Medium dependent write equalization

A medium dependent write equalization method, comprising:

• identifying a manufacturer of a magnetic medium to determine a trait of the magnetic medium;
• generating a write signal for a stream of write data;
• generating, for the write data, a write equalization signal having a characteristic defined, at least in part, according to the trait of the magnetic medium;
• combining the equalization signal with the write signal;
• utilizing the combined signal to encode a representation of the write data on the magnetic medium;
• and adjusting a duty cycle of the write equalization signal as the magnetic medium is being written to.

A computer readable medium having instructions for:

• identifying a trait of a magnetic medium;
• generating a write equalization signal erasing at least a portion of the magnetic medium and having a characteristic defined, at least in part, according to the trait of the magnetic medium;
• and
• changing timing and shaping of the write equalization signal after identifying a magnetic medium whose trait has been determined, wherein the timing and shaping of the write equalization signal are dynamically adjusted as the magnetic medium is being written to in order to tune the write equalization signal to the magnetic medium.

A computer readable medium having instructions for:

• identifying a manufacturer of a magnetic medium to determine a trait of the magnetic medium;
• generating a write signal for a stream of write data;
• generating, for the write data, a write equalization signal having a characteristic defined, at least in part, according to the trait of the magnetic medium;
• combining the equalization signal with the write signal;
• utilizing the combined signal to encode a representation of the write data on the magnetic medium;
• and adjusting a duty cycle of the write equalization signal as the magnetic medium is being written to.

A write channel for a magnetic storage device having a write head, the write channel comprising:

• a write signal engine operable to generate a write signal corresponding to a stream of write data;
• a detector operable to identify a trait of a magnetic medium;
• an equalization engine operable to generate, for the write data, an equalization signal having a characteristic defined according to the identified trait;
• and
• a multiplexer operable to combine the write equalization signal with the write signal, the combined signal to be utilized by the write head to encode the write data on the magnetic medium, wherein a width of the equalization signal is dynamically adjusted as the magnetic medium is being written in order to tune the equalization signal to the magnetic medium.

A magnetic media drive, comprising:

• a write channel comprising a write signal engine operable to generate a write signal corresponding to a stream of write data, a detector operable to identify a trait of a magnetic medium, an equalization engine operable to generate a write equalization signal having a characteristic defined according to the identified trait, and a multiplexer operable to combine the write equalization signal with the write signal;
• a tape take-up reel;
• a write head in communication with the write channel and positionable adjacent to a tape path extending past the write head to the take-up reel, the write head operable to utilize the combined signal from the write channel to encode the write data on a magnetic medium traveling along the tape path;
• and
• an electronic controller configured to receive write instructions and the write data from a computer or other host device and to control operation of the take-up reel, the write heads, and the write channel, wherein a duty cycle of the write equalization signal is dynamically adjusted as the magnetic medium is being written in order to tune the write equalization signal to the magnetic medium.