Abstract: An improved glide head is useful for testing the glide quality of a disc. The glide head includes an air bearing surface, pads extending from the air bearing surface and a contact sensor, the contact sensor providing an output in response to an impact on the pad. The air-bearing surface defines a resting plane. The pad protrudes from the air-bearing surface such that the pad projects below the resting plane of the air-bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor in the magnetic storage device includes a magnetoresistive element for sensing magnetic fields carried on storage medium. A cooling device is thermally coupled to the magnetoresistive element and arranged to conduct heat in a direction away from the magnetoresistive element to thereby cool the magnetoresistive element during normal operation of the storage device.

Abstract: A data storage disc having an improved landing zone for supporting a head gimbal assembly for takeoff and landing. The improved landing zone having a landing surface formed of a patterned surface structure. The patterned surface structure including contact surfaces formed generally flush with a disc surface and depressions formed into the disc surface at predefined spaced location and extending below the disc surface. The patterned surface structure reducing stiction for "takeoff" of a slider from the disc surface and reducing interference of the slider and disc surface while flying over a transition zone at the edge of the data zone and landing zone.

Abstract: An improved magnetic head slider is disclosed. The slider includes an air bearing surface and a trailing edge face. A magnetic transducer located at the trailing edge face end of the slider is encapsulated in alumina. A coating of non-hygroscopic material covers at least portions of the alumina to form at least portions of the trailing edge face.

Abstract: An improved magnetic tape head contour for reading from and writing to magnetic tape moving across the tape head has a unique configuration of bleed slots such that land width is limited to a width that optimizes flying height at increased tape speeds on the order of 4 meters/second. The number of bleed slots is increased to minimize tape undulations thereby minimizing tape head wear profile undulations. A single gutter slot is optionally provided at each end of the tape head to reduce end element wear and increase the useful life of the heads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tape head with reduced pole-tip recession. A recessed substrate and a closure of the tape head are separated by a plurality of layers, which include, for example, a bottom layer, a recessed bottom pole, a gap layer, a top pole and a top layer. The recessed bottom pole is positioned in the recess of the substrate. By utilizing the recessed substrate and the recessed bottom pole, the thickness of the overcoat layer is reduced, thereby reducing the distance between the substrate and the closure at an air-bearing surface of the recording head. With the present invention, wear is reduced, thereby reducing pole tip recession.

Abstract: A tape stabilizer for stabilizing the focal plane area of an optical tape includes two radius contours adjacent to one another. As an optical tape passes across the stabilizer, an air bearing layer is formed. The air bearing layer suspends the tape above an apex of each contour and forms a stable tape surface between the apexes. It is at this stable tape surface that read and write operations can accurately be performed. An objective lens can be provided to focus a beam of light onto the tape for read and write operations.

Abstract: A multi-track longitudinal magnetic tape head capable of writing data to high-coercivity magnetic tapes and a method for making the same. The multi-track, longitudinal magnetic tape head according to the present invention comprises a plurality of write elements and read elements. The write elements comprise a write pole separated from a substrate by a write gap. The write poles each comprise a block of magnetic material having a planar gap surface and a convex top surface. A high B.sub.s composition is deposited on an etched portion of the magnetic material of each write pole at the gap surface. The gap surface is processed so that it is a contiguous planar surface comprising the high B.sub.s, composition, insulating material and the magnetic material.

Abstract: A multi-track longitudinal magnetic tape head capable of writing data to high-coercivity magnetic tapes is disclosed. The multi-track, longitudinal magnetic tape head according to the present invention comprises a plurality of write elements and read elements. The write elements comprise a write pole separated from a substrate by a write gap. The write poles each comprise a block of magnetic material, having a planar gap surface and a convex top surface. A high B.sub.s composition is deposited on an etched portion of the magnetic material of each write pole at the gap surface. As a result, the gap surface comprises high B.sub.s composition extending from the top convex surface to a point part way down the gap surface. A method for manufacturing this multi-track longitudinal tape head is also disclosed.