Fly-height touchdown detection circuits and methods
AssigneeMarvell International Ltd.
InventorParviz Rahgozar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus that includes a circuit that generates control information that controls a height of a read head of a disk drive. The circuit comprises a filter circuit and a detector circuit. The filter circuit receives a read channel signal from the read head and generates a filtered signal. The filtered signal ranges between 1.0 kHz and 500 kHz. The detector circuit receives the filtered signal and generates the control information when the filtered signal exceeds a defined threshold.
Claims20
An apparatus including a circuit that generates control information, wherein the control information controls a height of a head relative to a platter of a disk drive, the circuit comprising:
- a filter circuit that is configured to receive a read channel signal from the head and that is configured to generate a filtered signal based on the read channel signal, wherein the filtered signal ranges between 10 kHz and 500 kHz, wherein the filtered signal corresponds to a mechanical motion of the head, the mechanical motion resulting from a touchdown of the head on the platter;
- and
- a detector circuit that is configured to receive the filtered signal and that is configured to generate the control information when the filtered signal exceeds a defined threshold.
A disk drive comprising:
- a head;
- a platter having a surface;
- and
- a circuit that is configured to generate control information, wherein the control information controls a height between the head and the surface of the platter, the circuit comprising:
- a filter circuit that is configured to receive a read channel signal from the head and that is configured to generate a filtered signal based on the read channel signal, wherein the filtered signal ranges between 10 kHz and 500 kHz, wherein the filtered signal corresponds to a mechanical motion of the head, the mechanical motion resulting from a touchdown of the head on the platter, and
- a detector circuit that is configured to receive the filtered signal and that is configured to generate the control information when the filtered signal exceeds a defined threshold.
A method for controlling a height of a head relative to a platter of a disk drive, the method comprising:
- filtering a read channel signal from the head, the filtering resulting in a filtered signal, wherein the filtered signal ranges between 10 kHz and 500 kHz, wherein the filtered signal corresponds to a mechanical motion of the head, the mechanical motion resulting from a touchdown of the head on the platter;
- and
- generating control information when the filtered signal exceeds a defined threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.