Abstract: A data storage drive includes a rotatable data storage medium, and a head communicatively couplable to the data storage medium. The head includes a temperature sensor and a heater. The data storage drive also includes a ramp for supporting the head when the head is moved away from the data storage medium, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain first temperature sensor measurement values for different head heater power settings when the head is positioned on the ramp, and is configured to determine an internal pressure of the data storage drive as a function of the first temperature sensor measurement values.

Abstract: A clearance heater of a write head is engaged with a boosted current that exceeds a steady-state current. The steady-state current causes the write head to maintain a desired clearance over a disk during writing, the boosted current being applied before a start of the writing. The boosted current is monotonically decreased before the start of the writing and the steady-state current is applied to the heater after the start of the writing.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider configured for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic recording medium and for heat-assisted magnetic recording. The slider comprises a heater configured to receive an AC signal and to cause oscillation in a spacing between the slider and the medium, and a contact sensor situated on the slider and configured to produce a DC response signal. A detector is coupled to the slider and configured to measure an amplitude of a spike in the DC response signal, calculate a ratio between the spike amplitude and an amplitude of the DC response signal, and detect contact between the slider and the medium in response to the ratio exceeding a predetermined threshold.