Patent ID: 8830618

Claim:
A fly height control circuit, comprising: an input node to receive a digital control signal; an output node to output a control current to a resistive heater element to adjust a spacing between a read/write head and a surface of a storage medium; and control circuitry configured to process the digital control signal and generate the output control current based on the digital control signal, wherein the control circuitry generates a first reference current based on a proportional current that is proportional to the output control current, and an input control current that is generated based on the digital control signal, wherein the control circuitry controls a slew rate of the first reference current to generate a slew rate controlled reference current; wherein the control circuitry generates a second reference current based on a feedback voltage at the output node; and wherein the control circuitry compares the slew rate controlled reference current with the second reference current to adjust the output control current and thereby control a slew rate of an output voltage on the output node independent of a resistance value of the resistive heater element connected to the output node.