US Patent 7660080 Read/write head with dynamic flying height control by magnetostriction

A read/write head for use in a data storage device to control the low dynamic flying height in order to achieve high data recording storage capacity of magnetic hard drives. The read/write head is designed for use in a data storage device that includes a storage medium having a recording surface. The head comprises a pole tip region and an actuator. In turn, the actuator includes an excitation source for generating a magnetic field, and a magnetostrictive plate for expanding in response to the magnetic field, resulting in a protrusion in a section of the pole tip region along a direction towards the recording surface, so that the head flies above the recording surface at a flying height lower than a nominal flying height.