Seagate Technology Incorporated

Robert Edward Weinstein

Mark Anthony Gubbins

James Joseph Touchton

Robert William Lamberton

Monty Aaron Forehand

Michael D Schaff

Randall Lee Pacek

John Charles Harig, Iii

Elias Glavinas

Timothy Ray Mason

The presently disclosed technology teaches integrating disc drive electronics into a transducer head. Decreased electrical transit times and data processing times can be achieved by placing the electronics on or within the transducer head because electrical connections may be made physically shorter than in conventional systems. The electronics may include one or more of a control system circuit, a write driver, and/or a data buffer. The control system circuit generates a modified clock signal that has a fixed relation to phase and frequency of a bit-detected reference signal that corresponds to positions of patterned bits on the disc. The write driver writes outgoing data bits received from an external connection to off-head electronics directly to the writer synchronized with the modified clock signal. The data buffer stores and converts digital data bits sent from the off-head electronics to an analog signal that is synchronized with the modified clock signal.

On head microelectronics for write synchronization

A data storage device in which access to user data is restricted. The data storage device includes a data memory having memory locations that store user data. The device also has a program memory. The program memory includes first program code that enables a user to create a first device security ID and thereby restrict access to the stored data. Second program code, also included in the program memory, is capable of receiving a security command and comparing a second device security ID associated with the received security command to a stored security key. If the second device security ID and the stored security key correspond, then authentication with the first device security ID is bypassed and access is provided to the stored data.

Restricted erase and unlock of data storage devices

A procedure for estimating bit error rate (BER) for disc media in a disc drive is disclosed. Initially, the BER estimation procedure writes random data to specified tracks on the disc media. The procedure then reads the specified tracks over predefined time intervals to determine a BER for the disc media at the termination of each interval. Using the determined bit error rates, the procedure extrapolates the BER values to generate a decay graph representative of a BER slope over the time period comprising the time intervals. The decay graph is then used to estimate BER for the disc media at a predetermined time, such as the end of the expected life of the disc drive.

Anticipating media decay in a disc drive

The method and apparatus herein identifies baseline instability events occurring within a magneto-resistive head. The method commences by capturing a signal average amplitude of a signal emanating from the head. The signal average amplitude is used to set a threshold, the transcendence of which indicates a baseline instability event. Finally, each baseline instability event is counted. The apparatus includes an envelope detector, which captures the signal average amplitude. A comparator unit, operably connected to the envelope detector, uses a threshold based upon the signal average amplitude, and sets a flag whenever the head signal exceeds the threshold. Finally, a counter unit increments its count total each time the flag is set. The counting unit may employ timing control, meaning that it will only increment its total if the flag is set when a clock signal triggers the counter unit to test the flag to decide whether or not to increment.

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Berthoud, CO, United States of America

Robert Edward Weinstein