Analysis of a biphase-based servo format for hard-disk drives

Biphase modulation in an embedded-servo format for hard-disk drives is inve stigated. It is shown that for biphase, at the low linear densities typical of servo information, near-maximum-likelihood performance can be attained by a simple bit detector consisting of a full-response linear equalizer and a binary slicer. Compared to the commonly used method of dibit coding, a s ignal-to-noise ration gain of some 4 dB is achieved, The same equalizer may be used as the basis for near-maximum-likelihood position error signal amp litude estimation and timing recovery. Simulations of a practical servo dem odulator based on a fifth-order analog filter show that at typical linear d ensities, this ideal performance is closely approached. The equalizer has a band-pass character and yields excellent suppression of the effects of the rmal asperities and magneto-resistive head asymmetry.