Abstract: A thermally actuated head for magnetic head for magnetic data recording having a contact sensor for detecting contact between the head and a magnetic disk. The contact sensor includes a thermal sensor film and first and second leads, wherein the leads extend at least as far from the ABS as the thermal sensor film. More preferably the leads extend slightly further from the ABS than the sensor film so that contact between the magnetic disk and the contact sensor occurs at the leads rather than at the sensor film. The sensor film can be constructed of NiFe, preferably having 30-70 atomic percent Ni or more preferably 40-60 atomic percent Ni or most preferably 40-50 atomic percent Ni. The leads are preferably constructed of one or more of Ru, Rh or Ta or an alloy whose primary constituents are Ru, Rh or Ta.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit.

Abstract: A head for magnetic thermally assisted magnetic data recording, having a read element, a write element a heater element for controlling thermal protrusion of the read and write elements and a thermal sensor for detecting contact a portion of the head with a magnetic media. The thermal contact sensor is arranged so that the thermal conduction between the thermal contact sensor and the read element is substantially equal to the thermal conductivity between the thermal contact sensor and the write element. In this way the accuracy of the detection of thermal contact is maintained whether the read element makes contact with the disk or the write element makes contact with disk.

Abstract: A thermally actuated head for magnetic head for magnetic data recording having a contact sensor for detecting contact between the head and a magnetic disk. The contact sensor includes a thermal sensor film and first and second leads, wherein the leads extend at least as far from the ABS as the thermal sensor film. More preferably the leads extend slightly further from the ABS than the sensor film so that contact between the magnetic disk and the contact sensor occurs at the leads rather than at the sensor film. The sensor film can be constructed of NiFe, preferably having 30-70 atomic percent Ni or more preferably 40-60 atomic percent Ni or most preferably 40-50 atomic percent Ni. The leads are preferably constructed of one or more of Ru, Rh or Ta or an alloy whose primary constituents are Ru, Rh or Ta.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention limit a pitch attitude angle of a magnetic head slider during loading without allowing gimbal stiffness of a flexure in an ordinary flying state to be increased. In one embodiment, a limiter formed by part of a flexure is disposed so as to provide a clearance from a lift tab formed by part of a load beam. A limiter clearance, if the clearance between the limiter and the lift tab is so called for convenience sake, must be maintained as a physical clearance when a magnetic head slider is in an ordinary flying state. The lift tab and the limiter are disposed on a side of an air inflow end of the magnetic head slider. The limiter clearance during unloading is thereby made small so as to allow proper and positive unloading operation.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider suitable for a disk drive measuring 1.8 inches or less in disk size incorporates preventive measures against the decreases in lifting force that occur in small sliders with a slider width of 0.8 mm or less. The present invention improves the inclination margins of the flying slider in a rolling direction at the lowest flying point, and achieves low flying height and stable flying. The slider is constructed with stepped surfaces on the slider's leading-side flying surface formed up of shallow-grooved surfaces and a deep-grooved surface so that a trailing-side width W2 between the stepped surfaces is smaller than a leading-side width W1.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider suitable for a disk drive measuring 1.8 inches or less in disk size incorporates preventive measures against the decreases in lifting force that occur in small sliders with a slider width of 0.8 mm or less. The present invention improves the inclination margins of the flying slider in a rolling direction at the lowest flying point, and achieves low flying height and stable flying. The slider is constructed with stepped surfaces on the slider's leading-side flying surface formed up of shallow-grooved surfaces and a deep-grooved surface so that a trailing-side width W2 between the stepped surfaces is smaller than a leading-side width W1.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic head support capable of achieving reduction in weight, while maintaining good stiffness and vibration characteristics, a magnetic head assembly including the magnetic head support, and a magnetic disk drive including the magnetic head assembly. In one embodiment, the magnetic head support includes (a) an arm pivotally supported, (b) a load beam secured to the arm, and (c) a flexure secured to the load beam. The load beam (b) includes (b-1) a spring portion and (b-2) a leading end portion. The leading end portion (b-2) includes an elongated portion having a width smaller than an external dimension of the spring portion and having leading end flanges on both edges thereof and a base portion for connecting the elongated portion and the spring portion. The flexure (c) includes a backing member with which the base portion is backed. The magnetic head assembly includes the magnetic head support, and the magnetic disk drive includes the magnetic head assembly.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention limit a pitch attitude angle of a magnetic head slider during loading without allowing gimbal stiffness of a flexure in an ordinary flying state to be increased. In one embodiment, a limiter formed by part of a flexure is disposed so as to provide a clearance from a lift tab formed by part of a load beam. A limiter clearance, if the clearance between the limiter and the lift tab is so called for convenience sake, must be maintained as a physical clearance when a magnetic head slider is in an ordinary flying state. The lift tab and the limiter are disposed on a side of an air inflow end of the magnetic head slider. The limiter clearance during unloading is thereby made small so as to allow proper and positive unloading operation.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider including a plurality of rails adapted to face a magnetic disk. Each of the rails has a longitudinal extension direction substantially in a direction of rotation of the magnetic disk, and a protective film is provided on a floating surface of at least one of the rails. A thickness of the protective film at least in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension direction of the at least one of the rails is not uniform in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider including a plurality of rails adapted to face a magnetic disk. Each of the rails has a longitudinal extension direction substantially in a direction of rotation of the magnetic disk, and a protective film is provided on a floating surface of at least one of the rails. A thickness of the protective film at least in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension direction of the at least one of the rails is not uniform in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head slider for a magnetic head and the magnetic slider wherein the slider has non-linear rails formed in a floating surface thereof by processing including one of reactive ion etching, sputter etching and an ion milling, and side walls of the non-linear rails are polished after formation of the non-linear rails by the processing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head slider for a magnetic head and the magnetic slider wherein the slider has non-linear rails formed in a floating surface thereof by processing including one of reactive ion etching, sputter etching and an ion milling, and side walls of the non-linear rails are polished after formation of the non-linear rails by the processing.

Abstract: For removing re-deposited particulates produced during an etching process of a magnetic head slider and forming a minute chamfered portion, a polishing process is carried out by using polishing cloth such as non-woven polyester fabric after having formed rails of non-linear shape on a floating surface by the etching process. Thus, the re-deposited particulates produced during the etching process are removed, whereby the reliability of the floating characteristic of magnetic head is improved.

Abstract: A flying head slider utilizing a negative pressure according to the invention has a front end, a rear end, and an air bearing surface directed to face a rotating recording medium. The air bearing surface includes a pair of side rails extending on both sides of the air bearing surface from the front end in the longitudinal direction of the slider, a center rail provided at the center of the air bearing surface in the transverse direction and extending from the front end to the rear end in the longitudinal direction of the slider, a cross rail extending in the transverse direction of the slider to connect the pair of side rails and the center rail to each other near the front end, a pair of recesses defined by the pair of side rails, the center rail and the cross rail, communicating grooves for communicating the pair of recesses with the front end, and a head mounted on a rear end surface of the center rail. The pair of side rails, the center rail and the cross rail lie substantially in the same plane.