Abstract: A reader portion (150) of a magnetoresistive head is disclosed. The reader portion (150) includes a magnetoresistive read element (156) for reading information from a magnetic media (216) and a non-magnetic element (153) to detect and cancel thermal changes in the read head. A spacer (155) is positioned between the magnetoresistive read element (156) and the non-magnetic element (153). A plurality of electrical contacts (166, 167, 168) connect the magnetoresistive read element (156) and the non-magnetic element (153) to external circuitry.

Abstract: Disclosed is a disk drive for storing data which includes disks and an actuator mounted on a frame or first housing part. A second housing part, when joined with the first housing part, forms a disk enclosure. The disk enclosure includes rails which have openings therein for mounting the disk drive to the user frame of a computer system. Deformable inserts are placed into the openings in the rails and screws are passed through openings in the frame of the computer system and into the inserts in the openings in the rails of the disk drive. The inserts are more forgiving and result in less distortion than in a mounting system in which the screws are passed directly into tapped holes in the rails of the disk drive. The inserts also electrically insulate the disk drive from the user frame of the computer system.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system.

Abstract: A removable electronic subassembly is designed for placement into a data processing system which requires said removable electronic subassembly to fit into an aperture defining a selected form factor. The removable electronic subassembly comprises a rigid enclosure which encloses interior components of the removable electronic subassembly. The rigid enclosure has exterior dimensions which are smaller than the selected form factor. A layer of resilient material is mounted to an exterior of the rigid enclosure. The layer of resilient material and the rigid enclosure have at least one exterior dimension which exceeds the selected form factor in an uncompressed state wherein the resilient material may be compressed such that the at least one exterior dimension conforms to the selected form factor.

Abstract: A disc drive, includes a base, a disc stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly also includes a bearing housing, head mounting arms, head suspensions attached to the head mounting arms and a head assembly attached to the head suspension. The disc drive also includes a hub having a cylindrical body. The hub includes a disc mounting flange on one end of the hub. A disc has an opening therein sufficient to allow the hub to fit within the opening of the disc. The disc has two substantially flat data surfaces. The disc also includes a disc clamping portion located near the opening in the disc. A clamp is used to attach the disc to the hub. At least one disc is placed onto the hub and onto the mounting flange of the hub. The clamp is then used to clamp the disc to the hub. The disc clamping portion includes features for accommodating differences in flatness between the disc surfaces, the mounting flange of the hub and the clamp.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting surface variations on a rotating disc includes a slider, suspension assembly, first surface variation sensor, second surface variation sensor, and a controller. The slider is adapted to fly over the disc. The suspension assembly is coupled to the slider to position the slider over the disc. The first surface variation sensor is disposed on the slider, and provides a first sensor signal based upon slider contact with one of the surface variations. The second surface variation sensor is disposed on the slider and spaced from the first surface variation sensor. The second surface variation sensor provides a second sensor signal based upon slider contact with the surface variation. The controller receives the first and second signals and calculates a position of the surface variation based upon the first and second sensor signals.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive has a magnetoresistive element (26) for reading user data from concentric tracks of a rotatable magnetic recording disc (32). The magnetoresistive element has a resistance based on a magnetic field derived from user data and based on temperature of the magnetoresistive element. Heat generated by the bias current through the head is in part dissipated through the disc, the amount of heat dissipated being representative of disc/head spacing. The surface of the recording disc has contour elements (50, 52, 54) arranged in a pattern representing servo data, the contour elements having a height such that the spacing between the magnetoresistive element and the contour elements is different from the spacing between the magnetoresistive element and a nominal surface of the recording disc. As a result, a modulated signal (66) from the head contains a component representative of user data and a component representative of servo data.

Abstract: A head slider for use in a disc drive data storage system includes a slider body substrate having a cavity formed therein. A transducer is positioned in the head slider such that walls of the cavity in the slider body substrate protect the transducer from contact with asperities on a surface of a data storage disc.

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: A tester for use in detecting asperities in a disc surface of a storage system includes a load arm having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the load arm is positioned adjacent the disc surface. A slider is carried on the distal end of the load arm adjacent the disc surface. A thermal sensor is coupled to the slider and provides an electrical output in response to a thermal input due to interaction between the thermal sensor and asperity on the disc surface. Detection circuitry coupled to the thermal sensor detects the electrical output from the thermal sensor and responsively provides a detection output indicating the occurrence of an asperity on the disc surface.

Abstract: A device for testing smoothness of a rotatable disc is disclosed. A slider body has a trailing edge surface and an air-bearing surface for gliding over a surface of the disc when the disc is rotating. A piezoelectric sensor is formed in the slider body, and a thermal asperity sensor is formed in the slider body and at least partially exposed to the air-bearing surface. A plurality of conductive vias extend from the trailing edge surface of the slider body into the slider body to contact the piezoelectric and thermal asperity sensors. A plurality of conductive bond pads are disposed on the trailing edge surface in contact with respective conductive vias.

Abstract: An asperity height sensing head and method of using the same are disclosed. The head includes multiple magnetoresistive (MR) sensors carried by a first rail of a slider adjacent to the air bearing surface (ABS) and positioned a distance L.sub.p from each other. Asperity height estimating circuitry coupled to each of the multiple MR sensors detects a number N of the MR sensors which exhibit a change in resistance as a result of contact between the ABS and a first asperity on the surface of the disc. The asperity height estimating circuitry estimates the height H.sub.A of the first asperity as a function of the number N, as a function of the pitch angle .theta..sub.p , and as a function of the distance L.sub.p.