Abstract: An air bearing surface, with multiple deflection rails in a negative pressure pocket, between a leading air bearing surface and a central island for the read-write head. A gap separates left and right deflection rails. During the slider's normal operation, incoming particles may collide with at least one of the deflection rails and deflect away from the central island and the read-write head. The gap supports diminishing additional negative pressure in the negative air pressure pocket. The gap may minimize the accumulation of debris behind the rejection rails. The invention includes head gimbal assemblies containing these sliders, actuator arms coupled to the head gimbal assemblies, actuator assemblies including at least one of the actuator arms, and hard disk drives which include the actuator assemblies. The invention also includes methods for making sliders, actuator arms, actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives, as well as the products of these manufacturing methods.

Abstract: An air bearing surface, with multiple deflection rails in a negative pressure pocket, between a leading air bearing surface and a central island for the read-write head. A gap separates left and right deflection rails. During the slider's normal operation, incoming particles may collide with at least one of the deflection rails and deflect away from the central island and the read-write head. The gap supports diminishing additional negative pressure in the negative air pressure pocket. The gap may minimize the accumulation of debris behind the rejection rails. The invention includes head gimbal assemblies containing these sliders, actuator arms coupled to the head gimbal assemblies, actuator assemblies including at least one of the actuator arms, and hard disk drives whish include the actuator assemblies. The invention also includes methods for making sliders, actuator arms, actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives, as well as the products of these manufacturing methods.

Abstract: An air bearing surface, with multiple deflection rails in a negative pressure pocket, between a leading air bearing surface and a central island for the read-write head. A gap separates left and right deflection rails. During the slider's normal operation, incoming particles may collide with at least one of the deflection rails and deflect away from the central island and the read-write head. The gap supports diminishing additional negative pressure in the negative air pressure pocket. The gap may minimize the accumulation of debris behind the rejection rails. The invention includes head gimbal assemblies containing these sliders, actuator arms coupled to the head gimbal assemblies, actuator assemblies including at least one of the actuator arms, and hard disk drives whish include the actuator assemblies. The invention also includes methods for making sliders, actuator arms, actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives, as well as the products of these manufacturing methods.

Abstract: An air bearing surface, with multiple deflection rails in a negative pressure pocket, between a leading air bearing surface and a central island for the read-write head. A gap separates left and right deflection rails. During the slider's normal operation, incoming particles may collide with at least one of the deflection rails and deflect away from the central island and the read-write head. The gap supports diminishing additional negative pressure in the negative air pressure pocket. The gap may minimize the accumulation of debris behind the rejection rails. The invention includes head gimbal assemblies containing these sliders, actuator arms coupled to the head gimbal assemblies, actuator assemblies including at least one of the actuator arms, and hard disk drives whish include the actuator assemblies. The invention also includes methods for making sliders, actuator arms, actuator assemblies, and hard disk drives, as well as the products of these manufacturing methods.

Abstract: An air bearing slider that flies above a surface of a recording disk during relative rotation of the recording disk. A plurality of projections extend along the side of the slider body, and a plurality of negative pressure air cavities are formed between the projections. The projections act as pneumatic bearings, creating supporting positive forces for supporting the slider. The negative pressure air cavities create negative forces for pulling the slider down. The positive and negative forces on the center of mass of the slider are balanced to provide a more stable, static, and dynamic flying attitude for the slider. The resulting pressure profile of the slider has high pressure near the leading end, relatively low pressure in the middle, and relatively high pressure near the trailing end. This ensures minimum spacing between the slider and the disk that is very insensitive to roll parameters.

Abstract: A air bearing slider that flies above a surface of a recording disk during relative rotation of the recording disk. A plurality of projections extend along the side of the slider body, and a plurality of negative pressure air cavities are formed between the projections. The projections act as pneumatic bearings, creating supporting positive forces for supporting the slider. The negative pressure air cavities create negative forces for pulling the slider down. The positive and negative forces on the center of mass of the slider are balanced to provide a more stable, static, and dynamic flying attitude for the slider. The resulting pressure profile of the slider has high pressure near the leading end, relatively low pressure in the middle, and relatively high pressure near the trailing end. This ensures that the minimum spacing between the slider of the disk is very insensitive to roll parameters.

Abstract: A pseudo contact NPAB head slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate to a rotating disc. The slider includes two side rails extending almost to the trailing edge and a central air bearing island at the trailing edge, which form air bearing surfaces that develop positive lifting forces as the disc rotates beneath the slider. Two negative pressure air cavities are created, one proximate to each of the side rails in a central portion of the slider body, separated from each other by curved cross rails. In addition, two more negative pressure air cavities are created forward of the central negative pressure air cavities. The central and forward negative pressure air cavities on each side of the slider are divided by narrow central air bearing rails segments, which safely maintain the stable trapped drawing or suction forces in the cavities regardless of large skew angle variations while the disc drive is operating.

Abstract: A flying NPAB head slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate to a rotating disc. The slider includes two side rails extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the slider body, which form air bearing surfaces that develop positive lifting forces as the disc rotates beneath the slider. Two negative pressure air cavities are created, one proximate to each of the side rails in a central portion of the slider body, separated from each other by curved cross rails. In addition, two more negative pressure air cavities are created forward of the central negative pressure air cavities. The central and forward negative pressure air cavities on each side of the slider are divided by narrow central air bearing rails segments, which safely maintain the stable trapped drawing or suction forces in the cavities regardless of large skew angle variations while the disc drive is operating.

Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider includes a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the recording disc. First and second projections extend from a lead portion of a principal surface of the slider body to define first and second air bearing surfaces, respectively, the first and second air bearing surfaces being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of said slider body. A third U-shaped projection extends from the principal surface and includes a curved front wall portion at least partially located between the first and second projections and first and second side wall portions extending from opposite ends of the curved front wall portion to a rear portion of the principal surface so as to define a rounded negative pressure cavity therein.

Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider includes a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the recording disc. First and second projections extend from a lead portion of a principal surface of the slider body to define first and second air bearing surfaces, respectively, the first and second air bearing surfaces being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of said slider body. A third U-shaped projection extends from the principal surface and includes a curved front wall portion at least partially located between the first and second projections and first and second side wall portions extending from opposite ends of the curved front wall portion to a rear portion of the principal surface so as to define a rounded negative pressure cavity therein.

Abstract: A novel head slider assembly for a hard disk drive includes a transducer and an air bearing slider supporting the transducer; a head suspension mechanism for supporting the air beating slider with the transducer closely adjacent to the recording surface of a recording medium in an orientation having a predetermined pitch angle and a predetermined spacing with respect the recording surface of the recording medium, and for moving the air bearing slider relative to the recording surface of the recording medium; and the air bearing slider having leading and trailing edges, an upper surface and a lower surface extending from the leading edge to the trailing end of the air bearing slider, a first tapered portion at the leading edge in the lower surface and a second tapered potion at the leading edge in the upper surface for enabling the air beating slider to stably maintain in a low flying height with respect to the recording surface of the recording medium.

Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider includes a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the recording disc. First and second projections extend from a lead portion of a principal surface of the slider body to define first and second air bearing surfaces, respectively, the first and second air bearing surfaces being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of said slider body. A third U-shaped projection extends from the principal surface and includes a curved front wall portion at least partially located between the first and second projections and first and second side wall portions extending from opposite ends of the curved front wall portion to a rear portion of the principal surface so as to define a rounded negative pressure cavity therein.