A Method for Simultaneous Position and Timing Error Detection for Bit-Patterned Media

This paper presents a method for simultaneously detecting the position and timing error in bit patterned media (BPM). Conventionally the position error is determined only in the servo area while the timing error is determined in the data area. However, the regular spatial arrangement of bits in BPM allows position information and timing information to be extracted from the data. The new method exploits interference between adjacent tracks by employing a read head wider than the track pitch. The new method also provides the capability of reading data from two tracks at the same time.