Patent ID: 7697232
Filing Date: 2010-04-13
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A storage device having a storage medium comprising: a measuring unit that measures the operating time of the storage device; a drive unit that drives the storage medium to rotate; a head slider having a head element comprising a reading element that performs reading with respect to the storage medium and a writing element that performs writing with respect to the storage medium and a heater that causes the head element to protrude towards the storage medium; and a control unit that controls the protruding amount of the head element, wherein the control unit issues an instruction causing an amount of power of a first predetermined value to be supplied to the heater until the amount of time measured by the measuring unit becomes a predetermined value, and when the amount of time exceeds the predetermined value, the control unit issues an instruction causing an amount of power of a second predetermined value that is lower than the first predetermined value to be supplied to the heater, wherein the control unit issues the instructions on the basis of an amount of elapsed time from the start of operation of the drive unit that drives the storage medium to rotate.