Patent ID: 8552716

Claim:
A method for testing magnetic heads, comprising: classifying each of a plurality of magnetic heads into one of: a first tested head class, and a non-test-candidate head class, such that at least two magnetic heads in each rowbar are classified into the first tested head class and remaining magnetic heads in each rowbar are classified into the non-test-candidate head class, each rowbar comprising a linear arrangement of a plurality of magnetic heads; determining characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the first tested head class via magnetic head testing; determining estimated characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the non-test-candidate head class, wherein the estimated characteristic values are based on the characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the first tested head class near to the magnetic heads in the non-test-candidate head class in each rowbar; classifying each of the magnetic heads classified in the non-test-candidate head class into one of: a second tested head class, and a non-test head class, wherein the classifying is based on a comparison between standard characteristic values of a magnetic head and the estimated characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the non-test-candidate head class, such that any magnetic heads which do not have estimated characteristic values equivalent to or better than the standard values are classified into the second tested head class and remaining magnetic heads are classified into the non-test head class; and determining characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the second tested head class via magnetic head testing.