Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Aravind Raghunathan

Kent Douglas Anderson

Anantha Raman Krishnan

Shafa Dahandeh

David W Wheelock

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. A write power for the laser is calibrated, wherein the write power is applied to the laser while writing user data to the disk. A calibration power is applied to the laser for a first interval, wherein the calibration power is high enough to cause the head to contact the disk if applied for a second interval longer than the first interval. While applying the calibration power to the laser, test data is written to the disk during at least part of the first interval. The test data is read from the disk to generate a read signal, and a metric is generated based on the read signal.

Data storage device calibrating parameter for heat assisted magnetic recording

A reader failover system and method are described for a data storage system. At least two reader systems, including a first reader element and a second reader element, situated on the same head, are employed to read a magnetic storage medium. In an aspect, the head is a two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) head. Control circuitry detects when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, and thereafter causes the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium. In an aspect, a buffer stores a first reader element signal until the control circuitry detects whether or not the first reader element provides less than a predetermined performance or fails. In an aspect, when a reader element fails, data recovery is performed, and all of, or a majority of, the media continues to be readable, improving the data storage system robustness.

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Irvine, CA, United States of America

Aravind Raghunathan