Disk drive slider with sense amplifier for coupling to a preamp through a supply/bias line and a read signal line

• US 9,047,917 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Hogg, Dennis W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US14/090,873
• Publication Number:
  US 20150146319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 360/46, 360/67, 360/39, 360/55, 360/75, 360/69, 360/78.04, 318/650, 318/560, 318/561, 318/568.22, 330/254
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10018 analog processing for digital recording or reproduction G11B20/10037 - G11B20/10481 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/10027 adjusting the signal strength during recording or reproduction, e.g. variable gain amplifiers optimum power control for optical discs G11B7/125
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/012 Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic disks G11B17/00, G11B19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/02 Recording, reproducing, or erasing methods; Read, write or erase circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/09 Digital recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/455 Arrangements for functional testing of heads; Measuring arrangements for heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4853 Constructional details of the electrical connection between head and arm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/5526 Control therefor; circuits, track configurations or relative disposition of servo-information transducers and servo-information tracks for control thereof G11B5/556 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/58 with provision for moving the head for the purpose of maintaining alignment of the head relative to the record carrier during transducing operation, e.g. to compensate for surface irregularities of the latter or for track following spacing means incorporated in the head structure G11B5/187, G11B5/255, G11B5/3106

Abstract

A disk drive slider is disclosed comprising a first read element for generating a first read signal, and a first sense amplifier comprising a first input terminal coupled to the first read element, a first output terminal coupled to a first output line, and a first supply terminal coupled to a supply line. The first sense amplifier is for amplifying the first read signal to generate a first amplified read signal, the first output line is for transmitting the first amplified read signal to a preamp, and the supply line is for coupling to the preamp in order to supply power to the first sense amplifier and supply a first bias to the first read element.

Claims

1. A disk drive slider comprising:

a first read element for generating a first read signal; and

a first sense amplifier comprising a first input terminal coupled to the first read element, a first output terminal coupled to a first output line, and a first supply terminal coupled to a supply line, wherein;

the first sense amplifier is for amplifying the first read signal to generate a first amplified read signal;

the first output line is for transmitting the first amplified read signal to a preamp; and

the supply line is for coupling to the preamp in order to supply power to the first sense amplifier and supply a first bias to the first read element.

2. The disk drive slider as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second read element for generating a second read signal; and

a second sense amplifier comprising a second input terminal coupled to the second read element, a second output terminal coupled to a second output line, and a second supply terminal coupled to the supply line, wherein;

the second sense amplifier is for amplifying the second read signal to generate a second amplified read signal;

the second output line is for transmitting the second amplified read signal to the preamp; and

the supply line is for coupling to the preamp in order to supply power to the second sense amplifier and supply a second bias to the second read element.

3. The disk drive slider as recited in claim 1, wherein the first sense amplifier is for generating the first amplified read signal as a single ended signal.

4. A disk drive preamp comprising:

a supply line for coupling to a first supply terminal of a first sense amplifier of a slider; and

a first input line for coupling to a first output terminal of the first sense amplifier, wherein;

the first sense amplifier is for amplifying a first read signal generated by a first read element of the slider to generate a first amplified read signal;

the first input line is for receiving the first amplified read signal; and

the supply line is for supplying power to the first sense amplifier and for supplying a first bias to the first read element.

5. The disk drive preamp as recited in claim 4, further comprising a second input line for coupling to a second output terminal of a second sense amplifier, wherein:

the second sense amplifier is for amplifying a second read signal generated by a second read element of the slider to generate a second amplified read signal;

the second input line is for receiving the second amplified read signal; and

the supply line is for supplying power to the second sense amplifier and for supplying a second bias to the second read element.

6. The disk drive preamp as recited in claim 4, wherein the first input line is for receiving the first amplified read signal as a single ended signal.

7. The disk drive preamp as recited in claim 4, further comprising a first current source coupled to the first input line for controlling an output impedance of the first sense amplifier.

8. The disk drive preamp as recited in claim 5, further comprising:

a first current source coupled to the first input line for controlling a first output impedance of the first sense amplifier; and

a second current source coupled to the second input line for controlling a second output impedance of the second sense amplifier.

9. A method of operating a disk drive preamp, the disk drive preamp comprising:

a supply line for coupling to a first supply terminal of a first sense amplifier of a slider; and

a first input line for coupling to a first output terminal of the first sense amplifier, wherein;

the first sense amplifier is for amplifying a first read signal generated by a first read element of the slider to generate a first amplified read signal;

the first input line is for receiving the first amplified read signal; and

the supply line is for supplying power to the first sense amplifier and for supplying a first bias to the first read element,

wherein the method comprises adjusting a current source coupled to the first input line to adjust an output impedance of the first sense amplifier.

10. A disk drive comprising:

a disk;

a slider actuated over the disk, the slider comprising a first read element, a first sense amplifier, a second read element, and a second sense amplifier;

a preamp comprising;

a supply line for coupling to a first supply terminal of the first sense amplifier and for coupling to a second supply terminal of the second sense amplifier; and

a first input line for coupling to a first output terminal of the first sense amplifier, and a second input line for coupling to a second output terminal of the second sense amplifier,

wherein;

the first sense amplifier is for amplifying a first read signal generated by the first read element to generate a first amplified read signal;

the first input line is for receiving the first amplified read signal;

the second sense amplifier is for amplifying a second read signal generated by the second read element to generate a second amplified read signal;

the second input line is for receiving the second amplified read signal; and

the supply line is for supplying power to the first and second sense amplifier and for supplying an operating bias to the first and second read element, and

control circuitry configured to;

calibrate a first bias supplied to the first read element;

calibrate a second bias supplied to the second read element; and

generate the operating bias based on the first bias and the second bias.

11. A method of operating a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a preamp comprising:

a supply line for coupling to a first supply terminal of a first sense amplifier of a slider and for coupling to a second supply terminal of a second sense amplifier of the slider; and

a first input line for coupling to a first output terminal of the first sense amplifier, and a second input line for coupling to a second output terminal of the second sense amplifier,

wherein;

the first sense amplifier is for amplifying a first read signal generated by a first read element of the slider to generate a first amplified read signal;

the first input line is for receiving the first amplified read signal;

the second sense amplifier is for amplifying a second read signal generated by a second read element of the slider to generate a second amplified read signal;

the second input line is for receiving the second amplified read signal; and

the supply line is for supplying power to the first and second sense amplifier and for supplying an operating bias to the first and second read element,

wherein the method comprises;

calibrating a first bias supplied to the first read element;

calibrating a second bias supplied to the second read element; and

generating the operating bias based on the first bias and the second bias.