Head integrated touchdown sensor for hard disk drives
US7796356B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 2009 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/6076
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for providing a disk drive is described. The disk drive includes media such as one or more disks, a slider and a head residing on the slider. The head has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a touchdown sensor proximate to the ABS. The touchdown sensor is capable of detecting a temperature change of 0.1 degree Celsius or, in some embodiments, smaller. The disk drive also includes touchdown sensor control circuitry coupled with the touchdown sensor. The touchdown sensor control circuitry drives a current through the touchdown sensor and converts a signal from the touchdown sensor into an indication of whether touchdown has occurred.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.