Collaborative Research: Cross-Layer and Unified Signal Processing System Design for Ultra-High-Capacity Next-Generation Magnetic Storage

本研究的目的是开发信号处理系统设计解决方案，以实现高性能和低成本的混合固态/磁硬盘驱动器，超过1 Tbit每平方英寸的面密度。拟议的研究旨在凝聚开发强大的信号处理算法和低成本的VLSI架构解决方案，可以同时解决低信号与介质噪声比和高系统容错实现成本所面临的新兴的混合瓦状写记录系统。该建议的智力价值在于从理论和实际实现的角度开发统一的信号处理系统设计解决方案的主题。新的不可控的网格为基础的有限状态检测器和高效的VLSI架构将被开发，以解决由瓦状写入造成的信号到介质噪声比的损失。将进一步开发统一的读取通道设计方法和数据管理感知信号处理策略，以降低整体系统信号处理实施成本。拟议研究的更广泛影响是，它将使低成本超高容量大容量数据存储驱动器的开发能够适应爆炸式增长的全球数据量。它还大大有助于维持历史上的磁记录面密度增长率，为这个对国家经济健康至关重要的战略重要性高科技部门提供直接利益。将作出额外努力，征聘妇女和其他代表性不足的群体担任该项目的研究助理，让太平洋岛民少数群体的代表担任本科研究员，并作为外联工作的一部分，向高中生进行外联。

The objective of this research is to develop signal processing system design solutions to enable high-performance and low-cost hybrid solid-state/magnetic hard disk drives with beyond 1 Tbit per square inch areal density. The proposed research aims to cohesively develop powerful signal processing algorithms and low-cost VLSI architecture solutions that can simultaneously address the low signal-to-media-noise ratio and high system fault tolerance implementation cost faced by the emerging hybrid shingled written recording systems. The intellectual merit of this proposal lies in the theme of developing unified signal processing system design solutions from both theory and practical implementation perspectives. New non-controllable trellis-based finite-state detectors and their efficient VLSI architectures will be developed to address the loss of signal-to-media-noise ratio caused by shingled writing. A unified read channel design approach and a data-management-aware signal processing strategy will be further developed to reduce the overall system signal processing implementation cost. The broader impact of the proposed research is that it will enable the development of low-cost ultra-high capacity mass data storage drives to accommodate the exploding global data volume. It also contributes greatly to sustaining the historical magnetic recording areal density growth rate, providing a direct benefit to this strategically important high technology sector critical to the economic health of the nation. Extra effort will be made to recruit women and other under-represented groups as research assistants in this project, involve representatives of the Pacific Islander minority as undergraduate researchers, and reach out to high school students as part of outreach efforts.