Abstract: A slider 3a is disposed to face a disk-like recording medium and enabled to support a read/write head. The slider 3a has an air bearing surface formed between a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11; side rails 20 and 21 formed on the air bearing surface almost like a U-letter so as to dispose its tip at the trailing edge side 11; a cross rail 22; and a pair of landing pads 30a and 31a formed between the tip of each of the side rails and the cross rail 20 to 22 and the trailing edge 11. One of the pair of landing pads 30a and 31a is formed as a convex surface at its side facing the rail of the landing pad 31a disposed at the outer periphery side of the disk-like recording medium while the slider is disposed so as to face the disk-like recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an abnormal fly height of a magnetic head. The method includes reproducing a servo signal recorded on a magnetic disk in advance by the magnetic head when a write operation for writing data on the magnetic disk by the magnetic head is initiated. Next, the gain of the servo signal based on the head part of the servo signal reproduced by the magnetic head is determined. The gain of the servo signal is then compared with a reference value to detect an abnormal fly height of the magnetic head. In an advantageous embodiment, the reference value is the gain of a servo signal determined when the fly height of the magnetic head is normal. Alternatively, in other advantageous embodiments, the reference value is based on the gain of a previous servo signal.

Abstract: In order to provide a suspension, a head suspension assembly, and a disk drive apparatus that can contribute to an increase of record and playback reliability, holes 3c in ribs 3b of the head suspension assembly 3 are provided. This design decreases the displacement of a head slider 2 that is caused by Karman vortex streets occurring near the ribs 3b in company with the rotation of the magnetic disk 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to controlling the flying height of a magnetic head or slider relative to a magnetic disk in a disk storage device. The flying height of the negative pressure slider is not affected by changes in temperature. By controlling a ratio of crown sensitivity of the flying height to camber sensitivity of the flying height, changes in flying height due to the crown change of the slider corresponding to temperature changes are canceled. It is necessary to set a ratio of the area of a reverse step surface, R, to the area of a center rail, C, within a range of 2:1 to 6:1 (preferably 4:1 to 6:1; ideally 5:1). Then, setting can be performed so that the center of the substantially negative pressure generated may be the center of the slider surface.

Abstract: A slider 3a is disposed to face a disk-like recording medium and enabled to support a read/write head. The slider 3a has an air bearing surface formed between a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11; side rails 20 and 21 formed on the air bearing surface almost like a U-letter so as to dispose its tip at the trailing edge side 11; a cross rail 22; and a pair of landing pads 30a and 31a formed between the tip of each of the side rails and the cross rail 20 to 22 and the trailing edge 11. One of the pair of landing pads 30a and 31a is formed as a convex surface at its side facing the rail of the landing pad 31a disposed at the outer periphery side of the disk-like recording medium while the slider is disposed so as to face the disk-like recording medium.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting an abnormal fly height of a magnetic head. The method includes reproducing a servo signal recorded on a magnetic disk in advance by the magnetic head when a write operation for writing data on the magnetic disk by the magnetic head is initiated. Next, the gain of the servo signal based on the head part of the servo signal reproduced by the magnetic head is determined. The gain of the servo signal is then compared with a reference value to detect an abnormal fly height of the magnetic head. In an advantageous embodiment, the reference value is the gain of a servo signal determined when the fly height of the magnetic head is normal. Alternatively, in other advantageous embodiments, the reference value is based on the gain of a previous servo signal.