Self servo write process for discrete track media

An apparatus comprising:

• circuitry configured to receive data indicative of a waveform produced by a head operated with respect to a recording medium, wherein the medium comprises data tracks that are arranged based on circumferences of the medium and servo regions, each of the servo regions comprising multiple discrete strips of magnetic material that are radially arranged with respect to the medium;
• circuitry configured to detect a servo region of the servo regions based on the waveform becoming an alternating signal, the alternating signal being indicative of the head's path over the discrete magnetic strips in the servo region;
• circuitry configured to perform a frequency synchronization of a read clock based on a detection of the servo region to establish a frequency lock;
• circuitry configured to perform a phase synchronization of the read clock to align a phase of the read clock with respect to acquired samples of the alternating signal;
• circuitry configured to perform a synchronization of a write clock based on a write of a test sequence to the medium, the write clock being responsive to the frequency lock and the read clock;
• and
• circuitry configured to cause a write, based on the write clock, of data to the medium for servo control.

A system comprising:

• a read clock;
• a write clock;
• a recording medium, wherein the medium comprises data tracks that are arranged based on circumferences of the medium and servo regions, each of the servo regions comprising multiple discrete strips of magnetic material that are radially arranged with respect to the medium;
• a head to produce a waveform based on the head's passage over the medium;
• and
• a controller configured to
• receive data indicative of the waveform,
• detect a servo region of the servo regions based on the waveform becoming an alternating signal, the alternating signal being indicative of the head's path over the discrete magnetic strips in the servo region,
• perform a frequency synchronization of a read clock based on a detection of the servo region to establish a frequency lock,
• perform a phase synchronization of the read clock to align a phase of the read clock with respect to acquired samples of the alternating signal,
• perform a synchronization of a write clock based on a write of a test sequence to the medium, the write clock being responsive to the frequency lock and the read clock, and
• cause a write, based on the write clock, of data to the medium for servo control.