US Patent 7068457 System and method for electrostatic fly height control

A head for use in accessing data from an electrically conductive media surface is provided. The head has a slider body defining a bearing plane configured to face the media surface. A fly height control electrode is positioned on the raised portion. Further, the fly height control electrode and the media surface are adapted to form opposing plates of a capacitor with a dielectric layer of air supporting the head. Also, the fly height control electrode is electrically isolated from the slider body. A head electrical connection disposed on the slider body is electrically connected to the fly height control electrode. The head electrical connection is adapted to provide a fly height control voltage to the fly height control electrode.