Method for monitoring the performance of the head-disc-interface and device for preventing data losses due to magnetic head-disc-interferences.

0001The present invention generally relates to magnetic disc storage technology and, more particularly, to a method for monitoring the performance of the interface of a head/slider combination and a magnetic disc, especially a magnetic disc storage system, in which a triboelectric current upon rubbing contact between slider and disc surface is generated. The present invention also pertains to a device for preventing data losses due to head-slider/disc interferences in magnetic disc storage systems in which a triboelectric current is observed.

0002In magnetic disc storage systems the interface between the combination consisting of the magnetic transducer head and the slider and the surface of the magnetic disc is of great importance. As the slider carries the head and contains air bearing surfaces and slides during normal disc operation on an extremely thin air cushion over the disc surface, the possibility of interferences between head and disc, so-called head disc interferences HDI where the head touches the surface of the disc, cannot be excluded. So HDIs are very detrimental both to the slider and its suspension and also to the surface of the disc. This can lead to irreversible damages to the surface of the disc and to the head-slider combination. In both cases irreversible data losses are possible and to be feared.

0003In accordance with the applicant's European Patent Application EP 85 105 722.4 (Docket GE 984 021) it is described that there exist magnetic storage systems in which a triboelectric current can be observed between the head/slider combination on one side and the surface of the magnetic disc on the other side in case of rubbing contact between these two interface partners. Said application describes a method for measuring and testing the properties of the interface of a slider carrying a magnetic transducer head and a disc in a magnetic disc storage apparatus which is characterized by adjusting the rotational speed of the disc such that there is a rubbing contact between the slider and the disc, in that the thus generated triboelectric current between disc and slider is measured during a measuring/­testing period, and in that the amplitude curve of this triboelectric current is analysed over a time period.

0004This known method deals predominantly with the testing of the disc/slider interface and the lifetime testing of magnetic head sliders and/or magnetic discs respective­ly. This method does not deal with the question of monitoring the performance of the head/ slider combination in cooperation with the disc surface in a magnetic disc storage system, especially under the aspect of avoiding data losses due to upcoming head crashes and disc surface destroying events.

0005It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing irreversible data losses in magnetic storage systems due to head/disc interferences such as head crashes and disc surface defects. This method should be able to save the stored data before the storage system is actually destroyed and actual data losses did occur.

0006It is another object to provide a device for preventing data losses due to head/slider disc interferences in magnetic disc storage systems in which a triboelectric current is observed to exist between the slider and the disc surface upon rubbing contact between them when in relative motion to each other.

0007The invention as laid down in the method and device claims achieves these objects in advantageous manner. The invention gives the possibility to avoid irreversible data losses of magnetic disc storage systems by monitor­ing, measuring and analysing the triboelectric current, and based on the analysing results initiating a data transfer shortly before the end of the lifetime of said data storage system. Thus it can be avoided to lose valuable data irreversibly and on the other hand to discard a data storage system earlier than absolutely necessary.

0008In the following description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the latter is described by means of an example shown in the accompanied drawing in which <ul id="ul0001" list-style="none"><li>Fig. 1 schematically shows a magnetic disc storage system incorporating the present invention;</li><li>Fig. 2 shows schematically with more detail a slider to which a triboelectric current measuring and indicating device is connected;</li><li>Fig. 3 schematically a plot of the maximum amplitude of the triboelectric current dependent on the lifetime of a disc or a disc storage system respectively;</li><li>Fig. 4 schematically a plot of the triboelectric current dependent upon disc speed during startup phase;</li><li>Fig. 5 schematically a plot of the triboelectric current dependent on the disc speed, with debris collection on headrails during startup phase and</li><li>Fig. 6 schematically a plot of the triboelectric current during startup phase independently of the disc speed for the case of current direction change.</li></ul>

0009With reference to Fig. 1 and 2 a set-up in accordance with the invention is schematically depicted. This set-up makes it possible to perform the method in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 1 shows magnetic discs 1 with two coated sides A and B out of a disc pack that is not completely shown. These discs 1 are mounted on a spindle 2, driven by a motor 3. A spindle bearing 4 is contained in a housing 5. With respect to side A of the lowermost disc 1 a slider 6 containing a magnetic head (not shown) is mounted on a suspension 7 and flies over or on the disc respectively upon rotation. Suspension 7 is mounted on an arm 8 which electrically isolated is fixed to a carriage 9 movable on housing 5. An electric connection 10 feeds the measured triboelectric current from slider 6 over suspension 7 and arm 8 into an operational amplifier 11. To the output 12 of amplifier 11 an evaluation and analyser circuit 13 is connected. This evaluation and analyser circuit 13 allows to evaluate and analyse the measured triboelectric current and in accordance with the present invention gives a saving signal TRIC at its output 14 under circumstances that are described below.

0010Fig. 2 shows details of a slider construction in accordance with, for example, US Patent 4 218 715. Slider 18 has two rails 20a and 20b, so-called air bearing surfaces, and is sliding by means of an air bearing over disc surface at an operational speed of approximately 3600 rpm. As is customary, the rails 20a and 20b each start at their leading portion with respect to a moving track of the rotating disc, with a tapered section 22a and 22b respectively. At the trailing edge of the slider and at the trailing part of the rails 20a and 20b two thin film magnetic transducer heads 24a and 24b are mounted. In accordance with the invention electric connection 10 is connected at point 14 to the body of slider 18. On the other side connection 10 is connected to amplifier 11 that has its output 12 leading to evaluation and analysing circuit 13. Furthermore there might be provided a volt meter 15 to indicate the value of the triboelectric current I flowing between slider 18 and disc surface A of disc 1.

0011As can be seen from Fig. 1 only one slider is connected to evaluation and analysing circuit 13. This is suffi­cient for a complete disc package for the purpose of the present invention. That means that only one head suspension has to be mounted electrically isolated so that triboelectric current I can be measured by a connection fixed to the slider body of one single head.

0012This slider 6 in Fig. 1 together with its suspension 7 mounted on arm 8 is moved together with carriage 9 and all other heads in parallel to position the heads over the desired disc tracks.

0013The phenomena of triboelectric current flowing between a slider and a magnetic disc surface upon rubbing contact between both has been observed in a system that comprises a ceramic mixture of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) and titan carbide (TiC) for the slider. The inclusion of titan carbide renders slider 6 sufficiently conductive to allow conduction of the triboelectric current.

0014The magnetic disc used in that system consists of an aluminium magnesium alloy substrate coated with iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) and aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃) particles dispersed in an epoxy recipient.

0015Fig. 3 shows schematically in a qualitative manner the triboelectric current I over the expected lifetime t of a disc or a disc storage system respectively. As described in the European Patent Application EP 85 105 722.4 of applicant's the triboelectric current I is very much dependent on changes in the disc/slider interface, on the disc surface, on the slider surface and on the lube quantity, quality and distribution. To obtain an indication of lifetime of the disc/slider assembly to be expected, slider 6 as shown in Fig 1 is first run-in (conditioned), for example on a first track, and then positioned on another track. In the presence of good sliding properties the triboelectric current I is measured during a testing time in total which is characteristically shown in Fig. 3. In the very beginning of the lifetime triboelectric current I around point 30 is about zero and then increases within for example 15 minutes after the start of the test to a maximum threshold value THV1 at point 31. Then afterwards the amplitude of the triboelectric current decreases slowly. The estimated lifetime can be defined for instance, by the time when the tribo­electric current has decayed to a certain percentage of its maximum value. This might be for example 25% or 10% of the value THV1.

0016In Fig. 3 there are shown further threshold values beside the maximum threshold value THV1 at timepoint 31, which might be reached after 15 minutes of rubbing test run. At timepoint 32 threshold value THV2 is reached and at timepoint 33 a still smaller threshold value THV3. Also a further smaller threshold value THV4 is reached at timepoint 34. At timepoint 35 a spike SP is shown showing a special phenomena in that the triboelectric current I becomes negative, that means that the flow of the triboelectric current reverses direction. Afterwards at timepoint 36 a threshold value THV5 is reached. Again this value is on the positive side of the value for the triboelectric current I.

0017The curve of Fig. 3 can be measured by extensive tests for example in a measuring time period of 8 hours continuous rubbing contact between slider and disc. The height of maximum of the triboelectric current depends on the rotational speed and on the quantity and quality of the lube distributed over the disc. To obtain the triboelectric current, there must be a frictional, i.e. rubbing contact between disc and slider. For this purpose a rotational speed of 100 and 500 rpm is chosen which results in a flying height of 0-100 nm. Under these set conditions the curve of Fig. 3 can be measured. The result of this measurement for example might be stored in the evaluation and analysing circuit 13 shown in Fig.1 for purposes to be described. In normal operation of a disc storage system such a curve as shown in Fig. 3 cannot be measured.

0018In normal operation of a magnetic disc storage system that is provided with the set-up shown in Fig. 1 and 2 upon each start phase of the disc storage and during operation the triboelectric current I can be measured and observed.

0019When the magnetic disc storage system is not in use the discs do not rotate around its spindle and the magnetic heads are resting on a certain start/stop area of the disc. Upon each start of the magnetic disc storage system the discs are accelerated from 0 rotational speed to a final rotational speed, the so-­called operational speed of about 3600 rpm. During a rotational speed up to about 600 rpm the slider and the disc are in rubbing contact. Above that speed up to about 1200 rpm the slider starts to take off from the disc surface and only some occasional rubbing contact is observed.

0020Fig. 4 describes for a conditioned track the curves for the triboelectric current I during such a start phase just described. Over the rotational speed n measured in revolutions per minute rpm the tribo­electric current I is depicted. Curve 431 corresponds to the point 31 in lifetime curve of Fig. 3 and has a threshold value THV1 that is the maximum threshold value and corresponds to threshold value THV1 of Fig. 3. As curve 431 shows the triboelectric current increases dependent on the rotational speed with increasing speed to the shown maximum value THV1 and then afterwards decreases with increasing rotational speed. At an operational speed of about 3600 rpm the triboelectric current I is 0. It also has to be 0 then because at that operational speed there should be no contact between slider and disc and therefore there should be no triboelectric current present.

0021Fig. 4 shows with curve 432 another example for the behaviour and value of the triboelectric current I during another start phase and during another timepoint in lifetime of the disc storage system. This lifetime might be point 32 of Fig. 3 and the maximum amplitude for the triboelectric current I at that point in time corresponds to threshold value THV2.

0022In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention this start-up phase observation shown in Fig. 4 reveals the fact if the triboelectric current I during start phase reaches a certain threshold value. Comparing the maximum threshold value of triboelectric current I against a preset minimum threshold value THVmin gives the possibility to initiate a saving action for the stored data before an irreversible data loss occurs. The minimum threshold value THVmin might be preset in accordance with tests for the lifetime of a disc storage system of comparable kind as well as with values that have been found to be representative for the longest possible lifetime in connection with the minimal allowable maximum threshold value for the triboelectric current I during start phase. This is one event against which the triboelectric current I is measured, analysed and compared. If this comparison shows that the maximum value reached for the tribo­electric current I during a specific start phase is smaller than the preset minimum threshold value, then at the output 14 of the evaluation and analyser circuit 13 of Fig. 1 the saving signal TRIC is generated. This signal TRIC is usable to initiate a data saving procedure, either automatically or by intervention of the operator of the system.

0023In connection with Fig. 5 there is described another event which in connection with another embodiment of the present invention is used to generate the saving signal TRIC. If there is a massive accumulation of debris at the rails of the slider, there might be a constant contact between this slider and the disc surface even at operational speed of 3600 rpm. In this case triboelectric current I is flowing and can be measured. That means as shown with curve 536 in Fig. 5 current I does not become 0 at operational speed of 3600 rpm. That means that the triboelectric current does not disappear at operational speed and in the start phase has not diminished toward 0. This is a clear indication that there is contact between slider and disc during operation of the disc storage. That also means furtheron that at operational speed on the disc surface a rubbing slider most probably destroys the disc surface underneath it. This is a further event for initiating the saving action by generating the saving signal TRIC at output 14 of evaluation and analyser circuit 13.

0024In connection with Fig. 6 a further possible event in observing the triboelectric current during start-up phases is shown. The triboelectric current I is monitored during each start phase if it accepts a negative value, that means if it becomes less than 0 or in other words does flow in a direction opposite to the usually observed current flow direction. This especially might occur at a timepoint 36 shown in Fig. 3 and is depicted with curve 636 in Fig. 6, showing first a positive value and afterwards a negative value for the current I during the start phase. In any case this is also an event which is monitored, and if observed triggers the generation of the saving signal TRIC at output 14 of evaluation and analysing circuit 13.

0025This evaluation and analysing circuit 13 can also be used to evaluate a fourth event. This fourth possible event is observing the behaviour of the triboelectric current and monitoring the same during the total operation of the disc storage system. If at any point in time during normal operation a triboelectric current occurs this hints at a contact between disc and slider. If those head-disc-interferences occur the danger for irreversible data losses due to destroyed disc surface areas is to be expected. Therefore it is advisable also in those cases to initiate a data saving action. This is possible by generating also in this case the saving signal TRIC.

0026The present invention by its method and its device presents the advantage that at different events a saving operation can be initiated before irreversible data losses due to head-disc-interferences occur. By measuring, monitoring, evaluating and analysing the triboelectric current that flows under certain circum­stances between a magnetic head slider and the disc surface, a saving action can be initiated to prevent irreversible losses of data stored on the monitored magnetic data storage system. Those events are: during start phase the triboelectric current should reach a minimum threshold value, should not become negative, i.e. accept a flow direction opposite to the usually observed flow direction, and become 0 at the end of the start phase upon reaching operational speed. Furthermore no triboelectric current should occur during normal operation.