Abstract: A slider assembly for supporting a recording element in operative relation to a flexible moving recording medium is disclosed. The slider may have a face including air bearing surfaces positioned toward the recording medium. A recording element may be in an air bearing surface near the trailing edge of the face, wherein there is no other slider or other supporting surface on an opposite side of the recording medium. A vacuum cavity may be formed in the face for creation of sub-ambient pressure to attract the slider toward the recording medium. An air bearing surface may be provided with a transverse pressure contour (TPC) along at least one of its edges for providing flying height control, with the TPC having a step geometry. A mounting device may mount the slider in a biased manner toward the recording medium and urge the slider toward the recording medium.

Abstract: A metal foil disk offers some of the best characteristics of both the hard disk and floppy disk for digital data storage. One embodiment uses an opposed slider air bearing arrangement that provides advantages when used with a high speed metal foil disk in either a fixed or removable format. Use is made of the fact that the opposing sliders interact through their influence on the flexible disk that is sandwiched between them. Asymmetry of opposing air bearings may be created by etching the air bearing pad opposite the recording element pad to a depth sufficient that the flying height and air film stiffness of the opposing pad reach desired levels. The result is an air bearing interface with low flying height and high stiffness over the recording element opposed by a high flying height and low stiffness on the other side of the disk. This air bearing interface provides an enhanced dynamic flexibility to the metal foil disk when it is subjected to mechanical shock.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head wafer includes a first principal surface and a second principal surface which are substantially parallel to each other. An electrical/magnetic transducer is provided on the first principal surface. Identification information is recorded on the first principal surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A thermal flying height adjustment slider capable of being mounted on a small-sized thin film magnetic head slider is provided wherein terminals of an energizer serving as a heater prevent corrosion of pole pieces and the number of terminals is reduced. In one embodiment, one of terminals of the energizer serving as the heater is electrically connected to the lower pole piece, so that a relay terminal for a heating device is used also as the terminal for preventing the corrosion of pole pieces.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head wafer includes a first principal surface and a second principal surface which are substantially parallel to each other. An electrical/magnetic transducer is provided on the first principal surface. Identification information is recorded on the first principal surface of the wafer.

Abstract: The invention includes head gimbal assemblies, actuators, and disk drives containing at least one airfoil boundary reducing air flow turbulence about a slider induced by said head gimbal assembly accessing a rotating disk surface.

Abstract: A head stack assembly is provided for interfacing with a flexible medium of a disk. The head stack assembly includes a first head and a second head located substantially adjacent to the first head wherein the flexible medium may be disposed between the first head and the second head. The first head and the second head are substantially parallel to each other and disposed at a static roll angle ?a and a static roll angle ?b, respectively, from the flexible medium to impart a curvature to the flexible medium of a disk. The curvature reduces out-of-plane vibrations of the flexible medium and thereby enhances the electrical communicative signal between the flexible medium and the first and the second heads.

Abstract: A process for forming the P2 pole tip/yoke interface of a magnetic head that includes a second CMP polishing step that is performed on the surface of the write head wafer subsequent to the plating of the P2 pole tip thereon, and subsequent to a first CMP step. This second CMP step utilizes a relatively soft polishing pad and an acidic polishing slurry which preferentially attacks the P2 pole tip material. This results in the recession of the upper surface of the P2 pole tip relative to the dielectric layer surrounding it, and significant rounding of the upper edges of the dielectric trench in which the P2 pole tip is formed. Thereafter, when the yoke is plated onto the P2 pole tip the rounded upper edges of the dielectric trench result in a concave curved interface between the yoke and the P2 pole tip.

Abstract: If a floppy disk (200) is inserted into a disk drive unit, a link member (52) rotates due to the movement of the floppy disk (200), and a slide piece (61) recedes from under a projecting piece (131) of an upper head support arm (121). In consequence, the distal end of the upper head support arm (121) descends, so that an upper head which is mounted on the distal end of the upper head support arm approaches a lower head which is mounted on the distal end of a lower head support arm.

Abstract: An improved head assembly having air bearing features for contaminant control in flexible media high contact-pressure zone. The head assembly having one or more air bearing features for improving the performance of the heads by controlling a flow of contaminants away from the head sensor and the high contact-pressure zone. The improved head assembly having air bearing features allows the head to keep contaminants out of the high contact-pressure zone proximate the head disk interface where the sensor communicates (e.g., contacts) the flexible media. The head assembly of the present invention includes a shaped slot air bearing feature formed in the rail having the sensor that directs the flow of contaminants away from the high contact-pressure zone and therefore, away from the sensor. This helps to prevent problems associated with head spacing and also damage to the head, the disk, and/or both.

Abstract: A head stack assembly is provided for interfacing with a flexible medium of a disk. The head stack assembly includes a first head and a second head located substantially adjacent to the first head wherein the flexible medium may be disposed between the first head and the second head. The first head and the second head are substantially parallel to each other and disposed at a static roll angle &thgr;a and a static roll angle &thgr;b, respectively, from the flexible medium to impart a curvature to the flexible medium of a disk. The curvature reduces out-of-plane vibrations of the flexible medium and thereby enhances the electrical communicative signal between the flexible medium and the first and the second heads.

Abstract: A magnetic head has at least one magnetic head unit for recording to and reproducing from a flexible rotating recording medium and a slider supporting the magnetic head unit, the magnetic head unit being attached to the slider using an adhesive, the adhesive including a filler so as to substantially match a thermal expansion rate of the adhesive to a thermal expansion rate of the slider.

Abstract: A magnetic head is provided with first and second magnetic head units and a slider on which is formed a central groove that divides the slider into first and second air bearing surfaces and which generates an air flow between a rotating magnetic disk and the first and second air bearing surfaces. Further, the magnetic head is characterized in that a distance YH from a center of a track of the first magnetic head unit to an edge of the first air bearing surface in a direction of travel of the recording medium, and a distance XH from a center of a track of the first magnetic head unit to an edge of the first air bearing surface in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of the recording medium, are such that 0.01 mm≦YH≦0.1 mm and 0.01 mm≦XH0.1 mm.

Abstract: A magnetic head has a first magnetic head unit for recording and reproducing information to and from a first flexible rotating recording medium; a second magnetic head unit for recording and reproducing information to and from a second flexible rotating recording medium having a coercive force lower than a coercive force of the first flexible rotating recording medium; and a slider supporting the first and second magnetic head units, the slider having a central groove separating a first air bearing surface at which the first magnetic head unit is provided and a second air bearing surface at which the second magnetic head unit is provided, the slider generating an elevating force from an air flow generated in a space between the first and second air bearing surfaces and the flexible rotating recording medium, the first air bearing surface having a width on a leading edge side thereof perpendicular to a direction of approach of the flexible rotating recording medium and a width on a trailing edge side thereof d

Abstract: A magnetic head mechanism includes head support bases which are provided on a head carriage and a head arm. The head support base is formed to support a magnetic head at a position within a disk case. The magnetic heads are supported in a state raised from the head carriage and the head arm by the head support bases which are resilient. A wall and a frame shaped part of the head support part are provided so as to enter within the disk case via corresponding one of openings in the disk case. For this reason, even when the magnetic disk rotates at a high speed, the magnetic heads can follow the magnetic disk by stably swaying, so that a sufficient head touch of head pressure is secured.

Abstract: A magnetic head has first and second magnetic head units for recording to and reproducing from first and second flexible rotating recording media; a slider supporting the first magnetic head unit, the slider having a central groove separating a first air bearing surface at which the first magnetic head unit is provided and a second air bearing surface at which the second magnetic head unit is provided, the slider generating an elevating force from an air flow generated in a space between the first and second air bearing surfaces and the flexible rotating recording media; an elevating force control slot formed on at least the first air bearing surface so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction from which the first or second flexible rotating recording medium approaches the magnetic head; the first air bearing surface having a width dimension A1 located on a leading edge side of the magnetic head, and a width dimension A2 located on a trailing edge side, the width dimension A1 b