Head-medium contact detection using introduced heat oscillation
US8638349B1 · kind B1 · utility
16Cited by
3References
22Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 11, 2013 |
| Grant date | Jan 28, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 11, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/6076
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus includes a head transducer configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and a heater configured to thermally actuate the head transducer. A thermal sensor at or near the head transducer is configured to produce a sensor signal. Circuitry is coupled to the heater and configured to cause an oscillation in heater power. The heater power oscillation causes an oscillation in the sensor signal. A detector is coupled to the thermal sensor and configured to detect head-medium contact using the oscillating sensor signal and heater power.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.