Abstract: A disc drive assembly includes a housing, a disc, an actuator, a ramp and a slider. The ramp is positioned along an edge of the disc to engage a portion of the actuator when the actuator is in a parked position. The slider is supported over the disc by the actuator and includes first and second elongated rails. Each rail has a leading bearing surface, a trailing bearing surface, and a recessed area extending between the leading and trailing bearing surfaces. First and second convergent channels are recessed within the trailing bearing surfaces of the first and second rails, respectively. Each channel includes a leading channel end open to fluid flow from the respective recessed area, non-divergent channel side walls and a trailing channel end closed to the fluid flow and forward of a localized region of the respective trailing bearing surface.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system and texturing is provided to a landing zone region on the disc surface.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a disc, a beam extending from the voice coil motor to a gimbal point to provide a load force, and a slider that flies over the disc with a pole tip protrusion that has an ambient temperature sensitivity. The disc drive also includes a strut with a yielding bend section (YBS). Deposits of shape memory alloys (SMA) having different first and second transformation temperature ranges are deposited on the yielding bend section (YBS) and effectively reduce an ambient temperature sensitivity of the pole tip protrusion.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes an actuator assembly rotatably attached to said base and a device for moving the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly carries a slider. A slider for a disc drive adapted to interface with the surface of the disc. The surface of the disc is provided with an overcoat having a specific hardness. The slider has a leading edge, a trailing edge, and an air bearing surface positioned between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The slider includes a plurality of slider integrated pads, at least some of the slider integrated pads having a hardness which is greater than the hardness of the disc surface. All the slider integrated pads may be harder than the hardness of the disc surface or at least a group of slider integrated pads located near the trailing edge of the slider are harder than the hardness of the disc surface.

Abstract: A disc drive slider includes a slider body and a rail formed on the slider body. The rail includes a bearing surface which faces a surface of a disc. A textured portion is formed on the bearing surface of the rail. Pads are deposited on the textured portions. The pads operate to reduce stiction, dynamic friction, and the likelihood of damage to the slider or the surface of the disc due to contact therebetween.

Abstract: A slider having contact protection for ultra-low fly heights. The contact protection includes contact pads having an ultra-low height dimension to reduce friction and damage for intermittent contact for ultra-low fly height applications.

Abstract: An air bearing slider for a disc drive has an overcoat localized on the air bearing surface to provide a continuous covering over a leading portion of the air bearing surface. The overcoat terminates in a trailing cut-off line, and a trailing portion of the air bearing surface is not covered by overcoat. The overcoat also covers the pole tips of the transducer at a pole tip recession from the air bearing surface. The leading portion covered by the overcoat includes all of the air bearing surface that contacts the disc during contact/start/stop, which is protected by a uniform continuous overcoat layer. The trailing cut-off line is disposed at an angle to expose the trailing corners of the air bearing surface, such that all of the overcoat is elevated above the lowermost portion of the air bearing surface through pitch and roll angles of flying at inner and outer radii. Methods of applying the localized overcoat include subtractive and additive photolithographic deposition processes.

Abstract: A slider with contact interface features for contact starts and stops. Contact interface features include elevated leading edge contact interface features including elevated contact pads, ribs or protective layer. In addition, the invention includes a slider with a trailing edge contact interface at the bearing surface having a relatively rough surface structure including textured or rough surface patterns.

Abstract: A slider includes first and second trailing slider edges and side edges, and first and second rails disposed about the side edges. Each of the rails has a width measured from an inner rail edge to an outer rail edge, a leading air-bearing surface, and a trailing air-bearing surface. First and second convergent channels are recessed within the trailing air-bearing surfaces of the first and second rails, respectively. The slider further includes at least one raised bar extending across an air-bearing surface. The slider also includes raised features attached to the cavity or to the step level surfaces. Positional variations of features near the trailing edge are controlled more precisely by a step level mask which determines the position of the features and the trailing edge.