Self-diagnostic MR head recovery
US6690532B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 31, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/02
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting and recovering from head instability in a magneto-resistive (MR) transducer head of a disc-drive system. A head-instability-recovery circuit is described for use in disc drive to recover from a head-instability condition of an MR transducer head. This circuit includes a controller and a current source that supplies current to the MR head. The current source is controlled to supply a nominal amount of current to the MR head when operating in a normal mode, and to supply one or more current bursts having a current above the nominal supply current in order to recover from the head-instability condition. Also described is a method for recovering from a transducer-instability condition of an MR transducer of a disc drive, including detecting a situation that indicates a head-instability-recovery operation is desired, and performing the head-instability-recovery operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.