Disk drive comprising extended range head proximity sensor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A disk drive comprising:
- a disk;
a head actuated over the disk;
a tunneling sensor; and
control circuitry comprising a current sensor configured to detect a current flowing through the tunneling sensor, the control circuitry configured to;
detect a proximity of the head relative to the disk in response to the detected current flowing through the tunneling sensor; and
detect the head contacting the disk in response to the detected current flowing through the tunneling sensor,wherein the current sensor;
operates at a first gain over a first range corresponding to a first fly height; and
operates at a second gain over a second range corresponding to a second fly height, wherein the second fly height is lower than the first fly height.
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Abstract
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a fly height transducer operable to generate a fly height signal for the head. The disk drive further comprises control circuitry comprising a current sensor operable to detect a current flowing through the fly height transducer. The current sensor comprises a differential amplifier operable to amplify the current flowing through the fly height transducer over a first range using a first gain, and amplify the current flowing through the fly height transducer over a second range using a second gain less than the first gain, wherein at least part of the second range is different than the first range.
479 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A disk drive comprising:
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a disk; a head actuated over the disk; a tunneling sensor; and control circuitry comprising a current sensor configured to detect a current flowing through the tunneling sensor, the control circuitry configured to; detect a proximity of the head relative to the disk in response to the detected current flowing through the tunneling sensor; and detect the head contacting the disk in response to the detected current flowing through the tunneling sensor, wherein the current sensor; operates at a first gain over a first range corresponding to a first fly height; and operates at a second gain over a second range corresponding to a second fly height, wherein the second fly height is lower than the first fly height. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method of operating a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a head actuated over a disk, and a tunneling sensor, the method comprising:
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detecting a current flowing through the tunneling sensor; detecting a proximity of the head relative to the disk in response to the detected current flowing through the tunneling sensor; and detecting the head contacting the disk in response to the detected current flowing through the tunneling sensor, wherein detecting the current flowing through the tunneling sensor comprises; detecting the current at a first gain over a first range corresponding to a first fly height; and detecting the current at a second gain over a second range corresponding to a second fly height, wherein the second fly height is lower than the first fly height. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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Specification