The flying height is finally determined by subtracting from this height the thickness of the spacer layer (24).

An improved slider (18) with controlled fly height and decreased sensitivity to externally applied roll moments.

The system relies on variations in read signal resolution with flying height to make the determination.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a magnetic recording medium that enables a head flying height to be reduced.

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for determining fly-height adjustments.

If the measured change in PES is greater than the predetermined value, it is determined that a decrease in fly-height has occurred.

Because of read signal resolution effects, the number of detected peaks will decrease as the flying height of the head is decreased.

In one embodiment, read signal resolution is measured and compared to a predetermined threshold value to determine whether the present flying height is in the desired range.

A hard disk drive flying height tester loader (10) which moves a head gimbal assembly (HGA) (12) about the pivot axis (PA) of the HGA.

A system for determining whether the flying height of a read/write head above a disk (14) in a disk drive (10) is within an acceptable range, in substantially real time.

A magnetic disk apparatus mounted with such a magnetic disk has an excellent reliability and achieves a high recording density even when the flying height of the magnetic head slider is small.

In another embodiment, the number of peaks in a read signal that are detected (and/or not detected) by a detector is used to determine whether the head is in the proper flying height range.