Embodiments of the present invention help to improve the cost,
mountability, and reliability of a magnetic disk drive that regulates a
fly height of a magnetic head slider correspondingly to the operating
altitude of the drive by using an air pressure sensor and a heater.
According to one embodiment, a preamplifier is a semiconductor chip
formed by three-dimensionally laminating thin film circuits on a bulk
silicon wafer. An air pressure sensor is integrally formed on the
semiconductor chip through a semiconductor process. The air pressure
sensor is configured to include an isolating cavity, a diaphragm that
deflecting in response to a change in a pressure difference between the
isolating cavity and the outside, and lower and upper electrodes and for
detecting variation in electrostatic capacitance. The preamplifier
including the air pressure sensor integrally formed therein is attached
to a flexible printed cable (FPC) to oppose the FPC. A through-hole is
provided in a portion opposite the air pressure sensor of the FPC to
introduce air pressure in an operating environment into a diaphragm of
the air pressure sensor.