A tape drive may calculate the slopes for three successive timing-based-servo marks in a timing-based-servo group. The timing-based-servo marks may be arranged in a one or more M-patterns. The three successive timing-based-servo marks may be across the one or more M-patterns. The tape drive may perform a parabolic fit of a gradient of the slopes. The tape drive may determine whether the gradient is demonstrative of tape-creep.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus measures and stores recording signal quality of a disk at an initial stage, inspects the recording signal quality before data is recorded, determines whether or not the recording signal quality obtained in the inspection satisfies a standard when compared to the stored recording signal quality at the initial stage, adjusts, based on a result of the determination, light irradiation power of a light irradiation element so as to satisfy the standard, determines a read offset amount based on a result of the adjustment, and performs control so that a position of a read head is shifted based on the determined read offset amount.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a coarse actuator configured to actuate a first head over a first disk surface and a second head over a second disk surface. A first fine actuator is configured to actuate the first head over the first disk surface, and a second fine actuator is configured to actuate the second head over the second disk surface. A first bias signal is calibrated for the first fine actuator, and a second bias signal is calibrated for the second fine actuator. The first fine actuator is controlled based on the first bias signal and the second fine actuator is controlled based on the second bias signal in order to concurrently access the first disk surface and the second disk surface.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a first actuator which actuates a magnetic head portion including a magnetic head, a second actuator which adjusts a position of the magnetic heal on a magnetic disk in a radial direction of the magnetic disk, and a control portion which determines a second measurement signal amplitude when a second transfer function is measured in accordance with a first gain estimated value of the second actuator and an amplitude of a first measurement signal amplitude to the second actuator applied when a first transfer function is measured, which calculates a second gain estimated value of the second actuator based on the first transfer function and the second transfer function, and which updates the first gain estimated value, using the calculated second gain estimated value.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a voice coil motor (VCM) having a resonance frequency, a first disk surface comprising a first set of servo sectors written at a frequency less than twice the VCM resonance frequency, and a second disk surface comprising a second set of servo sectors circumferentially offset from the first set of servo sectors and written at a frequency less than twice the VCM resonance frequency. An access of the first disk surface is performed by reading at least one of the first set of servo sectors to generate a first position error signal (PES), reading at least one of the second set of servo sectors to generate a second PES, and controlling the VCM based on the first PES and the second PES to position a first head over the first disk surface while accessing the first disk surface.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk comprising a first disk surface, a second disk comprising a second disk surface, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, and a ramp for loading/unloading the head. A first elevator actuator is configured to actuate the actuator arm along an axial dimension relative to the first and second disks, and a second elevator actuator is configured to actuate at least part of the ramp along the axial dimension, wherein a simultaneous movement of the first and second elevator actuators is synchronized.

According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus measures and stores recording signal quality of a disk at an initial stage, inspects the recording signal quality before data is recorded, determines whether or not the recording signal quality obtained in the inspection satisfies a standard when compared to the stored recording signal quality at the initial stage, adjusts, based on a result of the determination, light irradiation power of a light irradiation element so as to satisfy the standard, determines a read offset amount based on a result of the adjustment, and performs control so that a position of a read head is shifted based on the determined read offset amount.

A method of operating an HDD having a slider-mounted read/write head that is configured for dynamic fly-height operation (DFH) and includes at least one head-disk interference sensor (HDIs). By operating the DFH to lower the head and subjecting the HDIs signal to a power-law enhancement, a consistent and accurate determination of the touchdown power (TDP) can be obtained. Combining absolute TDP determination with a method for measuring relative changes of FH, an absolute determination of FH can be determined.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first disk comprising a first disk surface, a second disk comprising a second disk surface, an actuator arm, a head coupled to a distal end of the actuator arm, and a ramp for loading/unloading the head. A first elevator actuator is configured to actuate the actuator arm along an axial dimension relative to the first and second disks, and a second elevator actuator is configured to actuate at least part of the ramp along the axial dimension, wherein a simultaneous movement of the first and second elevator actuators is synchronized.

Methods and apparatus for allocating logical sectors and bands to store data on interlaced magnetic recording tracks. The systems and methods include formatting a data storage medium to include a plurality of bands, each band of the plurality of bands including a plurality of tracks, the plurality of tracks including a subset of top tracks interlaced with a subset of bottom tracks, and each track of the plurality of tracks including a number of sectors, formatting a first band of the plurality of bands, determining an isolation region of the first band, and formatting a second band of the plurality of bands responsive to determining the isolation region of the first band.