Abstract: A glide head includes two rails that run from the leading end to the trailing end of the glide head and a transverse contact rail that is orientated orthogonally to the two rails and is located at the trailing end of the glide head. The two rails may contact the transverse contact rail or one or both may not extend to the transverse contact rail. In addition, the channel region defined between the two rails and the wing, if used, may be tapered so that they merge with the bottom surface of the transverse contact rail. The transverse contact rail may extend beyond the two rails. The glide head flies with a positive pitch which causes the transverse contact rail to be the closest area on the glide head to the surface of a rotating disk being tested. Thus, the mechanical energy is greatest when the transverse contact rail contacts a defect on a disk, and thus the transverse contact rail is the active rail.

Abstract: A glide head includes a transducer mounted on a side surface, e.g., the leading side, as opposed to the top surface of the glide head slider. Thus, a suspension arm may be mounted to the top surface of a small glide head slider, e.g., thirty percent, without interference from the transducer. The glide head slider may include a notch or groove on the side surface into which the transducer is at least partially inserted to assist in securely mounting the transducer to the glide head slider. The height of the glide head slider is increased to accommodate the thickness of the notch, and thus, the glide head slider may have a height to length ratio of forty percent or greater. For example, a thirty percent glide head slider may have a height to length ratio of approximately seventy percent. The transducer is laterally mounted to the side surface of the glide head slider such that an axis between the collectors of the transducer is horizontally oriented.

Abstract: A level flying burnishing head includes a plurality of burnishing pads, e.g., thirteen, that are symmetrically arranged about orthogonal axes on the bottom surface of the burnishing head. The burnishing pads may have a polygonal geometry having at least four sides. The corners between the sides of the burnishing pads may be rounded. The separation between the burnishing head is configured to fly substantially parallel to the surface of the disk that it is burnishing. The burnishing head may have no taper on the leading edge to achieve the level flying condition.

Abstract: A glide head using a slider with an outside active rail is described. In one embodiment, the trailing end of the outside rail extends beyond the trailing end of the inside rail. Thus, during use, the trailing end of the outside rail is closer to the surface of the magnetic disk because of the slope of the glide head's flight. Accordingly, the outside rail is the active rail. The inside rail may be wider than the outside rail to compensate for additional lift created by the greater length of the outside rail. In an alternative embodiment, the trailing end of the outside rail extends beyond the trailing end of the inside rail and there are notches located in the side edges of the rails. The notches do not extend to the forward tapered ends of the rails nor to the trailing ends of the rails. The notches provide additional stability during the slider's flight and decrease the air bearing area of the rails as needed for fly height requirements.

Abstract: A glide head with at least one rail includes a tapered trailing end on the at least one rail. The glide head flies with a pitch angle over the surface of the disk, thus, by tapering the trailing ends of the rails of the slider, the lowest flying point of the glide head is the junction of the air bearing surface of the rails and the trailing end taper. Because the junction of the air bearing surface and the tapered trailing end is the closest point on the glide head to the surface of the disk, the point of contact on the glide head is moved forward from the trailing end of the glide head. The tapered trailing end advantageously increases the amount of material surrounding the lowest flying point of the glide head relative to conventional glide heads. Consequently, the glide head with the tapered trailing end wears slower than conventional glide heads, and thus has an increased life. Further, the glide head with a tapered trailing end flies at a lower fly height than conventional glide heads.

Abstract: A burnishing head for burnishing the surface of magnetic or magneto-optical memory disks is described. The burnishing head comprises a plurality of curved burnishing pads symmetrically arranged on the bottom surface of the head. In one embodiment, there are thirteen circular burnishing pads symmetrically arranged on the bottom surface of a square burnishing pad in such a way that there is no dedicated leading edge of the burnishing head. The area between the curved burnishing pads is wide enough to allow the free flow of air to help the escape of debris created during burnishing. The burnishing head has no tapered leading edge. The burnishing pad flies parallel to the surface of the disk in a level manner, such that all burnishing pads are simultaneously used.

Abstract: A glide head for testing the surface of a magnetic disk includes a slider, a type 2 piezo-electric transducer mounted on the slider, and a type 1 piezo-electric transducer mounted on the type 2 piezo-electric transducer. The piezo-electric transducers are mechanically coupled to one another but not electrically coupled to one another. The electrical voltage provided by the type 2 piezo-electric transducer is more sensitive to magnetic disk surface defects than if the type 1 piezo-electric transducer were not present.

Abstract: A burnishing head for burnishing the surface of magnetic or magneto-optical memory disks is described. The burnishing head comprises a plurality of curved burnishing pads symmetrically arranged on the bottom surface of the head. In one embodiment, there are thirteen circular burnishing pads symmetrically arranged on the bottom surface of a square burnishing pad in such a way that there is no dedicated leading edge of the burnishing head. The area between the curved burnishing pads is wide enough to allow the free flow of air to help the escape of debris created during burnishing. The burnishing head has no tapered leading edge. The burnishing pad flies parallel to the surface of the disk in a level manner, such that all burnishing pads are simultaneously used.

Abstract: A glide head using a slider with an outside active rail is described. In one embodiment, the trailing end of the outside rail extends beyond the trailing end of the inside rail. Thus, during use, the trailing end of the outside rail is closer to the surface of the magnetic disk because of the slope of the glide head's flight. Accordingly, the outside rail is the active rail. The inside rail may be wider than the outside rail to compensate for additional lift created by the greater length of the outside rail. In an alternative embodiment, the trailing end of the outside rail extends beyond the trailing end of the inside rail and there are notches located in the side edges of the rails. The notches do not extend to the forward tapered ends of the rails nor to the trailing ends of the rails. The notches provide additional stability during the slider's flight and decrease the air bearing area of the rails as needed for fly height requirements.