Error recovery based on applying current/voltage to a heating element of a magnetic head

1. A magnetic disk device, comprising:

a magnetic disk medium;

at least one magnetic head, comprising:

at least one of: a magnetic read element and a magnetic write element; and

a heating element configured to generate heat upon application of a voltage/current thereto, wherein the heating element is positioned on, near, or within the magnetic head;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a state of the magnetic head based on increased read-out errors, and

retract the at least one magnetic head from a flying state above the magnetic disk medium and apply the voltage/current to the heating element while the magnetic head is retracted without causing irreversible plastic deformation of the magnetic head in response to the detected state in order to decrease read-out errors.

2. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the heating element is a thermal fly-height control (TFC) element configured to adjust a flying height of the magnetic head above a magnetic disk medium upon application of the voltage/current to the TFC element.

3. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the magnetic head is unloaded to a ramp for application of the voltage/current to the heating element.

4. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to return the magnetic head to the flying state after applying the voltage/current to continue reading data from the magnetic disk medium.

5. The magnetic head as recited in claim 4 , wherein an amount of voltage/current applied is less than about 100 mW.

6. The magnetic head as recited in claim 4 , wherein an amount of voltage/current applied is less than about 75 mW.

7. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein an amount of voltage/current applied is less than about 75 mW.

8. A method, comprising:

reading data from a magnetic disk medium using a magnetic read element of a magnetic head while the magnetic head is in a flying state;

detecting an unstable state of the magnetic head during the reading based on increased read-out errors;

retracting the magnetic head from the magnetic disk medium; and

applying a voltage/current to an element of the magnetic head while the magnetic head is retracted to return the magnetic head to a stable state without causing irreversible plastic deformation of the magnetic head.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 , further comprising returning the magnetic head to the flying state after applying the voltage/current to continue reading data from the magnetic disk medium.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the element having the voltage/current applied thereto is a heating element of the magnetic head.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the heating element is a thermal fly-height control (TFC) element configured to adjust a flying height of the magnetic head above the magnetic disk medium upon application of the voltage/current to the TFC element.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the element having the voltage/current applied thereto is a magnetic element of the magnetic head chosen from a group consisting of a write element and a read element.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein the magnetic head is unloaded to a ramp for applying the voltage/current to the element.

14. The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein after the magnetic head is returned to the flying state, it is determined that the magnetic head is in the stable state based on a reduction in read-out errors.

15. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein less than about 100 mW of voltage/current is applied to return the magnetic head to a magnetically stable state.

16. The method as recited in claim 8 , wherein less than about 75 mW of voltage/current is applied to return the magnetic head to a magnetically stable state.

17. A magnetic disk device, comprising:

a magnetic disk medium;

at least one magnetic head, comprising at least one element therein;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, wherein the controller is configured to:

detect a state of the magnetic head based on increased read-out errors, and

retract the at least one magnetic head from a flying state above the magnetic disk medium and apply the voltage/current to the heating element while the magnetic head is retracted without causing irreversible plastic deformation of the magnetic head in response to the detected state in order to decrease read-out errors.

18. The magnetic head as recited in claim 17 , wherein the at least one element is selected from a group consisting of: a heating element configured to adjust a flying height of the magnetic head above the magnetic disk medium, a write element, and a read element.

19. The magnetic head as recited in claim 17 , wherein the magnetic head is unloaded to a ramp for application of the voltage/current to the element.

20. The magnetic head as recited in claim 17 , wherein an amount of voltage/current applied is less than about 75 mW.