Recording head with piezoelectric contact sensor
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsDavid J. Ellison, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Jorge Hanchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Example embodiments include an apparatus that has a piezoelectric contact sensor. The piezoelectric contact sensor includes a semiconductor device having a semiconductor material that defines a channel through which current can flow. The piezoelectric contact sensor also includes a piezoelectric element coupled to the semiconductor material. The semiconductor material is configured to modulate the current channel in response to compressive stress waves at the contact sensor. Other example embodiments include an apparatus that has a slider having an air-bearing surface, a write head integral to the slider, and a piezoelectric contact sensor that includes a semiconductor device and a piezoelectric element.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising:
- a contact sensor of a recording head that includes a semiconductor device, the recording head comprising a write head and a read head, and the semiconductor device comprising:
- a semiconductor material that defines a channel through which channel current can flow;
- and
- a piezoelectric element in direct contact with the semiconductor material and configured to modulate the channel current in response to compressive stress waves at the contact sensor.
An apparatus comprising:
- a slider of a recording head having an air-bearing surface;
- a write head of the recording head integral to the slider;
- and
- a contact sensor proximal to the slider that includes a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor material that defines a channel through which channel current can flow, and a piezoelectric element in direct contact with the semiconductor material and configured to modulate the channel current in response to compressive waves at the contact sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.