Abstract: An apparatus and method for modifying the air bearing force of the trailing edge of a slider to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, a shaped TE which minimizes the air bearing force at the TE portion of the slider, to minimize the normal load and friction during contact to reduce slider bounce.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing an off-center gimbal to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, an off-center gimbal device is coupled with the slider and the suspension away from the center of the slider and closer to the TE portion of the slider such that when the TE portion of the slider contacts a disk a bouncing motion of the TE with respect to the disk is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for modifying a slider to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, an increased dynamic pitch of the slider is provided, the increased dynamic pitch increasing the height of a leading edge (LE) portion of the slider with respect to the disk and reducing the height of the TE portion of the slider with respect to the disk, wherein vertical motion of the TE portion does not collapse an air bearing provided by the LE of the slider flying above the disk.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing flying height control using heated sliders is disclosed. A first heater is provided in a slider for implementing a first operating characteristic and a second heater is provided in the slider for implementing a second operating characteristic. A power source is provided for activating the first and second heaters. An activation controller is provided for allowing the first and second heaters to be selectively activated by the power source.

Abstract: A computer switching system is disclosed to include a switch for causing changing use of a portable computer keyboard and a portable computer mouse of a portable computer to use of the same by a non-portable computer, wherein the keyboard and mouse of the portable computer are utilized even when the portable computer is rendered inoperable.

Abstract: A hard disk drive dynamically establishes a pitch static attitude (PSA) of a slider as appropriate to be higher during load and unload and lower during operation. Also, the PSA may be dynamically established during operation as a function of slider radial position and/or internal disk pressure and/or fly height to adjust slider fly height and/or contact stability. A PSA bias mechanism such as a piezoelectric layer can be coupled to the slider suspension to bend the flexure of the suspension to achieve PSA adjustment.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and program storage device for sensing increased resistance changes in an MR element to detect MR sensor events. The initial MR resistance for each slider is recorded during the drive build. The MR resistance is periodically monitored at later stages of the drive build and during normal operation. The later MR sensor resistance measurements are compared to the baseline measurement taken during the drive build to determine if an MR sensor event occurs, such as contact being made between the MR sensor and the recording medium or an MR sensor being positioned ON or OFF the ramp.

Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizes a spacer ring at its inner diameter to load and unload the read/write heads. During relatively small shock events, the actuator is retained relative to the disk through a circumferential groove in the spacer ring. A complementary protrusion on the load/unload tab extends from the actuator into the groove to complete the retention. A tribological coating on the spacer ring and/or protrusion significantly reduces wear therebetween. However, during large shock events an inertial latch is used by the system to hold the actuator in place.

Abstract: A hard disk drive establishes a roll static attitude (RSA) of a slider during operation to be zero during normal operation and to be non-zero during load/unload from a ramp. Specifically, a RSA bias mechanism such as a piezoelectric layer can be coupled to the slider suspension to bend the flexure of the suspension during load/unload so that the slider inner edge is higher than the outer edge. Consequently, any slider-disk contact that occurs during load/unload will be at the outer edge of the slider, where data is not expected to be on the disk.

Abstract: A method and system for a beam projector having an audio capability device. The beam projector includes a central processing unit integral with the beam projector, a memory portion coupled with the central processing unit and an audio recognition portion coupled with the central processing unit. In so doing, the audio recognition portion is used for recognizing audible commands for the beam projector.

Abstract: A system and method for cooling a beam projector. The system includes a fluid reservoir proximal to a light-generating source of the beam projector, a heat pipe coupled with the fluid reservoir and a thermal mass coupled with the heat pipe. The fluid reservoir adapted for storing a low energy state fluid that changes to a higher energy state fluid when it absorbs a heat energy generated by the light-generating source. The heat pipe adapted for transmitting the higher energy state fluid. The thermal mass adapted for receiving and dissipating the heat energy released from the higher energy state fluid when it returns to a low energy state fluid.

Abstract: A method and system for a beam projector having data manipulation capabilities. The beam projector includes a central processing unit integral with the beam projector, a memory portion coupled with the central processing unit and a signal-receiving portion coupled with the central processing unit. The signal-receiving portion for receiving data and providing the data to the central processing unit such that the central processing unit of the beam projector organizes the data into a viewable presentation without requiring input from a secondary computing device.

Abstract: A method for increasing reliability during a read and/or write operation in a disk drive having a head. Data is read from a disk using a head. An amplitude of a signal obtained during reading the data is measured. A degree of variation in the signal amplitude is determined as a function of a position of the head relative to the disk. The head is selectively heated based on the variation in the signal amplitude for inducing protrusion of the head, thereby selectively reducing a fly height of the head for reducing variations of a read signal created by the head during a read operation and/or magnetic fields created by the head during a write operation.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a grounded conductive layer between the heater and the lower magnetoresistive (MR) shield in the read/write head structure. The grounded conductive layer eliminates or at least substantially prevents the accumulation of charges on the lower MR shield as a result of the voltage supplied to the heater. In one embodiment, a magnetic head comprises a plurality of read/write components; a heater disposed near the plurality of read/write components; and a grounded conductive layer disposed between the heater and the plurality of read/write components.

Abstract: A disk drive with switchable power levels for the heaters in the sliders is disclosed. The invention includes a switch for the electrical circuit of each heater which selects between two or more voltages to apply to the power control element and the heater with at least a high and a low voltage option. The heater power control circuit dissipates a certain amount of heat as a part of the control process. By having a low voltage option the disk drive can save power and reduce the amount of heat dissipated by the heater control circuit when high power is not required. The programmable switch is controlled by the drive control system. The high power setting can be used during manufacturing testing or otherwise if higher heater power is needed. The low power setting is used for normal operation or to save power.

Abstract: A method for measuring the clearance of a slider over a rotating disk by inducing a collision between the slider and the disk is described. After the normal flying height of the slider is established, the slider is driven into a collision with the rotating disk surface by applying a DC or AC voltage between the slider and the disk. The clearance data can be extracted from the induced collision by measuring a parameter, such as the change in the amplitude of the readback signal from the magnetic sensor, which is related to fly-height at the normal fly-height and at the disk surface. The two data points can then be used to derive the clearance. One embodiment uses a single beam interferometer to derive the vibrational displacement of the collision event.

Abstract: A method for increasing reliability during a read and/or write operation in a disk drive having a head. Data is read from a disk using a head. An amplitude of a signal obtained during reading the data is measured. A degree of variation in the signal amplitude is determined as a function of a position of the head relative to the disk. The head is selectively heated based on the variation in the signal amplitude for inducing protrusion of the head, thereby selectively reducing a fly height of the head for reducing variations of a read signal created by the head during a read operation and/or magnetic fields created by the head during a write operation.

Abstract: A method for controlling a burnish cycle to minimize cycle time is disclosed. MR sensor resistance measurements are used to monitor interference with the recording surface and when clearance is not detected, steps are taken to fine tune the interference signal.

Abstract: A hard disk drive utilizes hard disks that recover the historically unused read/write space or real estate located in the load/unload zone. Approximately one-half of the load/unload zone is recovered and available for reading and writing operations by forming a first or radially outermost read/write track beginning immediately adjacent to the inner radial edge of the load/unload zone and proceeding radially inward from there to the conventional location of first tracks in the prior art. In another version of the invention, almost the entire load/unload zone is recovered and available for reading and writing operations by aligning the first track with the center of the load/unload zone and proceeding radially inward from there as described above. Both of these versions make significant additional surface area on the disk available where, in the prior art, no data was stored, thereby increasing the efficiency and storage capacity of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A method for burnishing a slider in a disk drive in which the disk is rotated in the opposite or reverse direction from that used to develop the air-bearing and to read and write data is described. Rotating the disk in the reverse direction results in no air-bearing being formed and the slider being in contact with the disk surface. The burnishing removes material over the magnetic transducers in the slider which separate the transducers from the disk resulting in greater sensitivity. Optionally the stopping point for burnishing can be determined by monitoring measurable parameters such as the change in the MR resistance (MRR), i.e., ?MRR/MRR until a selected range is achieved. The invention can be used to remove an overcoat from the air-bearing surface of the slider, remove protruding areas from the slider and to remove debris from the disk surface.