Read failover method and apparatus for a data storage system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a data storage device comprising:
- at least a first reader system and a second reader system to read a magnetic storage medium, wherein the first reader system includes a first reader element, and the second reader system includes a second reader element, and wherein a first head includes both the first reader element and the second reader element;
control circuitry to detect when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, and thereafter to cause the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium; and
the control circuitry to further detect when a third reader system provides less than the predetermined performance or is nonfunctioning, and thereafter to cause the second reader system, but not the third reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium, wherein the third reader system includes a third reader element, and wherein the first head further includes the third reader element.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A reader failover system and method are described for a data storage system. At least two reader systems, including a first reader element and a second reader element, situated on the same head, are employed to read a magnetic storage medium. In an aspect, the head is a two-dimensional magnetic recording (TDMR) head. Control circuitry detects when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, and thereafter causes the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium. In an aspect, a buffer stores a first reader element signal until the control circuitry detects whether or not the first reader element provides less than a predetermined performance or fails. In an aspect, when a reader element fails, data recovery is performed, and all of, or a majority of, the media continues to be readable, improving the data storage system robustness.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a data storage device comprising:
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at least a first reader system and a second reader system to read a magnetic storage medium, wherein the first reader system includes a first reader element, and the second reader system includes a second reader element, and wherein a first head includes both the first reader element and the second reader element; control circuitry to detect when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, and thereafter to cause the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium; and the control circuitry to further detect when a third reader system provides less than the predetermined performance or is nonfunctioning, and thereafter to cause the second reader system, but not the third reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium, wherein the third reader system includes a third reader element, and wherein the first head further includes the third reader element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for a data storage device, comprising:
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employing at least a first reader system and a second reader system to read a magnetic storage medium, wherein the first reader system includes a first reader element, and the second reader system includes a second reader element, and wherein a first head includes both the first reader element and the second reader element; detecting when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, and thereafter causing the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium; and detecting when a third reader system provides less than the predetermined performance or is nonfunctioning, and thereafter causing the second reader system, but not the third reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium, wherein the third reader system includes a third reader element, and wherein the first head further includes the third reader element. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium including executable instructions for a data storage device, the instructions comprising code for:
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employing at least a first reader system and a second reader system to read a magnetic storage medium, wherein the first reader system includes a first reader element, and the second reader system includes a second reader element, and wherein a first head includes both the first reader element and the second reader element; detecting when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, and thereafter causing the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium; and detecting when a third reader system provides less than the predetermined performance or is nonfunctioning, and thereafter causing the second reader system, but not the third reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium, wherein the third reader system includes a third reader element, and wherein the first head further includes the third reader element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for a data storage device, comprising:
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employing at least two reader systems to read a magnetic storage medium, wherein the at least two reader systems include a first reader system and a second reader system, wherein the first reader system includes a first reader element, and the second reader system includes a second reader element, and wherein a first head includes both the first reader element and the second reader element; and detecting when the first reader system provides less than a predetermined performance or fails, due to a factor that is independent from concurrent use of the first reader system and the second reader system, and thereafter causing the second reader system, but not the first reader system, to read the magnetic storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification