Resistive temperature sensors for improved asperity, head-media spacing, and/or head-media contact detection

An apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of head transducers configured to interact with magnetic recording media;
• a plurality of sensors having a temperature of coefficient of resistance, wherein at least one sensor is provided on each head transducer and is responsive to changes in spacing between the sensor and the media;
• and
• a power source configured to supply bias power to each sensor of each head transducer and to adjust the bias power to maintain a fixed overheat ratio (OHR) across all sensors in the presence of heat transfer changes impacting the sensors.

A method, comprising:

• with magnetic recording media moving relative to a plurality of head transducers:
• sensing for changes in spacing between the head transducers and the media using sensors having a temperature of coefficient of resistance, the sensors configured to detect one or both of contact with asperities and head-media contact;
• supplying bias power to the sensors;
• and
• adjusting the bias power to maintain each sensor at a fixed temperature above an ambient temperature in the presence of heat transfer changes impacting the sensors.

A method, comprising:

• with magnetic recording media moving relative to a plurality of head transducers:
• sensing for changes in spacing between the head transducers and the media using sensors having a temperature of coefficient of resistance;
• supplying bias power to the sensors;
• and
• adjusting the bias power to maintain each sensor at a fixed overheat ratio (OHR) in the presence of heat transfer changes impacting the sensors.