Tribological monitoring of a data storage device
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsLin Zhou, Huazhou Lou, Dongming Liu, Vincent Bernard Engelkes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system that is capable of monitoring tribological data, such as friction, in a data storage device. In accordance with various embodiments, a magnetoresistive head is separated from a rotating data storage media by an air bearing and attached to a slider that is adjusted through deformation controlled by a heating element. A measurement circuit concurrently monitors friction from the head and power applied to the heating element to determine an MR head clearance. The measurement circuit includes at least a phase filter that eliminates off-phase friction from contributing to the determination of the MR head clearance.
Claims20
An apparatus comprising:
- a magnetoresistive (MR) head separated from a rotating data storage media by an air bearing and attached to a slider;
- a heating element capable of adjusting the air bearing by deforming the slider;
- and
- a measurement circuit that concurrently monitors friction from the MR head and power applied to the heating element to determine an MR head clearance, the measurement circuit including at least a phase filter that eliminates off-phase friction from contributing to the determination of the MR head clearance.
A method comprising:
- providing a magnetoresistive (MR) head separated from a rotating data storage media by an air bearing and attached to a slider;
- adjusting the air bearing with a heating element that deforms the slider;
- and
- monitoring friction from the MR head concurrently with power applied to the heating element with a measurement circuit to determine the size of the air bearing, the measurement circuit including at least a phase filter that eliminates off-phase friction from contributing to the determination of the air bearing size.
A method of providing a magnetoresistive (MR) head separated from a rotating data storage media by an air bearing and attached to a slider, adjusting the air bearing with a heating element that deforms the slider, monitoring friction from the MR head concurrently with power applied to the heating element with a measurement circuit to determine an MR head clearance, the measurement circuit including at least a phase filter that eliminates off-phase friction from contributing to the determination of the MR head clearance, and predicting future MR head contact with the rotating data media.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.