Multiple recording heads are used to perform parallel read and write operations
on multiple disk surfaces in disk drives. Small-scale actuators are positioned
between the transducer and the macroactuator that moves the entire head gimble
assembly. The small-scale actuators adjust the position of the recording heads
to the appropriate data tracks during the read and write operations to compensate
for misalignments between the multiple recording heads. The parallel read and write
operations can significantly improve the sustained data rates associated with disk
drives. The access time required to read data stored on a disk can be reduced by
writing multiple copies of the same data blocks to different locations on the surface
of disks in the disk drives. Read operations are performed by moving the recording
head to the copy of the data block that will produce the smallest access time.
