Parallel servo with ultra high bandwidth off-track detection

A magnetic storage system having one or more rotating disks, comprising:

• a first track and a second track, each including:
• a data region, and
• one or more embedded servo sectors;
• a first transducer suspended over the first track;
• and
• a second transducer suspended over the second track, wherein:
• the second transducer determines an off-track position with respect to the second track by analyzing the data region of the second track without analyzing any other tracks, and the position of the first transducer with respect to the first track is adjusted based upon the off-track position determined by the second transducer.

A magnetic storage system having one or more rotating disks, comprising:

• a first track and a second track, the first track having a first data region and the second track having a second data region, the second data region having a magnetic center;
• a first transducer;
• and
• a second transducer suspended above the second track which determines a position for the second transducer relative to the magnetic center of the second track in response to only the second data region;
• wherein the first transducer is positioned relative to the first track based upon analysis of the position of the second transducer with respect to the magnetic center of the second track, and the first transducer is positioned at a correction rate that exceeds a rate at which the first transducer encounters embedded servo sectors on the first track.

A magnetic storage system having one or more rotating disks, comprising:

• a first track and a second track, the first track having a first data region and the second track having a second data region, the second data region having a magnetic center;
• a first transducer;
• a second transducer suspended above the second track which determines a position for the second transducer relative to the magnetic center of the second track in response to only the second data region;
• and
• a memory that stores a pairing of the first and second tracks in a look-up table;
• wherein the first transducer is positioned relative to the first track based upon analysis of the position of the second transducer with respect to the magnetic center of the second track, each rotating disk has two magnetic surfaces, a plurality of tracks are grouped to form a plurality of zones, each zone is paired with a corresponding zone on another magnetic surface, each zone is paired by comparing a geometry of a first zone matching track on a first magnetic surface with a geometry of a second zone matching track on a second magnetic surface, and the first zone matching track on the first magnetic surface and the second zone matching track on the second magnetic surface are generally located at a same radial distance from a center of the rotating disk.

A method for positioning two or more transducers within a magnetic storage disk drive, comprising the steps of:

• providing one or more disks, wherein each disk has two magnetic surfaces;
• providing one or more tracks for each surface of each disk, wherein each track includes a data region;
• grouping the plurality of tracks on each magnetic surface into a plurality of zones;
• comparing a geometry of a first zone matching track within a first zone on the first magnetic surface to a geometry of a second zone matching track within a second zone on the second magnetic surface;
• pairing a first transducer which writes to a first track on a first surface to a second transducer which reads from a second track on a second surface;
• storing a pairing of the first and second tracks in a look-up table;
• and
• positioning the first transducer, as it writes to the data region of the first track, based upon positioning information determined by the second transducer, as it reads from the data region of the second track without reading from any other track on the second surface.

A method for positioning two or more transducers within a magnetic storage disk drive, comprising the steps of:

• providing one or more disks, wherein each disk has two magnetic surfaces;
• providing one or more tracks for each surface of each disk, wherein each track includes a data region;
• pairing a first transducer which writes to a first track on a first surface to a second transducer which reads from a second track on a second surface;
• and
• positioning the first transducer, as it writes to the data region of the first track, based upon positioning information determined by the second transducer, as it reads from the data region of the second track using a read element that the second transducer uses during normal read operations and without reading from any other track on the second surface.

A method for positioning two or more transducers within a magnetic storage disk drive, comprising the steps of:

• providing one or more disks, wherein each disk has two magnetic surfaces;
• providing one or more tracks for each surface of each disk, wherein each track includes a data region;
• pairing a first transducer which writes to a first track on a first surface to a second transducer which reads from a second track on a second surface;
• and
• positioning the first transducer, as it writes to the data region of the first track, based upon positioning information determined by the second transducer, as it reads from the data region of the second track without reading from any other track on the second surface, wherein the first track and the second track are located at a same radial distance from a center of the one or more disks.

A magnetic storage device, comprising:

• a magnetic media;
• a first transducer for reading information from the magnetic media;
• a second transducer;
• and
• a circuit that adjusts a position of the first transducer at a correction rate that exceeds a rate at which the first transducer encounters embedded servo sectors on the magnetic media in response to user data read by the second transducer.

A magnetic storage device, comprising:

• a first transducer that writes to a first data region on a first magnetic media, wherein the first data region is between first embedded servo sectors on the first magnetic media;
• a second transducer that reads from a second data region on a second magnetic media to provide a read signal, wherein the second data region is between second embedded servo sectors on the second magnetic media;
• and
• a circuit that positions the first transducer in response to the read signal while the first transducer writes to the first data region.

A disk drive, comprising:

• first and second disk surfaces, wherein the first disk surface includes a first track with first embedded servo sectors and first data regions, and the second disk surface includes a second track with second embedded servo sectors and second data regions;
• a first transducer for reading from and writing to the first track;
• a second transducer for reading from and writing to the second track, wherein the second transducer includes:
• a first read element that provides a first read signal in response to information on the second track;
• and
• a second read element that provides a second read signal in response to the information on the second track, wherein the first and second read elements are both laterally and longitudinally offset from each other;
• and
• a circuit that compares the first and second read signals, adjusts the first and second read signals in response to the comparison, provides a combined read signal in response to the adjusted first and second read signals, and positions the first transducer in response to the combined read signal.

A disk drive, comprising:

• a first disk surface for storing data;
• a second disk surface for storing data, wherein the first disk surface is separated from and substantially parallel to the second disk surface, and the first and second disk surfaces have substantially the same radius and, during operation, rotate about a common axis;
• a first transducer for transferring data between the first disk surface and an exterior environment;
• a second transducer for transferring data between the second disk surface and the exterior environment;
• a multi-stage actuator for positioning the first and second transducers at desired locations over the first and second disk surfaces, wherein the multi-stage actuator includes a primary actuator for simultaneously moving the first and second transducers, a first microactuator for moving the first transducer without moving the second transducer, and a second microactuator for moving the second transducer without moving the first transducer;
• and
• a circuit that positions the first transducer while the first transducer writes to the first disk surface in response to a read signal that the second transducer provides as the second transducer reads user data from the second disk surface, wherein the circuit positions the first transducer but not the second transducer in response to the read signal.

A disk drive, comprising:

• a first disk surface for storing data;
• a second disk surface for storing data, wherein the first disk surface is separated from and substantially parallel to the second disk surface, and the first and second disk surfaces have substantially the same radius and, during operation, rotate about a common axis;
• a first transducer for transferring data between the first disk surface and an exterior environment;
• a second transducer for transferring data between the second disk surface and the exterior environment;
• a multi-stage actuator for positioning the first and second transducers at desired locations over the first and second disk surfaces, wherein the multi-stage actuator includes a primary actuator for simultaneously moving the first and second transducers, a first microactuator for moving the first transducer without moving the second transducer, and a second microactuator for moving the second transducer without moving the first transducer;
• and
• a circuit that positions the first transducer while the first transducer writes to the first disk surface in response to a read signal that the second transducer provides as the second transducer reads user data from the second disk surface, wherein the circuit positions the first transducer multiple times while the first transducer continuously writes to a data region on the first disk surface between embedded servo sectors on the first disk surface.

A method of positioning a transducer in a disk drive, comprising:

• providing a first transducer for writing to a first disk surface;
• providing a second transducer for reading from a second disk surface;
• and
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a first data region between first embedded servo regions on a first track on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the second transducer as it reads from a second data region between second embedded servo sectors on a second track on the second disk surface.

A method of positioning a transducer in a disk drive, comprising:

• providing a first transducer for reading and writing to and from a first disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• providing a second transducer for reading and writing to and from a second disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• providing a third transducer for reading and writing to and from a third disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a track in the first zone on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the second transducer as it reads from a track on the first zone on the second disk surface using a read element that the second transducer uses during normal read operations from the second disk surface and without reading from any other track on the second disk surface;
• and
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a track in the second zone on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the third transducer as it reads from the second zone on the third disk surface using a read element that the third transducer uses during normal read operations from the third disk surface and without reading from any other track on the third disk surface.

A method of positioning a transducer in a disk drive, comprising:

• providing a first transducer for reading and writing to and from a first disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• providing a second transducer for reading and writing to and from a second disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• providing a third transducer for reading and writing to and from a third disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• comparing geometries of tracks in the first zones on the first, second and third disk surfaces and selecting the first zone on the second disk surface to provide positioning information for the first zone on the first disk surface in response thereto;
• comparing geometries of tracks in the second zones on the first, second and third disk surfaces and selecting the second zone on the third disk surface to provide positioning information for the second zone on the first disk surface in response thereto;
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a track in the first zone on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the second transducer as it reads from a track on the first zone on the second disk surface;
• and
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a track in the second zone on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the third transducer as it reads from the second zone on the third disk surface;
• wherein the comparing steps are performed during manufacture of the disk drive.

A method of positioning a transducer in a disk drive, comprising:

• providing a first transducer for reading and writing to and from a first disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• providing a second transducer for reading and writing to and from a second disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• providing a third transducer for reading and writing to and from a third disk surface that includes first and second zones of tracks;
• comparing geometries of tracks in the first zones on the first, second and third disk surfaces and selecting the first zone on the second disk surface to provide positioning information for the first zone on the first disk surface in response thereto;
• comparing geometries of tracks in the second zones on the first, second and third disk surfaces and selecting the second zone on the third disk surface to provide positioning information for the second zone on the first disk surface in response thereto;
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a track in the first zone on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the second transducer as it reads from a track on the first zone on the second disk surface;
• and
• positioning the first transducer as it writes to a track in the second zone on the first disk surface in response to a read signal provided by the third transducer as it reads from the second zone on the third disk surface;
• wherein the comparing steps are performed periodically after manufacture of the disk drive.

A method of positioning a transducer in a disk drive, comprising:

• providing a first transducer for reading from and writing to first tracks on a first disk surface, wherein the first tracks each contain servo sectors interspersed between data regions;
• providing a second transducer for reading from and writing to second tracks on a second disk surface, wherein the second tracks each contain servo sectors interspersed between data regions;
• and
• a positioning the first transducer multiple times as it writes to one of the data regions on one of the first tracks in response to multiple periodic correction signals responsive to the second transducer as it reads from one of the data regions on one of the second tracks without reading from any other tracks in the disk drive.

A magnetic storage system having one or more rotating disks, comprising:

• a first track and a second track, each including:
• a data region, and
• one or more embedded servo sectors;
• a first transducer suspended over the first track;
• and
• a second transducer suspended over the second track, wherein:
• the second transducer determines an off-track position with respect to the second track by analyzing the data region of the second track, and the position of the first transducer with respect to the first track is adjusted based upon the off-track position determined by the second transducer at a correction rate that exceeds a rate at which the first transducer encounters embedded servo sectors.

A magnetic storage system having one or more rotating disks, comprising:

• a first track and a second track, the first track having a first data region and the second track having a second data region, the second data region having a magnetic center;
• a first transducer;
• and
• a second transducer suspended above the second track which determines a position for the second transducer relative to the magnetic center of the second track in response to user data on the second track;
• wherein a position for the first transducer is adjusted at a correction rate that exceeds a rate at which the first transducer encounters embedded servo sectors on the first track in response to the user data.