Abstract: A head transducer, configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium, includes a first sensor having a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and configured to produce a first sensor signal, and a second sensor having a TCR and configured to produce a second sensor signal. One of the first and second sensors is situated at or near a close point of the head transducer in relation to the magnetic recording medium, and the other of the first and second sensors spaced away from the close point. Circuitry is configured to combine the first and second sensor signals and produce a combined sensor signal indicative of one or both of a change in head-medium spacing and head-medium contact. Each of the sensors may have a TCR with the same sign (positive or negative) or each sensor may have a TCR with a different sign.

Abstract: An apparatus disclosed herein comprises a reader structure having a sensor stack and a bottom shield having a first end and a second end on opposite sides of the bottom shield in a cross-track direction, wherein the first end is formed by intersection of arcs. In one implementation, the apparatus disclosed herein the sensor has a bottom shield having a bullet shape with a first end along a cross-track direction being rectangular and a second end along the cross-track direction being formed by an intersection of arcs.

Abstract: A data storage system and associated method of use may generally be directed to a memory cache that stores a plurality of pending read and write requests. A processor can be configured to prioritize the read requests in the memory cache in response to a sensed acoustic or mechanical vibration in a data storage medium.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head assembly of the present invention includes a magnetoresistive sensor and an electrostatic discharge and electrical overstress protection circuit. The magnetoresistive is capable of having conducted therethrough oppositely-directed first direction current and second direction current. The magnetoresistive sensor is sensitive to first direction currents in excess of a first predetermined value and to second direction currents in excess of a second predetermined value different than the first predetermined value. The electrostatic discharge and electrical overstress protection circuit is electrically connected to the magnetoresistive sensor for preventing only those first direction currents greater than the first predetermined value from flowing though the magnetoresistive sensor and only those second direction currents greater than the second predetermined value from flowing through the magnetoresistive sensor.