Media certification device design

An apparatus for detecting surface variations in recordable magnetic media, the apparatus comprising:

• a slider body configured to fly over the recordable magnetic media, the slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a trailing edge face and an air bearing surface;
• a suspension assembly coupled to the slider body configured to support the slider above the recordable magnetic media;
• a plurality of thermal proximity sensing elements connected in a bridge circuit, the plurality of thermal proximity sensing elements on the trailing edge face and adjacent to the air bearing surface;
• and
• a controller coupled to the thermal proximity sensing elements, the controller configured to receive signals from the plurality of thermal proximity sensing elements and determine the existence of a surface variation in the recordable magnetic media based upon differences in the signals received from the plurality of thermal proximity sensing elements.