| 摘要 |
Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling writing and reading of data in an array of A storage fields of a probe-based data storage device in which data is written to and read from the array of storage fields by a corresponding array of probes. One method uses the concept of sub-arrays to provide variable-rate read/write operation. Input data blocks are received for writing to the A-field array, each input data block being writable in A/k<SUB>0 </SUB>storage fields where k<SUB>0 </SUB>is an integer >=2. For successive groups of k<SUB>0 </SUB>blocks, the k<SUB>0 </SUB>blocks are written to respective sub-arrays, each of A/k<SUB>0 </SUB>storage fields, of the storage field array by selectively writing at one of a series of rates, ranging from 1 block at a time to k<SUB>0 </SUB>blocks at a time, in dependence on a desired data write-rate. The blocks can also be read from the sub-arrays by selectively reading at one of a series of rates, ranging from 1 sub-array at a time to k<SUB>0 </SUB>sub-arrays at a time, in dependence on a desired data read-rate.
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