Abstract: An air bearing for a slider including cooperating raised bearing surfaces or portions along a trailing edge portion of the slider. The cooperating raised bearing surfaces or portions are formed on a stepped bearing surface which is elevated above a recessed bearing surface. The cooperating raised bearing surfaces or portions form raised rails or rails portions or a raised center pad or raised center pad portion on the stepped bearing surface to reduce cross curve sensitivity.

Abstract: An air bearing slider including a recessed cavity surface to provide an adaptable bearing surface to compensate for thermal expansion or pole tip protrusion. The recessed cavity surface forms a leading edge cavity step to a raised bearing surface proximate to a trailing edge of the slider. The leading edge cavity step forms a rampless air bearing surface proximate to the trailing edge of the slider which is adaptable to form a ramp to pressurize a protruding surface of a transducer portion of the head.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a slider that includes an aerodynamic surface which includes a first bearing surface, a cavity floor, and a first recessed pressurization surface. The first bearing surface is disposed on the aerodynamic surface, defining a bearing height. The cavity floor is disposed on the aerodynamic surface at a cavity depth below the bearing height. The first recessed pressurization surface is adapted to provide above-ambient fluid pressure when the slider is in nominal flight, which is greater than fluid pressure provided elsewhere on a trailing half of the aerodynamic surface at a substantial displacement from a longitudinal centerline of the aerodynamic surface. The first recessed pressurization surface is disposed on the aerodynamic surface at a recessed depth which is between the bearing height and the cavity depth.

Abstract: An aerodynamic slider has at least one side surface that is continuously curved between the leading and trailing surfaces to substantially eliminate off-track forces on the side surface due to changing skew orientations. A slider profile is modeled, and a numerical simulation of airflow on the modeled profile is generated for each of a plurality of skew orientations within a range of skew orientations at which the slider will fly. The modeled slider profile is repeatedly adjusted based on the numerical simulations until a vibration analysis on the modeled profile indicates vibration does not exceed a predetermined minimum.

Abstract: A flow control device for a data storage system to reduce flow induced vibration. The flow control device includes a plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulent flow in a flow field along a disc surface. Thus, air flow induced by rotation of data discs is directed through the plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulence to limit excitation or vibration of the head and suspension components.

Abstract: A method of detecting contact between a transducing head-carrying slider and a rotatable disc is performed by applying an electrostatic voltage between the slider and the disc and monitoring current flow across an interface between the slider and the disc. The monitored current flow across the interface between the slider and the disc is analyzed to detect contact between the slider and the disc.

Abstract: A head slider is provided that includes a slider body having leading and trailing slider edges and first and second side edges. The body further includes an air bearing surface generally disposed within a bearing surface plane. A raised portion is positioned on the bearing surface plane and spaced apart from the leading edge. Also, a comb structure is provided having a plurality of raised protrusions positioned proximate and substantially parallel to the leading edge of the slider, wherein the plurality of raised protrusions form gaps throughout the leading edge.

Abstract: An air bearing slider including a recessed cavity surface to provide an adaptable bearing surface to compensate for thermal expansion or pole tip protrusion. The recessed cavity surface forms a leading edge cavity step to a raised bearing surface proximate to a trailing edge of the slider. The leading edge cavity step forms a rampless air bearing surface proximate to the trailing edge of the slider which is adaptable to form a ramp to pressurize a protruding surface of a transducer portion of the head.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a slider that includes an aerodynamic surface which includes a first bearing surface, a cavity floor, and a first recessed pressurization surface. The first bearing surface is disposed on the aerodynamic surface, defining a bearing height. The cavity floor is disposed on the aerodynamic surface at a cavity depth below the bearing height. The first recessed pressurization surface is adapted to provide above-ambient fluid pressure when the slider is in nominal flight, which is greater than fluid pressure provided elsewhere on a trailing half of the aerodynamic surface at a substantial displacement from a longitudinal centerline of the aerodynamic surface. The first recessed pressurization surface is disposed on the aerodynamic surface at a recessed depth which is between the bearing height and the cavity depth.

Abstract: An air bearing for a slider including cooperating raised bearing surfaces or portions along a trailing edge portion of the slider. The cooperating raised bearing surfaces or portions are formed on a stepped bearing surface which is elevated above a recessed bearing surface. The cooperating raised bearing surfaces or portions form raised rails or rails portions or a raised center pad or raised center pad portion on the stepped bearing surface to reduce cross curve sensitivity.

Abstract: A slider for supporting a transducing head proximate to a rotating disc. The slider has a slider body having a disc opposing face and a longitudinal axis. The disc opposing face is bounded by a leading edge, a trailing edge, and first and second side edges. An air bearing surface is defined on the disc opposing face with the air bearing surface having at least one pad located behind the leading edge. A cavity is positioned on the disc opposing face and the cavity is recessed from the air bearing surface at a cavity depth. At least a portion of the cavity precedes the pad. A funnel directs airflow within the cavity from the leading edge to the pad.

Abstract: An aerodynamic slider has at least one side surface that is continuously curved between the leading and trailing surfaces to substantially eliminate off-track forces on the side surface due to changing skew orientations. A slider profile is modeled, and a numerical simulation of airflow on the modeled profile is generated for each of a plurality of skew orientations within a range of skew orientations at which the slider will fly. The modeled slider profile is repeatedly adjusted based on the numerical simulations until a vibration analysis on the modeled profile indicates vibration does not exceed a predetermined minimum.

Abstract: A slider is used for supporting a transducing head proximate a rotating disc. The slider includes a slider body having a disc opposing face bounded by a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. The slider body has a longitudinal axis. An air bearing surface is defined on the disc opposing face. A furrow is positioned on the disc opposing face for flushing contaminants towards the trailing edge of the slider body.

Abstract: A slider having slider level fly height or dynamic control. The slider level fly height control includes a flow gate on a slider body interposed in a flow path along an air bearing surface of the slider body. The flow gate is operable to regulate flow along the air bearing surface to provide dynamic or fly height control for the slider.

Abstract: The present invention includes a head slider for a disk drive. The slider includes a slider body having leading and trailing slider edges and first and second side edges. The body further includes an air bearing surface configured to face a disk surface. A raised portion is portioned on the air bearing surface. A plurality of isolated cup-shaped features having openings facing the leading slider edge is positioned on the raised portion. Furthermore, the plurality of cup-shaped features extends substantially from the leader slider edge to the trailing slider edge.

Abstract: A head slider is provided that includes a slider body having leading and trailing slider edges and first and second side edges. The body further includes an air bearing surface generally disposed within a bearing surface plane. A raised portion is positioned on the bearing surface plane and spaced apart from the leading edge. Also, a comb structure is provided having a plurality of raised protrusions positioned proximate and substantially parallel to the leading edge of the slider, wherein the plurality of raised protrusions form gaps throughout the leading edge.

Abstract: A flow control device for a data storage system to reduce flow induced vibration. The flow control device includes a plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulent flow in a flow field along a disc surface. Thus, air flow induced by rotation of data discs is directed through the plurality of streamline flow passages to reduce turbulence to limit excitation or vibration of the head and suspension components.

Abstract: A slider is used for supporting a transducing head proximate a rotating disc. The slider includes a slider body having a disc opposing face bounded by a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. The slider body has a longitudinal axis. An air bearing surface is defined on the disc opposing face. A furrow is positioned on the disc opposing face for flushing contaminants towards the trailing edge of the slider body.