Abstract: A system for detecting thermal asperities and magnetic defects on a disc. The system includes a wide write head and a certification head. The wide write head includes a thermal asperity detector and a write element. A method for detecting thermal asperities and magnetic defects comprising writing a track with the wide write head, reading defects with the certification head, and scanning for thermal asperities with the thermal asperity detector. A burst pattern can be written to the disc upon locating a asperity of defect.

Abstract: A paddle board with flexible extended leads is provided. The paddle board includes a chassis and a flexible lead portion. The flexible lead portion has wire traces disposed therein for receiving a plurality of wires from a parametric test head. The paddle board may be connected to a socket of a testing assembly for testing the performance of a batch of storage media. The paddle board reduces the amount of damage or breakage to the wires extending from the testing head.

Abstract: A clock head assembly intended for vertical engagement to a disc in a disc drive for purposes of providing an arrangement of precise timing marks on the disc for use by a servo-writer. The clock head assembly includes a slider of the 50% or 30% size and a spacer adhesively attached to the upper surface thereof. In order to minimize stresses induced in the slider by the adhesive bonding, and to ensure that the clock head is capable of correct flying performance relative to the disc, the present invention envisions that the spacer surface bonded to the slider, or slider bonding surface, has dimensions substantially half the size of the dimensions of the surface of the slider to which the spacer is bonded. In another aspect of the invention, the spacer is designed to be suitable for large batch production.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a magnetoresistive head from electrostatic discharge. The apparatus includes an actuator assembly including the magnetoresistive head, and a connector board including a plurality of conductive traces in electrical contact with the magnetoresistive head. The connector board defines a plurality of openings therein, each of the openings having sides surfaces in electrical contact with one of the traces. The apparatus further includes a conductive shunting member including a plurality of protruding members adapted to be inserted into the openings and contact the side surfaces of the openings. The shunting member, when so inserted into the openings shorts the traces to provide protection of the magnetoresistive head from electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: A system for detecting thermal asperities and magnetic defects on a disc. The system includes a wide write head and a certification head. The wide write head includes a thermal asperity detector and a write element. A method for detecting thermal asperities and magnetic defects comprising writing a track with the wide write head, reading defects with the certification head, and scanning for thermal asperities with the thermal asperity detector. A burst pattern can be written to the disc upon locating a asperity of defect.

Abstract: A burnishing head configured to provide extremely close control of the burnishing height, to aerodynamically eject particles generated by the burnishing process from beneath the burnishing head onto the disc surface, whence they can be swept from the disc by centripetal force, and to optimize the tribological relationship between the burnishing head and a disc being burnished. The burnishing head includes a plurality of burnishing pads arranged in an elliptical pattern, with the actual burnishing surface of the burnishing pads being either ion milled to provide a closely controlled surface texture, or lapped to a extremely smooth surface. The shape of the individual burnishing pads is also formed by the process of ion milling, and is either elliptical, or, preferably, an aerodynamic teardrop shape, which acts to aerodynamically displace generated particles from beneath the burnishing head.

Abstract: An interface for connection between a printed circuit board and a device associated with a disk drive apparatus for extending the flexible connection between the printed circuit board and the disk drive device. The device includes a planar substrate relatively flexible to the board, and conductors are formed on the substrate. The conductors are in conductive communication with the circuit board and with a circular flexible wire having conductors associated with the head gimbal assembly of a disk drive device.

Abstract: A burnishing head configured to provide extremely close control of the burnishing height, to minimize stiction between the burnishing head and a disc being burnished, and to optimize the tribological relationship between the burnishing head and a disc being burnished. The burnishing head includes one or more spacer pads, associated with selected ones of the burnishing pads on the burnishing head, which remain in contact with the surface of a disc being burnished. The height from the contact surface of the spacer pad to the contact surface of the burnishing pad determines the effective burnishing height. The burnishing head also includes moats, or recessed areas, surrounding the burnishing pads to minimize the stiction caused by generation of a liquid meniscus between the disc and contacting elements of the burnishing head, and which act as collection points for particulates generated by the burnishing process.

Abstract: A combination multi-channel magneto-resistive (MR) certification and thermal asperity test head. The test head includes a MR stripe which has multiple taps which define multiple certification test MR stripe segments. Simultaneous connection of sensing logic to the multiple segments of the MR stripe allows for increased magnetic certification speed, and proper connection of sensing circuitry across appropriate taps on the MR stripe allows for testing for thermal asperities over a large portion of the disc surface. Various embodiments of the test head are disclosed.

Abstract: A disc testing system includes a base, a disc rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. A ramp assembly includes a set of ramps for loading and unloading the sliders and transducing elements carried by the sliders to and from the disc attached to the base. A load spring is attached to the arm of the actuator. A slider is attached to the load spring. The slider further includes a leading edge and a trailing edge. A piezoelectric sensor and a pyroelectric sensor is carried by the trailing edge of the slider. The piezoelectric sensor and the pyroelectric sensor are made from the same material which has both piezoelectric properties and pyroelectric properties. The piezoelectric sensor and the pyroelectric sensor are formed by the same process. The two sensors can also be formed substantially simultaneously. A conductive layer is placed on the trailing edge of the slider followed by a strip of thick film material.

Abstract: A disc certification process, apparatus and article of manufacture for improved testing efficiency employs a testing head having a write element and a read element supported adjacent a rotating disc recording surface. The write element has a width that defines a "wide" write track width of at least N times the read track width defined by the width of the read element, wherein N is an integer greater than 1. The write element writes a signal onto the recording surface of the disc during a first disc rotation, to define a first annular write track having a "wide" first write track width in the radial direction of the disc. Then, during a second rotation, the read element reads the signal written in a first reading track width defined within the "wide" first write track. Thereafter, the read element is stepped to another read position adjacent the first write track and the read element reads the signal written onto the recording surface in a second reading track width defined within the first write track.

Abstract: An asperity sensing head is used for detecting asperities on the surface of a disc while the disc is rotated. The asperity sensing head includes a slider body having a first rail and an air bearing surface. A first asperity sensor is carried by the slider body in the first rail. A second asperity sensor is also carried by the slider body in the first rail wherein the first and second asperity sensors are separated by a groove in the first rail.

Abstract: A slider for use in a disc drive data storage system is disclosed. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a top surface and a first surface extending between the air bearing surface and the top surface. The first surface is oriented relative to at least one of a plane of the air bearing surface and a plane of the top surface such that the first surface forms an oblique angle with the plane to thereby provide increased surface area on the first surface.