Dynamic modeling of the resistance heater element in thermal flying height control sliders

The dynamic model of a resistance heater element in a thermal flying height control slider is estimated based on step response measurements. The head-disk clearance is measured in two different ways: by only using the servo sectors and by only using the data sectors. A realization algorithm is used for obtaining a 2
^nd
order discrete-time model of the heater element. Based on the model, the feasibility of high-bandwidth dynamic flying height control is discussed.