Methods and disk drive that measure head flying height at power-on/off
US7342736B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 28, 2006 |
| Grant date | Mar 11, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/54
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In some embodiments of the present invention, a disk drive includes a rotatable data storage disk, a head, and a controller. The head is configured to fly on an air cushion relative to a data recording surface of the rotating disk while writing data to the data recording surface responsive to a write command from a host device or while reading data from the data recording surface to generate a read signal responsive to a read command from the host device. The controller is configured to measure flying height of the head relative to the data recording surface of the disk in response to sensing power-up of the disk drive and/or a shut-down command from the host device. The controller may measure the flying height in response to sensing power-up of the disk drive and, subsequent to measuring the flying height, may generate a ready signal to the host computer that indicates that the disk drive has powered-up and is ready to receive read/write commands from the host computer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.