Simulation of a piezoelectric sensor array for slider-level contact detection

A piezoelectric sensor array deployed on the trailing side of the slider was investigated for its capability in head-disk contact detection. Harmonic and transient responses were obtained by finite element analysis. Performance of the triple-sensor array was compared with that of a single sensor configuration. Under excitation of a typical contact force, output voltages of the sensor array of the millivolt level were observed in the simulation.