Abstract: An air bearing slider for carrying a read/write element in relation to a rotating disk. The slider comprises a slider body defined by two longitudinal side edges and an air bearing surface including at least a first and a second longitudinally extending rail. Each rail is defined by a leading rail edge substantially surrounded by a step region and having angled faces for contact with varying directional air flow. The air bearing surface may also include leading and trailing rail edges that alternately extend away from the side edges of the slider body. A subambient pressure region may also be generally defined by the step region and inner edges of the longitudinally extending rails.

Abstract: For use in a disk drive, a head comprising a slider having a bottom air bearing surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge; a magnetic transducer mounted by the slider at the trailing edge of the slider; and a protective overcoat adhered to the air bearing surface of the slider and having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The trailing edge of the protective overcoat being spaced from the trailing edge of the slider such that the minimum distance from the slider to the surface of a disk in the disk drive is between the magnetic transducer and the disk surface.

Abstract: For use in a disk drive, a head comprising a slider having a bottom air bearing surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge; a magnetic transducer mounted by the slider at the trailing edge of the slider; and a protective overcoat adhered to the air bearing surface of the slider and having a leading edge and a trailing edge. The trailing edge of the protective overcoat being spaced from the trailing edge of the slider such that the minimum distance from the slider to the surface of a disk in the disk drive is between the magnetic transducer and the disk surface. A method for manufacturing a slider with an overcoat spaced from the trailing edge of the slider includes applying a carbon overcoat to the entire bottom air bearing surface, masking, and oxygen plasma etching exposed portions of the overcoated.

Abstract: A sub-ambient pressure, air bearing slider is disclosed for positioning a magnetic read/write head proximately to a rotating disk. The slider includes first and second rails extending along the side of the slider facing the rotating disk from a leading edge of the slider to a trailing edge of the slider. Each rail has a thigh region extending at an angle from the leading edge to a lateral side of the slider, a foot region extending at an angle from a lateral side of the slider toward the trailing edge of the slider, and a knee region at a lateral side of the slider coupled between the foot and thigh regions. Recesses are provided to shape the first and second rails. A central recess provides a volume for sub-ambient pressure. One or more tails can be placed within the central region to prevent the shifting of pressure completely to one side of the slider. The design of the first and second rails leads to a more uniform flying height for the slider and magnetic head over all tracks of the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive, comprising a storage medium having data tracks for storing data, a spindle motor mounting the storage medium for rotation, an interactive element for reading information from and writing information on the data tracks of the storage medium and an actuator responsive to control signals, mounting the interactive element for motion to selectively position the interactive element relative to preselected data tracks of the storage medium and to move the interactive element from a first data track to a second data track in response to the control signals. The interactive element is arranged and configured to fly above the storage medium. Moreover, control electronics are coupled to the actuator for generating the control signals to cause the actuator to move the interactive element from the first data track to the second data track.