Patent ID: 7835104
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A storage device comprising: a head having at least a reading element and provided with a heater configured to change a projection distance protrusion value by thermal expansion accompanying electric-power-distributed heating for accessing data by floating above a rotating recording medium; a changed distance detection module configured to measure a clearance changed distance between the reading element and the recording medium in a state in which the head is positioned to a track on the recording medium while increasing the amount of electric power distributed to the heater; a contact determination module configured to determine that the head is brought into contact with the recording medium when a derivative value of the clearance changed distance is below a predetermined threshold value; and a measurement output module configured to output the clearance changed distance detected by the changed distance detection module at the time of contact determination of the contact determination module as a measurement result of the clearance between the reading element and the recording medium.