Capacitance sensor for determining a distance between a head and a magnetic storage medium
US8611035B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 2012 |
| Grant date | Dec 17, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B19/042
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A proximity sensor is described including a capacitor formed by a first conductive element and a second conductive element. The first conductive element and the second conductive element are situated at a magnetic head, a slider that connects to the magnetic head, a reader of the magnetic head, a writer of the magnetic head, a reader shield of the magnetic head, or a writer shield of the magnetic head. A capacitance and a fringing electric field are formed by the capacitor when there is a voltage difference between the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The capacitor is situated such that the fringing electric field changes with a positioning change of a magnetic storage medium with respect to at least one of the first conductive element and the second conductive element. The capacitor is also situated such that the capacitance changes with the fringing electric field change.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.