Method and apparatus for detecting slider/disk fly-height modulation in a hard disk drive
AssigneeHitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
InventorsToshiki Hirano, Ullal V. Nayak
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting slider/disk fly-height modulation in a hard disk drive is provided. A slider is electrically isolating from an electrically grounded suspension. A signal line is coupled to the slider, the signal line for providing an alert signal when a modulation in fly-height between the slider and an electrically grounded disk of the hard disk drive occurs.
Claims20
A method for detecting slider/disk fly-height modulation in a hard disk drive, comprising:
- electrically isolating a slider from an electrically grounded suspension;
- coupling a signal line to said slider, said signal line for providing an alert signal when a modulation in fly-height between said slider and an electrically grounded disk of said hard disk drive occurs;
- spinning said disk wherein said disk acquires a charge relative to ground in virtue of its spinning;
- and
- creating a disk surface potential and a voltage on said slider;
- wherein changes in a charge state on said slider are detected from changes in said voltage on said signal line, and said alert signal is generated on said signal line.
A hard disk drive comprising:
- a housing;
- at least one disk mounted to said housing, said disk being rotatable relative to said housing, said disk defining an axis of rotation and a radial direction relative to said axis;
- an actuator mounted to said housing and being movable relative to said disk, said actuator having a suspension for reaching over said disk, said suspension having an electrically isolated slider coupled therewith, said slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion of said slider;
- a signal line coupled to said electrically isolated slider, said signal line for providing an alert signal when a modulation in fly-height occurs between said slider and said disk;
- and
- a spindle motor assembly for spinning said disk wherein said disk acquires a charge relative to around in virtue of its spinning and creates a disk surface potential and a voltage on said slider;
- wherein changes in a charge state on said slider are detected from changes in said voltage on said signal line, and said alert signal is generated on said signal line.
A slider/disk fly-height modulation detector comprising:
- a suspension having an electrically isolated slider coupled therewith, said slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion of said slider;
- and
- a signal line coupled to said electrically isolated slider, said signal line for providing an alert signal when a modulation in fly-height occurs between said slider and a disk;
- wherein said disk acquires a charge relative to around in virtue of its spinning and creates a disk surface potential and a voltage on said slider;
- and
- wherein changes in a charge state on said slider are detected from changes in said voltage on said signal line, and said alert signal is generated on said signal line.
A method for detecting slider/disk fly-height modulation in a hard disk drive, comprising:
- means for electrically isolating a slider from an electrically grounded suspension;
- means for coupling a signal line to said slider;
- means for electrically grounding a disk in said hard disk drive;
- means for generating an alert signal on said signal line when a modulation in fly-height between said slider and said disk occurs;
- means for spinning said disk wherein said disk acquires a charge relative to ground in virtue of its spinning;
- and
- means for creating a disk surface potential and a voltage on said slider;
- wherein changes in a charge state on said slider are detected from changes in said voltage on said signal line, and said alert signal is generated on said signal line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.