Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider for use in carrying a transducer in a storage device exhibits reduced variation in roll when moving across a storage medium. In one embodiment, the slider includes an air bearing surface (ABS) having two negative pressure regions defined by a pair of side rails, a cross rail, and an angled rail extending from the cross rail and angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slider. Roll variation is reduced by shaping a portion of the cross rail to one side of the angled rail such that it has a larger positive pressure surface than the portion of the cross rail to the other side of the angled rail. The larger surface compensates for decrease in positive pressure on its side of the ABS attributable to increasing air skew angle. In a second embodiment, the slider ABS further includes a positive pressure pocket at the leading edge. Yet a third embodiment includes a debris deflecting protrusion extending from the cross rail in the direction of the leading edge.

Abstract: Disclosed is a planarizing layer for use in an MR read/inductive write head combination, and a method for constructing the same. In the preferred embodiment, a planarizing layer comprising a plurality of planar sections of conductive material is formed in the plane of the lower pole piece of an inductive head. The planar sections, in cooperation with the lower pole piece, provide a substantially planar surface on which to form the inductive coil. Two of the planar sections are electrically coupled to respective MR leads, and include protrusions extending from the perimeter of the inductive coil to enable electrical access by a pair of read terminal pads. A third planar section is electrically coupled to the inner coil tap of the inductive coil, and includes a protrusion extending from the perimeter of the inductive coil to enable electrical access by a write terminal pad.

Abstract: A method for minimizing the damage caused by handling individual thin film elements. The method disclosed teaches formation of rows of completed sliders defined by one of two methods: wafer processing or row processing to form partial cuts between device elements. The resulting partial cuts preserve the row structure after fabrication, e.g., for inspection and packing, but allow easy separation of the completed sliders just prior to assembly.

Abstract: An air bearing slider for use in carrying a transducer adjacent a recording medium exhibits reduced sensitivity to variations in roll, crown, and skew. In one embodiment, the slider comprises an air bearing slider having a pair of substantially coplanar side rails disposed along the sides of the air bearing surface so as to form a recessed section between the side rails. The recessed section is open at both the leading and trailing ends of the slider while each side rail has a tapered section or etched step at the leading edge of the slider. One rail carries the transducer and extends for the entire length of the slider body. The rail without a transducer extends from the leading edge toward the trailing edge, but does not extend all the way to the trailing edge. Under some skew, accessing, and crash stop impact conditions, the resulting slider roll causes the flying height of the inactive rail to drop.

Abstract: A spacer structure is proposed, including a transducer parking structure, for use in a disk drive assembly including a housing, a rotatable disk, and an actuator assembly for positioning a transducer relative to the rotating disk. In the preferred embodiment, the spacer structure is adapted for contact with, or ridged mounting to, the housing of a disk drive over a disk. The spacer structure may be further adapted for making contact with the disk surface, e.g. by the provision of a cone-like or needle-like protrusion. The point of contact is preferably made at a substantially planar region at the center of the disk. The planar region may form a part of the spacer structure, and may be coated, textured, or smooth. It may also be stationary with respect to the rotating disk, or may rotate with the disk, enabling the spacer structure to be rigidly affixed. The parking structure may be a recess or cavity, a ramp, a step, or a combination of these structures.