According to an embodiment, a manufacturing method includes: estimating a distribution of an initial value of a clearance of a magnetic head on a first recording surface; and recording first spiral signals on the first recording surface while controlling a clearance using the distribution of the initial value of the estimated clearance. The manufacturing method includes measuring a distribution of an initial value of a clearance of a magnetic head on a second recording surface under positioning control using the first spiral signals recorded on the first recording surface. The manufacturing method includes recording the first spiral signals on the second recording surface while controlling a clearance using the distribution of the initial value of the measured clearance of the magnetic head on the second recording surface. The manufacturing method includes recording the second spiral signals on a third recording surface under positioning control using the first spiral signals recorded on the second recording surface.

Illustrative aspects are directed to a data storage device comprising one or more disks; an actuator mechanism comprising one or more heads, and configured to position a head proximate to a disk surface; and one or more processing devices. The one or more processing devices are configured to: measure a read quality of a location on the disk surface; modify a refresh frequency for performing refresh writes at the location, based on the read quality at the location; in response to the refresh frequency at the location becoming stabilized, determine an integrated track interference (xTI) per write metric at the location; and, in response to determining that the xTI per write metric at the location is below a threshold for the xTI per write metric, modify an operating parameter of the head at the location to improve a longevity metric.

A storage device includes a controller that determines a degree of data degradation for a data track targeted by a pending read command and sets a head/media clearance parameter for execution of the read command based on the determined degree of data degradation for the data track, the head/media clearance parameter providing for a greater head-media separation when the determined level of degradation is lower than when the determined level of degradation is higher.

According to an embodiment, a manufacturing method includes: estimating a distribution of an initial value of a clearance of a magnetic head on a first recording surface; and recording first spiral signals on the first recording surface while controlling a clearance using the distribution of the initial value of the estimated clearance. The manufacturing method includes measuring a distribution of an initial value of a clearance of a magnetic head on a second recording surface under positioning control using the first spiral signals recorded on the first recording surface. The manufacturing method includes recording the first spiral signals on the second recording surface while controlling a clearance using the distribution of the initial value of the measured clearance of the magnetic head on the second recording surface. The manufacturing method includes recording the second spiral signals on a third recording surface under positioning control using the first spiral signals recorded on the second recording surface.

Two or more data values are received from one or more sensors of a hard disk drive. The two or more data values are indicative of a fly height of a recording head of the hard disk drive. The two or more data values are input into a machine-learning processor during operation of the hard disk drive. A fly height of the recording head during the operation of the hard drive head is adjusted based on an output of the machine learning processor

Two or more data values are received from one or more sensors of a hard disk drive. The two or more data values are indicative of a fly height of a recording head of the hard disk drive. The two or more data values are input into a machine-learning processor during operation of the hard disk drive. A fly height of the recording head during the operation of the hard drive head is adjusted based on an output of the machine learning processor.

An apparatus includes: a media; a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head over the media; and control circuitry, coupled to the HAMR head, the control circuitry being configured to: receive a write command to write the media; apply a dynamic flying height (DFH) control before asserting a write gate of the HAMR head; assert the write gate to the HAMR head; and enable a flying height compensation mechanism to maintain a constant value of a flying height of the HAMR head over the media during a next assertion of the write gate.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising at least one head configured to access a magnetic tape comprising a plurality of servo frames each comprising a plurality of servo bursts. A first servo burst is read using the head to generate a read signal which is sampled to generate signal samples. A first matched filter matched to the first servo burst is used to generate filtered samples in response to the signal samples, and at least part of the filtered samples are interpolated to generate interpolated samples. The interpolated samples are processed to generate a position error signal (PES), and a position of the head relative to the magnetic tape is controlled based on the PES.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a laser configured to heat the disk while writing data to the disk. At least four different laser powers are applied to the laser and a fly height of the head over the disk is measured at each laser power. A lasing threshold power for the laser is detected based on the measured fly heights.

A data storage device is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, wherein the head comprises a fly height actuator (FHA). A FHA control signal is applied to the FHA, wherein the FHA control signal comprises a DC component and an AC component. A fly height metric is measured representing a fly height of the head over the disk for different levels of the DC component. A modulation amplitude of the fly height metric is detected, and a minimum in the modulation amplitude of the fly height metric is detected.