Abstract: A head slider for use in a disk drive is movably positionable relative to a magnetic recording disk and includes at least one write element for writing data to the magnetic recording disk. The write element includes a writer coil electrically connected between a first bond pad and a second bond pad, where the connection between the first bond pad and the second bond pad includes a center tap located proximate to a voltage null point. The head slider also includes at least one read element for reading data from the magnetic recording disk, the read element electrically connected between the center tap and a third bond pad, where the write element and the read element are configured to be selectively activated based on biased inputs to the first bond pad, the second bond pad, and the third bond pad.

Abstract: A bond pad set includes at least one ground pad and at least one electrical bond pad configured to bias and send/receive signals. The bond pad set is electrically connected to a multiplicity of electrical components. At least one electrical bond pad of the bond pad set is shared between two or more of the electrical components.

Abstract: A slider of a heat-assisted recording head comprises electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad, an air bearing surface, and a waveguide configured to receive light from a laser source. A contact sensor proximate the air bearing surface is coupled between a first bond pad and a second bond pad. A bolometer is coupled to a reference thermal sensor. The bolometer is situated at a slider location that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide. The reference thermal sensor is situated at a slider location unexposed to the light communicated along the waveguide. The bolometer and reference thermal sensor are coupled between the first and second bond pads and in parallel with the contact sensor. A ground connection is coupled to the ground pad and at a connection between the bolometer and the reference thermal sensor.

Abstract: A slider is configured for heat-assisted magnetic recording and comprises an NFT and a transparent thermocouple configured to produce a signal indicative of temperature at the NFT. A detector can be coupled to the thermocouple and configured to detect one or both of spacing changes and contact between the slider and a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A bond pad set includes at least one ground pad and at least one electrical bond pad configured to bias and send/receive signals. The bond pad set is electrically connected to a multiplicity of electrical components. At least one electrical bond pad of the bond pad set is shared between two or more of the electrical components.

Abstract: A slider of a heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprises an air bearing surface and an optical waveguide configured to receive light from a laser source. The slider comprises a plurality of electrical bond pads including a first bond pad and a second bond pad. A first resistive sensor is configured to sense for spacing changes and contact between the slider and a magnetic recording medium at or near a first close point of the slider. A second resistive sensor is configured to sense for spacing changes and contact between the slider and the medium at or near a second close point of the slider. A bolometer is situated at a location within the slider that receives at least some of the light communicated along the optical waveguide. The first resistive sensor, the second resistive sensor, and the bolometer are coupled together and between the first and second bond pads.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a plurality of writers and at least one reader. The plurality of writers and the reader define a plurality of close points of the head. The plurality of writers are spaced apart from one another in a cross-track direction and positioned in the same plane of the head. A plurality of contact sensors are positioned proximate the plurality of writers and the reader. The contact sensors are coupled together and to a pair of electrical bond pads of the head and configured to sense for head-disk contact at each of the close points.

Abstract: A slider of a magnetic recording head comprises a ground pad and a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources. A component of the slider is coupled between first and second bond pads. A first heater of the slider is coupled between the first bond pad and the ground pad. A second heater of the slider is coupled between the second bond pad and the ground pad. A first diode is disposed on the slider and coupled in series with the first heater. A second diode is disposed on the slider and coupled in series with the second heater.

Abstract: A slider of a magnetic recording head includes a ground pad and a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources. The plurality of electrical bond pads includes a plurality of shared bond pads. A first component of the slider is coupled to a first bond pad and one of the shared bond pads. The slider includes one or more additional components each coupled to a respective pair of the shared bond pads. A first ground-coupled component of the slider is coupled between one of the shared bond pads and the ground pad. A first diode is disposed on the slider and coupled in series with the first ground-coupled component. A first Zener diode can be disposed on the slider and coupled between the first diode and the ground pad for enhanced ground noise immunity of the powered devices.

Abstract: A bond pad set includes at least one ground pad and at least one electrical bond pad configured to bias and send/receive signals. The bond pad set is electrically connected to a multiplicity of electrical components. At least one electrical bond pad of the bond pad set is shared between two or more of the electrical components.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a plurality of writers and at least one reader. The plurality of writers and the reader define a plurality of close points of the head. The plurality of writers are spaced apart from one another in a cross-track direction and positioned in the same plane of the head. A plurality of contact sensors are positioned proximate the plurality of writers and the reader. The contact sensors are coupled together and to a pair of electrical bond pads of the head and configured to sense for head-disk contact at each of the close points.

Abstract: A slider of a heat-assisted recording head comprises electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad, an air bearing surface, and a waveguide configured to receive light from a laser source. A contact sensor proximate the air bearing surface is coupled between a first bond pad and a second bond pad. A bolometer is coupled to a reference thermal sensor. The bolometer is situated at a slider location that receives at least some of the light communicated along the waveguide. The reference thermal sensor is situated at a slider location unexposed to the light communicated along the waveguide. The bolometer and reference thermal sensor are coupled between the first and second bond pads and in parallel with the contact sensor. A ground connection is coupled to the ground pad and at a connection between the bolometer and the reference thermal sensor.

Abstract: A slider of a magnetic recording head includes a plurality of electrical bond pads and a plurality of readers comprising at least a first reader and a second reader. Each of the readers is coupled to a different pair of electrical bond pads. A temporary contact sensor is provided on the slider and coupled between a bond pad of the first reader and a bond pad of the second reader. The temporary contact sensor is configured for operation during a certification process of the apparatus and to become inoperable after completion of the certification process.

Abstract: A slider of a magnetic recording head comprises a plurality of electrical bond pads coupled to bias sources and a ground pad. Each of a plurality of electrical components of the slider is coupled one or more of the electrical bond pads, wherein at least one of the electrical bond pads is a shared electrical bond pad coupled to at least a first electrical component and a second electrical component. A switching transistor is coupled to the first and second components and the ground pad. The switching transistor is arranged to control powering of the second component in response to biasing of the first component.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises circuitry configured to apply an AC signal having a frequency to one of a slider of a recording head and a magnetic recording medium. The applied AC signal causes an oscillation in an electrostatic force and clearance between the slider and the medium at the frequency of the AC signal. A thermal sensor is configured to generate a sensor signal at the AC signal frequency in response to sensing changes in temperature resulting from the oscillating clearance. A detector is coupled to the circuitry and the thermal sensor. The detector is configured to detect one or both of head-medium spacing changes and head-medium contact using a phase of a first harmonic or an amplitude of a second harmonic of the thermal sensor signal.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider body of a disk drive. The slider body is electrically coupled to a plurality of end bond pads. A voltage applied to one more of the end bond pads sets a surface potential of the slider body.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge protection can be afforded to a data recording head in accordance with various embodiments. A data recording head may consist of a circuit having a preamp ground connected to a ground substrate via a ground trace. The ground trace can consist of a first leg connected to the ground substrate and a second leg with an open connection extending from a dice line.

Abstract: Electrostatic discharge protection can be afforded to a data recording head in accordance with various embodiments. A data recording head may consist of a circuit having a preamp ground connected to a ground substrate via a ground trace. The ground trace can consist of a first leg connected to the ground substrate and a second leg with an open connection extending from a dice line.

Abstract: A writer core of a transducer is configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and comprises an upper core and a lower core. At least one of the upper and lower cores comprises a return pole having a return shield. The apparatus also comprises a writer pole between the upper and lower cores, and a writer gap defined between the writer pole and the return shield. The apparatus further comprises a sensor element within one of the upper and lower cores that includes the writer gap. The sensor element has a temperature coefficient of resistance and is configured to sense for a change in temperature indicative of one or both of a change in spacing and contact between the transducer and the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider body of a disk drive. The slider body is electrically coupled to a plurality of end bond pads. A voltage applied to one more of the end bond pads sets a surface potential of the slider body.