Magnetic disk device and defect detection method

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a disk-shaped recording medium including a magnetic recording layer, a magnetic head that processes information on the magnetic recording layer, a thermal resistance sensor on the magnetic head, that detects a surface condition of the magnetic recording layer, and a controller including a defect detection circuit that detects presence or absence of a defect by comparing an output of the thermal resistance sensor with a defect detection threshold, a position detection circuit that detects a radial position of the magnetic head relative to the recording medium, an adjustment circuit that adjusts the defect detection threshold in accordance with a detected radial position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.