Abstract: A head slider includes a front rail formed on the disk opposing surface adjacent to the air inlet end, the front rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of the disk; and a pair of rear rails formed on the disk opposing surface adjacent to the air outlet end, each of the rear rails having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of the disk. The head slider further includes a transducer formed near the air outlet end where one of the rear rails is formed; and a plurality of pads formed on the front rail and at least one of the rear rails. Each pad has an inclined upper end surface with a given inclination angle such that the upstream end of the inclined upper end surface is higher in level than the downstream end thereof.

Abstract: A variable resistor is provided with a series resistor network including first, second and third resistor parts which are connected in series, where the second resistor part is connected to the first and third resistor parts via first and second nodes, respectively, and a fourth resistor part, coupled in parallel to the second resistor part via the first and second nodes. The fourth resistor part includes a plurality of resistors which are connected in series via a plurality of third nodes. The first resistor part has a terminal opposite the first node for receiving an input signal, and an output signal of the variable resistor is obtained via an arbitrary one of the third nodes of the fourth resistor part.