According to one embodiment, an operating condition determining device includes a memory, and a processer. The memory is configured to store a plurality of classifications relating to information corresponding to a vibration state of a magnetic recording/reproducing device, and a plurality of setting parameter sets relating to an operation of the magnetic recording/reproducing device. The setting parameter sets correspond to the classifications. The processer is configured to acquire a first data. The first data includes information of the vibration state of the magnetic recording/reproducing device. The information is measured. The processer is configured to acquire one of the setting parameter sets from the memory. The one of the setting parameter sets corresponds to one of the classifications corresponding to the first data.

According to one embodiment, an operating condition determining device includes a memory, and a processer. The memory is configured to store a plurality of classifications relating to information corresponding to a vibration state of a magnetic recording/reproducing device, and a plurality of setting parameter sets relating to an operation of the magnetic recording/reproducing device. The setting parameter sets correspond to the classifications. The processer is configured to acquire a first data. The first data includes information of the vibration state of the magnetic recording/reproducing device. The information is measured. The processer is configured to acquire one of the setting parameter sets from the memory. The one of the setting parameter sets corresponds to one of the classifications corresponding to the first data.

A method for characterizing a magnetic recording tape, according to one approach, includes measuring, using a magnetic head having servo readers of known pitch, a servo band difference at various locations along a length of a magnetic recording tape. The servo band difference measurements and/or derivatives thereof are stored in association with the magnetic recording tape. This procedure creates a characterization of the magnetic recording tape that is useful for assessing aging of the magnetic recording tape, as well as improving subsequent reading and/or writing operations.

A method for positioning a magnetic head having first and second read sensors and one write head includes: while the magnetic head is at a first position relative to a disk medium, reading first magnetic servo information written on a first surface of the disk medium, with the first read sensor, and reading second magnetic servo information written on the first surface of the disk medium with the second read sensor; determining a position error of the magnetic head based on the first and second magnetic servo information; and repositioning the magnetic head to a second position relative to the disk medium to compensate for the determined position error of the magnetic head.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk having a first sector including first servo data, first user data, and first correction information used to correct a data error, a head that writes data to the disk and that reads data from the disk, and a controller that changes, according to a first defect length of a defect generated in the first sector in a circumferential direction of the disk, a first sector length of the first sector in the circumferential direction.

Systems and methods are disclosed for synchronous writing of a grain patterned medium. The systems and methods can be implemented within a data storage device having a grain patterned medium. Further, a calibration process to determine a count of bits between servo wedges can be implemented in manufacturing, within the data storage device, or both. In some examples, the data storage device, during operation, can utilize the count of bits to perform synchronous writing, determine write errors, or both. Further, the servo wedge of the grain patterned medium may be patterned with a same or similar grain pattern as the data area that follows the servo wedge. Such a data storage device can implement a single clock for reading a servo wedge and writing a data area.

A magnetic disk device includes a disk, first and second heads, a motor, and a controller. The disk includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The first head is configured to perform reading and writing with respect to the first surface. The second head is configured to perform reading and writing with respect to the second surface. The motor is configured to move the first and second heads with respect to the first and second surfaces, respectively, along a radial direction of the disk. The controller is configured to alternately activate the first and second heads to perform writing of a plurality of spiral patterns on the first and second surfaces of the disk, respectively, while controlling the motor to move the first and second heads at a predetermined constant speed with respect to the first and second surfaces in the radial direction.

Systems and methods are disclosed for phase locking of a clock. In some embodiments, a phase locked clock (PLC) module can phase-lock a write clock to a media written with multiple servo zones of different frequencies. In some implementations, this can be utilized to perform a self-servo write (SSW) of a disc surface within a hard disc drive (HDD). A PLC module can perform a method of writing with a single frequency phase coherently while a read element passes over servo zones with different frequencies. While the PLC module can perform such methods for a SSW process, the methods can also be utilized for other applications that can benefit from writing with a single frequency phase coherently based on servo zones with different frequencies.

A head gimbal assembly (HGA) for a hard disk drive includes a primary dimple having a secondary structure protruding from the primary dimple, where a flexure is movably coupled with a load beam via the primary dimple, and where the secondary structure is configured to restrict the point of contact between the load beam and the flexure. Such an arrangement avoids any shift in the axis of rotation of the flexure, and the attached slider, due to any undesirable protrusion from the primary dimple which may arise in the manufacturing process. Examples of secondary structures include a micro-dimple, a ridge, and an embedded mass of material.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk, a head including a write head and a first read head and a second read head, and a controller that disposes the first read head at a first radial position of a first track of the disk in a radial direction to read the first track, changes a main read head which serves as a reference for positioning during a read process from the first read head to the second read head when read retrying the first track, disposes the second read head as the main read head at a second radial position different from the first radial position of the first track in the radial direction to read the first track, and changes an internal setting corresponding to the main read head to read the first track.