Abstract: An air bearing magnetic head slider with leading and trailing edges and substantialy parallel sides has a pair of side rail members and a two segment center rail member. The side rail members extend on the slider from the leading edge to a position which is less than the distance between the leading edge and the trailing edge, while the center rail member extends to the trailing edge from the leading edge. This structure permits near or pseudo-contact between a transducer located on the trailing edge and a magnetic recording disk over which the slider flies.

Abstract: The air bearing surface (ABS) of a head slider is formed with configured rails and leading edge tapers. In implementations of the invention, two side rails extend only partially from leading edge tapers to the slider trailing edge. The inner edges of each side rail are formed with at least two opposing angles so that at least two rail sections vary in width along the length of the rail. Each side rail is shaped with an oblique angle to reduce the rail width and a reverse angle to form the sections of differing widths. The leading edge side tapers may be angled for control of pitch stiffness of the slider. In one embodiment of the invention, a third center rail extends from a center taper to the slider trailing edge where the transducer is located. In another embodiment, a short center pad is provided at the trailing edge. In an alternative design, only two side rails are used without a center rail or pad.

Abstract: The air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider is formed with two side rails and a wishbone-shaped rail configuration between the side rails, which may be rectangular or ablated. The rail configuration includes segments forming a V and segments extending from the V rail segments towards the trailing edge of the slider. The rail configuration is centered or offset relative to the sides of the slider. Leading edge tapers are provided for the side rails and rail configuration.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head assembly useful for contact recording in a disk drive comprises an air bearing slider formed with only a single air bearing rail. The slider is substantially L-shaped having a leg portion on which a pedestal with an air bearing surface is provided. A wear pad is formed on the pedestal and encompasses the pole tips and transducing gap of the transducer. The wear pad makes contact with the magnetic disk during operation of the disk drive. The small area of the wear pad makes minimal contact with the surface of the magnetic disk so that frictional effects are significantly reduced thereby extending the wear life of the magnetic head. An alternative embodiment of a contact head slider uses a tripad design wherein the front pads fly relative to the disk and the rear pad which supports the transducer is in contact with the rotating disk during operation of a disk drive.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly is fabricated with a load beam formed with a central triangular-type major section, a tongue section at the front end and a rigid mount section at the opposing rear end. The load beam has flanges along the sides of the central major section and the rear mount section. A leaf spring is provided between the central major section and the rear mount section for providing flexibility to the suspension. A flexure that is joined to the load beam is formed with a U-shaped finger surrounded by a cutout at the front end of the flexure. A load dimple that is provided on the flexure is in contact with the load beam. The flexure supports an air bearing slider that pitches and rolls relative to a disk surface. The flexure does not extend beyond the load dimple of the flexure or the front leading edge of the slider. The suspension is characterized by a high first bending mode frequency and low pitch and roll stiffness.