Abstract: A data storage system has a disk having a first, second and third zone. The first zone has rough texturing to prevent stiction between a slider at rest and the disk. The second zone has intermediate texturing to prevent stiction when a moving slider is in contact with the disk. The third zone has a smooth texture and is used for data recording. A control unit moves the slider between the zones as appropriate on power up and power down of the system. The system has an actuator latch having a bias device. The bias device allows the slider to be positioned between the first and second zones by selective energizing of the actuator while in the latched position.

Abstract: A slider used in a disk drive apparatus is described which has an air bearing surface and a trailing surface and a plurality of recessed steps at the trailing edge. These steps at the trailing edge greatly reduce stictional forces.

Abstract: A method of changing the operating system in a computer system by using an address offset mode (AOM) feature for the address space of a hard disk drive connected to the computer system. Initialization of the computer loads the first operating system (OS) from a user area in the disk drive address space. An enable AOM command offsets the disk drive address space and reinitializes the computer to load a second OS from a reserve space in the disk drive address space. A command setting the maximum size of the address space of the hard disk drive provides a wrap around feature allowing the entire address space of the disk drive to be addressable for diagnostics or updating purposes. The computer is returned to operation with the first OS by a disable AOM command, or alternatively, by a power on reset, a software reset or a hardware reset. The method of changing operating systems is coded in the hard disk drive and does not require additions or modifications to the memory or the BIOS ROM of the computer system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a retract circuit for a disk drive storage device that increases the reliability of a disk drive, and reduces the manufacturing cost. If the power supply of the disk drive is turned off, the retract circuit receives the current due to a back electromotive force from a spindle motor and clips it to a predetermined value or below, and supplies the current equal to or smaller than the predetermined value to the voice coil of a VCM. Then, the VCM drives a carriage, which swings to retract a head slider to the landing area of the disk. If the power is turned off, an FET transistor is turned on, and the current due to the back electromotive force is supplied to the voice coil via the FET transistor, a resistor, and a second FET. If the current due to the back electromotive force exceeds a predetermined value depending on the value of the resistor, two transistors are turned on.

Abstract: An air bearing slider having at least one air bearing pad with a trailing edge shaped to provide the desired flying height profile. The air bearing includes a slider body having leading and trailing edges, an air bearing surface and a first surface recessed with respect to the air bearing surface. Furthermore, the air bearing slider includes at least one compression region. The air bearing surface includes at least one air bearing pad having diverging side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge of each air bearing pad is positioned substantially adjacent to a compression region. The trailing edge of each air bearing pad has a curvature shaped to provide a desired flying height profile of the air bearing slider.