The magnetic tape device includes: a magnetic tape; and a servo head, in which a magnetic tape transportation speed of the magnetic tape device is equal to or lower than 18 m/sec, the servo head is a magnetic head including a tunnel magnetoresistance effect type element as a servo pattern reading element, the magnetic tape includes a non-magnetic support, and a magnetic layer including ferromagnetic powder and a binding agent on the non-magnetic support, the magnetic layer includes a servo pattern, and a coefficient of friction measured regarding a base portion of a surface of the magnetic layer is equal to or smaller than 0.30.

A method of operating a storage device includes reading data from a storage medium using a detector, processing signals from the detector through a plurality of processing circuits, each respective processing circuit in the plurality of processing circuits being optimized for a different state of a channel condition and providing a respective output metric, selecting a processing circuit from the plurality of processing circuits by comparing the respective output metrics from each processing circuit in a predetermined manner, and designating as output of the detector output of the processing circuit that is selected. The output metrics may be branch metrics or path metrics, and the channel condition may be fly-height or phase shift. The storage device includes a storage medium, and a read channel including a detector, and processing circuits that process signals from the detector. Each respective processing circuit is optimized for a different state of a channel condition.

Example alignment members are provided herein. In one example, the alignment member includes a frame member, a stiffener member, a bracket member, and a spring member. The frame member includes a set of roller bushings. The stiffener member includes a set of cam members. The bracket member to receive the stiffener member. The spring member is connected to the stiffener member. The spring member to expand and contract based on the position of the set of roller bushings.

A faulty tracking condition affecting a first head driven by a first actuator of a hard disk drive is determined. The faulty tracking condition is caused by a second actuator of the hard disk drive that is moving while the first actuator is performing a tracking operation. Responsive to the determination of the faulty tracking condition, seek forces of the second actuator that cause the faulty tracking condition affecting the first head are reduced. A controller verifies that similar faulty tracking conditions are reduced with the first head in response to the reduction in seek forces.

A system accesses metadata on a file system of the magnetic tape, where the metadata comprising one or more fields enabling to determine a longitudinal position (LPOS) of one or more files located on the magnetic tape. The system determines the LPOS of the one or more files located on the magnetic tape. The system determines an optimal location of the head on the magnetic tape based on computing an average value to the determined LPOS of the one or more files located on the magnetic tape and moves the head on the magnetic tape to the optimal location.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a first head, a second head, an actuator configured to position the first head and the second head over the disk, and a controller configured to control the actuator based on a first value having a first waveform suppressing a disturbance component, wherein the controller is configured to invert, in the first waveform, a polarity of a third waveform succeeding a first timing with respect to a polarity of a second waveform preceding the first timing in a case where the first head is changed to the second head at the first timing.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head, and a controller that estimates a first frequency component resulting from a disturbance in a first range of a frequency corresponding to the disturbance in a signal with the disturbance, estimates a second frequency component corresponding to a second frequency of a positive integral multiple of 2 or larger of a first frequency of the first frequency component in a second range different from the first range, and suppresses a first harmonic component corresponding to the positive integral multiple of the first frequency in a position error of a target position of the head on the disk.

Embodiments of disk drive head suspensions are described that include a spring metal layer. The spring metal layer includes a base region, support arms extending from the base region, and a slider mounting region. The slider mounting region includes a proximal portion, a distal portion, and a pair of motor openings. The motor openings are configured to receive motors such that the longitudinal axes of the motors are non-parallel with the longitudinal axis of the slider mounting region. The suspensions include traces that include a base portion on the base region of the spring metal layer, a spring metal-unsupported portion extending from the base region to the slider mounting region, and a slider mounting portion extending from the spring metal-unsupported portion onto the slider mounting region. And, the suspensions include an insulating layer between portions of the spring metal layer and the conductor layer.

A method for measuring a distance between features of a sample, according to one embodiment, includes moving a precision stage having the sample thereon for positioning a first feature of the sample in a field of view of an imaging device. The imaging device is instructed to generate a first image of the first feature of the sample. The sample is moved a defined distance using the precision stage. The imaging device is instructed to generate a second image of a second feature of the sample at the defined distance. The first image and the second image are used to determine an actual distance between the first feature and the second feature. A product, according to one embodiment, includes a thin film structure having a plurality of elements, and at least two features dedicated for enabling measurement therebetween. Each feature is positioned at a known position relative to a respective one of the elements.

A magnetic tape drive includes a head assembly with a write head and a read head. The read head is positioned ahead of the write head, so that as a magnetic tape is moved across the head, the read head is able to read data that is about to be overwritten by the write head. When a client computer system commands the tape drive to write data to the magnetic tape, the tape drive writes the data to the tape but preserves any data that is overwritten by reading the data before it is overwritten. The preserved data is returned to the client computer system. In various examples, the returned data can be written back to the tape, discarded, or stored elsewhere under the control of the client computer system.