Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting twist curvature of a slider is provided, wherein the slider has a bearing surface, a back surface, which is opposite to the bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The apparatus includes a light source adapted to produce a light beam capable of altering material stresses in a working surface of the slider. The apparatus further includes an apparatus for obtaining a measure of the twist curvature of the bearing surface and for scanning the light beam across the working surface in a pattern selected to alter material stresses in the working surface asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis based on the measure of the twist curvature so as to induce a change in the twist curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling twist curvature of a disc head slider is provided, where the slider has a bearing surface, a back surface, which is opposite to the bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The apparatus obtains a measure of the twist curvature of the bearing surface and selectively alters material stresses in a working surface of the slider. The material stresses are altered asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis based on the measure of the twist curvature to induce a change in the twist curvature.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling twist curvature of a disc head slider is provided, where the slider has a bearing surface, a back surface, which is opposite to the bearing surface, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis. The apparatus obtains a measure of the twist curvature of the bearing surface and selectively alters material stresses in a working surface of the slider. The material stresses are altered asymmetrically with respect to the longitudinal axis and the transverse axis based on the measure of the twist curvature to induce a change in the twist curvature.

Abstract: A method of controlling curvature of a disc head slider having a slider body with a bearing surface, a back surface, which is opposite to the bearing surface, a first axis and a second axis, which is perpendicular to the first axis, is provided. The method includes directing a continuous-wave laser beam toward the back surface to form a laser spot on the back surface. The laser spot is scanned along the back surface in a direction parallel to the first axis or the second axis to form a continuous elongated scan line on the back surface such that the back surface melts and then cools along the scan line to induce anisotropic tensile stress in the back surface, which is oriented predominately parallel to the scan line.

Abstract: A process of dicing a bar to form a plurality of sliders having air bearing surfaces commences with defining a dice lane having a nominal surface between adjacent slider portions on the bar, opposite edges of the dice lane defining respective edge surfaces of adjacent slider portions. The dice lane is cut away with a blade to form an edge surface of the slider. A barrier trench is formed in the nominal surface along each edge of the dice lane. The barrier trench has a width that extends a predetermined distance into the slider portion of the bar from the edge of the dice lane and a predetermined depth to eliminate ridges in the air bearing surface of the slider. The barrier trench is formed either before or after the dicing of the slider. The slider thus formed is characterized by an absence of ridges in the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A method of controlling curvature of hydrodynamic bearing slider. The method includes adding a preselected amount of compressive surface stress to the slider to change curvature of the slider and then removing a portion of the added compressive stress to adjust the curvature.

Abstract: A method of controlling curvature of hydrodynamic bearing slider. The method includes adding a preselected amount of compressive surface stress to the slider to change curvature of the slider and then removing a portion of the added compressive stress to adjust the curvature.

Abstract: A method of controlling curvature of a disc head slider having a slider body with a bearing surface and a back surface, which is opposite to the bearing surface. The method includes melting and then cooling the back surface to add tensile stress to the back surface which induces curvature of the bearing surface.

Abstract: A negative pressure air-bearing slider comprises a slider body having a surface with a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. First and second raised side rails are positioned along cross rail extends between the first and second raised side rails. The raised cross rail has a leading edge and a trailing edge. A negative pressure cavity extends from the raised cross rail toward the trailing edge and between the side rails. A choke is positioned within the raised cross rail, which widens from the leading edge of the raised cross rail toward the trailing edge of the raised cross rail.

Abstract: A negative pressure air-bearing slider includes a slider body having a surface with a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. First and second raised side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. A raised crossed rail extends between the side rails. A negative pressure cavity extends from the cross rail to the trailing edge and is positioned between the side rails. A first isolation channel is disposed between the negative pressure cavity and the first side rail. A second isolation channel is disposed between the negative pressure cavity and the second side rail. The first and second isolation channels converge together toward the leading edge and communicate with the leading edge.

Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider comprises a slider body having a surface with a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. First and second raised side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. The side rails each form an air bearing surface with an inside and an outside edge extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. A raised cross rail is positioned near the leading edge and extends between the side rails. A negative pressure cavity is positioned between the side rails, trailing the cross rail. A first isolation channel is disposed between the first side rail and the negative pressure cavity. A second isolation channel is disposed between the second side rail and the negative pressure cavity. Intermediate surfaces extend along only a portion of the inside edges of the airbearing surfaces formed by the first and second side rails.

Abstract: A negative pressure air-bearing slider includes a slider body having a surface with a leading edge, a trailing edge, first and second side edges and a longitudinal axis extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. First and second side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. A raised crossed rail extends between the side rails and has a leading edge and a trailing edge. A negative pressure cavity extends from the cross rail toward the trailing edge of the slider body and between the side rails. A pair of angled channels formed in the cross rail permit relatively more air to enter the negative pressure cavity when the slider flies with its longitudinal axis at skew with respect to air flow than when the slider flies with its longitudinal axis in parallel with respect to air flow.

Abstract: A negative pressure air-bearing slider supports a transducer proximate a rotating disc. The slider includes a slider body having a surface with a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a first and second side edges. First and second raised side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. A raised cross rail is positioned near the leading edge and extends between the side rails. A negative pressure cavity trails the cross rail and is positioned between the side rails. The negative pressure cavity develops subambient pressure during flight. A raised island forms an air-bearing surface positioned at the trailing edge and between the side rails. The island has a forward edge which is raised from the negative pressure cavity and is recessed from the air-bearing surface to increase pressurization of the air-bearing surface. The air-bearing surface increases lift and slider flying height at the trailing edge at low disc speeds.

Abstract: A negative pressure air-bearing slider comprises a slider body having a surface with a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. First and second side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. The side rails each form an air-bearing surface which develops positive pressure during flight. A raised crossed rail is positioned near the leading edge and extends between the side rails. A negative pressure cavity trails the cross rail and is positioned between the side rails. A first isolation channel and a first isolation separating rail are positioned between the first side rail and the negative pressure cavity. A second isolation channel and a second isolation separating rail are positioned between the second side rail and the negative pressure cavity. The isolation channels and the isolation separating rails terminate prior to the trailing edge of the slider.

Abstract: Improved configurations of Negative Pressure Air Bearing Flyers ("NPAB") for use with the rotary actuator of a "Winchester" disk drive lessen slider roll, provide for constant, low slider flying height and a short take-off regardless of skew. One set of configurations uses two isolation channels cut into the NPAB to isolate the side rails from the central negative pressure cavity. Another set of configurations divides the negative pressure cavity into two cavities and provides openings in the leading crossbar to decrease the pressure in the cavity near the upstream rail while increasing it at the downstream rail. Another configuration provides an increased leading taper for fast take-off in combiantion with a pressure relief channel anterior the negative pressure cross rail to maintain negative pressure in the cavity.

Abstract: An air bearing slider for supporting an electromagnetic transducer over a rotating disk. The slider comprises a slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. First and second side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively, and form air bearing surfaces with inside and outside edges. The inside and outside edges converge from the leading edge to a break and diverge from the break to the trailing edge.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method for producing small machined parts by laser including a description of how to avoid sensitive edges of the work piece being machined and how to control beam size for maintaining uniform cavity depth over a relatively long work piece and also how to generate non-uniform cavity depth profiles on the surface of one or more parts. The invention also teaches that such a process can be used to produce satisfactory negative pressure air bearing sliders which are used to support the transducing magnetic heads for high density magnetic storage disk drives.

Abstract: A self-loading negative pressure air bearing slider is formed having side vents. The side vents allow for repeatable manufacturing of the basic slider in fewer steps while retaining the desirable features of high stiffness and substantially constant flying height found in negative pressure air bearing sliders.

Abstract: This invention teaches a method for producing small machined parts by laser including a description of how to avoid sensitive edges of the work piece being machined and how to control beam size for maintaining uniform cavity depth over a relatively long work piece and also how to generate non-uniform cavity depth profiles on the surface of one or more parts. The invention also teaches that such a process can be used to produce satisfactory negative pressure air bearing sliders which are used to support the transducing magnetic heads for high density magnetic storage disk drives.

Abstract: A pilot cell driver for a capacitive memory plasma display device having three output states: high, low, and floating. The floating state of the pilot cell driver is used in combination with a feedback of the plasma display panel sustain voltage to create a third voltage level on the pilot cell drive line for use in rewriting the pilot cells. The pilot cell driver is comprised of a pull-up switch and pull-down switch. After the pull-up switch is activated for a short period of time, the output of the pilot cell driver relaxes to the floating state. The floating state voltage is achieved, for example, on a vertically oriented pilot cell drive line by coupling to a horizontal sustain drive voltage which switches from the pull-up voltage to the pull-down voltage during the relaxation time of the pilot cell driver. By capacitively coupling the horizontal sustain voltage to the vertical pilot cell drive electrode, the floating state voltage is achieved.