Modeling of an Electronic Noise and Media in a Magnetic Recording Read Channel Using VHDL

This paper presents a modeling and simulation methodology of two challenging aspects of a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) magnetic recording read channel: electronic noise and magnetic media. The methodology is based on an event-driven simulator that supports real-valued signals, such as standard VHDL. A few examples are presented for the noise source, PLL jitter/wander modeling, and magnetic media waveform creation. Success of this methodology has been demonstrated through a commercial 550 MHz PRML read channel IC. The read channel IC is of a mixed-signal design type with 30% analog and 70% digital content.