Patent ID: 7522511

Claim:
A method for controlling a data storage device comprising a storage medium for storing data in the form of indentation marks; at least one probe, said at least one probe and said storage medium being operable to move relative to each other, with each probe comprising a tip facing the storage medium and having a force creating unit associated thereto, said force creating unit being operable to create a force acting between said tip and said storage medium, said method comprising: erasing an indentation mark in said storage medium by way of controlling said force creating unit for creating at least one erase force pulse with a force rise time being less than or equal to the order of 1 μs, wherein said erase force pulse comprises a rise in said force during said erase force pulse in the range from 10 nN up to two orders above; creating multiple erase force pulses for erasing one indentation mark including creating erase force pulses for erasing one indentation mark with a force pulse frequency of at least 10 kHz; and creating an indentation mark by a write force pulse without the aid of an additional heat source.