Head fly height testing and compensation

A method comprising:

• idling a head configured to write and read data on a storage medium for an idle time;
• unloading the head from idle;
• and
• compensating for any unsettled fly height of the head using at least the idle time and a pre-determined clearance settling function over time from idle.

A testing system comprising:

• a computing apparatus configured to be coupled to one or more storage devices, each storage device comprising a storage medium and a head configured to write and read data from the storage medium, the computing apparatus configured to:
• write a selected pattern to the storage medium using the head of at least one storage device;
• idle the head for a selected time period;
• read the selected pattern from the storage medium at least twice after the selected time period has lapsed for a settling time period to provide bit error rate data over the settling time period;
• and
• calculate a decaying linear function based on the bit error data, the decaying linear function configured to compensate for any unsettled fly height of the head of the storage device after idle.

A method comprising:

• providing a storage device comprising a storage medium and a head configured to write and read data from the storage medium;
• writing a selected pattern to the storage medium using the head;
• idling the head for a selected time period;
• reading the selected pattern from the storage medium more than once after the selected time period has lapsed for a settling time period to provide bit error rate data over the settling time period;
• and
• calculating a clearance settling function based on the bit error data, the clearance settling function configured to compensate for any unsettled fly height of the head of the storage device after idle.