Storage apparatus using a magnetoresistive head that employs a sense current selected from plural predetermined sense currents
US6111715A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 9, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 29, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 9, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/0018
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A magnetic storage apparatus exploits the inherent characteristics of a magnetoresistive element to improve the performance of a magnetic head employing the element. Variations in element height or element thickness of the magnetoresistive element are considered in the selection of a sense current appropriate to the element size, by measuring the voltage between the terminals of the magnetoresistive head and controlling the sense current so that the output reference voltage approaches a predetermined value. In another embodiment, the sense current is controlled so that the voltage amplitude or a reference amplitude are set to a predetermined value. In both embodiments, a conversion table is preferably used to relate voltage amplitudes with sense currents, whereby an appropriate sense current is selected based upon the voltage amplitude.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.