Seagate Technology Incorporated

Andy Chou

Myint Ngwe

Quan Li

Scott Edward Ryun

Richard Edward Martin

Stefan Andrei Ionescu

Beng Theam Ko

Subhash Guddati

Jesse Speckhard

CheeWee Cheng

Chee Wee Cheng

SweeChuan Samuel Gan

ShengYuan Lin

A method for detecting a contact event between a transducer and a recording medium is disclosed. The method includes positioning a transducer with respect to a recording medium, where the transducer includes a writer, a reader, a heater, and a thermally responsive sensor. The method further includes applying power to the heater to establish a fly height of the transducer; supplying a bias current through the thermally responsive sensor to generate a bias signal; measuring a root mean square (RMS) voltage Vof the thermally responsive sensor based on the bias signal; determining a threshold voltage V; and detecting a contact event between the transducer and the medium based on Vbeing greater than V.

In situ sensor based contact detection

Apparatus and method for positional sensing and control. In accordance with some embodiments, a transducer is positioned adjacent a recording medium. The transducer includes a write element, a read element, a heater and a thermally responsive sensor. Power is applied to the heater to establish a selected fly height of the transducer relative to the medium. A contact event between the transducer and the medium is detected responsive to an accumulated plural count of pulses in a bias signal obtained from the thermally responsive sensor.

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Singapore, Singapore

Andy Chou