Systems and methods for non-binary decoding biasing control

A method for predictably increasing an error rate of a data processing circuit, the method comprising:

• receiving a data set, wherein the data set includes a series of symbols;
• applying a data detection algorithm by a data detector circuit to a series of symbols to yield a detected output, wherein the detected output includes a series of soft decision data corresponding to non-binary symbols;
• biasing each of the series of soft decision data to yield a series of biased soft decision data;
• and
• applying a data decoding algorithm by a data decoder circuit to the series of biased soft decision data corresponding to the non-binary symbols.

A data storage device, the storage device comprising:

• a storage medium;
• a sensor device disposed in relation to the storage medium and operable to sense information from the storage medium and to provide a corresponding analog signal;
• an analog to digital converter circuit operable to convert a derivative of the analog signal to a series of digital samples;
• an equalizer circuit operable to perform an equalization on the series of digital samples to yield an equalized output, wherein the equalized output includes a series of symbols;
• a data detector circuit operable to apply a data detection algorithm to the series of symbols to yield a detected output, wherein the detected output includes a series of soft decision data corresponding to non-binary symbols;
• a biasing circuit operable apply a bias to each of the series of soft decision data to yield a series of biased soft decision data;
• and
• a data decoder circuit operable to apply a data decoding algorithm to the series of biased soft decision data corresponding to the non-binary symbols.