Abstract: A device and method for testing a slider of a head-gimbal assembly during disc drive manufacturing. The device includes a test disc, an actuator arm and a control module. The test disc has a first circumferential area for detecting contact between the slider and the test disc and a second circumferential area for burnishing sliders that contact the first circumferential area as the test disc rotates at or above the predetermined velocity. The head-gimbal assembly is affixed to the actuator arm such that the slider is operable to move between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the test disc. The control module controls the movement of the actuator arm, and thus the slider, relative to the test disc. The control module monitors the slider-disc interface for contact therebetween. If contact is detected, the slider is either burnished or the head-gimbal assembly is discarded altogether.

Abstract: A device and method for testing a slider of a head-gimbal assembly during disc drive manufacturing. The device includes a test disc, an actuator arm and a control module. The test disc has a first circumferential area for detecting contact between the slider and the test disc and a second circumferential area for burnishing sliders that contact the first circumferential area as the test disc rotates at or above the predetermined velocity. The head-gimbal assembly is affixed to a support, or flexure, on the actuator arm such that the slider is operable to move between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the test disc. The control module controls rotation of the test disc and movement of the actuator arm, and thus the slider, relative to the test disc. The control module monitors the slider-disc interface for contact therebetween. If contact is detected, the slider is either burnished or the head-gimbal assembly is discarded altogether.

Abstract: A method and system for improving performance in a disc drive using a genetic algorithm. Chromosomes of parameter settings are loaded into disc drive components and one or more metrics are monitored that respond to variations in the parameter settings. A fitness for each chromosome is obtained as a function of the one or more metrics. The chromosomes of settings are mated and adapted over time based on the fitness of each chromosome. Parameters within each chromosome vary by random selection based on the fitness of the chromosome.

Abstract: A suspension assembly which can be energized to provide in-situs fly height adjustment for a head of a disc drive or energizable to adjust preload force for CSS. The suspension assembly includes a shape memory flexure element having an energizable length differential. In one aspect, the flexure element is integrated with a flexible suspension circuit which provides advantages for manufacture and assembly. In another aspect, the flexure element is coupled to a bending portion of the head suspension assembly and energized to adjust flexure of the suspension assembly relative to the bending portion.

Abstract: A fly height detector apparatus and associated method for detecting the fly height of a read/write head spatially disposed from a data storage surface during a data transfer operation. The fly height detector apparatus comprises a receiver circuit measuring the frequency of the read/write head; a perturbation deliverable to the gap between the read/write head and the data storage surface to invoke a dynamic response in the read/write head; and a processor circuit responsive to the receiver circuit to derive a fly height in relation to the dynamic response frequency. The processor circuit comprises a memory in which is stored a numerical model describing a functional interrelationship between the fly height and the read/write head frequency.

Abstract: An in-situs pitch and/or roll attitude adjustment system. The in-situs adjustment system includes a flexure element having an energizable dimension differential. The flexure element is coupled to a suspension assembly and slider and is energizable to supply a flexure force to the slider to adjust pitch or roll attitudes of the slider.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a disc, a beam extending from the voice coil motor to a gimbal point to provide a load force, and a slider that flies over the disc with a pole tip protrusion that has an ambient temperature sensitivity. The disc drive also includes a strut with a yielding bend section (YBS). Deposits of shape memory alloys (SMA) having different first and second transformation temperature ranges are deposited on the yielding bend section (YBS) and effectively reduce an ambient temperature sensitivity of the pole tip protrusion.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a distribution of clamping pressure applied to a disc by a disc clamp includes identifying an uneven distribution of clamping pressure applied to the disc by the disc clamp. A quantity of heat is determined and applied to the disc clamp to remedy the uneven distribution of clamping pressure. A system for adjusting a clamping pressure applied to a data storage disc by a disc clamp includes a disc pack assembly having a disc clamp securing a disc to a spindle motor hub. The system also includes means for identifying an uneven distribution of clamping pressure applied to the disc by the disc clamp and for remedying the uneven distribution of clamping pressure by heating the disc clamp for a period of time.

Abstract: A method and system for improving performance in a disc drive using a genetic algorithm. Chromosomes of parameter settings are loaded into disc drive components and one or more metrics are monitored that respond to variations in the parameter settings. A fitness for each chromosome is obtained as a function of the one or more metrics. The chromosomes of settings are mated and adapted over time based on the fitness of each chromosome. Parameters within each chromosome vary by random selection based on the fitness of the chromosome.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a distribution of clamping pressure applied to a disc by a disc clamp includes identifying an uneven distribution of clamping pressure applied to the disc by the disc clamp. A quantity of heat is determined and applied to the disc clamp to remedy the uneven distribution of clamping pressure. A system for adjusting a clamping pressure applied to a data storage disc by a disc clamp includes a disc pack assembly having a disc clamp securing a disc to a spindle motor hub. The system also includes means for identifying an uneven distribution of clamping pressure applied to the disc by the disc clamp and for remedying the uneven distribution of clamping pressure by heating the disc clamp for a period of time.

Abstract: A device and method for testing a slider of a head-gimbal assembly during disc drive manufacturing. The device includes a test disc, an actuator arm and a control module. The test disc has a first circumferential area for detecting contact between the slider and the test disc and a second circumferential area for burnishing sliders that contact the first circumferential area as the test disc rotates at or above the predetermined velocity. The head-gimbal assembly is affixed to a support, or flexure, on the actuator arm such that the slider is operable to move between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the test disc. The control module controls rotation of the test disc and movement of the actuator arm, and thus the slider, relative to the test disc. The control module monitors the slider-disc interface for contact therebetween. If contact is detected, the slider is either burnished or the head-gimbal assembly is discarded altogether.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic storage medium has a plurality of data sectors separated by respective servo sectors with each servo sector having a pattern of pits representing servo data. Grooves in each data sector separate adjacent tracks. Non-uniform structures patterns the grooves to a model of minimum or zero fly height perturbations of a slider adjacent the medium. The non-uniform structures preferably include lands pseudo-randomly spaced along each groove to form segmented grooves of pseudo-random length, with the lands being pseudo-randomly positioned across the data sector. In other embodiments, the servo sectors have lengths along each track to define a null frequency that matches a pitch frequency of modulation of a slider due to the pits of the servo sectors.

Abstract: The present invention includes a head slider for a disk drive. The slider includes a slider body having leading and trailing slider edges and first and second side edges. The body further includes an air bearing surface configured to face a disk surface. A raised portion is portioned on the air bearing surface. A plurality of isolated cup-shaped features having openings facing the leading slider edge is positioned on the raised portion. Furthermore, the plurality of cup-shaped features extends substantially from the leader slider edge to the trailing slider edge.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a disc, a beam extending from the voice coil motor to a gimbal point to provide a load force, and a slider that flies over the disc with a pole tip protrusion that has an ambient temperature sensitivity. The disc drive also includes a strut with a yielding bend section (YBS). Deposits of shape memory alloys (SMA) having different first and second transformation temperature ranges are deposited on the yielding bend section (YBS) and effectively reduce an ambient temperature sensitivity of the pole tip protrusion.

Abstract: An in-situs pitch and/or roll attitude adjustment system. The in-situs adjustment system includes a flexure element having an energizable dimension differential. The flexure element is coupled to a suspension assembly and slider and is energizable to supply a flexure force to the slider to adjust pitch or roll attitudes of the slider.

Abstract: A fly height detector apparatus and associated method for detecting the fly height of a read/write head spatially disposed from a data storage surface during a data transfer operation. The fly height detector apparatus comprises a receiver circuit measuring the frequency of the read/write head; a perturbation deliverable to the gap between the read/write head and the data storage surface to invoke a dynamic response in the read/write head; and a processor circuit responsive to the receiver circuit to derive a fly height in relation to the dynamic response frequency. The processor circuit comprises a memory in which is stored a numerical model describing a functional interrelationship between the fly height and the read/write head frequency.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic storage medium has a plurality of data sectors separated by respective servo sectors with each servo sector having a pattern of pits representing servo data. Grooves in each data sector separate adjacent tracks. Non-uniform means patterns the grooves to a model of minimum or zero fly height perturbations of a slider adjacent the medium. The non-uniform means preferably comprises lands pseudo-randomly spaced along each groove to form segmented grooves of pseudo-random length, with the lands being pseudo-randomly positioned across the data sector. In other embodiments, the servo sectors have lengths along each track to define a null frequency that matches a pitch frequency of modulation of a slider due to the pits of the servo sectors.

Abstract: A suspension assembly which can be energized to provide in-situs fly height adjustment for a head of a disc drive or energizable to adjust preload force for CSS. The suspension assembly includes a shape memory flexure element having an energizable length differential. In one aspect, the flexure element is integrated with a flexible suspension circuit which provides advantages for manufacture and assembly. In another aspect, the flexure element is coupled to a bending portion of the head suspension assembly and energized to adjust flexure of the suspension assembly relative to the bending portion.