Method and structure for improving performance and storage density in a data storage device

摘要

A data storage device with improved data storage densities, coupled with lower hard error and write-inhibit events is described. A feed-forward write inhibit (FFWI) method enables data tracks to be written more densely. Alternatively, the FFWI method may reduce the hard error and write inhibit events to improve data storage performance. A concept of virtual tracks enables the FFWI method to be applied to the writing of circular data tracks with non-circular servo tracks, or to the writing of non-circular data tracks with PES data from circular servo tracks—in both cases, improvements to performance and/or storage densities are enabled. The FFWI method may also be applied to the case of both non-circular servo and data tracks.

主权项

1. A data storage device comprising:
a rotating data storage medium, comprising:
data tracks;servo data sectors, comprising servo burst patterns; a read/write head assembly, comprising a read head configured to read data from the rotating data storage medium, and a write head configured to write data to the rotating data storage medium; and a controller for controlling the position of the read/write head assembly relative to the rotating data storage medium, wherein the controller is configured to:
receive positional error signals from the read head generated when the read head passes over a servo burst pattern;store the positional error signals generated from all servo burst patterns around a track on the rotating data storage medium as data is being written by the write head to the rotating data storage medium;calculate a fixed first write inhibit limit on a first side of the track being written, wherein the fixed first write inhibit limit is located on the opposite side of the track being written from a neighboring track, and wherein the distance between the track being written and the first write inhibit limit has a fixed and predetermined value;calculate a variable second write inhibit limit for the track being written, the variable second write inhibit limit is variable with respect a track center of the neighboring track, wherein the second write inhibit limit is on the opposite side of the track being written from the first write inhibit limit, and wherein the distance of the second write inhibit from the center of the neighboring track has a fixed and pre-determined value; anddetermine whether the positional error signal is between by the two write inhibit limits, wherein:
if the positional error signal is between the first and second write inhibit limits, then enable writing on the rotating data storage medium; orif the positional error signal is not between the first and second write inhibit limits, then inhibit writing on the rotating data storage medium.