Abstract: An air bearing slider of a thin film magnetic head assembly is configured with tapered portions at its leading edge and with two side rails extending from the tapers to the trailing edge of the slider. Recesses that are formed in the rails are spaced from the tapered portions. Each rail may be configured with one or more recesses. In one embodiment, the two recesses of each rail are asymmetrically disposed relative to the tapered portion of the rail and to the trailing edge of the slider. In such embodiment, the recesses do not extend to the slider trailing edge. In alternative embodiments, the recesses are spaced from the tapered portions but extend to the trailing edge of the slider. The recesses may be arcuately shaped or have angled portions or other geometries.

Abstract: A process for sputtering and depositing sputtered alumina uses a mixture of two gases, preferably argon and air, for the deposition phase. No external heat is supplied to the sputtering system during the presputtering, sputter etch and deposition phases of the process. The alumina that is produced is crypto-crystalline and is characterized by crystal size of less than one micron. The alumina is very hard, impervious to attack by acid or base solutions and has improved machining qualities. The alumina is useful as a transducing gap layer in a thin film magnetic head.

Abstract: The air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider is formed with two side rails and a wishbone-shaped rail configuration between the side rails, which may be rectangular or ablated. The rail configuration includes segments forming a V and segments extending from the V rail segments towards the trailing edge of the slider. The rail configuration is centered or offset relative to the sides of the slider. Leading edge tapers are provided for the side rails and rail configuration.

Abstract: A fixture (10) for testing a head/gimbal assembly (11) before installion into a disk file functions to load and unload the assembly onto and from a rotating disk (12). The fixture comprises a mounting block (15) for attaching the fixture to a stationary frame (16) to position the fixture in a predetermined position relative to a rotating disk and to permit adjustment of the fixture to selected vertical positions relative to the disk surface. A platform (25) which carries a head/gimbal clamping device (30) is pivotally attached to the mounting block to move a clamped head/gimbal assembly in an arc in a plane normal to the disk surface during loading and unloading. The clamping device comprises a base (31) having a surface which mates with the surface of the head/gimbal and is clamped by a spring-biased element (32) having tooth-type extensions (37) for clamping the head/gimbal against the mating surface of the base.

Abstract: A system for processing head flexure assemblies employs lapping and edge blending means, interposed with washing, drying and heating equipment. The head assembly processing is implemented within a compact U-shaped arrangement. The lapping means and edge blending means incorporate precision alignment and securing components to ensure that the lapping and edge blending processes are accurately and expeditiously performed. The equipment and tooling used are contained in a relatively small area and insure an increased production rate and yield with high quality head assemblies lapped and edge blended to precise specifications.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head assembly useful for contact recording in a disk drive comprises an air bearing slider formed with only a single air bearing rail. The slider is substantially L-shaped having a leg portion on which a pedestal with an air bearing surface is provided. A wear pad is formed on the pedestal and encompasses the pole tips and transducing gap of the transducer. The wear pad makes contact with the magnetic disk during operation of the disk drive. The small area of the wear pad makes minimal contact with the surface of the magnetic disk so that frictional effects are significantly reduced thereby extending the wear life of the magnetic head. An alternative embodiment of a contact head slider uses a tripad design wherein the front pads fly relative to the disk and the rear pad which supports the transducer is in contact with the rotating disk during operation of a disk drive.

Abstract: A read/write head includes a dual element MR sensor and a superimposed inductive head. In an implementation of the invention, the MR sensor structure includes two spaced magnetoresistive (MR) elements on which antiferromagnetic (AFe) thin films, preferably of iron manganese, are deposited. The AFe thin films act as exchange bias layers with the MR elements, biasing the MR layers in opposite directions and perpendicular to the surface of a magnetic medium. Recorded magnetic signals are sensed differentially and the output signal is characterized by increased amplitude and improved signal-to-noise ratio.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly is fabricated with a load beam formed with a central triangular-type major section, a tongue section at the front end and a rigid mount section at the opposing rear end. The load beam has flanges along the sides of the central major section and the rear mount section. A leaf spring is provided between the central major section and the rear mount section for providing flexibility to the suspension. A flexure that is joined to the load beam is formed with a U-shaped finger surrounded by a cutout at the front end of the flexure. A load dimple that is provided on the flexure is in contact with the load beam. The flexure supports an air bearing slider that pitches and rolls relative to a disk surface. The flexure does not extend beyond the load dimple of the flexure or the front leading edge of the slider. The suspension is characterized by a high first bending mode frequency and low pitch and roll stiffness.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing magnetic material on a substrate uses a magnet assembly formed of permanent magnet pieces that provide a uniaxial magnetic field. The magnet assembly is preferably made from ceramic magnetic tiles that are joined to form an arcuate strip. The permanent magnet strip is located external to the deposition chamber and positioned so that the magnetic flux lines traverse a workpiece or wafer seated within the chamber.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly is fabricated with an integral piece which includes a load beam section, a flexure section, a rear mount section and a leaf spring section between the load beam and rear mount. A tongue extends from the load beam to the flexure and has a down-facing load dimple which contacts the non-air bearing surface of an attached air bearing slider. The flexure includes narrow thin legs adjacent to a cutout that delineates the load beam tongue. The head suspension is characterized by a high first bending mode frequency and low pitch and roll stiffness.

Abstract: A compact disk drive useful with a laptop computer comprises at least one glass disk, thin film read/write heads and a head actuator preferably made of magnesium material. The drive motor hub and hub flange are made of steel and the magnet housing for the actuator is made from an integral steel unit. A flexible cable assembly, which is connected to the read/write head circuits and to external circuitry for data processing and for providing control signals, is formed with two flexible sections. Each section is attached to the head actuator and to stationary posts of the disk drive housing thereby balancing the forces applied to the actuator when it is moved for head accessing. A clamp for holding the disk to the motor hub is designed to minimize distortion and to prevent shifting and misalignment of the disk relative to the center of the motor hub.

Abstract: A servosystem for controlling position of a magnetic head relative to a magnetic storage disk in a disk drive includes first and second feedback loops which provide head position error signals. The first feedback loop includes a head position circuit that processes different recorded Gray coded binary expressions that identify the data tracks on the disk during a track seek mode. The second feedback loop includes a head position circuit which, during the seek and track following modes, processes recorded quadrature servo signals that are interleaved with the data tracks.

Abstract: Tooling for assembling a compact disk drive useful for laptop computers includes a ball swaging fixture for joining head flexures to a head arm/actuator subassembly; and a motor/disk platform and disk clamping means for joining a drive motor to magnetic disks. The ball swaging fixture comprises a ball staking fixture for securing the flexures to the head arm/actuator subassembly. The disk clamping means includes a torque gage for assembling a clamp to the drive motor and motor hub. The tooling allows assembly of a compact disk drive at a single station by a single operator.

Abstract: A programmable tone generator provides a signal that can be used by a hearing aid wearer to set the gain of the hearing aid such that the hearing threshold is at a prescribed corrected level.

Abstract: In a magnetron sputtering cathode, the magnetic field is translated across the face of the sputtering target. The magnetic field determines the region from which most material from the target is ejected, and therefore the cathode provides a means of electrically varying the size, shape or location of the active region on the face of the target. The cathode may be used to coat a large number of substrates by sweeping the magnetic field across a large target rather than mechanically transporting the substrates across a small fixed target. The cathode allows more efficient utilization of the target through rapid and periodic changes in the size or location of the magnetic field and associated target erosion. These changes prevent formation of the localized and deep erosion ring that develops on targets used with existing cathode designs and relieves the requirement that the target be changed before the bulk of the material is consumed.

Abstract: A process for sputtering and depositing sputtered alumina uses a mixture of two gases, preferably argon and air, for the deposition phase. No external heat is supplied to the sputtering system during the presputtering, sputter etch and deposition phases of the process. The alumina that is produced is crypto-crystalline and is characterized by crystal size of less than one micron. The alumina is very hard, impervious to attack by acid or base solutions, and has improved machining qualities. The alumina is useful as a transducing gap layer in a thin film magnetic head.

Abstract: A thin film read-write magnetic head includes a write inductive section having a magnetic circuit consisting of thin film magnetic layers and a read flux sensing element, such as a magnetoresistive device or Hall effect device, located in a gap in the magnetic circuit. During the write mode, a magnetic valve including an electrical conductor provides a shunt path to bypass the flux sensing element. During the read mode, a saturation current is directed to the valve conductor so that the shunt path is open, thereby allowing the flux sensing element to sense the readout signal.

Abstract: The second pole layer P2 of a thin film transducer structure is fabricated by using two levels of photoresist to define the pattern of the P2 pole layer. The first photoresist layer is deposited as a thin film and is used to focus an optical projection device that projects the mask pattern onto the photoresist. After etching and curing of the first photoresist, which is disposed above a portion of the first pole piece at the apex of the transducer, a second photoresist layer is deposited over the first photoresist layer and above the insulation deposited over the electrical coil structure. The second photoresist layer is relatively thick and serves to define the frame for printing the P2 pole piece pattern a second time. The data track width defined by the P2 pole piece is more uniform as a result of the improved definition of the frame used for registering the P2 pattern.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is fabricated with a yoke structure, including P1 and P2 magnetic layers, having a width in the range of about 5 to 58 microns, preferably about 30 microns. The very narrow width minimizes popcorn noise, improves high frequency response and affords increased head circuit efficiency.

Abstract: A thin film tape head assembly is formed by depositing a multiplicity of thin film transducers on a ceramic wafer or substrate. The wafer is divided into head bars, each of which has one or more thin film transducers on its face. End sections and a cover bar are joined to the head bar to form a head bar subassembly. A flexible cable or electrical pins are provided between the end sections to enable electrical connection between the head circuit and external circuitry. By joining a number of head bar subassemblies, a multigap thin film tape head assembly is produced to serve as a read/write device.