There is provided a recording apparatus, a recording method, a reproduction apparatus, a reproduction method, a recording medium, an encoding apparatus, and a decoding apparatus which enable recording or reproduction to be easily implemented at high line density. User data is encoded into a multilevel edge code, and a multilevel code whose value changes in accordance with the multilevel edge code is recorded. The multilevel edge code is generated through state transition of a code generation model which includes a state representing the number of times that zero is consecutive corresponding to a number of ways of the number of times that zero is consecutive, which is the number of times that an edge of 0 is consecutive among edges representing a change amount from an immediately preceding value of the multilevel code of an ML value which is equal to or greater than 3, and which transitions to a state representing the number of times that zero is consecutive including 0 in a case where 0 is output, and transitions to a state representing that the number of times that zero is consecutive is 0 times in a case where one of 1 to ML−1 is output.

A method of reading servo wedge data from a rotating constant-density magnetic storage medium having a plurality of tracks, where each track is written at a track pattern frequency, the respective track pattern frequencies varying from a lowest frequency at an innermost one of the tracks to a highest frequency at an outermost one of the tracks, includes, for each respective track, determining, based on the pattern frequency of the respective track, a desired sampling position, sampling actual samples of servo wedge data based on a sampling clock used for all tracks, having a sampling frequency at least equal to the track pattern frequency of the outermost track, determining a phase relationship of the desired sampling position to the sampling clock, and, depending on the phase relationship between the sampling position and the sampling clock, interpolating a sample, or omitting interpolation of a sample and squelching the interpolation clock.

A method of reading servo wedge data from a rotating constant-density magnetic storage medium having a plurality of tracks, where each track is written at a track pattern frequency, the respective track pattern frequencies varying from a lowest frequency at an innermost one of the tracks to a highest frequency at an outermost one of the tracks, includes, for each respective track, determining, based on the pattern frequency of the respective track, a desired sampling position, sampling actual samples of servo wedge data based on a sampling clock used for all tracks, having a sampling frequency at least equal to the track pattern frequency of the outermost track, determining a phase relationship of the desired sampling position to the sampling clock, and, depending on the phase relationship between the sampling position and the sampling clock, interpolating a sample, or omitting interpolation of a sample and squelching the interpolation clock.

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.

An object is to reduce the amount of data to be transmitted while ensuring tactile reproducibility. A decoding device according to the present technology includes: a first decoding unit that decodes first encoded data obtained by encoding a first signal section with a first bit rate, the first signal section being a part of a touch signal section which is a signal section indicating a touch state with an object in a tactile signal, the first signal section being a signal section including a boundary between the touch state and a non-touch state with the object; and a second decoding unit that decodes second encoded data obtained by encoding a second signal section with a bit rate lower than the first bit rate, the second signal section being a signal section except for the first signal section in the touch signal section.

A frequency divider unit has a digital frequency divider configured to divide by an odd integer, and a dual-edge-triggered one-shot coupled to double frequency of an output of the digital frequency divider. The frequency divider unit is configurable to divide an input frequency by a configurable ratio selectable from at least non-integer ratios of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5. In embodiments, the frequency divider unit relies on circuit delays to determine an output pulsewidth, and in other embodiments the output pulsewidth is determined from a clock signal. In embodiments, the unit is configurable to divide an input frequency by a configurable ratio selectable from at least non-integer ratios of 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, and 7.5 as well as many integer ratios including 2, 4, 6, and 8. In embodiments, the digital frequency divider is configurable to provide a 50% duty cycle to the one-shot.

A method of decoding a codeword that satisfies a k constraint into output data includes, using a decoder of a hard disk drive system, converting each bit of the codeword in Non-Return-to-Zero format, extracting, from the converted codeword, a plurality of data blocks comprising a first data block and a plurality of remaining data blocks, performing a first analysis on the plurality of data blocks for modifying each of the plurality of data blocks that satisfies a first predetermined criterion, and performing a second analysis on the plurality of data blocks after the first analysis for modifying each of the plurality of data blocks that satisfies a second predetermined criterion to obtain the output data.

This disclosure describes codes and techniques for magnetic recording. The coding schemes decrease bit error rates by decreasing total transitions in the encoded binary data compared to conventional codes. Additionally, instead of relying on a single coding scheme, an encoder and decoder are configured to switch between different coding schemes. By so doing, a variety of the coding schemes allows the encoded binary data to have a smaller bit error rate than a single coding scheme and have a maximum run-length less than or equal to a maximum run-length limitation of a magnetic disk.

A three-dimensional magnetic recording media can consist of a single recording layer configured with three or more separate magnetization levels. A first magnetization level can be written to a selected region of said recording layer by applying a first write field to the grains of said region to form a “spin-up” magnetization in the grains of said region. A second magnetization level can be written by applying a second opposite write field to selected grains of said region to form a “spin-down” magnetization. At least a third intermediate magnetization level can be written by applying a weaker or alternating write field to grains of said region to form an intermediate magnetization comprising a mixture of spin-up and spin-down grains. By such method, said region may comprise a data bit capable of storing 3 or more units of information corresponding to the number of separate magnetization levels employed.

A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes, for a particular data read clock value, generating a series of symmetrical square wave signals, each having a frequency that is a different fraction of the data read clock frequency. Anti-aliasing filtering is performed on each of the symmetrical square wave signals using predefined anti-aliasing settings. The filtered symmetrical square wave signals are passed through a band pass filter, the band pass filter being set to pass a single harmonic frequency of each of the symmetrical square wave signals. An amplitude of each of the band pass filtered symmetrical square wave signals is measured. In response to the amplitudes of the symmetrical square wave signals being within a predefined range, the anti-aliasing settings are stored. In response to the amplitudes of the symmetrical square wave signals being outside the predefined range, the anti-aliasing settings are changed, and the method is repeated.