Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

Steven Nowlen Guilliams

Bernhard E Knigge

Andreas Moser

Kris Victor Schouterden

Jorge F Escobar

A method for increasing reliability of a hard disk drive (HDD) is disclosed. One of a plurality of magnetic read/write heads in a hard disk drive (HDD) is determined to be disabled, and a fly-height associated with the disabled read/write head is increased with respect to a fly-height associated with the plurality of read/write heads.

Adjusting a fly-height in hard disk drives

One embodiment in accordance with the invention is a method that comprises determining if a slider of a data storage device is to perform a read or write operation with a disk of the data storage device. If the slider is to perform the read or write operation, the slider is set at a grazing contact with the disk for a predefined time frame to perform the read or write operation. The predefined time frame is approximately how long the slider can be in grazing contact with the disk without experiencing any substantial instability. After the predefined time frame expires, the slider is caused to move out of contact with the disk.

Enabling intermittent contact recording on-demand

The present invention discloses an electrical test probe having a side arm member attached to a main probe element at an angle less than 90 degrees. The length of the side arm is such that the end of the side arm does not make contact with surfaces being probed by the main probe tip. The side arm aids in the measurement of circuit component leads, pins and wires without causing short circuits when measuring closely spaced circuit board traces.

Growing community of inventors

San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Steven Nowlen Guilliams