Skew-tolerant multiple-reader array in array-reader based magnetic recording

An apparatus for enhancing read performance in a multi-reader two-dimensional magnetic recording system, the apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of analog front ends, each of the analog front ends being configured to receive a read signal from a corresponding one of a plurality of readers in a multi-reader array head of the magnetic recording system and to generate an analog signal as a function of the read signal from the corresponding one of the plurality of readers;
• a plurality of analog-to-digital converters coupled with the respective plurality of analog front ends, each of the analog-to-digital converters being configured to receive a given one of the analog signals generated by a corresponding one of the plurality of analog front ends and to generate, as a function of the given analog signal, a digital read signal;
• and
• a joint equalizer coupled with the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, the joint equalizer being configured to receive the respective digital read signals generated by the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and to assign a weight value to each of the respective digital read signals for each of a plurality of skew angles, the weight value assigned to each of the read signals being indicative of a performance of the corresponding one of the plurality of readers relative to one another.

A data storage system, comprising:

• a plurality of storage devices, wherein at least one of the plurality of storage devices comprises:
• a multi-reader array head comprising a plurality of readers;
• a plurality of analog front ends, each of the analog front ends being configured to receive a read signal from a corresponding one of the plurality of readers in the multireader array head and to generate an analog signal as a function of the read signal from the corresponding one of the plurality of readers;
• a plurality of analog-to-digital converters coupled with the respective plurality of analog front ends, each of the analog-to-digital converters being configured to receive a given one of the analog signals generated by a corresponding one of the plurality of analog front ends and to generate, as a function of the given analog signal, a digital read signal;
• and
• a joint equalizer coupled with the plurality of analog-to-digital converters, the joint equalizer being configured to receive the respective digital read signals generated by the plurality of analog-to-digital converters and to assign a weight value to each of the respective digital read signals for each of a plurality of skew angles, the weight value assigned to each of the read signals being indicative of a performance of the corresponding one of the plurality of readers relative to one another.