Multi-track Recording Systems Using Non-binary Error Correction Coding Schemes for Bit-patterned Magnetic Recording

Abstract:
In this paper, a new multi-track recording system based on two-dimensional (2D) signal processing schemes is proposed for bit-patterned magnetic recording (BPMR). This system uses a non-binary error-correcting code and a modulation code with 2D run-length limited constraints. The signal processing scheme in the proposed system gets mixed readback signal sequences from the parallel adjacent tracks using a single reading head simultaneously. These readback signal sequences are equalized to a frequency response given by a desired 2D generalized partial response (GPR) system for BPMR. In decoding, a single sequence detector using maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation combined with pattern-dependent noise-predictive detection is able to detect the equalized GPR signal sequences for recorded data written in a group of parallel adjacent tracks. Using computer simulation, this decoding scheme improves the signalto- noise ratio compared to the conventional MAP detection under media noise.