Abstract:
A data storage device includes a head suspension assembly having an attached airfoil. The airfoil is coupled to an active (i.e., movable) element that responds to signals from height control circuitry. A method of controlling a height of an air bearing surface includes positioning a suspension assembly having an airfoil and an air bearing disk head over a surface of a rotating data storage disk. A position (e.g., an angle) of the airfoil can then be dynamically altered to change a distance of the disk head perpendicular to the surface of the disk.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/176,519 entitled “A Device For Dynamic Control Of Air Bearing Fly Height” which was filed on Jan. 13, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Disk drives are information storage devices that use thin film magnetic media to store data. A typical disk drive includes one or more rotating disk having concentric data tracks wherein data is read or written. As the disk rotates, a transducer (or “head”) is positioned by an actuator to magnetically read data from or write data to the various tracks on the disk. When the disk is rotating at operating speeds, pressure effects caused by air flow between the surface of the disk and an air bearing surface of the head cause the head to float above the disk. In a constant rotation speed disk, these pressure effects can change as the head moves between different radial positions over the disk surface. As a result, the height of the disk head is affected. To maintain optimum device performance, dynamic control of head height is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In general, in one aspect, the invention features a data storage device that includes a head suspension assembly having an attached airfoil. The airfoil is coupled to an active (i.e., movable) element that responds to signals from height control circuitry. In another aspect, the invention features a method of controlling a height of an air bearing surface. The method includes positioning a suspension assembly having an airfoil and an air bearing disk head over a surface of a rotating data storage disk. A position (i.e., angle) of the airfoil can then be dynamically altered to change a distance of the disk head perpendicular to the surface of the disk. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The suspension and airfoil can be parts of a head gimbal assembly. The active element can be a piezo-electric transducer or a solenoid that is attached to the airfoil and suspension assembly and is configured to exert a force between the airfoil and a point on the suspension assembly in response to a signal from the height control circuitry The airfoil can have an edge attached to a planar region of the head suspension assembly and its position can be altered by flexing of the airfoil around an axis formed by the edge. The device can include a flexor attached at a forward end of the suspension assembly and an air bearing slider attached to the flexor. The device can also include a disk-type data storage media coupled to a disk rotating motor, and an actuator coupled to the suspension and operable to move the slider between radial positions of a disk media. The device can include positioning control circuitry that provides a signal to the actuator to control a radial position of the slider with respect to the disk media and provides a signal indicative of the radial position to the height control circuitry. The height control circuitry may regulate the airfoil position in response to the radial position signal. The head suspension assembly can include a magnetic data head. The suspension assembly may include a height sensor that can generate a signal indicative of disk head height. The signal may be generated, e.g., in response to a measured thermal change. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B are top view diagrams of a disk drive. 
     FIG. 2 is a side-view diagram of a disk drive. 
     FIG. 3A is a side view of a head gimbal assembly. 
     FIG. 3B is a top view of a section of a head gimbal assembly. 
     FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D,  5 A, and  5 B each show a section of a head gimbal assembly. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B each show a top view of a magnetic disk  110  and a disk head assembly  120  for use in a disk drive. FIG. 2 shows a side view of a disk, disk head assembly, and other disk drive components. In FIG. 1A, the assembly  120  includes a rotary head positioning actuator  122  that moves arm  123  and attached head gimbal assembly (HGA)  124 . In FIG. 1B the assembly  120  includes a linear head positioning actuator  122  to move arm  123  and HGA  124 . FIG. 3A is a detailed view of a HGA as seen looking along axis  150  in FIGS. 1A and 1B. FIG. 3B is a detailed view of the HGA as seen looking from (−Z) to (+Z) along the axis  250  in FIG.  2 . The HGA  124  includes a suspension (also known as a load beam)  352  that is attached at one end to a base plate  351  and at the other end to a flexure  353 . An air bearing slider  354  is secured to the flexure, typically by means of a gimbal type mounting. HGA  124  can be rigidly attached to the arm  123  at base plate  351  by means of a swaging operation. The slider  354  carries a magnetic sensor (a “head”) used to read data from and/or write data to a surface of disk  110 . Typically, the slider and accompanying head  354  are biased toward the magnetic surface of a disk  110  by a predetermined bend in the suspension  352  and/or flexure  353 . 
     A typical disk  110  is formed on an aluminum alloy or glass substrate to which various coatings are sequentially applied. Typical coatings include an underlayer of chromium or a chromium alloy, a magnetic layer of cobalt or a cobalt-based alloy, a corrosion protective carbon overcoat, and a lubricant topcoat. A disk  110  may include a center portion  111  where the disk can be attached to a drive motor  207  spindle, a landing zone  112 , and a data zone  113 . The data zone  113  includes numerous closely spaced concentric tracks where data can be stored. During operation, disk  110  is rotated by the motor  207  at speeds regulated by the motor controller  206  under command from processor  208 . The rotation of disk  110  results in pressure effects causing air-bearing slider (and the accompanying head) 121  to float above the surface of the disk  110  at a height (δ). As the slider  121  floats above the rotating disk  110 , the positioner  122 , under control of the processor  208  and control circuitry  205 , moves the slider over the disk&#39;s data zone  113 . Data can then be read from or written to those tracks by the magnetic transducer carried by the slider. 
     The fly height (δ) of the head and slider  121  is an important parameter affecting, among other things, the density of data that can be read from and written to disk  110 , the read and write accuracy of the disk drive, and the reliability and longevity of the drive. The fly height (δ) is affected by, among other things, the aerodynamic characteristics of the HGA assembly and the air flow around the HGA. A mechanism enabling the aerodynamic characteristics of the HGA to be dynamically altered can be used to adjust disk head fly height. 
     The aerodynamic characteristics of a HGA can be dynamically altered using an adjustable airfoil. FIGS. 4A,  4 B,  5 A and  5 B show a portion  355  of an HGA in which an adjustable airfoil  407  has been formed. FIG. 4C shows an enlarged cross sectional view of section  455  of the HGA along axis  450  (FIGS. 4A,  4 D). FIG. 4D shows a view of the HGA as seen looking from (+Z) to (−Z) along axis  250  of FIG.  2 . Referring to FIGS. 4C and 4D, the airfoil  407  can be formed as an integral part of the suspension  352  by cutting, stamping, or otherwise forming an area  407  that may be controllably deformed (i.e., bent or flexed) with respect to the surrounding HGA (i.e., suspension) surface along an edge region. For example, a rectangular airfoil can be formed in a planar region of the suspension by cutting or stamping a rectangular section  407  of the suspension along edges  451 - 453  while leaving another edge  454  of the rectangular section  407  attached to the suspension. The edge  454  thereby forms an axis around which the resulting airfoil can be flexed (i.e., rotated). Of course, non-rectangular shapes can be used and, in some implementations, the airfoil may be a separately fashioned airfoil that is micro-welded, epoxied, or otherwise deformably attached to the suspension. In some implementations, the airfoil can also incorporate a hinge structure to facilitate controlled deformation of the airfoil. 
     An active element (“a transducer”), such as a sandwich of electrically deformable piezo-electric material or miniature solenoid can be used to dynamically adjust the position of the airfoil  407 . FIG. 4C shows an active element  403  placed between the airfoil  407  and flexure  353  in a cutout region of the suspension  352 . The cutout region is the vacant area in the plane of the suspension  352  that is formed when the airfoil is deforming along edge  454 . The active element  403  may be attached to the airfoil by micro-welding, epoxying, or other attachment technique. The position of the airfoil can be dynamically altered by changing a voltage and/or current applied to contacts  401 ,  402  of the active element  403 . FIGS. 4A and 4B show the airfoil in a first position at an angle  408  with respect to the suspension, while FIGS. 5A, and  5 B show the airfoil at an angle  508  that is greater than angle  408 . As the angle of the airfoil is changed between the smaller angle  408  and the larger angle  508 , aerodynamic forces exerted on the airfoil are changed. Depending on the structure of the HGA, the dominant forces created may be either an upward pressure (a lift force) or a downward pressure. In general, a lift force will be created if the HGA structure is relatively thin such that airflow over a top and bottom surface of the HGA behave similar to airflow over a top and bottom surface of an airplane wing. In such cases, raising the airfoil to a higher angle will generally increase lift raising the slider height. Conventional HGA structures are, however, relatively thick relative to a wing-like structure. In such conventional HGA structures, air pressure exerted on the airfoil creates increasing downward forces as the airfoil is raised to higher angles. This increase in downward force lowers the height of the slider and disk head. 
     In the discussion that follows, a relatively thick (non-wing-like) HGA is described. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, in a non-wing-like HGA, the slider is at a height δA when the airfoil is at an angle  408  of, e.g., thirty-five degrees with respect to the top surface of disk  110 , while in FIGS. 5A and 5B the slider is at a reduced height δB when the angle of the airfoil is increased to angle  508  of, e.g., forty-five degrees. Change in slider height is related to the downward pressure exerted by the airfoil which, in turn, is related to the air pressure applied to the airfoil. The pressure applied to the airfoil is a function of area of the airfoil with respect to the direction of the airflow. Assuming that the suspension and airflow are substantially parallel to the disk surface, the area of the airfoil with respect to the airflow is a function of the total area of the airfoil multiplied by the sine of the angle of the airfoil. Downward force is a function of the cosine of the angle of the airfoil multiplied by the pressure applied to the airfoil. Thus, downward force is a function of (area of airfoil)(Sin(angle))(Cos(angle)). For a suspension and airflow that are parallel to the surface of the disk, this force approaches its maximum at an angle of forty-five degrees. 
     As an example, in a 15,000 rotation per minute (rpm) drive at the middle diameter of the data zone  113 , the gas velocity, v, is approximately 40 m/s, and the pressure applied to an exemplary airfoil is density (ρ) multiplied by the square of the gas velocity (v 2 ). For air, density is approximately ρ=1 kg/m 3 , giving ρμ 2  of approximately 1600 Pascal. If the total area of the airfoil is 20 mm 2 , then at an angle of thirty-five degrees to the suspension, the downward force is approximately (1600 pascals)(20 mm 2 )(Sin(35))(Cos(35))=1.50 gram force (grmf). If the angle were changed to forty-five degrees, the new downward force would be (1600)(20 mm 2 )(Sin(45))(Cos(45))=1.6 gram force (grmf). This results in a difference of approximately 0.1 grmf. In an HGA having a preload sensitivity of −0.2 microinches/grmf, this 0.1 grmf difference would decrease the fly height of the head by 0.02 microinches. 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, a disk drive may contain height control circuitry  209  to control the force exerted by the active element  407  and, correspondingly, to control the deformation of the airfoil and the height of the slider/disk head. The control circuitry  209  may adjust the height based on the liner velocity of the disk surface  110  with respect to the slider. In a disk drive in which the disk media rotates at a constant rotation speed (i.e., at a constant angular velocity), the linear velocity of a disk surface at a particular radial point (r) increases as the radius (r) increases. Thus, the linear velocity of the disk is lower at radial points approaching the landing zone  112  of the disk and is higher at radial points approaching the outer edge of the disk. Correspondingly, gas velocity (i.e., air flow velocity) with respect to the slider increases as the slider moves from a lower to a higher radius with respect to the center of rotation of the disk  10 . This changes the air bearing forces exerted on the HGA and can affect slider/head height. 
     Referring back to FIG. 2, a disk drive can include control circuitry  209  that controls the position (i.e., angle) of the airfoil  407  to regulate head height. The control circuitry  209  may control the airfoil position based on the radial position of the HGA and/or based on sensor readings indicative of slider height. Position-based control circuitry can include predetermined or dynamically calculated control values. For example, the control circuitry, may store a table containing different airfoil position values that are associated with different radial positions of the slider. As the actuator  122  and control circuitry  205  moves the slider, position information is communicated to the control  209  which, in turn, modulates a control signal to position the active element  403 . The airfoil position values may be empirically determined. In other implementations, the control circuitry  209  may dynamically calculate an airfoil position based on gas velocity and radial position of the head. 
     In some implementations, control circuitry  209  may control airfoil position based on a signal from a height sensor that is processed by a detector  203 . The height sensor may be a read head and the detector  203  may determine the head height based on the strength of the read data. In such an implementation, a stronger read data signal may indicate lower head positions. Implementations can also determine height based on thermal effects associated with head height. 
     A thermal-based height sensor can be formed using magnetoresistive (MR) read head technology. A MR head typically consists of a read element located in a space between two highly-permeable magnetic shields. The shields focus magnetic energy from the disc and reject stray fields and stray magnetic energy from the disk. The read element in a MR head is typically made from a ferromagnetic alloy whose resistance changes as a function of an applied magnetic field and the temperature of the read element. 
     The temperature of the read element is affected by the distance between the slider  121  and the surface of the disk  110 . During operation, current passing through the read element at the slider  121  results in heat generation. With respect to the head on slider  121 , the surface of the disk  110  acts as a heat sink. Dissipation of heat between the head and the surface of the disk is affected by the distance between the head/slider and disk surface. As the head/slider moves closer to the surface of the disk, the rate of heat dissipation increases. As the rate of heat dissipation increases, the resistance of the head decreases and the voltage seen at the head decreases. Correspondingly, as the head to disk spacing increases, heat dissipation decreases and the voltage seen at the head increases. The various resistance changes and voltage changes detected at detector  203  that are caused by heating and cooling of the head can be used to determine the height of the head. For example, the detector  203  may analyze the rate, duration, and magnitude of voltage changes within a predetermined time period or as an average of the absolute magnitude to estimate head height. 
     To simplify the detection of thermal changes, it may be desirable to isolate thermally induced resistance changes from those caused by magnetic flux from the disk. To do so, thermal detection may be provided by an independent thermal sensor with a reduced sensitivity to magnetic fields. Such a thermal sensor may be produced using MR head technology to fashion a “read” sensor with a reduced response to magnetic flux. To reduce the read sensor&#39;s response to magnetic flux while retaining thermal response characteristics, the magnetically responsive read element alloy components can be reduced. For example, in a MR head having a nickel-iron alloy read element, the iron content in the read element can be reduced or eliminated thereby reducing or eliminating the head&#39;s sensitivity to magnetic flux. This resulting head retains thermal asperity sensing properties, but has little or no sensitivity to magnetic signals. 
     In the system  200 , the signal output at the height sensor acts as an input to height detection circuitry  203 . Each height sensor reading may be independently processed to produce an airfoil control signal, or data from the height sensor may be processed using a weighted sequence of sensor readings. By using a sequence of sensor readings, rather than a single current reading, errors introduced by signal noise and minor disk surface aberrations (bumps or pits) can be reduced. An exemplary height control algorithm that uses a weighed series of P sensor readings follows (where P is the number of sensor readings). The algorithm can be implemented in custom hardware or can be software implemented using a general or special purpose programmable processor. 
     In the example that follows, height sensor values are in the range (−1) to (+1) where the value zero is the desired (target) height. 
     1) At time n, store a vector H n  containing the previous P samples H[n−1], H[n−2], . . . H[n−P] from the height sensor. Additionally, store a P element weight vector W n  such that: 
     a) H n ={H[n−1], H[n−2], . . . H[n−P]}, wherein for k&lt;0, H[k]=0; and 
     b) W n ={W[ 1 ], W[ 2 ], . . . W[P]}is a vector storing a sequence of P tap values. 
     These tap values may be experimentally determined. 
     2) For a received head height sensor sample H[n], compute the predicted head height H est [n] 
     
       
           H   est   [n]=W   n   ·H   n   T , 
       
     
     where W n ·H n   T  is the dot-product of the vectors H n  and the transverse of vector W n . 
     3) Compare the predicted head height H est [n] to a target head height H target =0. 
     4) If H est [n] is a positive value (indicating the head height is too great) change the airfoil position to decrease head height; if H est [n] is a negative value (indicating the head height is too low), change the airfoil position to increase head height. Changing the airfoil position may includes modulating a signal to the transducer  307  based on the magnitude of the difference between the predicted and target head height. 
     In some implementations, an adaptive weight vector W n  can be used. In an adaptive implementation, an error signal E[n] may be computed as a difference between a current, a previous and a target head height. For example, over-correction of a previously low head height may be indicated if an airfoil adjustment results in a current head height that is too high. Incidents of over-correction may be reduced by, e.g., reducing the magnitude of weighing vector elements. On the other hand, under-correction of a previously low head height may be indicated by a current head height that remains too low. Under-correction may be reduced by increasing the magnitude of weighing vector elements. 
     A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, non-rectangular airfoils can be used, the airfoil may be located at other points on a HGA or suspension, the airfoil may be set at a fixed angle and not require an active element. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.