Method and apparatus for detecting touch-down and contact between a head and a storage medium using a sensor, and a disk drive and storage medium using the method
US8730602B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 27, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/607
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting a touch-down and contact between a head and a storage medium by using a signal generated by a data storage device, specifically by a sensor installed in a slider. The method includes: separating a signal detected by a sensor into a direct current (DC) component and an alternating current (AC) component, wherein the sensor has an electrical characteristic that changes according to temperature; using the DC component to detect a touch-down state of the head during a touch-down test to determine a value of a control signal for adjusting the flying height of the head; and using the AC component to detect a contacting state between the head and the storage medium in an operating state of the apparatus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.