Implementing spin torque oscillator power-on oscillation checker using ramped STO bias differentiator in microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) hard disk drives

• US 8,917,465 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2014
• Issued: 12/23/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V. (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Contreras, John, Tagawa, Ikuya, Zakai, Rehan Ahmed, Garzon, Samir Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): HUBER, PAUL W
• Application Number:
  US14/316,628
• Time in Patent Office: 180 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 360/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0024 Microwave assisted recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/455 Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing a power-on spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker to monitor STO resistance to identify STO oscillation with microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) hard disk drives (HDDs). A changing bias current is applied to the STO in the presence of constant write drive current. The STO bias current is changed to observe sudden changes in STO resistance monitored using a differentiator circuit to identify STO oscillation, used to ensure stable MAMR HDD write operation.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker for microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) hard disk drives (HDDs) comprising:

applying a changing STO bias current to a spin-torque oscillator (STO);

using a differentiator circuit coupled to the STO, monitoring STO resistance responsive to the applied changing STO bias current to identify a STO resistance change and STO oscillation; and

using the identified STO oscillation to ensure stable MAMR HDD write operation.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein applying the changing STO bias current to the spin-torque oscillator (STO) includes applying a triangular ramped bias current or a square wave bias current to the STO during a power-on operation and periodically during MAMR HDD operation.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 includes providing a write coil coupled to the STO and providing a constant write coil current source applying a constant current to the write coil.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein providing a constant write coil current source applying a constant current to the write coil includes providing a constant direct current (DC) write coil drive current source.

5. The method as recited in claim 3 wherein providing a constant write coil current source applying a constant current to the write coil includes providing a constant low frequency AC write coil drive current source.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein using the differentiator circuit coupled to the STO, monitoring STO resistance includes providing a threshold detector coupled to an output of the differentiator circuit.

7. An apparatus for implementing a spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker for microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) hard disk drive (HDDs), comprising:

a controller;

at least one disk;

said disk including a disk media for storing data;

a spin-torque oscillator (STO) for microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR);

the spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker comprising

a STO bias current source applying a changing STO bias current to the spin-torque oscillator (STO);

a differentiator circuit coupled to the STO, said differentiator circuit monitoring STO resistance responsive to the applied changing STO bias current to identify a STO resistance change and STO oscillation; and

said controller using the identified STO oscillation to ensure stable MAMR HDD write operation.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 includes control code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, and wherein said controller uses said control code to identify STO oscillation, used to ensure stable MAMR HDD write operation.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 includes a Read/Write integrated circuit (IC) coupled to a slider, said slider containing said spin-torque oscillator (STO);

and said spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker provided in said Read/Write integrated circuit (IC).

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said STO bias current source applies a triangular ramped bias current or a square wave bias current to the STO.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 includes a write coil coupled to the STO and a write coil current source applying a constant write coil current to the write coil.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 includes said write coil current source applying a constant DC write coil drive current to the write coil.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 includes said write coil current source applying a constant low frequency AC write coil drive current to the write coil.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 includes a threshold detector coupled to an output of the differentiator circuit, said threshold detector used to identify a sudden STO resistance change.

15. A system for implementing a spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker comprising:

a microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) hard disk drive (HDD), said MAMR HDD comprising a controller;

at least one disk;

said disk including a disk media for storing data;

a spin-torque oscillator (STO) for microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR);

the spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker comprising

a STO bias current source applying a changing STO bias current to the spin-torque oscillator (STO);

a differentiator circuit coupled to the STO, said differentiator circuit monitoring STO resistance responsive to the applied changing STO bias current to identify a STO resistance change and STO oscillation; and

said controller using the identified STO oscillation to ensure stable MAMR HDD write operation.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 includes control code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, and wherein said controller uses said control code to identify STO oscillation, used to ensure stable MAMR HDD write operation.

17. The system as recited in claim 15 includes a Read/Write integrated circuit (IC) coupled to a slider, said slider containing said spin-torque oscillator (STO);

and said Read/Write integrated circuit (IC) implementing the spin-torque oscillator (STO) oscillation checker.

18. The system as recited in claim 15 includes said STO bias current source applies a triangular ramped bias current or a square wave bias current to the STO.

19. The system as recited in claim 15 includes a write coil coupled to the STO and a write coil current source applying a constant DC write coil drive current or a constant low frequency AC write coil drive current to the write coil.

20. The system as recited in claim 15 includes said STO bias current source applying a triangular ramped bias current or a square wave bias current to the STO at power-on and periodically during MAMR HDD operation.