Performance Evaluation of an Adaptive RAM-DFE Read Channel

Philip S. Bednarz; Nicholas P. Sands; Cory S. Modlin; Susan C. Lin; Inkyu Lee; John M. Cioffi

doi:10.1109/20.364795

Performance Evaluation of an Adaptive RAM-DFE Read Channel

Philip S. Bednarz, Nicholas P. Sands, Cory S. Modlin, Susan C. Lin, Inkyu Lee, John M. Cioffi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The bit error rate (BER) performance of a 54 Mbps RAM-Decision feedback equalizer (RAM-DFE) read channel for magnetic hard-disk drives is evaluated. A controlled test environment allows comparison of measured BER to the performance predicted by a model of the equalizer and channel. Imple-mentational effects are found to degrade performance 0.6 dB in relation to theory. Measurements also show a 0.2 dB loss due to error propagation at 10-8 BER with the probability of a 30 bit burst, given a single decision error, to be less than 10-5. A simple Markov model of the error propagation process corroborates the findings. Finally, the RAM-DFE read channel is compared to a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) detector of similar complexity on a spin-stand running with a thin-film head and media. The RAM-DFE exhibits a measured 25 fold decrease in BER over the PRML system on a wide range of densities.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1121-1127
Number of pages	7
Journal	IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
Volume	31
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/20.364795
Publication status	Published - 1995 Mar
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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@article{526241830920491fa798e9df4c4bd2b3,

title = "Performance Evaluation of an Adaptive RAM-DFE Read Channel",

abstract = "The bit error rate (BER) performance of a 54 Mbps RAM-Decision feedback equalizer (RAM-DFE) read channel for magnetic hard-disk drives is evaluated. A controlled test environment allows comparison of measured BER to the performance predicted by a model of the equalizer and channel. Imple-mentational effects are found to degrade performance 0.6 dB in relation to theory. Measurements also show a 0.2 dB loss due to error propagation at 10-8 BER with the probability of a 30 bit burst, given a single decision error, to be less than 10-5. A simple Markov model of the error propagation process corroborates the findings. Finally, the RAM-DFE read channel is compared to a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) detector of similar complexity on a spin-stand running with a thin-film head and media. The RAM-DFE exhibits a measured 25 fold decrease in BER over the PRML system on a wide range of densities.",

author = "Bednarz, {Philip S.} and Sands, {Nicholas P.} and Modlin, {Cory S.} and Lin, {Susan C.} and Inkyu Lee and Cioffi, {John M.}",

note = "Funding Information: Manuscript received June 17, 1994; revised September 16, 1994. N. Sands is now with Philips Semiconductors, Sunnyvale, CA. This work was made possible through grants from Samsung, Philips Semiconductors, and Quantum Corporation.",

year = "1995",

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AU - Bednarz, Philip S.

AU - Sands, Nicholas P.

AU - Modlin, Cory S.

AU - Lin, Susan C.

AU - Lee, Inkyu

AU - Cioffi, John M.

N1 - Funding Information: Manuscript received June 17, 1994; revised September 16, 1994. N. Sands is now with Philips Semiconductors, Sunnyvale, CA. This work was made possible through grants from Samsung, Philips Semiconductors, and Quantum Corporation.

PY - 1995/3

Y1 - 1995/3

N2 - The bit error rate (BER) performance of a 54 Mbps RAM-Decision feedback equalizer (RAM-DFE) read channel for magnetic hard-disk drives is evaluated. A controlled test environment allows comparison of measured BER to the performance predicted by a model of the equalizer and channel. Imple-mentational effects are found to degrade performance 0.6 dB in relation to theory. Measurements also show a 0.2 dB loss due to error propagation at 10-8 BER with the probability of a 30 bit burst, given a single decision error, to be less than 10-5. A simple Markov model of the error propagation process corroborates the findings. Finally, the RAM-DFE read channel is compared to a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) detector of similar complexity on a spin-stand running with a thin-film head and media. The RAM-DFE exhibits a measured 25 fold decrease in BER over the PRML system on a wide range of densities.

AB - The bit error rate (BER) performance of a 54 Mbps RAM-Decision feedback equalizer (RAM-DFE) read channel for magnetic hard-disk drives is evaluated. A controlled test environment allows comparison of measured BER to the performance predicted by a model of the equalizer and channel. Imple-mentational effects are found to degrade performance 0.6 dB in relation to theory. Measurements also show a 0.2 dB loss due to error propagation at 10-8 BER with the probability of a 30 bit burst, given a single decision error, to be less than 10-5. A simple Markov model of the error propagation process corroborates the findings. Finally, the RAM-DFE read channel is compared to a partial response maximum likelihood (PRML) detector of similar complexity on a spin-stand running with a thin-film head and media. The RAM-DFE exhibits a measured 25 fold decrease in BER over the PRML system on a wide range of densities.

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Performance Evaluation of an Adaptive RAM-DFE Read Channel

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