Abstract: An apparatus for exactly positioning a medium mounted on a spindle is provided, whereby the apparatus comprises a device for continuously changing the angular position of said medium with respect to a predefined reference position by rotating said spindle. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a friction element for braking said spindle at a predetermined position, not allowing a swing back.

Abstract: An apparatus for exactly positioning a medium mounted on a spindle is provided, whereby the apparatus comprises a device for continuously changing the angular position of said medium with respect to a predefined reference position by rotating said spindle. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a friction element for braking said spindle at a predetermined position, not allowing a swing back.

Abstract: A suspension arm (300) of a disk storage device has an elastic portion (310) with thickness d1 and a rigid portion (320) with thickness d2. At the free end of the suspension arm, a slider (325) is mounted on the suspension arm. The bottom surface of the slider has a distance FH to a top surface of a hard disk (329). The suspension arm particularly comprises a heating element (330) disposed on the suspension arm. An electric current Ic flowing through electrical supply wires (350) causes the temperature of the suspension arm locally to rise and therefore its spring constant to decrease. Together with the force Fa resulting from the air cushion effect of the slider a new equilibrium flying height FH is stabilized.

Abstract: A method for in-situ measuring a temperature and/or temperature distribution within a slider due to local heat transfer is provided, whereby the slider is positioned above the surface of a rotating disk, and carries a sensor and/or write element, whereby the rotating disk is moving relatively to the sensor and/or write element, and whereby the shape of said slider is changed locally due to the temperature and/or temperature distribution. By measuring the shape changes of the slider, the temperature and/or temperature distribution can be calculated on the basis of the changes by means of numerical methods. The method may be used as an in-situ measurement in already existing testers, like, e.g., flying height testers. No additional hardware is required and studies of the slider near contact can be performed. In addition, information with respect to the flight height is obtained simultaneously.

Abstract: A method for indexing magnetic disks by using a scanning probe is disclosed. A magnetic disk includes several essentially concentric magnetic tracks. The magnetic disk is attached to a rotating spindle. A number of data tracks is then written in a specific circular arc at an inner radial position of the magnetic disk. The beginning or the end of the written data tracks is defined to be in a co-incident or in a defined relation to an index or trigger signal defined by the rotating spindle. The rotating spindle is stopped from rotation, and a scanning probe microscope is moved radially at a fixed rotating angle to a second radial position. A tip of the scanning probe microscope is moved towards a surface of the magnetic disk. At least one scan line is recorded and analyzed in order to determine if a magnetic track is imaged by the tip of the scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: A method for indexing hard disks by using a scanning probe is disclosed. A hard disk includes several essentially concentric magnetic tracks. A scanning probe is initially positioned at a first point located on a magnetic track to mark the first point as a first radial position index. Then, the scanning probe is positioned at a second point located on the magnetic track to mark the second point as a second radial position index. Next, the scanning probe is positioned at a third point located on the magnetic track to mark the third point as a third radial position index. A rotational center of a co-ordinate system is subsequently calculated according to the three radial position indexes. Finally, the co-ordinate system having the rotational center is utilized as a precise indexing system.

Abstract: A method for indexing magnetic disks by using a scanning probe is disclosed. A magnetic disk includes several essentially concentric magnetic tracks. The magnetic disk is attached to a rotating spindle. A number of data tracks is then written in a specific circular arc at an inner radial position of the magnetic disk. The beginning or the end of the written data tracks is defined to be in a co-incident or in a defined relation to an index or trigger signal defined by the rotating spindle. The rotating spindle is stopped from rotation, and a scanning probe microscope is moved radially at a fixed rotating angle to a second radial position. A tip of the scanning probe microscope is moved towards a surface of the magnetic disk. At least one scan line is recorded and analyzed in order to determine if a magnetic track is imaged by the tip of the scanning probe microscope.

Abstract: A method for in-situ measuring a temperature and/or temperature distribution within a slider due to local heat transfer is provided, whereby the slider is positioned above the surface of a rotating disk, and carries a sensor and/or write element, whereby the rotating disk is moving relatively to the sensor and/or write element, and whereby the shape of said slider is changed locally due to the temperature and/or temperature distribution. By measuring the shape changes of the slider, the temperature and/or temperature distribution can be calculated on the basis of the changes by means of numerical methods. The method may be used as an in-situ measurement in already existing testers, like, e.g., flying height testers. No additional hardware is required and studies of the slider near contact can be performed. In addition, information with respect to the flight height is obtained simultaneously.

Abstract: A suspension arm (300) of a disk storage device has an elastic portion (310) with thickness d1 and a rigid portion (320) with thickness d2. At the free end of the suspension arm, a slider (325) is mounted on the suspension arm. The bottom surface of the slider has a distance FH to a top surface of a hard disk (329). The suspension arm particularly comprises a heating element (330) disposed on the suspension arm. An electric current Ic flowing through electrical supply wires (350) causes the temperature of the suspension arm locally to rise and therefore its spring constant to decrease. Together with the force Fa resulting from the air cushion effect of the slider a new equilibrium flying height FH is stabilized.