Apparatus for look-ahead thermal sensing in a data storage device

A data storage device, comprising;

• a data storage disk;
• a slider having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the slider being configured to fly on an airbearing above a disk rotating from the leading edge to the trailing edge;
• a read head mounted on the slider proximate the trailing edge;
• a write head mounted on the slider proximate the trailing edge;
• an auxiliary thermal sensor mounted on the slider nearer the leading edge than are the read and write heads;
• an actuator provided to position the heads relative to the data storage disk;
• a motor provided to rotate the data storage disk relative to the slider.

A data storage device, comprising;

• a data storage disk;
• a slider having a leading edge and a trailing edge, the slider being configured to fly on an airbearing above a disk rotating from the leading edge to the trailing edge;
• a read head mounted on the slider proximate the trailing edge;
• a write head mounted on the slider proximate the trailing edge;
• an auxiliary thermal sensor mounted on the slider nearer the leading edge than are the read and write heads;
• an actuator provided to position the heads relative to the data storage disk;
• a motor provided to rotate the data storage disk relative to the slider;
• a write driver that provides a write current to the write head based on encoded data provided by a recording channel;
• a preamplifier that provides a read signal by maintaining one of a constant current or a constant voltage for the read head and amplifying changes in the other of the current or voltage of the read head as the data storage disk is rotated thereunder;
• an amplifier that provides a thermal sensor output by maintaining one of a constant current or a constant voltage for the auxiliary thermal sensor and amplifying changes in the other of the current or voltage of the auxiliary thermal sensor as changes in flyheight occur between the auxiliary thermal sensor and the data storage disk as the data storage disk is rotated thereunder.