Abstract: A disk drive having a passive slider exhibiting two fly heights, one for recording and reading operations and a second for idling. The disk drive has a magnetic recording surface set for rotation in a direction. A transducer carrier is radially positionable relative to the magnetic recording surface and can be moved between recording portions and idling portions of the annular surface. In the idling zone the surface includes a plurality of shallow depressions disposed in an annular zone. The depressions are generally trench like. The orientation of the depressions depends on the type carrier for the transducer. If oriented transversely to the direction of rotation of the magnetic recording surface, they will boost pressure under the carrier increasing or introducing spacing between the body and the carrier. Where the carrier has an air bearing surface including regions creating zones of relatively negative pressure, the depressions are grooves paralleling the direction of rotation of the disk.

Abstract: A slider for developing an air bearing atop a spinning data disk includes a substrate having a base surface and an air bearing pad extending outwardly therefrom. The bearing pad cooperates with the spinning disk to develop the air bearing thereon for supporting the slider thereabove. A data access element is fixedly mounted in the substrate for communicating data with the disk and, a guard strip extends outwardly from the base surface and is spaced from the bearing pad to define a trench therebetween. The guard strip shields the bearing pad from debris accumulation during operation.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved thermal proximity imaging are provided. A data storage medium surface is moved relative to a sensor, in one embodiment a magnetoresistive read/write element. Topographical variations on the storage medium induce temperature changes in the sensor. These temperature changes are monitored to detect the location and nature (e.g., height) of the topographical variations on the medium surface. A feedback circuit using an impedance bridge is disclosed for sensing instantaneous changes in the temperature of the sensor, correcting for the changes and, therefore, keeping the temperature of the sensor substantially constant. By keeping the temperature of the sensor constant, the topographical variations can be detected without any adverse impacts of the surrounding thermal environment on the detection response time.

Abstract: A slider for providing an air bearing between a transducer and a moving recording surface includes a platform having a first surface with a leading edge opposite a trailing edge and a lateral axis between the leading and trailing edges. A plurality of projections extend from the first surface. At least one of the projections is disposed between the leading edge and the lateral axis and another of the projections is disposed between the trailing edge and the lateral axis. Each of the projections includes a second surface and a recess facing the leading edge. The recesses are bounded on their sides by shrouds that limit air bearing leakage. The recesses provide lift and stability to the slider when the recording surface is moving and always remain out of contact with the recording surface. To limit stiction, only the second surface of the projections is in apparent contact with the recording surface when the recording surface is stationary.

Abstract: An air bearing slider incorporating the invention has both front and rear pads extending from a generally planar body. Both pads have bearing faces separated by a gap that is substantially in excess of any fly height of the slider. The sides of both pads are oriented at a rake angle that is approximately equal to the maximum expected skew angle. The separation of the pads enables the slider to exhibit good pitch stability, and the pad rake angles provide resistance to roll effects that occur at large skew angles. Both pad faces exhibit extremely small taper angles that enable "inlet throttling" of air entrained by the slider. Such inlet throttling provides the slider with a fly height that is substantially independent of relative speed changes between the slider and a recording medium. A further embodiment includes a rear slider for contact recording applications.

Abstract: An air bearing slider has both front and rear pads extending from a generally planar body, both pads having faces opposed to a recording medium and separated by a gap that is substantially in excess of any fly height of the slider. Both surfaces exhibit extremely small taper angles that enable "inlet throttling" of air beneath the slider. Such inlet throttling provides the slider with a fly height that is substantially independent of relative speed changes between the slider and a recording medium. A preferred embodiment includes front and rear pads that are convex in, the direction of movement of the recording medium e.g. are "forward swept". Such convexity enables substantial resistance to fly height changes in response to skew alteration.

Abstract: An air bearing slider according to the present invention provides a programmable slider wherein the fly height of the read/write head may be conveniently controlled using electrical signals. In an air bearing slider according to the present invention, the rear of the slider is made to fly lower by altering the angle of attack of a rear air bearing region. In one embodiment of the present invention, a slider configuration includes a first air bearing region at the leading edge of the slider and a second air bearing region at the slider's trailing edge. The first air bearing region includes a tapered region. A deformable central region, including a non air bearing surface, joins the first and second air bearing regions and controls the relative angle between the air bearing surfaces. The relative angle is adjusted by deforming the central region using a layer of piezoelectric material which overlays the central region.

Abstract: This precision probe uses optical feedback in the X and Y dimensions to locate a microprobe in the airspace over a test pad, and uses pressure feedback in the Z dimension to control Z approach and penetration. The precision probe inspects a target by coarse positioning a guided microprobe to make contact at a selected probe pad. Guidance is optical, by light reflected, from a target by a dual mirror focusing system of concave mirror and flat mirror, to a transducer. Up and down Z positioning of the microprobe is carried out by a shaft positioned by an air diaphragm which is driven to the target by applied air pressure delivered via an air tube, providing the desired penetration of microprobe to microtarget. The probe is retracted by atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for measuring fluid pressure and velocity, and in particular for maintaining an aspirator air velocity constant under varying atmospheric conditions. A precisely controlled air velocity is provided by a reference air source whose frequency is derived from a crystal oscillator. The total air pressure from the aspirator wind tunnel is compared with the total air pressure from the reference air source using a matched thermistor pair technique to convert the pressure difference into an electrical error signal which is used to control the main air source for the aspirator wind tunnel such that the error signal is maintained at zero, thereby maintaining the air velocity in the aspirator constant.

Abstract: There is described a droplet aspirator for an ink jet printer. The aspirator includes a housing having a tunnel therein, which is spaced from an ink jet nozzle which emits an ink jet stream which passes through the tunnel. A gas stream is also directed through the tunnel at substantially the same velocity as the ink jet stream for reducing the aerodynamic effects on adjacent ink droplets. The tunnels cross-sectional area is substantially constant from one plane to the next when measured in any given plane transverse to the longitudinal axis, for maintaining the velocity of the gas stream constant. The tunnel has a circular cross-section when used in a nozzle per spot system, and when used in an analog deflected system, has an entrance of one geometry, with the tunnel changing in geometry along its longitudinal axis to a different geometry at its exit. Preferably, in the analog deflected system, the entrance geometry is circular and the exit geometry is elliptical or rectangular.

Abstract: In a jet printing system which includes an array of N nozzles, the droplet streams emitted from at least the first and Nth nozzle are continuously guttered, and the droplet streams emitted from the other nozzles are one of selectively guttered or directed to a printing medium. Alternatively, the array may be comprised of N rows and M columns of nozzles. The droplet streams emitted from at least the first and Nth row, through the first through Mth column are permanently guttered, and the droplet streams emitted from the other nozzles are one of selectively guttered or directed to a printing medium. In each instance, the air flow created by the permanently guttered droplet streams reduces the aerodynamic retardation of the other droplet streams, thereby reducing the misregistration of the droplets on the printing medium. In one embodiment, the guttered droplet streams comprise a non-marking liquid such as water, and the other droplet streams comprise a marking liquid such as ink.