Disk drive and method for adjusting common-mode voltage of an element on a head-slider

1. A disk drive comprising:

a disk configured to store data;

a motor configured to rotate said disk;

a head-slider comprising:

a slider configured to fly in proximity to a recording surface of said disk; and

an element on said slider; and

a controller configured to measure a fly height between said head-slider and said disk at more than two different common-mode voltages of said element to determine an operational common-mode voltage from a measurement result.

2. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to estimate a common-mode voltage for a highest fly height and is configured to use said element at said estimated common-mode voltage.

3. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said disk comprises a magnetic-recording disk, and said element comprises a read element of a magnetic-recording head, said read element comprising a magnetoresistive element.

4. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said disk comprises a magnetic-recording disk, and said element comprises an element of a magnetic-recording head selected from the group consisting of a write element of a magnetic-recording head and a heater element of a magnetic-recording head.

5. The disk drive of claim 1 further comprising:

a mechanism configured to adjust said fly height between said head-slider and said disk;

wherein said controller is configured to measure said fly height by Dakroubing said fly height with said mechanism to bring said head-slider into contact with said disk at said different common-mode voltages.

6. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to measure said fly height using read-back signals read by a read element.

7. The disk drive of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of head-sliders;

wherein said controller is configured to apply said measurement result on said head-slider to all other head-sliders of said plurality of head-sliders.

8. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said recording surface is divided into a plurality of zones with respective recording frequencies, and said controller is configured to perform a measurement in different zones and is configured to determine a common-mode voltage for each of said different zones.

9. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to determine a timing for a measurement based on temperature variation from a temperature in a last measurement.

10. The disk drive of claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to start a measurement of said fly height at a measurement-start common-mode voltage, is configured to perform said measurement at a common-mode voltage selected from the group consisting of a higher common-mode voltage than said measurement-start common-mode voltage and a lower common-mode voltage than said measurement-start common-mode voltage, and is configured to continue said measurement of said fly height in a voltage range selected from the group consisting of a higher voltage range than said measurement-start common-mode voltage and a lower voltage range than said measurement-start common-mode voltage where said fly height in said voltage range is to be higher than said fly height at said measurement-start common-mode voltage.

11. A method for adjusting common-mode voltage of an element of a head-slider in a disk drive, said method comprising:

rotating a disk;

measuring a fly height of said head-slider flying in proximity to a recording surface of said rotating disk at more than two different common-mode voltages of said element;

determining an operational common-mode voltage from a measurement result; and

operating said element at said operational common-mode voltage.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

estimating a common-mode voltage for said highest fly height; and

using said element at said estimated common-mode voltage.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said measuring measures said fly height by Dakroubing said fly height with a mechanism to bring said head-slider into contact with said disk at different common-mode voltages.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein said measuring measures said fly height using read-back signals read by a read element.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein said disk drive comprises a plurality of head-sliders associated with a plurality of respective recording surfaces, and said measurement result on said head-slider is applied to all other head-sliders of said plurality of head-sliders.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein said recording surface is divided into a plurality of zones with respective recording frequencies, measurements in different zones are performed, and a common-mode voltage for each of said different zones is determined.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein said determining determines a timing for a measurement based on temperature variation from a temperature in a last measurement.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein said measuring starts a measurement of said fly height at a measurement-start common-mode voltage, measures said fly height at a common-mode voltage selected from the group consisting of a higher common-mode voltage than said measurement-start common-mode voltage and a lower common-mode voltage than said measurement-start common-mode voltage, and continues said measurement of said fly height in a voltage range selected from the group consisting of a higher voltage range than said measurement-start common-mode voltage and a lower voltage range than said measurement-start common-mode voltage where said fly height in said voltage range is to be higher than said fly height at said measurement-start common-mode voltage.