Advanced read channels for magnetic disk drives

Author

Howell, Thomas D. ; Abbott, William L. ; Fisher, Kevin D.

Author_Institution

Quantum Corp., Milpitas, CA, USA

Volume

30

Issue

6

fYear

1994

fDate

11/1/1994 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

3807

Lastpage

3812

Abstract

Advanced read channels which sample the read signal and process those samples using algorithms borrowed from the communications industry allow us to reach higher storage densities and faster data rates than ever before. In this paper we describe some of the design issues involved in using a PRML (partial-response, maximum-likelihood) channel in a disk drive employing thin-film heads, zoned-recording, and embedded servo sectors. We discuss the effect of high transition densities required for a PRML channel on the design of heads and media. Finally, we survey some additional signal processing methods which might lead to even higher performance in the future

Keywords

hard discs; magnetic heads; magnetic thin film devices; maximum likelihood decoding; partial response channels; PRML channel; data rates; embedded servo sectors; magnetic disk drives; partial-response maximum-likelihood channel; read channels; read signal; signal processing methods; storage densities; thin-film heads; transition densities; zoned-recording; Decision feedback equalizers; Detectors; Disk drives; Intersymbol interference; Magnetic heads; Magnetic recording; Maximum likelihood detection; Servomechanisms; Signal processing; Transistors;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Magnetics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9464

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/20.333910

Filename

333910