Abstract: A disk drive having a magnetic recording disk with a transition zone is described. A surface texture of the transition zone induces the head to fly at a greater height than when operating over a data zone, while transitioning the head to a landing zone to park.

Abstract: A gimbal assembly includes a gimbal and a slider. The slider has at least one adhesive receiving feature which is formed on a mounting surface of the slider. The gimbal has a lock feature including at least one body that protrudes from a slider-engaging surface and terminates at a first end. Each body of the lock feature engages each adhesive receiving feature of the slider.

Abstract: A disc-drive assembly including an actuator arm, a load beam and a swage mount. The actuator arm has a thickness (TA), an arm tip with a width (WA), and arm-hole with a diameter (DA) in the actuator arm. The load beam has a load beam hole. The swage mount has a flange with a width (WF). The swage mount has a hub with an outer hub diameter (DOD), extending from the one side of the flange. The outer hub diameter (DOD) of the hub is less than 2.54 mm. The flange width (WF) divided by the hub outer diameter is greater than 2.0. The ratio of the outer hub diameter (DOD) to the actuator arm thickness (TA) is less than 1.5, and the ratio of the diameter of the arm hole (DA) to the width of the arm tip (WA) is less than 0.5.

Abstract: A magnetic head is composed to diminish disordered writing bits of a recording layer or reading noise caused by a magnetic field generated from an under layer without decreasing a writing magnetic field strength of the magnetic head. The magnetic head includes a write head provided with a main pole and one or more auxiliary poles, a read head provided with a read element, and coils located on both sides of the main pole in a manner to sandwich the main pole. The coil located on one side generates the asymmetrical magneto-motive force for magnetizing the main pole to that generated by the coil located on the other side.

Abstract: A tape drive has a take-up reel assembly and a tape guide arrangement that are each selectively actuatable for interchangeable use with magnetic recording tape of a first width or a second width. The take-up reel assembly includes at least one actuatable, retractable element that can be moved between the flanges of the take-up reel assembly, dependent on the width of the tape currently being used in the drive, and the tape guide arrangement includes actuatable guide elements movable to define a width of the tape transport path across the read/write head, also dependent on the width of the magnetic recording tape currently being used.

Abstract: It is known that the magnetic shields, between which CPP GMR stacks are sandwiched, can be a source of AMR (anisotropic magneto-resistance) noise. This has been significantly reduced by coating both the magnetic shields with highly conductive layers. If the guidelines disclosed in the invention are followed, the read head can exhibit AMR noise reduced by about 14 to 20. Additionally, the total thickness of the read gap can be maintained to be as low as 300 to 400 Angstroms.

Abstract: An actuator arm assembly of a hard disk drive. The assembly includes a flexure that is attached to an actuator arm and a head coupled to the flexure. The head is coupled to a pre-amplifier circuit of the drive. The head is also electrically grounded through the flexure and the actuator arm. To improve the reliability of the ground path the flexure has a spring that is contact with a slot of the actuator arm. The spring provides a ground path from the head to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head and slider assembly and method for forming said magnetic read/write head and slider assembly, wherein said assembly has improved heat spreading and dissipation properties and exhibits significantly reduced thermal protrusion during operation. The method of formation is simple and efficient, involving only the extension of one of the conductive mounting pads so that it is in thermal contact with a portion of the slider assembly surface that is over the read/write element.

Abstract: One feature of the invention is to support a wiring structure on a side surface of an actuator arm used in a magnetic disk device so as not to allow fluttering to occur. In one embodiment, a wire support member 102a used in a magnetic disk device includes a protruding wall 108a provided with an opposing surface facing a wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction, and a protruding wall 110a provided with an opposing surface facing the wiring structure 90a and protruding in a width direction. The wire support member 102a is provided with a fixing area for accommodating the wiring structure between the opposing surface of the protruding wall 108a and the opposing surface of the protruding wall 110a. The wire support member 102a is further provided with an open area adjoining the fixing area at a longitudinal end portion of the protruding wall and includes protruding walls 328, 330, 332 each having an opposing surface facing the wiring structure.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a bottom pole layer having a surface that faces toward a write gap layer. This surface incorporates a first surface including an end portion located in the air bearing surface, and a second surface located away from the air bearing surface. There is a difference in level between the first surface and the second surface, so that the second surface is located farther from the top pole layer than the first surface. A top pole layer incorporates a throat height defining layer, an intermediate layer, and a yoke portion layer. The yoke portion layer includes a track width defining portion for defining the track width. Each of the throat height defining layer, the intermediate layer, and the track width defining portion has a width equal to the track width.

Abstract: A solid-state actuation mechanism for use in a data storage system. The actuation mechanism includes an anchor fixedly attached to a housing of the data storage system, a spring member including a first end coupled to the anchor, a suspension coupled to a second end of the spring member, the suspension supporting a data head above a media surface, the suspension being biased by the spring member toward a first position, and an actuation component coupled to the suspension. The actuation component configured to apply an actuation force to the suspension to move the suspension laterally relative to the media surface.

Abstract: A head suspension for a reverse flow disk drive. The head suspension includes a load beam having a mounting region at a proximal end, a rigid region at a distal end and a spring region between the mounting region and the rigid region. A flexure is mounted on the distal end of the rigid region. A slider is mounted on the flexure. The slider has a proximal end closest to the proximal end of the load beam, wherein the spring region, the rigid region, the flexure and the slider comprise an active portion. One or more read/write heads are located on the proximal end of the slider. A plurality of electrical traces extend along the head suspension to the proximal end of the slider. At least one airflow attenuator is provided that creates a region of reduced airflow velocity proximate at least a portion of the active portion. An actuator assembly and to a reverse flow disk drive are also disclosed.

Abstract: Improved head gimbal assemblies reducing TMR (Track Mis-Registration) in a hard disk drive are provided. These head gimbal assemblies are as mechanically simple as contemporary head gimbal assemblies, support parallel flying sliders over flat disk surfaces, and reduce TMR induced by disk vibration. They are easier to build, more reliable, and cost less to make, than other known approaches at comparable track densities and rotational rates. The improved head gimbal assemblies include three sets of mechanisms for moving the slider parallel the disk surface, when the disk surface is flat, and radially moving the slider toward the track, when the disk surface is bent. The first and third mechanisms as well as the second and third mechanisms can be used together in a head gimbal assembly. An improved and distinctive servo-controller scheme resulting in an overall improvement in PES performance, particularly when applied to hard disk drives employing the invention's TMR reduction mechanisms.

Abstract: A pole base assembly driving device for a tape recorder is disclosed. Manufacturing of decks becomes simpler and at lower cost. The pole base assembly driving device has a loading gear rotatably disposed on the deck, and rotated by a driving force which is transmitted from a driving source installed on the deck. The pole base assembly further comprises an elastic rod connected by one end to the loading gear, and connected by the other end to a link member which is connected with the pole base assembly. The elastic rod is preferably made of a material which is elastically bendable by an external force, and preferably comprises a deformation restricting means for restricting a deformation of the elastic rod when the elastic rod is deformed by the rotation of the loading gear, such as protrusions on the concave side of the rod when deformed and a reinforcement member. As a result, the number of parts and manufacturing cost is reduced, and deterioration of durability due to breakage of parts can be avoided.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a head to write/read information, and a head support member to support the head. The head support member has parts delimiting an opening at a portion thereof in which opposing parts which delimit the opening in a width direction of the head support member are elastically deformable. Protrusions are formed on edges of the opening, and piezoelectric elements are mounted on the protrusions to enable deforming of the head support member in a direction of positioning of the head.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises first and second magnetic pole groups, magnetically connected to each other, having respective magnetic pole parts opposing each other on a side of a medium-opposing surface; a recording gap layer formed between the magnetic pole parts; and a thin-film coil insulated from the first and second magnetic pole groups and wound helically about at least one of them or flatly spirally wound about a junction connecting the first and second magnetic pole groups to each other; which are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film coil comprises a first conductor group having a plurality of inner conductor parts disposed between the first and second magnetic pole groups, and a second conductor group having a plurality of outer conductor parts disposed outside the second magnetic pole group or junction. The first conductor group has an insulating contact structure in which the inner conductor parts are in contact with each other by way of an insulating film.

Abstract: A flexible disk drive comprises a main frame, a magnetic head, a head assembly supporting the magnetic head so as to move the magnetic head in a tracking direction, and a guide rod fixedly attached onto the main frame by a metal fitting to guide the head assembly in the tracking direction. The main frame is made of a sheet metal and is provided with a recessed portion having a sidewall. The sidewall is faced to an end face of the guide rod with a small space left therebetween so that the recessed portion restricts the movement of the guide rod in the tracking direction.

Abstract: A transducing head has a main pole and at least one magnetic element (such as a return pole or a shield) which provides a potential return path for a magnetic field produced by the main pole. The magnetic element is spaced from the main pole. The magnetic element is formed at least in part of a magnetic material having a material property that reduces side writing at the magnetic element.

Abstract: Filters and methods of using the filters, as well as assemblies having the filters are disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk, and a magnetic head slider. The slider has a magnetic head, a plurality of surfaces which are formed sequentially from an adjacent side to a magnetic disk, and a slider rail surface which is arranged near an air flow-out edge on a nearest surface of the plurality of surfaces. The slider rail surface includes a long sideways rail surface on an air flow-in side and a lengthwise rail surface on an air flow-out side. The nearest surface of the plurality of surfaces is arranged only in a center area with respect to a width of the slider near the air flow-out edge and has a width substantially less than the width of the slider. An area of the long sideways rail surface is larger than an area of the lengthwise rail surface.