Abstract: A disk drive is disclosed comprising a disk, a head actuated over the disk, and control circuitry operable to generate a fly height control signal. A fly height of the head is measured, and the measured fly height is combined with a target fly height and a feedforward signal, wherein the feedforward signal is generated according to: a1·cos(2?n1k/N)+b1·sin(2?n1k/N) where a1 and b1 are coefficients and 2?n1k/N represents a frequency of a repeatable disturbance in the fly height of the head.

Abstract: A disk drive for storing data includes a rotating storage disk and a slider positioned near the storage disk. The slider has a flying side and a read/write head. The flying side has (i) a leading edge, (ii) a trailing edge that is opposite the leading edge, (iii) first lateral edge, and (v) a second lateral edge that is opposite the first lateral edge. The flying side includes a leading bearing surface, an intermediate bearing surface, and a transverse channel positioned between the bearing surfaces. The transverse channel extends between the lateral edges to direct fluid flow to the lateral edges. Additionally, the flying side includes a first rear bearing surface, a second rear bearing surface, and a center rear bearing surface. Moreover, the flying side includes a first opening, a second opening and a center opening in the intermediate bearing surface. The openings allow for the flow of fluid to the rear bearing surfaces.

Abstract: Methods are provided for adjusting flying characteristics of magnetic recording media, e.g., sealed disk drives. Adjustment may be made by changing at least one environmental condition within the drive enclosure of the disk drive prior to sealing. Alternatively, adjustment may be made by changing the speed of the disk drive, i.e., the speed at which the disk spins. Methods are also provided for error correction within sealed disk drives.

Abstract: A textured air bearing surface (“ABS”) slider design of particular utility in devices which utilize an air bearing surface to control the flying height or spacing between two relatively moving surfaces such as the sliders designed for use in conjunction with the read/write data transducer elements in a hard disk drive. The textured ABS slider provides much improved slider-to-media stiction and contact start stop (“CSS”) performance due to its provision of much earlier take-off characteristics which is of particular importance for use with high RPM drive designs which allow for higher data throughput. At low RPMs the fly height of the slider is increased while the fly height remains substantially the same at normal operating speeds. The textured ABS slider design disclosed may be readily effectuated with only minimal design and processing changes.

Abstract: A textured air bearing surface (“ABS”) slider design of particular utility in devices which utilize an air bearing surface to control the flying height or spacing between two relatively moving surfaces such as the sliders designed for use in conjunction with the read/write data transducer elements in a hard disk drive. The textured ABS slider provides much improved slider-to-media stiction and contact start stop (“CSS”) performance due to its provision of much earlier takeoff characteristics which is of particular importance for use with high RPM drive designs which allow for higher data throughput. At low RPMs the fly height of the slider is increased while the fly height remains substantially the same at normal operating speeds. The textured ABS slider design disclosed may be readily effectuated with only minimal design and processing changes.

Abstract: A textured air bearing surface (“ABS”) slider design of particular utility in devices which utilize an air bearing surface to control the flying height or spacing between two relatively moving surfaces such as the sliders designed for use in conjunction with the read/write data transducer elements in a hard disk drive. The textured ABS slider provides much improved slider-to-media stiction and contact start stop (“CSS”) performance due to its provision of much earlier take-off characteristics which is of particular importance for use with high RPM drive designs which allow for higher data throughput. At low RPMs the fly height of the slider is increased while the fly height remains substantially the same at normal operating speeds. The textured ABS slider design disclosed may be readily effectuated with only minimal design and processing changes.

Abstract: A device and method for storing magnetically readable data are provided, the device including a disk having a substantially rigid, non-magnetizable substrate having a substantially planar surface and a magnetizable film having a substantially uniform thickness formed over the substantially planar surface. The disk has an outer surface having a nominal surface plane, and the outer surface includes a plurality of marks, each having a bump height above the nominal surface plane, a crater depth below the nominal surface plane, a mark radius, a bump radius of curvature, a crater radius of curvature and a separation from a consecutive mark, and at least one of the bump height, the crater depth, the mark radius, the bump radius of curvature, the crater radius of curvature and the separation is substantially randomly distributed according to any distribution of random variables such as, for example, a Gaussian normal, uniform, Poisson-like or Bernoulli-like binomial-like distribution.