Shingled recording systems using multiple pass write, single pass read architecture

A magnetic data storage system, comprising:

• a bit patterned magnetic medium, wherein centers of bits in adjacent data tracks do not lie on a common line in a cross-track direction;
• at least one magnetic head, comprising:
• a writer element configured to write data successively to at least two adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium by writing a first group of the data to a first data track in a first pass and writing a second group of the data to a second data track in a second pass, wherein the first data track is adjacent the second data track, and wherein none of the first group of the data lies on a common line in a cross-track direction with any of the second group of the data, wherein the writer element has a width greater than a width of a data track in a track width direction;
• and
• a reader element configured to read data concurrently from the at least two adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium in a single pass, wherein the reader element has a width larger than the width of a data track in the track width direction;
• a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the at least one magnetic head;
• and
• a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, the controller being configured to cause the writer element to write data successively to at least two adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium by writing a first group of the data to a first data track in a first pass and writing a second group of the data to a second data track in a second pass,
• wherein the first data track is adjacent the second data track,
• wherein none of the first group of the data lies on a common line in a cross-track direction with any of the second group of the data, and
• wherein the data is written successively to the adjacent data tracks using shingled magnetic recording.

A method, comprising:

• receiving data to be written to a magnetic medium, wherein adjacent track bits in the magnetic medium are arranged in a staggered orientation such that any two centers of the adjacent track bits do not lie along a common line in a cross-track direction;
• organizing the data to be written successively to adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium such that the data is reproducible when read back from the adjacent data tracks concurrently, wherein organizing the data comprises splitting the data into a first group and a second group;
• and
• writing the data successively to the adjacent data tracks, wherein the data is written such that data in adjacent data tracks is staggered, and wherein writing the data comprises:
• writing the first group data to a first data track in a first pass;
• and
• writing the second group data to a second data track in a second pass, wherein the first data track is adjacent the second data track, and wherein none of the first group data lies on a common line in a cross-track direction with any of the second group data.