Self-writing of servo patterns in a disk drive using a printed reference pattern

A method for self-servo writing a disk with the aid of a printed reference pattern transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of a first disk, wherein the printed reference pattern includes:

• (i) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information and (ii) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information, said servo clock information comprising a pattern of one or more substantially radial timing segments, and said coarse position information and said fine position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments of coarse position information and fine position information, and wherein reference pattern features have a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to a head gap width of a data transducer head included in the disk drive, the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the first disk and transducer into a housing of the disk drive and enclosing the housing to prevent particulate contamination;
• (b) reading the printed reference pattern from the first disk via the transducer;
• (c) using the servo clock and servo position information to precisely position the transducer head at concentric data track storage locations on the disk storage surface;
• and
• (d) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surface at the concentric track locations via the transducer head in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

An embedded reference pattern for use in self-servo writing a disk drive including one or more transducer heads, a first disk and one or more rotating disk media, wherein the reference pattern is transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of the first disk resulting in a printed reference pattern, the reference pattern comprising:

• (a) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (b) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising substantially radial timing segments, and said coarse position information and said fine position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments of coarse position information and fine position information;
• wherein the reference pattern has a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• such that, during a self-servo writing operation, the printed reference pattern is read via the one or more transducer heads, and the servo clock and the servo position information is used to precisely position the one or more data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces to enable self-writing of disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the one or more transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• (a) transferring a servo reference pattern by magnetic printing onto at least one storage surface of a disk, wherein a resulting printed reference pattern comprises:
• (1) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (2) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• wherein the printed reference pattern has a resolution lower than a disk drive servo pattern including features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• (b) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the disk into the disk drive and enclosing the disk and the data transducers within a housing sealed against particulate contamination from an external ambient environment;
• (c) reading the printed reference pattern from the disk via a transducer head;
• (d) using the coarse position information to measure an eccentricity of the printed reference pattern, and using the measured eccentricity and the read servo clock and the servo position information to precisely position the data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces;
• and
• (e) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the data transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive with the aid of a printed reference pattern transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of a first disk, wherein the printed reference pattern includes:

• (i) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information and (ii) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information, and wherein reference pattern features have a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive, the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the first disk and transducers into a housing of the disk drive and enclosing the housing to prevent particulate contamination;
• (b) reading the printed reference pattern from the first disk via one or more transducers;
• (c) using the coarse servo position information and the fine servo position information to measure an eccentricity of the printed reference pattern;
• and using servo clock and position information in conjunction with said clock information and said measured eccentricity of the printed reference pattern to precisely position the transducer heads at concentric data tracks on at least one disk storage surface;
• and
• (d) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surface at the concentric track locations via the transducer heads in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive with the aid of a printed reference pattern transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of a first disk, wherein the printed reference pattern includes:

• (i) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information and (ii) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information, the clock information comprising substantially radial segments, the fine position information comprising a fine pattern of slanted segments, the coarse position information comprising a coarse pattern of slanted segments, the coarse pattern of slanted segments being interspersed with the fine pattern of slanted segments, and sets of one or more timing segments are separated by said interspersed coarse and fine patterns of slanted segments, and wherein reference pattern features have a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive, the method comprising the steps of:
• (a) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the first disk and transducers into a housing of the disk drive and enclosing the housing to prevent particulate contamination;
• (b) reading the printed reference pattern from the first disk via one or more transducers;
• (c) using the servo clock and servo position information to precisely position transducer heads at concentric data track storage locations on at least one disk storage surface;
• and
• (d) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto one or more storage surfaces at the concentric track locations via the transducer heads in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

An embedded reference pattern for use in self-servo writing a disk drive including one or more transducer heads, a first disk and one or more rotating disk media, wherein the reference pattern is transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of the first disk resulting in a printed reference pattern, the reference pattern comprising:

• (a) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (b) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information, wherein the servo position information comprises a multi-frequency periodic pattern having periodically suppressed cycles, and wherein the coarse position information comprises the periodically suppressed cycles, and the fine position information comprises the unsuppressed cycles;
• wherein the reference pattern has a resolution lower than a disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• such that, during a self-servo writing operation, the printed reference pattern can be read via one of the transducer heads, and the servo clock and the servo position information used to precisely position the data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces to enable self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• (a) transferring a servo reference pattern by magnetic printing onto at least one storage surface of a disk, wherein a resulting printed reference pattern comprises:
• (1) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (2) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising a pattern of one or more substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein the slanted segments between the timing segments include periodically suppressed slanted segments, wherein the coarse position information comprises the periodically suppressed slanted segments and the fine position information comprises the unsuppressed slanted segments, and wherein the printed reference pattern has a resolution lower than a disk drive servo pattern including features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• (b) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the disk into the disk drive and enclosing the disk and the data transducers within a housing sealed against particulate contamination from an external ambient environment;
• (c) reading the printed reference pattern from the disk via a transducer head;
• (d) using the read servo clock and the servo position information to precisely position the data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces;
• and
• (e) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the data transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• (a) transferring a servo reference pattern by magnetic printing onto at least one storage surface of a disk, wherein a resulting printed reference pattern comprises:
• (1) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (2) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising a pattern of one or more substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein the servo position information comprises a multi-frequency periodic pattern having periodically suppressed cycles, wherein the coarse position information comprises the periodically suppressed cycles and the fine position information comprises the unsuppressed cycles, and wherein the printed reference pattern has a resolution lower than a disk drive servo pattern including features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• (b) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the disk into the disk drive and enclosing the disk and the data transducers within a housing sealed against particulate contamination from an external ambient environment;
• (c) reading the printed reference pattern from the disk via a transducer head;
• (d) using the read servo clock and the servo position information to precisely position the data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces;
• and
• (e) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the data transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• (a) transferring a servo reference pattern by magnetic printing onto at least one storage surface of a disk, wherein a resulting printed reference pattern comprises:
• (1) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (2) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising a pattern of one or more substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein:
• (i) the fine position information comprises a fine pattern of slanted segments, (ii) the coarse position information comprises a coarse pattern of slanted segments, the coarse pattern of slanted segments being interspersed with the fine pattern of slanted segments, and (iii) sets of one or more timing segments are separated by said interspersed coarse and fine patterns of slanted segments;
• and
• wherein the printed reference pattern has a resolution lower than a disk drive servo pattern including features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• (b) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the disk into the disk drive and enclosing the disk and the data transducers within a housing sealed against particulate contamination from an external ambient environment;
• (c) reading the printed reference pattern from the disk via a transducer head;
• (d) using the read servo clock and the servo position information to precisely position the data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces;
• and
• (e) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the data transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

A method for self-servo writing a disk drive comprising the steps of:

• (a) transferring a servo reference pattern by magnetic printing onto at least one storage surface of a disk, wherein a resulting printed reference pattern comprises:
• (1) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (2) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising a pattern of one or more substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein the slanted segments between the timing segments are organized into at least two circumferentially adjacent sets of transverse slanted segments and wherein the printed reference pattern has a resolution lower than a disk drive servo pattern including features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• (b) assembling the disk drive including the steps of installing the disk into the disk drive and enclosing the disk and the data transducers within a housing sealed against particulate contamination from an external ambient environment;
• (c) reading the printed reference pattern from the disk via a transducer head;
• (d) using the read servo clock and the servo position information to precisely position the data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces;
• and
• (e) self-writing disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the data transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

An embedded reference pattern for use in self-servo writing a disk drive including one or more transducer heads, a first disk and one or more rotating disk media, wherein the reference pattern is transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of the first disk resulting in a printed reference pattern, the reference pattern comprising:

• (a) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (b) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein the slanted segments between each pair of adjacent timing segments include periodically suppressed slanted segments, wherein the coarse position information comprises the periodically suppressed slanted segments and the fine position information comprises the unsuppressed slanted segments, and wherein the reference pattern has a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• such that, during a self-servo writing operation, the printed reference pattern is read via the one or more transducer heads, and the servo clock and the servo position information is used to precisely position the one or more data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces to enable self-writing of disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the one or more transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

An embedded reference pattern for use in self-servo writing a disk drive including one or more transducer heads, a first disk and one or more rotating disk media, wherein the reference pattern is transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of the first disk resulting in a printed reference pattern, the reference pattern comprising:

• (a) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (b) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein the fine position information comprises a fine pattern of slanted segments, wherein the coarse position information includes a coarse pattern of slanted segments, wherein the coarse pattern of slanted segments is interspersed with the fine pattern of slanted segments, and wherein the timing segments are separated by the servo position information;
• wherein the reference pattern has a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• such that, during a self-servo writing operation, the printed reference pattern is read via the one or more transducer heads, and the servo clock and the servo position information is used to precisely position the one or more data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces to enable self-writing of disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the one or more transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.

An embedded reference pattern for use in self-servo writing a disk drive including one or more transducer heads, a first disk and one or more rotating disk media, wherein the reference pattern is transferred by magnetic printing onto a storage surface of the first disk resulting in a printed reference pattern, the reference pattern comprising:

• (a) servo clock information providing transducer head circumferential relative position information, and
• (b) servo position information including coarse position information for providing transducer head coarse radial relative position information, and fine position information for providing transducer head fine radial relative position information;
• said servo clock information comprising substantially radial timing segments, and said servo position information comprising slanted segments, such that sets of one or more timing segments are separated by the slanted segments;
• wherein the slanted segments between each pair of adjacent timing segments are organized into at least two circumferentially adjacent sets of transverse slanted segments and wherein the reference pattern has a resolution lower than disk drive servo pattern features proportional to head gap widths of data transducer heads included in the disk drive;
• such that, during a self-servo writing operation, the printed reference pattern is read via the one or more transducer heads, and the servo clock and the servo position information is used to precisely position the one or more data transducers at concentric track locations of disk storage surfaces to enable self-writing of disk drive servo patterns onto the storage surfaces at the concentric track locations with the one or more transducers in accordance with the disk drive servo pattern features.