Abstract: A slider assembly, comprising a slider having a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a storage medium, and a vibration absorber operatively coupled to the slider for reducing mechanical vibrations of the slider caused by contact of the slider with the storage medium. The vibration absorber preferably includes a coupling portion coupled to the slider, and a weight coupled to the coupling portion by a resiliently deformable (e.g., flexible or elastic) member.

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 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 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 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 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 creating a disk drive. A slider is installed in a disk drive having at least one unlubricated disk. The slider is designed to be in initial contact. The slider is burnished to the final design point. A vapor phase lubricant reservoir system is installed in the drive either before or after the burnishing step.

Abstract: A method for creating a hard drive includes installing a slider in a disk drive having at least one disk lubricated with a first stage lubricant. The slider is designed to be in contact with the disk at initial use. The slider is burnished. A second stage lubricant is added to the disk after the burnishing step. The first stage lubricant provides less lubrication than the second stage lubricant, allowing the slider to be burnished in a controllable manner during the burnishing step. The second stage lubricant then provides lubrication to the disk during use by the end consumer.

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 method, apparatus and program storage device for providing protrusion feedback for a read/write element is disclosed. A slider with a heating element is provided to control the level of read/write element protrusion. A level of heating applied to the slider to change the head protrusion is measured and recorded until acceptable operation of the read/write element is obtained. These measurements are then used to ensure that the read/write element continues to operate properly at different drive temperatures.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing real-time digital image data that is in rasterized form. A digital source sends rasterized data to a storage device, which passes the rasterized data to a display device. The rasterized data is then converted into a page format, such as PowerPoint™ formatted slides, based on changes in the rasterized data. If the data changes quickly enough, the storage device converts the rasterized data into a motion picture format. Otherwise, the rasterized data is stored as a single page static image.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is 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. 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., &Dgr;MRR/MRR until a selected range is achieved. The burnishing techniques of the invention are used to remove material, such as an overcoat, from the air-bearing surface of the slider which separates the magnetoresistive element from the magnetic medium.

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 conductive path is provided to discharge electrostatic charges from a slider in a magnetic disk drive directly to the housing of the disk drive. In one embodiment conductive fibers electrically connect the slider with the housing. In another embodiment a cantilevered conductive finger electrically connects the slider with the housing. By providing a discharge path the accumulation of potentially damaging electrostatic charges is prevented.

Abstract: A method for reducing the accumulation of actuator bearing grease in hard disk drives includes periodically forcing the disk drive into multiple unload/load cycles after extended read/write sessions wherein the disk drive has not unloaded. While the disk drive is unloading, the current required to unload the read/write head is monitored. Based on the value of the current, the frequency of the unload/load cycle is adjusted.

Abstract: A method for controlling the velocity of an actuator arm in a hard disk drive includes moving the actuator arm to an inner limit or outer limit of motion. Then the power to the actuator coil, which drives the actuator arm, is reduced to zero and the actuator arm is released. Bends in the flexible cable connected to the actuator arm can cause the actuator arm to move toward the outer limit of motion. As the actuator arm moves due to the flexible cable, the velocity contribution of the flexible cable is measured and stored. Thereafter, the velocity of the actuator arm, during emergency power shut off, normal unload of the disk drive, or normal load of the disk drive, is decreased or increased by an amount equal to the cable-induced velocity to compensate for the velocity contribution of the flexible cable.

Abstract: A disk drive utilizes a slider that is designed to fly very high or well above the surface of the disk when loading onto the disk and until a reading or writing operation requires the head to go to a relatively low-flying position with respect to the disk. Thus, the slider has two or more altitudes at which it flies depending on the operating conditions of the disk drive. The different altitudes of the slider are achieved by adjusting three primary variables: the rotational speed of the disk, selecting the radial position of the slider/actuator arm, and by the gram load. Other factors that may be used to tune this performance include pitch static attitude, pitch stiffness, and air bearing surface design.

Abstract: A conductive path is provided to discharge electrostatic charges from a slider in a magnetic disk drive directly to the housing of the disk drive. In one embodiment conductive fibers electrically connect the slider with the housing. In another embodiment a cantilevered conductive finger electrically connects the slider with the housing. By providing a discharge path the accumulation of potentially damaging electrostatic charges is prevented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for predicting write failure resulting from flying height modulation and initiating re-writing of data upon occurrence of the predicted write failure is disclosed. According to the present invention, if the slider or transducer flying height modulates during the write process, such modulation is detected, and a rewrite of the same data is forced. A write reassign may be initiated when a thermal signal exceeding the predetermined threshold is detected during the rewrite and/or a read/verify may be initiated after the rewrite.

Abstract: One embodiment of a recording head for a disk drive with a load/unload mechanism has an air bearing on one surface. The air bearing comprises a patterned set of three air bearing pads, and at least one deep pocket. The three air bearing pads are spaced apart from each other by the deep pocket, with the largest of the air bearing pads located on the leading edge, and the other pads on the trailing edge. The air bearing pads have unique geometry one of the trailing corners of the air bearing is free of all the air bearing pads. This configuration gives the air bearing superior performance characteristics over prior art designs with load/unload mechanisms, particularly in regard to contact with the disk during loading and unloading sequences.