Predictive failure analysis of thermal flying height control system and method
US7336434B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 2005 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2220/2516
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for predicting the failure of a data storage device having a slider heater is disclosed. For slider heaters exhibiting a decreasing resistance aging characteristic, a failure warning is produced when heater resistance suddenly increases 2 to 5%, or dR/dt changes sign from negative to positive. For slider heaters exhibiting an increasing resistance aging characteristic, a failure warning is produced when the heater resistance suddenly drops 2 to 5%, or dR/dt changes sign from positive to negative. Additionally, random changes in heater resistance exceeding nominal measurement error may also be utilized to produce a failure warning. This method provides advance warning of potential data read/write errors well before the open circuit failure of the slider heater occurs.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.