed proximate the respective first and second read transducers. The first and second heaters independently control respective first and second protrusions of the first and second read transducers from the media-facing surface. | 06-11-2015 |
20150162038 | ELECTRICALLY REMOVABLE HEATER FOR A THERMALLY ACTUATABLE THERMAL ASPERITY SENSOR - An apparatus comprising a writer, a reader, and a sensor configured to at least sense thermal asperities of a magnetic storage medium. The apparatus includes a writer heater configured to thermally actuate the writer, a reader heater configured to thermally actuate the reader, and a sensor heater configured to thermally actuate the sensor. The thermally actuated sensor is configured to detect thermal asperities arising from the magnetic storage medium during a topographical survey of the medium. The sensor heater is configured to be rendered inoperable subsequent to the survey in response to receiving a predetermined signal while the writer and the reader heaters remain operable. | 06-11-2015 |
20150162035 | DISCONTINUOUS CHARGE/DISCHARGE POWER SOURCE FOR RETRACT APPLICATION - In accordance with one embodiment of the described technology, a retract controller capacitor is charged using a back electromagnetic force voltage to produce a backup power source voltage, the retract controller capacitor is discharged to power a retract controller circuit, and an actuator arm of a storage drive is driven toward a desired location concurrently with the discharging operation. | 06-11-2015 |
20150162025 | LIGHT SOURCE ALIGNMENT - Implementations disclosed herein provide a method comprising emitting light at a plurality of locations across a surface of a recording head assembly, detecting, using a detector not positioned along a waveguide axis, light output from a diffraction grating positioned along the waveguide axis, and determining a target position for mounting a laser source on the surface a recording head assembly by analyzing the detected light output corresponding to one or more of the plurality of locations. | 06-11-2015 |
20150162022 | FLEXIBLE BIASING STRATEGY FOR GROUND-SPLIT TCR SENSORS - A first biasing potential is sent to a first input end of a first temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) sensor having a first ground end coupled to a ground potential. A second biasing potential is sent to a second input end of a second TCR sensor having a second ground end coupled to the ground potential. The first and the second biasing potentials are changed to operate in a plurality of modes. | 06-11-2015 |
20150154065 | ADAPTIVE READ ERROR RECOVERY FOR MEMORY DEVICES - Some embodiments involve a method of detecting an error of a memory device. It is determined whether the detected error is a catastrophic error. If it is determined that the error is a catastrophic error, an error recovery process is bypassed. Some aspects involve a method of detecting an error of a memory device. It is determined whether a counter value is above a predetermined value. If it is determined that the counter value is above the predetermined value an error recovery process is bypassed and a redundant parity recovery process is performed. | 06-04-2015 |
20150154064 | ADAPTIVE READ ERROR RECOVERY FOR MEMORY DEVICES - An error of a solid-state non-volatile memory is detected. It is determined whether a type of the error is a first type of error. A voltage recovery process is bypassed based on whether the error is the first type of error. If it is determined that the error is a catastrophic error, the voltage error recovery process is bypassed. If it is determined that an offset of a threshold voltage is not greater than a predetermined value, the voltage error recovery process is bypassed. | 06-04-2015 |
20150149869 | PHYSICAL SUBSECTOR ERROR MARKING - Physical subsector error marking allows for selectively marking subsectors of a physical sector of a storage medium as unreadable. The error marking may include a bad sector mask to indicate that the subsector is unreadable combined with an error signature to confirm that the bad sector mask was set intentionally. The remaining readable subsectors of the physical sector may be returned to the host. | 05-28-2015 |
20150149622 | Scheduling Requests for Data Transfers in a Multi-Device Storage System - Apparatus and method for scheduling requests for data transfers in a multi-device storage system. In some embodiments, a system includes at least one server coupled to a pool of storage devices to transfer data from the storage devices to client devices responsive to requests. A request scheduler is adapted to receive into a memory a plurality of requests each having a service identifier (ID) and a payload size, to set a deadline for each request responsive to the service ID and the payload size, to forward the requests to the server for processing in an order based on service ID and, responsive to the deadline being reached for a selected request, to advance the selected request for immediate processing by the server. | 05-28-2015 |
20150146824 | INDEXED I/O SYMBOL COMMUNICATIONS - One implementation of the disclosed technology involves detecting a transition in a signal received via one of a first indexed input and a second indexed input. The transition defines a first symbol having a symbol value. This implementation further involves outputting the first symbol in response to detection of a transition. The symbol value of the first symbol is designated by the index of the indexed input upon which the transition is detected. | 05-28-2015 |
20150146505 | RECORDING HEAD STRUCTURE - Implementations disclosed herein provide a transducer head including a writer feature extending to a transducer head surface, the transducer head surface being configured to face a storage medium surface; and a bumper structure configured on the transducer head surface, the bumper structure configured to be proximal to the writer feature and to protrude beyond the writer feature in response to energy. | 05-28-2015 |
20150143039 | Restoring Virtualized GCU State Information - Method and apparatus for managing a memory, such as but not limited to a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, initial state information is stored which identifies an actual state of a garbage collection unit (GCU) of a memory during a normal operational mode. During a restoration mode after a memory power cycle event, a virtualized state of the GCU is determined responsive to the initial state information and to data read from the GCU. The memory is transitioned from the restoration mode to the normal operational mode once the virtualized state for the GCU is determined. | 05-21-2015 |
20150139574 | RADIAL CHANNEL WITH FLUID RESERVOIR - Provided is an apparatus, including a stationary component; a rotatable component, wherein the stationary component and the rotatable component are positioned for relative rotation; a first sealing means positioned in a radial channel at a first axial end of the rotatable component; a second sealing means positioned in an axial channel at a second axial end of the rotatable component; and a fluid reservoir adjacent to the first sealing means and extending radially outward from the first sealing means, wherein the fluid reservoir is positioned radially outward from the pump seal, and wherein the fluid reservoir extends radially outward from the pump seal. | 05-21-2015 |
20150137644 | APPARATUS WITH POLYMER PERMEABILITY PATH - Certain exemplary aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus in which a base deck and a base deck cover interface with one another to provide a permeability path. The base deck includes an outer region, and the base deck cover includes a lip that interfaces with the outer region of the base deck to provide the permeability path. The permeability is further defined by at least three interleaved sidewalls of the base deck and base deck cover that define two segments of the permeability path. The permeability path is filled with a polymer material that creates a seal between the base deck and base deck cover. | 05-21-2015 |
20150134877 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM WITH PASSIVE PARTITIONING IN A SECONDARY MEMORY - A data storage system may be configured at least with a primary memory that is coupled to a host via a controller and coupled to at least one external interface. The controller may be adapted to passively partition a secondary memory into cache and user memory space regions in response to the secondary memory engaging the at least one external interface and the cache region can be allocated as cache for the primary memory by the controller. | 05-14-2015 |
20150134708 | UPDATING MAP STRUCTURES IN AN OBJECT STORAGE SYSTEM - Apparatus and method for updating map structures in an object storage system. A server communicates with users of an object storage system over a network. A plurality of data storage devices are arranged into locations to store and retrieve data objects of the users. A storage controller is associated with each location to direct data object transfers between the data storage devices of the associated location and the server using an existing map structure that describes the data objects in each location. A management module is adapted to generate a new map structure, migrate at least one data object from an existing location described by the existing map structure to a new location described by the new map structure, and to distribute the new map structure to each of the storage controllers after the migration of the at least one data object. | 05-14-2015 |
20150131415 | MODE CONVERTER COUPLING ENERGY AT A HIGH-ORDER TRANSVERSE ELECTRIC MODE TO A PLASMONIC TRANSDUCER - A waveguide is configured to couple light from a light source at a fundamental transverse electric (TE) mode. A mode converter outputs the light to an output region of the waveguide at a higher-order TE mode. A plasmonic transducer receives the light at the higher order TE mode and generates surface plasmons that heat a recording medium. The plasmonic transducer includes: an input end proximate the output region of the waveguide and comprising a first convex curved edge; an output end proximate a surface that faces the recording medium, the output end comprising a second convex curved edge and a peg; and linear edges between the first and second convex curved edges. | 05-14-2015 |
20150131182 | MAGNETIC STACK COUPLING BUFFER LAYER - A data storage system may be configured at least with a seed lamination that is disposed between a magnetic stack and a magnetic shield. The seed lamination may be constructed and operated with a coupling buffer layer and a seed layer with the coupling buffer layer fabricated of an alloy of cobalt and a transition metal. | 05-14-2015 |
20150129284 | SHAPED INTNERAL LEADS FOR A PRINTED CIRCUIT SUBSTRATE - A printed circuit substrate may be configured with at least one internal lead designed and shaped to reduce solder bridging. The printed circuit substrate can have a plurality of internal leads that each has a continuously curvilinear boundary that defines an isolation channel. The isolation channel may be configured with a uniform distance that separates a first internal lead from an adjacent second internal lead. | 05-14-2015 |
20150127930 | AUTHENTICATED DEVICE INITIALIZATION - Apparatus and method for performing authentication processing during device initialization. In accordance with some embodiments, a data storage device has a main memory which stores user data from a host, and a controller with initialization programming stored in a boot memory. The initialization programming is executed by the controller to transition the data storage device from an inactive state to a normal operational mode. During a bootstrap mode, the controller generates a first authentication token, receives a second authentication token responsive to the first authentication token, and authorizes use of new system programming responsive to the second authentication token. The new system programming is stored in a local memory of the data storage device and executed by the controller during the normal operational mode. | 05-07-2015 |
20150127138 | Adaptive Fastener Access Tool - A tool may be configured at least with a fastener that can be accessed with a shaped bit. A controller portion of the tool can be arranged to predict bit deflection that enables a tool configuration to be adapted in response to actual bit deflection to conform to the predicted bit deflection. | 05-07-2015 |
20150124355 | RECORDING HEAD WITH PIEZOELECTRIC CONTACT SENSOR - Example embodiments include an apparatus that has a piezoelectric contact sensor. The piezoelectric contact sensor includes a semiconductor device having a semiconductor material that defines a channel through which current can flow. The piezoelectric contact sensor also includes a piezoelectric element coupled to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is configured to modulate the current channel in response to compressive stress waves at the contact sensor. Other example embodiments include an apparatus that has a slider having an air-bearing surface, a write head integral to the slider, and a piezoelectric contact sensor that includes a semiconductor device and a piezoelectric element. | 05-07-2015 |
20150124354 | CONTACT PAD FOR RECORDING HEADS - A recording head that includes at least one protection feature that prevents at least one other feature of the recording head from directly colliding with a data storage medium with which the recording head communicates. The recording head includes a transducer element having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The recording head also includes a transducer element heater located closer to the leading edge of the transducer element than the trailing edge of the transducer element. A contact pad is interposed between the leading edge of the transducer element and the transducer element heater to prevent the transducer element from directly colliding with the data storage medium. | 05-07-2015 |
20150120636 | DERIVING AN OPERATIONAL STATE OF A DATA CENTER USING A PREDICTIVE COMPUTER ANALYSIS MODEL - Performance of a data center is predicted using a computer analysis model. Operational measurements of components of computing nodes of the data center are received as input to the computer analysis model. An operational state of the data center is derived via the computer analysis model responsive to the operational measurements. | 04-30-2015 |
20150117169 | NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER WITH ROUNDED OR OBTUSE CORNERS - Embodiments are directed to an apparatus having an air-bearing surface that is configured to interact with magnetic medium. The apparatus includes a waveguide and a plasmonic near-field transducer positioned at or near the air-bearing surface. The plasmonic near-field transducer is operatively coupled to the waveguide. The plasmonic near-field transducer includes an enlarged region and a peg region. The peg region extends from the enlarged region towards the air-bearing surface. The peg region has at least a portion of a periphery of its cross-sectional shape include curvature or at least one substantially obtuse angle. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116870 | SPIN TRANSPORT SENSOR - The implementations disclosed herein provide for a spin transport sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) adjacent a shield element. The SAF extends to an air-bearing surface (ABS) and provides a current path from a current source to an ABS-region of a spin conductor layer. Spin current diffuses from the spin conductor layer to an adjacent free layer, which generates a measurable electrical voltage in a free layer of the spin transport sensor. The SAF serves as both a magnetic shield and a spin injector to the spin conductor layer. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116868 | LAYERED SYNTHETIC ANTI-FERROMAGNETIC UPPER SHIELD - A magneto-resistive (MR) sensor may include a variety of individual functional layers whereby an electrical resistance throughout the layers of the sensor stack varies according to the polarity of a pinned layer within the sensor stack. A layered synthetic anti-ferromagnetic (SAF) upper shield of the MR sensor includes an upper SAF layer and a lower SAF layer separated by a shield anti-ferromagnetic (AFM) layer. The lower SAF layer is in contact with a side shield of the MR sensor, which provides a side shield biasing field to the MR sensor. The upper SAF layer separates the lower SAF layer from a top shield and/or domain control structure (DCS) magnet(s) of the MR sensor and shields the lower SAF layer and the sensor stack from DCS stray field(s), thereby reducing noise. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116862 | Data Storage Device with HGSA Offset Compensation - A data storage device may be configured at least with an actuating assembly that has a head-gimbal suspension assembly (HGSA), first pivot point, and second pivot point. The head-gimbal assembly can be constructed and operated with at least first and second transducers aligned along a longitudinal axis of the head-gimbal suspension assembly. A controller may be adopted to manipulate the head-gimbal suspension assembly about at least one of the pivot points in response to a head-gimbal suspension assembly offset misalignment to compensate for such an offset. | 04-30-2015 |
20150116690 | BIT PATTERNED MEDIA TEMPLATE INCLUDING ALIGNMENT MARK AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A method is disclosed that includes forming at least one substrate alignment mark and at least one lithography alignment mark in a substrate; forming a seed layer on the substrate; and forming a guide pattern and at least one guide pattern alignment mark in the seed layer, where the at least one guide pattern alignment mark is formed over the at least one substrate alignment mark. The method further includes determining an alignment error of the at least one guide pattern alignment mark relative to the at least one substrate alignment mark; and patterning features on at least one region of the substrate, where the features are positioned on the substrate based on the at least one lithography alignment mark and the alignment error. | 04-30-2015 |
20150113201 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRESERVING DATA OF A STORAGE DEVICE - A method and system for preserving data of a storage device are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a number of times data is written to a first track in a first region of a storage medium, and rewriting data from a second track that is adjacent to the first track in the first region if the number of times data is written to the first track in the first region exceeds a first predetermined threshold. The method further includes determining a number of times data is rewritten to the second track in the first region, and relocating data from the second track in the first region to a second region of the storage medium if the number of times data is rewritten to the second track in the first region exceeds a second predetermined threshold. | 04-23-2015 |
20150103445 | T-SHAPED WRITE POLE - A magnetic element may be generally configured with at least a write pole that has leading and trailing regions on an air bearing surface. The leading region may have a trailing width connected to a leading width of the trailing region via a transition feature to form a substantially T-shaped cross-section on the air bearing surface. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103444 | SLIDER WITH HIGH AND LOW SURFACE ENERGY COATINGS PROXIMATE TRANSDUCER - A slider, such as for a data storage system, the slider having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an air-bearing surface, and a transducer proximate the trailing edge. The slider has a low surface energy coating on the air-bearing surface and a high surface energy coating on the transducer. In some embodiments, the high surface energy coating is present on a contact sensor. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103443 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING MAGNETIC HEADS USING A TRIGGER READER ELECTRONIC LAPPING GUIDE - A method of manufacturing a magnetic read-write head, including the steps of presenting a row bar to a processing location, the row bar including an air bearing surface, at least one read-write head, at least one electronic lapping guide, and at least one trigger device, wherein each electronic lapping guide is positioned at a different distance from the air bearing surface than each trigger device, and wherein the read-write head and at least one of the trigger devices include a multi-layer stack of materials; lapping the air bearing surface while measuring the electrical resistance of at least one electronic lapping guide and at least one trigger device until the resistance measurement of the trigger device provides an open circuit reading, and measuring an offset resistance value of the at least one electronic lapping guide concurrently with the measurement of the open circuit reading by the trigger device. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103442 | Magnetic Head With Integrated Write Driver - An apparatus and associated method generally relate to data writing and more specifically to writing data to a rotating media. An embodiment of such an apparatus comprises a slider body, a transducer and a write driver. The transducer comprises a writer. The write driver is integrated on the slider body, and directly connected to the writer. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103439 | WRITE POLE WITH VARYING BEVEL ANGLES - A magnetic element can have at least a write pole configured with a write pole tip that has a tip surface oriented at a first angle with respect to an air bearing surface (ABS), a first bevel surface extending from the ABS and oriented at a second angle with respect to the ABS, and a second bevel surface extending from the ABS and oriented at a third angle with respect to the ABS. The first, second, and third angles may be configured to be different and non-orthogonal to each other. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103438 | Data Reader with Magnetic Seed Lamination - A magnetic element capable of reading data may generally be configured at least with a magnetic seed lamination disposed between a data reader stack and a magnetic shield. The magnetic seed lamination may be constructed at least with one magnetic layer coupled to the bottom shield and at least one non-magnetic layer decoupling the data reader stack from the at least one magnetic layer. | 04-16-2015 |
20150103430 | BOND PAD SHARING FOR POWERING A MULTIPLICITY OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - A bond pad set includes at least one ground pad and at least one electrical bond pad configured to bias and send/receive signals. The bond pad set is electrically connected to a multiplicity of electrical components. At least one electrical bond pad of the bond pad set is shared between two or more of the electrical components. | 04-16-2015 |
20150100820 | PROTECTING VOLATILE DATA OF A STORAGE DEVICE IN RESPONSE TO A STATE RESET - An imminent state reset of a data storage device is detected. In response to determining volatile data of the data storage device could be lost in response to the state reset, the volatile data of the data storage device is stored to a backup memory of the data storage device together with first header data that facilitates recovering the volatile data. The backup memory includes non-volatile, solid-state memory. In response to determining the volatile data would not be lost in response to the state reset, second header data is stored in the backup memory. After the state reset, a recovery of the volatile data from in the backup memory is attempted if the first header data is detected, or a host device is alerted if neither the first header data or second header data is detected. | 04-09-2015 |
20150099427 | Slider Level Lapping Carrier - A carrier may be configured and operated to engage a lapping plate with a plurality of physically separated sliders attached to a common adhesive of the carrier. The carrier can be constructed to have at least one finger adjacent to and capable of translating a single slider of the plurality of physically separated sliders. | 04-09-2015 |
20150098155 | Magnetic Sensor Shield Pinned by a High-Coercivity Ferromagnet - A magnetic sensor may generally be configured as a data reader capable of sensing data bits from an adjacent data storage medium. Various embodiments of a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack that contacts at least a first shield. The first shield can have at least one synthetic antiferromagnetic structure (SAFS) that is pinned by a high-coercivity ferromagnetic (HCFM) layer. | 04-09-2015 |
20150098152 | ELECTRICALLY INSULATING MAGNETIC MATERIAL FOR A READ HEAD - An apparatus such as a magnetic recording head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The apparatus includes first coplanar electrical contacts respectively disposed on and in electrical contact with first surfaces of the at least two read transducers and an electrically insulating magnetic material disposed between the electrical contacts. | 04-09-2015 |
20150098151 | MAGNETIC READ HEAD WITH SEPARATELY ADDRESSABLE READ TRANSDUCERS - A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, w | 04-09-2015 |
20150093598 | MAGNETIC STACK INCLUDING MgO-Ti(ON) INTERLAYER - A stack includes a substrate and a magnetic recording layer. Disposed between the substrate and magnetic recording layer is an MgO—Ti(ON) layer. | 04-02-2015 |
20150093061 | APPARATUSES AND METHODS HAVING A BEARING SHIELD ARRANGEMENT - Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed towards an apparatus/method including rolling elements, an outer ring surrounding an inner ring and the inner and outer rings guiding rotation of the rolling elements in a rotation region therebetween, and a cap secured to the inner ring. The apparatus further includes a bearing shield arrangement secured to one of the outer and inner rings and configured with the other of the outer and inner rings to define a gap for the flow of vapor or lubricant from the rotation region through a vapor restricting pathway. | 04-02-2015 |
20150092288 | SIGNAL NOISE REJECTION - An implementation of a system disclosed herein provides a method of determining a frequency of baseline noise in a target or read sensor signal and rejecting a band of signals from the target or read sensor signal substantially around the frequency of the baseline noise, including devices to implement this method. | 04-02-2015 |
20150091475 | EFFICIENT ENERGY RECOVERY IN DISK DRIVE DURING POWER LOSS - A back electromotive force of a rotating motor is converted into a voltage for a load by driving, in accordance with a duty cycle, at least one switching circuit that couples the back electromotive force to a load through a rectifying circuit. An error signal is generated that is a difference between the load voltage and a reference voltage. The duty cycle is controlled as a function of the error signal to cause the load voltage to approach the reference voltage. | 04-02-2015 |
20150089317 | STORAGE DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE CODING REDUNDANCIES - A storage device is configured to utilize different encoding and decoding schemes in reading and writing data to different regions of a storage device based on the position of the storage regions and/or component-specific physical characteristics of the regions. Each encoding scheme may include multiple different types of encoders selected based an optimization process for each region. | 03-26-2015 |
20150089278 | VARIABLE DATA RECOVERY SCHEME HIERARCHY - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory has a plurality of solid-state non-volatile memory cells. A processing circuit is connected to the memory and configured to direct the execution of a plurality of read error recovery routines in response to at least one uncorrectable read error in a data set retrieved from the memory. The recovery routines are executed in a selected order based on an elapsed recovery time parameter for each of the recovery routines and an estimated probability of success of each of the recovery routines. | 03-26-2015 |
20150089119 | COMMAND EXECUTION USING EXISTING ADDRESS INFORMATION - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a memory module has a plurality of solid-state non-volatile memory cells. A controller communicates a first command having address information and a first operation code. The first operation code identifies a first action to be taken by the memory module in relation to the address information. The controller subsequently communicates a second command having a second operation code without corresponding address information. The memory module takes a second action identified by the second command using the address information from the first command. | 03-26-2015 |
20150089109 | DATA STORAGE SYSTEM WITH PRE-BOOT INTERFACE - A data storage system and associated method of using may generally have at least a data storage device that has independent first and second interfaces respectively connecting the data storage device to a host controller and an auxiliary controller. The auxiliary controller can be configured to provide system information to the data storage device prior to a synchronized connection being established between the data storage device and the host controller. | 03-26-2015 |
20150085632 | DETECTION AND REMEDIATION OF HEAD CONTAMINATION - A heat generating component of a slider is energized at a predetermined frequency. The heat generating component changes a spacing between a medium and the slider. A temperature response proximate a media-facing surface of the slider is measured while the heating element is energized. Based on the measured temperature response, a determination is made as to whether the media-facing surface is contaminated. In response to determining that the media-facing surface is contaminated, remedial action is taken. | 03-26-2015 |
20150085630 | MULTI-PURPOSE NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER HAVING A TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF RESISTANCE - An apparatus includes a writer, an arrangement comprising a plasmonic near-field transducer (NFT) adjacent the writer and comprising a material having a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), and a lead arrangement connected to the NFT arrangement. In some configurations, the NFT arrangement includes a heat sink, and the lead arrangement is connected to the heat sink. In other configurations, the lead arrangement is connected directly to the NFT. | 03-26-2015 |
20150085402 | VARYING DATA WRITER SIDE SHIELD GAP DISTAL THE ABS - A data writing element may be configured at least with a write pole positioned adjacent a first shield along a first axis and adjacent a second shield along a second axis. The second shield may be separated from the write pole by a first gap distance on an air bearing surface (ABS) and by a second gap distance distal the ABS with the first and second gap distances meeting at a transition surface oriented parallel to the ABS. | 03-26-2015 |
20150084624 | MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR - Implementations disclosed herein allow a signal detected by a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor to be improved by providing for one or more alloyed layers that each include a ferromagnetic material and a refractory material. The alloyed layers are provided adjacent to a shield element or between soft magnetic layers of the sensor stack. | 03-26-2015 |
20150083601 | NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCERS INCLUDING ELECTRODEPOSITED PLASMONIC MATERIALS AND METHODS OF FORMING - Methods of forming near field transducers (NFTs) including electrodepositing a plasmonic material. | 03-26-2015 |
20150082650 | ROW BAR THICKNESS MEASUREMENT DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHODS - A device and system for precise measurement of a thickness and determination of a profile of a slider row bar. The device includes a bar mount fixture having a structure for supporting the row bar by an edge, a first probe and a second probe on either side of the row bar, each probe being a non-contact sensor with a measurement precision of 0.5 micrometer, with each of the probes laterally moveable in relation to the bar mount fixture. Also included are methods of using a device for precisely measuring of a thickness and determining of a profile of a slider row bar. | 03-26-2015 |
20150077882 | READER STRUCTURE - Implementations described and claimed herein provide a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer with canted pinning, wherein a down-track direction facing surface of the SAF layer has edges that are substantially parallel to pinning direction of the SAF layer. | 03-19-2015 |
20150077148 | WORK PIECE CONTACT PAD WITH CENTERING FEATURE - A data storage device may be tested during or after manufacture by a testing device that may have at least a work piece with at least one contact pad concurrently contacting bottom and sidewall surfaces of a probe tip with a centering feature of the at least one contact pad. | 03-19-2015 |
20150074677 | LOAD ADAPTIVE PIPELINE - A load adaptive pipeline system includes a data recovery pipeline configured to transfer data between a memory and a host. The pipeline includes a plurality of resources, one or more of the plurality of resources in the pipeline have multiple resource components available for allocation. The system includes a pipeline controller configured to assess at least one parameter affecting data transfer through the pipeline. The pipeline controller is configure to allocate resource components to the one or more resources in the pipeline in response to assessment of the at least one data transfer parameter. | 03-12-2015 |
20150074488 | DYNAMIC DISTRIBUTION OF CODE WORDS AMONG MULTIPLE DECODERS - A device comprising a data transfer channel is configured to transfer data between multiple memory devices and a host device. The channel includes multiple decoders and a buffer coupled between the multiple memory devices and the multiple decoders. The buffer is configured to store code words received from the memory devices. Channel control logic is configured to determine availability of one or more of the multiple decoders and to distribute the code words to the one or more decoders based on decoder availability. | 03-12-2015 |
20150074487 | Memory Device with Variable Code Rate - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, the apparatus has a solid-state non-volatile memory and a processing circuit configured to write data to a selected location of the memory. The data are arranged in the form of multi-bit code words each comprising a user data payload and associated parity data configured to correct one or more bit errors in the user data payload. The processing circuit adjusts at least a selected one of a size of the code words, a size of the user data payloads or a size of the parity data responsive to at least a selected one of an accumulated count of access operations upon the selected location or an error rate associated with the selected location. | 03-12-2015 |
20150074486 | TRANSFER UNIT MANAGEMENT - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory. In accordance with some embodiments, a non-volatile memory is arranged into a plurality of blocks, with each of the blocks constituting an integral plural number N of fixed-sized, multi-bit transfer units. A processing circuit retrieves at least a portion of the data stored in a selected block to a volatile memory buffer in response to a transfer unit (TU) bit map. The TU bit map is stored in a memory and provides a multi-bit sequence of bits corresponding to the N transfer units of the selected block. The values of the bits in the multi-bit sequence of bits indicate whether the corresponding transfer units are to be retrieved. | 03-12-2015 |
20150072593 | APPARATUS INCLUDING ELECTRICAL LAPPING GUIDE AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - An electrical lapping guide has a body with a thickness along a wafer axis, the body comprising a layer of conductive material having a resistivity. The conductive material layer comprises a first contact region and a second contact region, the first and second contact regions configured to electrically connect the electrical lapping guide to electrical leads. A lapping edge comprises an air-bearing plane axis perpendicular to a lapping axis, and a back edge opposite the lapping edge, the back edge comprising a plurality of notches. | 03-12-2015 |
20150070800 | Injector Stack with Diffusive Layer - A data reader may be configured at least with detector and injector stacks that each has a common spin accumulation layer. The detector stack may positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) while the injector stack is positioned distal the ABS. The injector stack can have a diffusive layer with a larger spin diffusion length than mean free path. | 03-12-2015 |
20150070799 | Depolarizing Layer in a Magnetic Stack - A data reader may be configured at least with a magnetic stack positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) and contacting a spin depolarizing layer that is a minority spin current carrier. The spin depolarizing layer can have a thickness and spin diffusion length corresponding to a net zero spin polarization at an interface of the magnetic stack and spin depolarizing layer. | 03-12-2015 |
20150064365 | METHODS OF FORMING FILMS - A method of forming a layer, the method including providing a feedstock, the feedstock including a first component and a second component; ionizing at least part of the feedstock thereby forming a plasma, wherein the plasma includes constituents selected from: the first component, derivatives of the first component, ions of the first component, ions of derivatives of the first component, the second component, derivatives of the second component, ions of the second component, ions of derivatives of the second component, or combinations thereof, and wherein the individual identities, individual ratios, total quantities, or any combination thereof of the first and second component in the feedstock can modulate the makeup of the plasma; forming a beam from the plasma; and forming a layer from the beam, wherein the layer includes at least some portion of at least the first or the second component. | 03-05-2015 |
20150063087 | PEG HEIGHT OF NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCERS - A method is provided for characterizing the peg region of a near-field transducer incorporated into a write head of a HAMR magnetic recorder. The method includes providing excitation radiation to one or more near-field transducers. The near-field transducers include an enlarged disk region and a peg region at least partially in contact with the enlarged disk region. The method further includes filtering output radiation from the near-field transducers by passing a portion of photoluminescent radiation emitted by the near-field transducers in response to the excitation radiation and substantially blocking the excitation radiation transmitted by the near-field transducers. The method also includes detecting the portion of photoluminescent radiation and characterizing the peg region of at least one of the plurality of near-field transducers. | 03-05-2015 |
20150063086 | MAGNETIC ADHESION LAYER AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME - A device having an air bearing surface and a method of forming the device are disclosed. The device can include a writer portion including a surface at the air bearing surface of the device, a magnetic adhesion layer disposed proximate at least a portion of the surface of the writer portion, and an overcoat disposed proximate at least a portion of the magnetic adhesion layer such that the magnetic adhesion layer is between the at least a portion of the surface of the writer portion and the overcoat. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062757 | Magnetic Stack with Different Areal Extents on an Air Bearing Surface - A data reader may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has a first magnetic layer separated from a second magnetic layer by a non-magnetic spacer layer. The first magnetic layer may have an areal extent on an air bearing surface (ABS) that differs from the second magnetic layer while the second magnetic layer can be configured with a first plurality of linear sidewalls that are each angled with respect to a second plurality of linear sidewalls of the first magnetic layer. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062756 | READER STRUCTURE - An apparatus disclosed herein comprises a reader structure having a sensor stack and a bottom shield having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of the bottom shield in a cross-track direction, wherein the first end is formed by intersection of arcs. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062755 | DUAL READER STRUCTURE - Implementations described and claimed herein provide a dual reader wherein a bottom shield is attached to side shields. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062754 | WRITER CORE INCORPORATING THERMAL SENSOR HAVING A TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT OF RESISTANCE - A writer core of a transducer is configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and comprises an upper core and a lower core. At least one of the upper and lower cores comprises a return pole having a return shield. The apparatus also comprises a writer pole between the upper and lower cores, and a writer gap defined between the writer pole and the return shield. The apparatus further comprises a sensor element within one of the upper and lower cores that includes the writer gap. The sensor element has a temperature coefficient of resistance and is configured to sense for a change in temperature indicative of one or both of a change in spacing and contact between the transducer and the magnetic recording medium. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062746 | IN-SITU LAPPING PLATE MAPPING DEVICE - A device and associated method of use can have at least an object with a work surface that contacts a lapping surface of a tool. Topography of the lapping surface can be mapped in-situ by an adjacent sensor array and the topography stored in a memory. The sensor array may be configured with a plurality of sensors positioned on opposite sides of the object. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062736 | CACHE DATA MANAGEMENT FOR PROGRAM EXECUTION - Implementations disclosed herein provide for sequential readback of program data in from a cached data region of a storage device. In particular, the disclosed technology provides for storing a sequence of logical addresses associated with execution of a program, the sequence of logical addresses including at least two consecutive logical addresses associated with non-consecutive data blocks in a user data region; writing data corresponding to the at least two consecutive logical addresses to sequential data blocks in a cached data region; determining that a sequence of read commands from a host computer is associated with the data; and reading the data from the cached data region. | 03-05-2015 |
20150062735 | DUAL READER STRUCTURE - Implementations described and claimed herein provide a stacked dual reader with a bottom sensor stack and a top sensor stack wherein the bottom sensor stack and the top sensor stack are mirrored along a down-track direction. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061469 | SPOT WELDS ALIGNING MOTOR COMPONENTS - Provided herein, is an apparatus that includes a first weld attaching a first motor component and a second motor component, a second weld attaching the first motor component and the second motor component, and a plurality of spot welds along a joint between the first and second weld wherein the plurality of spot welds are configured to align the first motor component and the second motor component. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061438 | MAGNET CO-FORMED TO BACK IRON - An apparatus includes a hub. The apparatus also includes a back iron that is coupled to the hub. In addition, a magnetic annulus is co-formed to the back iron. | 03-05-2015 |
20150058683 | RETENTION BASED DEFECTING IN A HYBRID MEMORY SYSTEM - A first page in a memory unit is programmed with one or more pages of the secondary memory. A first time corresponding to the start of the programming of the first page is recorded. A second time corresponding to the completion of the programming of the one or more pages is recorded. A time difference between the first time and the second time is determined. It is determined if the time difference is greater than a threshold. In response to the time difference being greater than the threshold, a retention based defecting process is for the memory unit is disabled. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058638 | Data Transcription in a Data Storage Device - A method of protecting information in a data storage device is provided. The method includes receiving, in the data storage device, encrypted data via a host computer in which the data storage device is employed. The encrypted data is then decrypted, and re-encrypted, in the data storage device, either before storage or just before data is transferred back to the host computer. The decryption and re-encryption (transcription) is performed substantially independently of the host computer. In addition, a data storage device, readable by a computer system, for implementing the above method for protecting information is provided. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058527 | HYBRID MEMORY WITH ASSOCIATIVE CACHE - A hybrid memory system includes a primary memory comprising a host memory space arranged as memory sectors corresponding to host logical block addresses (host LBAs). A secondary memory is implemented as a cache for the primary host memory. A hybrid controller is configured directly map the clusters of host LBAs to clusters of secondary memory. The secondary memory clusters correspond to a memory space of the cache. Mapping of the host LBA secondary memory clusters is fully associative such that any host LBA cluster can be mapped to any secondary memory cluster. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058526 | MEMORY ACCESS REQUESTS IN HYBRID MEMORY SYSTEM - Incoming memory access requests are routed in a set of incoming queues, the incoming memory access requests comprise a range of host logical block addresses (LBAs) that correspond to a memory space of a primary memory. The host LBA range is directly mapped to clusters of secondary memory, the secondary memory corresponding to a memory space of a secondary memory. Each incoming memory access request queued in the set of incoming queues is transformed into one or more outgoing memory access requests that include a range of secondary memory clusters or one or more clusters of secondary memory clusters. The outgoing memory access requests are routed in a set of outgoing queues. The secondary memory is accessed using the outgoing memory access requests. | 02-26-2015 |
20150058525 | GARBAGE COLLECTION IN HYBRID MEMORY SYSTEM - A hybrid memory system includes a primary memory and a secondary memory. A garbage collection operation is performed on the hybrid memory system. A read operation comprising reading data from a first cluster of a plurality of clusters is performed. Responsive to a determination that the read operation failed, the first cluster is unmapped without writing the data to a second cluster and the first cluster continues to be used for subsequent data storage. Responsive to a determination that the read operation did not fail, data is written to the second cluster. | 02-26-2015 |
20150055441 | MAGNETIC DEVICE INCLUDING A NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER - A recording device and a method of forming a recording device are disclosed. The recording device includes an air bearing surface and a near field transducer including a surface proximate the air bearing surface. The device also includes a write pole including a sloped pole piece proximate the near field transducer, where the sloped pole piece includes an end proximate the air bearing surface; a capping material disposed proximate the surface of the near field transducer; and an overcoat layer disposed proximate the capping material and at least a portion of the air bearing surface of the recording device. | 02-26-2015 |
20150055307 | Windowed Reference Planes for Embedded Conductors - A rigid multi-layer printed circuit board (PCB) has an embedded elongated conductor between opposing first and second reference planes. The first and second reference planes are formed of conductive material and are electrically isolated from the conductor by intervening insulative material. Each of the first and second reference planes have a plurality of spaced apart windows extending therethrough, the windows aligned with the elongated conductor. | 02-26-2015 |
20150055251 | READER STRUCTURE - An apparatus disclosed herein includes a sensor with a free layer having cross-track easy axis anisotropy. | 02-26-2015 |
20150052416 | Determining Data Retention Time in a Solid-State Non-Volatile Memory - Method and apparatus for managing data in a memory, such as a flash memory array. In accordance with some embodiments, a test pattern is written to a selected block of solid-state non-volatile memory cells. The test pattern is read from the selected block and a total number of read errors is identified. A data retention time is determined in response to the total number of read errors and an elapsed time interval between the writing of the test pattern and the reading of the test pattern. Data in a second block of the solid-state non-volatile memory cells are thereafter refreshed in relation to the determined data retention time. | 02-19-2015 |
20150052370 | Cascaded Data Encryption Dependent on Attributes of Physical Memory - Apparatus and method for providing data security through cascaded encryption. In accordance with various embodiments, input data are encrypted in relation to a first auxiliary data value to provide first level ciphertext. The first level ciphertext are encrypted using a second auxiliary data value associated with a selected physical location in a memory to produce second level ciphertext, which are thereafter stored to the selected physical location. In some embodiments, migration of the stored data to a new target location comprises partial decryption and re-encryption of the data using a third auxiliary data value associated with a new target physical location to produce third level ciphertext, and the storage of the third level ciphertext to the new target physical location. | 02-19-2015 |
20150049595 | SLIDER FOR MAGNETIC RECORDING APPARATUS WITH PROJECTION COMPRISING OPTICAL TURNING ELEMENT AND METHODS OF FABRICATION THEREOF - An apparatus includes a slider, a light source disposed upon an outer surface of the slider and a projection extending above the outer surface of the slider. The light source comprises a resonant cavity aligned with the outer surface of the slider. The projection comprises an optical turning element that is optically coupled to the light source. Also included are methods of fabrication thereof. | 02-19-2015 |
20150046747 | TORN WRITE MITIGATION - Torn write mitigation circuitry determines if a write operation to memory is in progress at or about a time of power loss. In response to the write operation being in progress at or about the time of the power loss, the torn write mitigation circuitry causes torn write data and metadata to be stored to a non-volatile cache. The torn write data comprise data left in a degraded or uncorrectable state as a result of the loss of power. The metadata describe the torn write data. | 02-12-2015 |
20150043317 | GRATING BASED LASER AND POWER MONITOR FOR A HEAT-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING DEVICE - A head assembly includes a submount, a body with a first surface, an optical path, a near field transducer (NFT), a sensor, and a laser. The optical path is disposed in the body and is adapted to receive light and convey the light to a distal end of the waveguide. The near field transducer (NFT) is disposed adjacent the distal end of the waveguide and has an output end proximate the first surface of the body. The sensor interfaces with the submount and the laser is attached to the submount along a non-primary lasing surface. The laser is adapted to inject light into the waveguide and includes a grating adapted to diffract a portion of the light through the non-primary lasing surface to the sensor. | 02-12-2015 |
20150043316 | APPARATUS WITH A PLURALITY OF HEAT SINKS - An apparatus comprises a write transducer comprising a write pole having a tip portion proximate a media-facing surface and a return pole spaced apart from the write pole in a downtrack direction. The apparatus further includes first and second heat sink portions. The first heat sink portion surrounds a first side of the tip portion that faces the return pole and extends outwards from the tip portion in a cross-track direction. The second heat sink portion comprises a first surface proximate the first heat sink portion and a second surface proximate the return pole and extends outwards in the cross-track direction further than the first heat sink portion. | 02-12-2015 |
20150043315 | NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER WITH ENLARGED REGION, PEG REGION, AND HEAT SINK REGION - A near-field transducer includes an enlarged region having a top side adjacent to a magnetic pole, a base side opposite the top side, and a circumference that extends from proximal to a media-facing surface to distal to a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes a peg region in contact with a region of the bas side of the enlarged region, the peg region extending from the enlarged region towards the media-facing surface. The near-field transducer also includes a heat sink region having a contact side, a base side, and a circumference that extends from proximal to the media-facing surface to distal from the media-facing surface. The contact side of the heat sink region is in thermal contact with both the peg region and at least a region of the base side of the enlarged region. | 02-12-2015 |