Seagate Technology Incorporated

Jesse Speckhard

Jim Fitzpatrick

Barry J Henry

Scott Edward Ryun

Richard Edward Martin

Stefan Andrei Ionescu

Subhash Guddati

Jihao Luo

CheeWee Cheng

Andy Chou

Baoliang Zhang

ShengYuan Lin

SweeChuan Samuel Gan

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.

In situ sensor based contact detection

An actuation efficiency for a head is determined based on a displacement of the head relative to a storage media responsive to excitation of a heater element. Damage to the head is detected based on the determined actuation efficiency. Related circuits and devices are also discussed.

Head damage detection based on actuation efficiency measurements

Various embodiments are disclosed that control head fly height based on estimates of head fly height. The fly height clearance between the head and a data storage media is estimated. Heating of the head by a heater element is then regulated in response to the estimated fly height.

Estimation and control of head fly height

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Douglas, MA, United States of America

Jesse Speckhard