Abstract: A method for increasing etch depth uniformity in ion milling process in a wafer manufacturing process encompasses loading designated regions of a production pallet with carriers containing wafers to be ion milled. These designated regions have been predetermined to exhibit similar and preferred depths of etching. Non-designated regions of the production pallet are then loaded with dummy carriers and the wafers are ion milled.

Abstract: A negative-pressure air bearing slider structure includes a slider surface disposed adjacent to a data storage medium, and a leading edge relative to the motion of the data storage medium. A U-shaped rail with a closed end facing the leading edge and an open end facing the trailing edge is formed on the slider surface. The closed end of the U-shaped rail extends laterally across less than the width of the slider surface. In a first set of embodiments, there is a single U-shaped rail centered between two side rails. In a second set of embodiments, there are two U-shaped rails, each disposed along a respective side of the slider surface.

Abstract: An air bearing slider having at least one air bearing pad with a trailing edge shaped to provide the desired flying height profile. The air bearing includes a slider body having leading and trailing edges, an air bearing surface and a first surface recessed with respect to the air bearing surface. Furthermore, the air bearing slider includes at least one compression region. The air bearing surface includes at least one air bearing pad having diverging side edges, a leading edge and a trailing edge. The leading edge of each air bearing pad is positioned substantially adjacent to a compression region. The trailing edge of each air bearing pad has a curvature shaped to provide a desired flying height profile of the air bearing slider.

Abstract: A negative-pressure air bearing slider structure includes a slider surface disposed adjacent to a data storage medium, and a leading edge relative to the motion of the data storage medium. A U-shaped rail with a closed end facing the leading edge and an open end facing the trailing edge is formed on the slider surface. The closed end of the U-shaped rail extends laterally across less than the width of the slider surface. In a first set of embodiments, there is a single U-shaped rail centered between two side rails. In a second set of embodiments, there are two U-shaped rails, each disposed along a respective side of the slider surface.

Abstract: A negative-pressure air bearing slider structure includes a slider surface disposed adjacent to a data storage medium, and a leading edge relative to the motion of the data storage medium. A U-shaped rail with a closed end facing the leading edge and an open end facing the trailing edge is formed on the slider surface. The closed end of the U-shaped rail extends laterally across less than the width of the slider surface. In a first set of embodiments, there is a single U-shaped rail centered between two side rails. In a second set of embodiments, there are two U-shaped rails, each disposed along a respective side of the slider surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a negative pressure air bearing slider having at least one trailing edge pocket defined by a generally U-shaped rail open to the trailing edge of the slider, and at least one leading edge pocket defined by a generally U-shaped rail open to the leading edge of the slider. Also disclosed is a method for determining an optimal width for a leading edge pocket of predetermined length and depth to provide a flat fly height profile in combination with a trailing edge pocket of predetermined dimensions. For a given trailing edge pocket configuration, width optimization is achieved by constructing a number of prototype sliders, each having a unique leading to trailing edge pocket width ratio; measuring the inner and outer diameter fly heights for each prototype to obtain ID and OD fly height profile curves; and determining a leading edge pocket width corresponding to the point of intersection of the curves.