公开(公告)号：SG60131A1

公开(公告)日：1999-02-22

申请号：SG1997003800

申请日：1997-10-20

Applicant: IBM

Inventor： ABRAHAM DAVID WILLIAM ,  CHAINER TIMOTHY JOSEPH ,  ETZOLD KARL-FRIEDRICH ,  SCHRECK ERHARD THEORDOR

IPC: G01B21/08 ,  G01K15/00 ,  G01N25/72 ,  G11B5/00 ,  G11B5/012 ,  G11B5/455 ,  G11B5/48 ,  G11B5/58 ,  G01N25/70

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for calibrating a thermal proximity sensor are disclosed. Thermal responses from a thermal proximity sensor are used to sense the instantaneous distance between the sensor and a medium over which the sensor is moved, in a data storage system. Sensing the instantaneous distance results in detection of topographical variations on the medium. Calibration techniques for the sensor are disclosed herein and involve, in one aspect, using primarily electrical measurements to calibrate the sensor; and in another aspect, varying the distance between the sensor and the medium, obtaining actual thermal responses from the sensor, and using the actual responses (via direct comparison or curve fitting) to calibrate the sensor. In one embodiment, the sensor is a magnetoresistive access element used to access data on the medium.