Abstract: A magnetic storage system having an air bearing slider designed to minimize disk damage. The magnetic storage system may include a load/unload structure for loading or unloading the slider when the spindle motor is powered down. The air bearing slider includes an air bearing surface and at least one non-air bearing surface. For example, the non-air bearing surface may include a first etch surface and/or a second etch surface. The non-air bearing surface has at least one rounded corner. The non-air bearing surface may also have at least one rounded edge.

Abstract: A wear indicator is incorporated on the slider of a magnetic transducer in a magnetic storage system for in operation on-the-fly detection of the state of wear of the transducer. The wear indicator involves monitoring a change in an electrical property of an electrical circuit structure as the transducer is worn by abrasion against the magnetic disk medium. In one aspect of the present invention, the resistance (or conductance) of the circuit is monitored during disk drive operations. Part of the resistance (conductance) circuit structure is mounted on the slider and it is physically worn along with the wearing of the transducer. A predetermined change in resistance (or conductance) gives an indication of the predetermined wear limit at which the transducer should be replaced prior to its actual failure. In a specific embodiment, the circuit is configured such that an open circuit (infinite resistance or zero conductance) indicates that the wear limit has been reached.

Abstract: A data storage system has a disk having a first, second and third zone. The first zone has rough texturing to prevent stiction between a slider at rest and the disk. The second zone has intermediate texturing to prevent stiction when a moving slider is in contact with the disk. The third zone has a smooth texture and is used for data recording. A control unit moves the slider between the zones as appropriate on power up and power down of the system. The system has an actuator latch having a bias device. The bias device allows the slider to be positioned between the first and second zones by selective energizing of the actuator while in the latched position.