Basline instability detector

Abstract

The method and apparatus herein identifies baseline instability events occurring within a magneto-resistive head. The method commences by capturing a signal average amplitude of a signal emanating from the head. The signal average amplitude is used to set a threshold, the transcendence of which indicates a baseline instability event. Finally, each baseline instability event is counted. The apparatus includes an envelope detector, which captures the signal average amplitude. A comparator unit, operably connected to the envelope detector, uses a threshold based upon the signal average amplitude, and sets a flag whenever the head signal exceeds the threshold. Finally, a counter unit increments its count total each time the flag is set. The counting unit may employ timing control, meaning that it will only increment its total if the flag is set when a clock signal triggers the counter unit to test the flag to decide whether or not to increment.

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