Seagate Technology Incorporated

Jpmorgan Chase Bank, As Collateral Agent

KokHoe Chia

Myint Ngwe

TeckKhoon Lim

KianKeong Ooi

BengWee Quak

CheeWai Lum

Kwee Teck Say

MingZhong Ding

Beng Wee Quak

UttHeng Kan

Tien Hiong Lee

Teck Khoon Lim

WeiLoon Ng

Song Wee Teo

LeeLing Tan

Jimmy Pang

QuekLeong Choo

Djohni Chandra

EngHock Lim

Soon Wah Leow

JinQuan Shen

SweeKieong Choo

KokSeng Lim

SoonWah Leow

TienHiong Lee

WeeMeng Yio

A method, and system configured to implement the method, are provided. The method includes the steps of identifying a last usable track on a surface as a function of a parameter, and defining a standoff band of tracks relative to the last usable track to obtain an achieved maximum track on the surface. The last usable track is, in exemplary embodiments, a track beyond a default maximum track on a surface of a data storage medium.

Adaptive recording band expansion methodology

A buffer random access memory has a first portion reserved for a defect table and a second portion reserved for data caching. A method of managing the buffer random access memory includes determining actual memory space of the first portion which is occupied by the defect table. This identifies unused memory space of the first portion of the buffer random access memory. The method then includes reallocating the unused memory space of the first portion of the buffer random access memory for use in data caching. Controllers and mass storage devices which implement the method are also provided.

Method and apparatus for managing buffer random access memory

Method and apparatus for detecting defects in a magnetic medium of a data handling system. The magnetic medium includes a number of user data wedges each disposed between an adjacent pair of servo data wedges. A predetermined data sequence is written to the user data wedges, and subsequently read to generate a readback signal. A sequence of discrete time sample values are generated from the readback signal. Defects in the medium are detected in relation to the magnitudes of the discrete time samples. A media scan controller outputs a first multi-bit information record having at least one bit composing the address of the user data wedge containing a defect, and a second multi-bit information record having at least one bit composing an address of the defect within the user data wedge. No information is written to the buffer when no defects are identified.

User data wedge media certification apparatus and method

An apparatus and associated method for detecting head collision with disc media, or other matter, during a write operation is disclosed. The method and apparatus generally monitor the resistance of an MR element on the head in order to detect a temperature increases indicative of a head collision. The resistance can be compared to a pre-selected threshold to generate an output indicative of head collision.

Write head collision detection using MR read element in disc drives

Method and apparatus for increasing process yields of data storage devices which store data on media surfaces using read/write heads. An initial linear bit recording density is determined for each head, the linear bit recording density comprising a density at which each head is capable of writing data to and reading data from the corresponding media surface. Defective storage sectors are identified on the media surfaces to determine whether a sufficient number of logical storage sectors are available to meet a predetermined data storage capacity. The linear bit recording density of at least one of the heads is then altered to ensure that the storage device has sufficient logical storage sectors to meet the predetermined capacity.

Method and apparatus for increasing process yields of data storage devices

A recording surface is segmented into a plurality of radial zones each containing a plurality of concentric tracks on which data may be recorded. The recording surface is initially formatted with a data frequency for each zone such that all of the zones have substantially the same data density. The data frequency is reduced for a first zone whose error rate is initially less than the predetermined error rate so that the first zone exhibits an error rate meeting the predetermined error rate. The data frequency for a second zone whose data transfer error factor initially exceeds the predetermined error rate is increased to restore any loss of storage capacity of the recording surface due to the reduced data frequency in the first zone. As a result, the data density in the first zone is substantially less than a nominal data density and the data density in a second zone is substantially greater than the nominal data density. The data storage capacity of the recording surface is at least as great as a minimum data storage capacity.

Adaptive zone frequency compensation for disc drives

A data storage device has a plurality of head/surface combinations with different data track densities on at least two surfaces. A minimum head quality is established for the data storage apparatus. Head quality is identified for each of the heads at each of a plurality of track densities. A tuned track density is selected for each surface based on the track density that corresponds to a head quality.

Tuning track density for data storage device

A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to said base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes an actuator arm and a transducer head in a transducing relationship with respect to the disc. The transducer is attached to the actuator arm. A method for screening disc drives for resonant frequencies associated with the actuator arm includes the steps of following a track within the disc drive, and selectively boosting the servo control signal. The method further includes a step of monitoring a position error signal from a transducer attached to an actuator arm of a disc drive. The position error signal is monitored by filtering the position error signal using a bandpass filter. Boosting the servo control loop includes tuning the magnitude of the booster signal gain.

Resonance screen with varying frequency and controllable gain booster

A method sets bit densities and track densities for a plurality of heads in a data storage device. The method includes determining an initial bit density and an initial track density for each head. An initial total capacity for the storage device is determined based on the initial track densities and the initial bit densities. A desired capacity for the storage device is selected and the initial total capacity and the desired capacity are compared. One of either a bit density or a track density is then adjusted so that the data storage device has an adjusted capacity that provides some excess capacity over the desired capacity where the excess capacity is less than any excess capacity that was present between the initial capacity and the desired capacity. A data storage device formed through this method is also provided.

Adjusting track density and bit density to provide limited excess capacity in a storage device

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Singapore, Singapore

KokHoe Chia