Abstract: A read/write head for use in a data storage device to control the low dynamic flying height in order to achieve high data recording storage capacity of magnetic hard drives. The read/write head is designed for use in a data storage device that includes a storage medium having a recording surface. The head comprises a pole tip region and an actuator. In turn, the actuator includes an excitation source for generating a magnetic field, and a magnetostrictive plate for expanding in response to the magnetic field, resulting in a protrusion in a section of the pole tip region along a direction towards the recording surface, so that the head flies above the recording surface at a flying height lower than a nominal flying height.

Abstract: A head includes a substrate, an undercoat material, a read structure, and a write structure. The undercoat material at least partially provides electrical insulation between the read structure and the substrate. The read structure allows for reading magnetic fields from a recording medium. The write structure allows for providing particular magnetic fields to the recording medium to write data to the recording medium. The read structure is located at least partially between a portion of the undercoat material and a portion of the write structure. The head further includes at least one of (i) a heating element located at least partially in the undercoat material for providing heat and (ii) a pedestal for at least partially providing thermal conduction between the read structure and the substrate. Also, a thickness of the undercoat material may be set for improving flying height adjustment efficiency.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive circuitry, a suspension, a slider assembly that includes a read/write head, and a pressure compensator. The pressure compensator is electrically decoupled from the drive circuitry. A portion of the pressure compensator has a volume that passively changes when an ambient pressure near the pressure compensator changes. The pressure compensator at least partially offsets a change in a head-to-disk spacing that occurs when an ambient pressure near the pressure compensator changes. The pressure compensator can exert a force on the slider assembly to change a pivot angle between the suspension and the slider assembly, and/or to change a pitch angle between the slider assembly and the storage disk. In alternate embodiments, the pressure compensator can include a piston that moves or a resilient membranous material that changes shape based on changes in ambient pressure.

Abstract: A flexure is provided with a main body on which a wire for energizing a head slider is disposed. Head slider is mounted at the front end of the flexure. Two piezoelectric layer units, each including layered piezoelectric elements, are disposed so that two of the units sandwich a line that extends from head slider to a base portion of an arm member. A voltage can be applied individually to each of the piezoelectric elements. The shape of the piezoelectric layer units are changed by adjusting the voltage applied to each of the piezoelectric elements, thereby moving head slider freely.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-film magnetic head with a heater. A thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, a magnetic read head element that has a shield area and is formed on the substrate, a magnetic write head element that has a pole area and is formed on the opposite side of the substrate with respect to the magnetic read head element, an overcoat layer that covers the magnetic read head element and the magnetic write head element and is formed on the substrate, a heater that heats at least during the magnetic read head element or the magnetic write head element in operation and is formed in the overcoat layer, and a slit area that splits the shield area in a shield length direction and is made of lower thermal conductivity material than the one of the shield area.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention improve the head characteristic and avoid collisions between a head element section and a recording disk. A hard disk drive according to an embodiment of the present invention performs TFC (Thermal Fly height Control) to adjust the clearance between the head element section and recording disk by means of thermal expansion. A head slider includes a TFC heater. The hard disk drive detects its acceleration and controls the TFC heater in accordance with the detected acceleration, thereby reducing the probability of collision between the head element section and recording disk. Further, the hard disk drive detects residual vibration prevailing after impact application. The heater turns back ON when the residual vibration becomes lower than a reference level.

Abstract: To enable a read-write head to perform a fast and accurate track following, the invention proposes a read-write head (1), which exhibits: a first block (11) and a carrier (14) movably attached to the first block (11) carrying a read-write element, and at least one electromagnetic actuator device, with at least one electromagnetic element (8, 9) to generate magnetic forces, which are acting upon the carrier (14).

Abstract: A transducing device having a storage interface surface includes a writer having a pole tip region, a coil having a width positioned around the writer, and a heating element. The heating element extends to near the storage interface surface. A portion of the heating element is at least as wide as the coil. The heating element heats the writer in response to current flow through the heating element.

Abstract: A head assembly having a sensor element on the head assembly. Embodiments of the sensor element are configured to detect non-contact induced head-media interface instability, “onset of contact” or low level interference. The non-contact head-media instability or interference is detected based upon sensor feedback relating to excitation of the air bearing resonance modes of the slider body. In embodiments of the present invention, the sensor head assembly includes a microactuator which is energizable to microactuate the head or transducer elements on the head assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention achieve a decrease in electric power consumption while ensuring high recording density and high reliability in a magnetic disk apparatus. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus comprises a rotatable magnetic disk and a magnetic head slider to be able to fly above a surface of the magnetic disk. The magnetic head slider comprises an air bearing surface, by which the magnetic head slider is caused to fly and come near to the rotating surface of the magnetic disk with a predetermined spacing therebetween, recording and reproducing elements to perform at least one of recording on and reproduction from the magnetic disk, and a heating device to adjust a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk. The heating device is mounted such that heating thereof causes a part of the air bearing surface to expand and project to increase a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for adjusting recession of an element, such as a pole tip, in a transducer structure formed in a plurality of thin film layers on an edge of a slider. A pre-stressed structure is formed as part of the plurality of thin film layers on the edge of the slider. The pre-stressed structure has a level of material stress. The recession is measured relative to a bearing surface of the slider, and then the level of material stress is adjusted as a function of the measured to effect a corresponding change in the recession.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transducing device. The transducing device includes a transducing element having a read element and a write element. The transducing device further includes at least one heating element formed within the transducing device and spaced apart from the heating element a sufficient distance to keep the at least one heating element from influencing a temperature of the transducing element.

Abstract: A transducer for a disk drive head includes a pole tip protrusion (PTP) compensation layer disposed proximate to a write element of the head to at least partially offset the effect of pole tip protrusion. The PTP compensation layer can be above, below, or within the write element. Suitable materials for the PTP compensation layer include zirconium oxide ceramics characterized by negative coefficients of thermal expansion such as ZrMo2O8.

Abstract: An ultra-small optical/magnetic head actuator includes: a swing arm movable in a horizontal direction (tracking direction) and a vertical direction (focusing direction) and having mounted thereon a head for reading and writing information on a disk. A tracking actuator moves the swing arm in the horizontal direction (tracking direction) and a pivot hinge adjusts a radius of rotation of the swing arm and guides the movement of the swing arm in the tracking direction. A focusing actuator moves the swing arm in the vertical direction (focusing direction), wherein the focusing actuator includes a focusing coil attached under the swing arm and a Halbach magnet array disposed under the focusing coil minimizes thickness. Friction or backlash can be avoided, and non-repetitive errors can be reduced. The thickness of the ultra-small storage device can be reduced due to the use of a Halbach magnet array.

Abstract: A recording head for use in magnetic storage devices is disclosed. The recording head includes a transducer that is bi-directionally movable with respect to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, thereby enabling improved positioning of the transducer during recording head read and write operations. Various structures are disclosed to bi-directionally actuate the recording head transducer. In one embodiment, an interleaver assembly having a plurality of flexure assemblies employs a motor including magnetic portions for selective, bi-directional actuation. In another embodiment, electrostatic charges are employed in the flexure assemblies for selective actuation. In yet another embodiment, piezoelectric elements are included to provide for selective actuation.

Abstract: A method for loading single head in a hard disk drive includes the following steps: mounting a head assembly (30) in a baseplate (10) of a hard disk drive, the head assembly comprising an actuator arm (32), a suspension (34) and a HGA, the baseplate engaging a motor (110) and the HGA is positioned close to the motor; biasing the suspension by a mounting tool (50) from the original position, the mounting tool comprising a cantilever arm (52), a pressing head (54) and a supporting rod (56), wherein, the mounting tool rotates to the suspension and gets down to press the suspension; mounting a disk (90) on the motor in the baseplate; and releasing the pressing head from the suspension, loading the HGA of the head assembly to a parking zone of the disk.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a first disk drive includes incorporating a first storage disk having a first storage surface, and a first slider having a first read/write head and a slider mover into the first disk drive. Further, the first read/write head is movably positioned a first head-to-disk spacing relative to the first storage surface. The method also includes determining an incremental power level necessary to be delivered to a second slider mover of a second slider having a second read/write head to adjust a second head-to-disk spacing relative to a second storage surface by a predetermined increment. In addition, the method includes adjusting a first head-to-disk spacing by directing an operational power level to the first slider mover. The operational power level is derived from the incremental power level.

Abstract: A control source and drivers for a thermal actuator fly height controlled heads in a disk drive system includes provisions for driving a heater element to dissipate various levels of power, and thus actuate the head by a desired amount, depending on whether the head is in a write mode or a read mode. Further, overshoot and undershoot are achieved as desired by providing initial values and equilibrium values and through the use of a control capacitor to provide a time constant to the drive signal to the heater element.

Abstract: A robotic tool for assembling a portion of a disk drive includes a movable end effector that includes a first portion and a second portion that is movable relative to the first portion. The first portion may be configured to engage the actuator assembly and the second portion may be configured to engage the flex circuit connector. A controller may be provided to control the movable end effector, causing the end effector to pick up the head stack assembly in a first configuration, move the second portion of the end effector relative to the first portion thereof so as to articulate the head stack assembly into a second configuration that is different than the first configuration, and place the head stack assembly into the base.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a performance parameter of a head suspension for positioning a read/write head in a disk drive. The suspension includes a beam and flexible element for carrying a read/write head extending from the beam. The flexible element has one or more adjustment portions. The beam has one or more openings adjacent to the adjustment portions of the flexible element to provide access to the adjustment portions through the beam. The method comprises acting upon one or more adjustment portions of the flexible element through one or more of the openings in the beam to change a performance parameter of the head suspension. A laser beam is used to irradiate the adjustment portions of the flexible element in one embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent a magnetic head from coming into contact with a protrusion on a magnetic disk. In one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a piezoelectric actuator for changing the flying height of a head/slider assembly. The address of a protrusion on a magnetic disk is preregistered in a nonvolatile memory. When a seek operation or following operation is to be performed, the head/slider assembly flies at a reference flying height. Before the protrusion passes below the head/slider assembly, an operating voltage is applied to the piezoelectric actuator to increase the flying height. After the protrusion passes below the head/slider assembly, the head/slider assembly flies at the reference flying height with operating voltage application stopped.

Abstract: A mechanism for maintaining a constant fly-height of a slider comprises a capacitive fly-height change sensor and an electrostatic fly-height controller. The capacitive fly-height change sensor is configured for coupling with the slider, which is in a head gimbal assembly. The capacitive fly-height change sensor is also configured for measuring a capacitance between the slider and a surface of a disk through the use of a fly-height change sensing signal, and outputting a sensor voltage which is substantially proportional to a sensed change in said capacitance. The electrostatic fly-height controller is coupled with the capacitive fly-height change sensor and configured to couple with the slider. The electrostatic fly-height controller is configured to process the sensor voltage into a fly-height control signal for electrostatically maintaining a constant fly-height of the slider relative to the surface of the disk.

Abstract: To realize stable reading/writing of data by making a positioning control of a magnetic head slider highly accurate. There are provided a magnetic head assembly including: a magnetic head slider for reading/writing of data with respect to a rotating magnetic disk; a suspension for supporting the magnetic head slider; and an air flow regulating device for regulating the air flow amount flown in between the magnetic disk and the magnetic head slider along with the rotation of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A glide head that can be used to certify disks of hard disk drives. The glide head includes a heater that can change the temperature of a slider surface of the head and vary the head flying height. The slider surface may induce the negative pressure so that the glide head more accurately simulates a head used in a production disk drive. A piezoelectric transducer may be coupled to the glide head so that contact between the head and a disk may be sensed and recorded in a disk certification routine.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly having a suspension and a read/write head is provided. The read write head is attached to a flexure tongue of the suspension. Heating elements on arms of the suspension, set on either side of the suspension tongue, are used to alter flight characteristics of the read/write read such as pitch and roll. Due to differences in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the materials that comprise the arms, the arms bend when heated. Varying the heat output of the heating elements changes the temperatures of the arms, which changes the degree to which the arms are bent. The heating elements can be portions of traces in a trace layer. Control circuitry is provided to control the heating of the heating elements to maintain desired values of the flight characteristics.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS) and a trailing surface, with a transducer fabricated on the trailing surface. The transducer includes an adjunct pole disposed in a first general plane, the adjunct pole having a front edge that is recessed from the ABS and a rear edge. A main pole of the transducer is formed adjacent the adjunct pole, the main pole having a write tip that extends approximately to the ABS. A write coil having a first layer of turns is disposed in a second general plane below the adjunct pole. The magnetic head further includes a heating element, a portion of the heating element being disposed in the first general plane behind the rear edge of the adjunct pole.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a rotatable storage disk, a suspension, and a slider assembly. The slider assembly includes a slider body, a first slider deformer and a second slider deformer. Activation of the first slider deformer deforms the slider body, and activation of the second slider deformer deforms the slider body. Further, the slider deformers can be independently controllable. The read element is positioned near the first slider deformer and the write element is positioned near the second slider deformer. Activation of the first slider deformer adjusts a read head-to-disk spacing of the read element and activation of the second slider deformer adjusts a write head-to-disk spacing of the write element. Further, activation of the first slider deformer does not significantly influence the write head-to-disk spacing and activation of the second slider deformer does not significantly influence the read head-to-disk spacing.

Abstract: In order to obtain improved magnetic track density, it is desirable to bring the read and write elements as close to the recording surface as possible, short of actually touching it. This has been achieved by utilizing a magnetostrictive actuator, comprising single or multiple pairs of magnetostrictive elements and their associated conductor coils. A magnetic field is generated by passing electrical current through the conductor coils. This field will saturate the actuator and cause the magnetostrictive elements to contract or expand, thus moving the read/write element whenever so desired.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a slider body having a trailing surface meeting an air-bearing surface at a trailing edge, with a thin-film transducer disposed on the trailing surface of the slider body near the trailing edge. The thin-film transducer includes a coil embedded between first and second poles. A resistive heating element is disposed adjacent and electrically insulated from, the coil. Application of power to the resistive heating element causes expansion of at least the first and second poles.

Abstract: A recording head for use in magnetic storage devices is disclosed. The recording head includes a transducer that is bi-directionally movable with respect to a magnetic medium surface of the magnetic storage medium, thereby enabling improved positioning of the transducer during read and write operations of the transducer. The recording head further includes a wafer assembly having a motor segment and a flexure segment that are joined together. The flexure segment includes a cavity that receives the transducer therein. The recording head further includes a slider body that receives the wafer assembly in a cavity defined therein. A motor located in the motor segment can be selectively actuated to cause movement of the flexure assembly and corresponding movement of the transducer body. Various features regarding the construction and assembly of the recording head are also disclosed to improve head operation, including techniques for preventing head damage during a shock event.

Abstract: A suspension is provided, which comprises: a flexure with elasticity for supporting a head slider having at least one head element; a first load beam having first ribs for reinforcement at both side ends of the first load beam, for supporting the flexure; and a second load beam having second ribs for reinforcement at both side ends of the second load beam, at least a part of the second load beam being overlapped with the first load beam and being fixed to the first load beam, at least a part of the first and second ribs being overlapped with each other.

Abstract: A magnetic write head includes a magnetic yoke having a first pole and a second pole. The first pole and the second pole each terminate at an air bearing surface. The first pole is magnetically coupled to the second pole in a backgap region. The magnetic write head further includes a electrically conductive write coil magnetically coupled to the magnetic yoke. The magnetic write head further includes a resistive heater coil having a first coil turn and a second coil turn. The heater coil is electrically isolated from the write coil. At least a portion of the first coil turn is between the first pole and the second pole and between the air bearing surface and the backgap region. At least a portion of the second coil turn is between the first pole and the second pole and between the air bearing surface and the backgap region. The portion of the first coil turn overlaps the portion of the second coil turn.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a flying magnetic head slider includes a step of providing a substrate with a plurality of inductive write head elements formed thereon, each head element having a pair of magnetic poles facing to each other via a magnetic gap, and with a protection layer covering the plurality of inductive write head elements, a step of cutting the substrate to separate into a plurality of bar members, each of the bar members having aligned inductive write head elements, a step of processing the protection layer of each bar member so that a distance from an end edge of the pair of magnetic poles to an edge of a bottom surface of the bar member becomes in a range of 1 to 15 ?m, a step of lapping each bottom surface of the bar member, and cutting each bar member to separate into a plurality of individual magnetic head sliders.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes at least one inductive write head element and at least one read magnetic head element, capable of controlling a spacing between a magnetic recording medium and the at least one magnetic read head element by heating. A gain SG (nm/° C.) of the spacing is greater than a spacing gain threshold SGTHLD (nm/° C.) defined by the following expression: SGLIMT=A*dPTP+B A=1.4642E?02*exp(?6.6769E?05*LRDMF) B=4.9602E?01*exp(?2.0423E?03*LRDMF) where dPTP represents an amount of change in protrusion (nm) of a top end of the at least one inductive write head element and/or the at least one read magnetic head element by heating, and LRDMF represents a line recording density (kFCI) at a frequency half of the maximum recording frequency.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a transducer portion including a semi-permanently deformable portion. A deformation of the semi-permanently deformable portion in response to an activation energy deforms the transducer portion. The deformation is retained after the activation energy is removed. In another embodiment of the invention, a transducer comprises a body having an active element, a magnetostrictive element and a magnet having a magnetic field. The magnetic field causes a deformation of the magnetostrictive portion thereby adjusting the position of the active element.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a slider that includes a substrate, a transducer tip disposed on the substrate, and a hydrodynamic surface including a responsive aeroelastic deposit. The substrate has a first coefficient of expansion responsive to a stimulus. The transducer tip has having a second coefficient of expansion responsive to the stimulus that is greater than the first coefficient of expansion. The aeroelastic deposit has a third coefficient of expansion responsive to the stimulus that is greater than the first coefficient of expansion. The responsive aeroelastic deposit allows the slider to alter its flight characteristics responsively and elastically to changing operating conditions.

Abstract: A recording head for use in magnetic storage devices is disclosed. The recording head includes a transducer that is bi-directionally movable with respect to a magnetic medium surface of the magnetic storage medium, thereby enabling improved positioning of the transducer during read and write operations of the transducer. The recording head further includes a slider body and an interleaver assembly that is interposed between the transducer and the slider body. The interleaver assembly includes a flexure assembly having a plurality of resilient flexure beams. A motor assembly incorporated into the recording head can be selectively actuated to cause movement of the flexure assembly and corresponding movement of a portion of the interleaver assembly and the transducer body. The flexure assembly is configured to constrain motion of the transducer in vertical and horizontal directions with respect to the magnetic medium surface to allow for enhanced transducer positioning.

Abstract: A head slider for a hard disk drive is disclosed. The slider includes an operation device associated with a read/write head and adapted to change the flying height between the read/write head and a disk in relation to temperature. The operation device may be formed from a material that expands and contracts in relation to temperature in order to change the flying height, or a material that undergoes bending deformation in relation to temperature in order to change the flying height.

Abstract: A framing assembly with lower stiffness design and a method of manufacturing that framing assembly are disclosed. In one embodiment, a framing assembly pattern is cut from a piece of a thin planar material, such as metal. The pattern is then bent to form a framing assembly with a base piece, two arms, and supports for a connection plate. In an alternate embodiment, the base piece includes a rear support and a support base. In a further embodiment, excess material surrounding the pattern is cut away so as to allow the most efficient use of the material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for adjusting recession of an element, such as a pole tip, in a transducer structure formed in a plurality of thin film layers on an edge of a slider. A pre-stressed structure is formed as part of the plurality of thin film layers on the edge of the slider. The pre-stressed structure has a level of material stress. The recession is measured relative to a bearing surface of the slider, and then the level of material stress is adjusted as a function of the measured to effect a corresponding change in the recession.

Abstract: A magnetic disk apparatus includes a rotation mechanism for driving a magnetic disk, a magnetic head slider being floated in close proximity to a surface of the magnetic disk, a recording/reproduction element for performing recording and playback of information, a drive unit for causing a distance between the record/reproduction element and the magnetic disk to change, and an arrangement to effect position determination of the magnetic head slider, wherein the apparatus has a detection unit for permitting the drive unit to gradually reduce the distance between the record/reproduction element and the magnetic disk and for detecting occurrence of contact therebetween, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit in such a way as to cause, the record/reproduction element to shift in position by a fixed amount to thereby let the distance between this element and magnetic disk increase accordingly.

Abstract: Read-write head flying height controlled through micro-actuator assembly. Flying height controlled using DC line and ground line. Lateral position controlled using them and AC line. Micro-actuator assembly operates through three terminals coupled with these lines. Head gimbal assembly contains micro-actuator assembly mechanically coupling to slider with read-write head. Actuator arm includes at least one head gimbal assembly. Actuator arm assembly includes at least one actuator arm. Voice coil actuator includes actuator assembly. Hard disk drive containing voice coil actuator. Electrical interface circuit includes ground port, DC port, and AC port, for micro-actuator assembly. Servo controller drives micro-actuator assembly to control flying height and lateral position, preferably including electrical interface circuit. Manufacturing head gimbal assembly, actuator arm, actuator assembly, voice coil actuator, and hard disk drive, and products of these manufacturing processes.

Abstract: Embodiments include a slider having a silicon body and at least one carbide pad structure embedded therein. At least one head structure for reading and/or writing data is located on the silicon body. The silicon body includes an air bearing surface on which the head is located. The air bearing surface also includes at least a portion of the carbide pad structure thereon. In one aspect, the metal carbide structure may be made from a material such as titanium carbide, zirconium carbide, vanadium carbide, tungsten carbide, or molybdenum carbide. In another aspect, the head may be located on the air bearing surface between carbide pad structures.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head has at least either an electromagnetic transducer or a magnetoresistive device, and a sheet-shaped heater for generating heat when energized. The heater has a heating part and a lead part connected in series to the heating part. The lead part has a sheet resistance lower than that of the heating part.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a grounded conductive layer between the heater and the lower magnetoresistive (MR) shield in the read/write head structure. The grounded conductive layer eliminates or at least substantially prevents the accumulation of charges on the lower MR shield as a result of the voltage supplied to the heater. In one embodiment, a magnetic head comprises a plurality of read/write components; a heater disposed near the plurality of read/write components; and a grounded conductive layer disposed between the heater and the plurality of read/write components.

Abstract: A heater member is formed in structure including a heater layer with a low electrical resistivity and a cap layer with a higher electrical resistivity, an electrically conductive electrode film is formed thereon, and electrically conductive bumps are formed thereon by plating. Unnecessary part of the electrode film is removed using the bumps as a mask. The heater member generates heat to thermally expand a thin-film magnetic head, whereby the distance is reduced between a recording medium and, a magnetoresistive device and/or an electromagnetic conversion device. During removal of the electrode film part of the cap layer with the higher electrical resistivity in the heater member is removed together with the electrode film, which reduces the variation in the total resistance of the heater member.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic write/read device comprising a magnetic read element and a magnetic write element is formed in a thin film magnetic head portion of a magnetic head slider. A heat generating resistor is formed between a substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device for heating thereby thermally expanding and protruding a portion of the magnetic head slider to control the flying height. The heat generating resistor is positioned between the substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device being apart from the magnetic reproducing device for making the response speed for the flying height control of the magnetic head slider as high as possible and decreasing the effect caused by the heat generation of the heat generating resistor on the magnetic reproducing device as little as possible.

Abstract: A new structure for adjusting flying height using a magnetomechanical effect. A head includes a magnetomechanically active structure and a coil coupled to the magnetomechanically active structure, the magnetomechanically active structure responding to a magnetic field generated by the coil to expand and/or contract.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling the pitch static attitude of a slider in an integrated lead suspension head gimbal assembly. The integrated lead suspension includes a load beam, a mount plate, a hinge and a flexure made out of a multi-layer material. Localized heating is applied to the outrigger leads during the process of forming flexure legs to set a stable pitch static attitude, which does not change, by subsequent thermal exposures.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a suspension coupled to an end portion of an actuator arm located on a base to rotate around a pivot shaft, a head slider installed at the suspension and having a head to record and/or read information on and/or from a recording medium, and a variable device located between the suspension and the head slider, wherein one side of the variable device is coupled to the suspension to adjust a flying height of the head slider by adjusting inclination of the head slider with respect to the suspension. The head assembly can be applied to a magnetic head assembly by using a magnetic head and a magnetic disk as the head and the recording medium, respectively. Thus, since the variable device can be fixedly coupled to the suspension during the assembly process of the head assembly or the manufacture of the suspension, the process of manufacture is considerably simplified compared to the conventional magnetic head assembly.