Abstract: Mitigating organic contaminants within a hard disk drive (HDD) may include introducing an organic solvent into the HDD to dissolve organic contaminants and, therefore, to inhibit such contaminants from fouling operation of the HDD device. Organic solvents such as toluene and/or hexane may be used to dissolve organic contaminants such as hydrocarbons and siloxanes.

Abstract: Cleaning a recording head slider in-drive during operation is accomplished by periodically performing a series of full stroke seek operations, whereby liquid contaminants that may have migrated to the head slider are flung from the slider and liquid from the disk surface may be adsorbed onto the slider for removal by way of flinging. Consequently, head-disk spacing may be stabilized and data write operations improved. Furthermore, the series of full stroke seek operations may be performed at predetermined intervals, and for a predetermined period of time. However, the series may be interrupted by a client request, and continued thereafter, so as not to affect the operational status of the recording system.

Abstract: Cleaning a recording head slider in-drive during operation is accomplished by periodically performing a series of full stroke seek operations, whereby liquid contaminants that may have migrated to the head slider are flung from the slider and liquid from the disk surface may be adsorbed onto the slider for removal by way of flinging. Consequently, head-disk spacing may be stabilized and data write operations improved. Furthermore, the series of full stroke seek operations may be performed at predetermined intervals, and for a predetermined period of time. However, the series may be interrupted by a client request, and continued thereafter, so as not to affect the operational status of the recording system.

Abstract: A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include an anchor group or a truncation group. The anchor group includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroalkyl-branched perfluorinated ether unit.

Abstract: A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include an anchor group or a truncation group. The anchor group includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroalkyl-branched perfluorinated ether unit.

Abstract: An information storage system including an enclosure, a rotating data storage medium including a surface, a slider including an ABS and an airborne oxidizable contaminant disposed in the enclosure. The system also includes an antioxidant absorbed onto the surface of the data storage medium. The antioxidant inhibits oxidation of the oxidizable contaminants at an interface between the ABS and the rotating data storage medium.

Abstract: An information storage system including an enclosure, a rotating data storage medium including a surface, a slider including an ABS and an airborne oxidizable contaminant disposed in the enclosure. The system also includes an antioxidant absorbed onto the surface of the data storage medium. The antioxidant inhibits oxidation of the oxidizable contaminants at an interface between the ABS and the rotating data storage medium.

Abstract: A method for controlling a burnish cycle to minimize cycle time is disclosed. MR sensor resistance measurements are used to monitor interference with the recording surface and when clearance is not detected, steps are taken to fine tune the interference signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping slider-gimbal coupled vibration of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension at a gimbal structure. In addition, a damping zone is provided at a stress point on the gimbal structure, the damping zone having a damping material thereon, wherein the damping material reduces vibration of the slider and the gimbal structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for damping slider-gimbal coupled vibration of a hard disk drive is disclosed. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension at a gimbal structure. In addition, a damping zone is provided at a stress point on the gimbal structure, the damping zone having a damping material thereon, wherein the damping material reduces vibration of the slider and the gimbal structure.

Abstract: A magnetic disk having a low surface microwaviness at a scale of about 200 microns and higher, and a high surface roughness at a scale of less than about a length of a pad of a slider for writing to the disk.

Abstract: A method for detecting leakage from a disk drive enclosure includes providing a lubricating composition having a lubricating material and a tag material therein. The tag material has a volatility characteristic that is amenable to analysis. The method includes measuring a concentration of the tag material in the vapor phase. By measuring a concentration of the tag material, a leak rate of the lubricating material can be determined. The lubricating composition may include a perfluoropolyether lubricating material and a halogenated sulfur tag material such as SF6 and/or S2F10.

Abstract: A method for controlling a burnish cycle to minimize cycle time is disclosed. MR sensor resistance measurements are used to monitor interference with the recording surface and when clearance is not detected, steps are taken to fine tune the interference signal.

Abstract: A magnetic disk having a low surface microwaviness at a scale of about 200 microns and higher, and a high surface roughness at a scale of less than about a length of a pad of a slider for writing to the disk.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic disk drive for reading or writing magnetically, comprising: (i) a base plate; (ii) one or more of magnetic disks; (iii) a hub fixedly attached to the disks for supporting the disks; (iv) a motor operable to rotate the hub; (v) one or more of magnetic read/write heads, each associated with the surface of a disk; (vi) an actuator for supporting the heads and moving the heads across the disks; (vii) a support shaft attached to the base plate; and (viii) a load/unload structure for displacing the heads from the disk comprising an elongated body, a base portion fixedly attached to the base plate and a plurality of ramps extending outwardly from the body. The body of the structure is mounted through one or more holes in the body onto the support shaft so that the support shaft extends along the length of the body to support the structure.

Abstract: A silicon coating on an air bearing surface for magnetic thin film heads. A thick silicon layer is provided to replace metallic layers such as TiW as an overcoat for thin film heads. The silicon layer will provide a durable head-disk interface and act as a reflective surface for fly height measurement. The silicon layer can be planarized with the pole tips to avoid any magnetic spacing loss. The thickness of the silicon coating is preferably between 125 and 6500 angstroms thick. The slider body may be fabricated from silicon such that the silicon coating is substantially identical to the silicon slider body, thereby preventing thermal mismatch therebetween. The silicon coating is preferably applied using a magnetron sputtering technique which provides a high rate of deposition of silicon to form a dense, low stress silicon layer.

Abstract: A method for detecting leakage from a disk drive enclosure includes providing a lubricating composition having a lubricating material and a tag material therein. The tag material has a volatility characteristic that is amenable to analysis. The method includes measuring a concentration of the tag material in the vapor phase. By measuring a concentration of the tag material, a leak rate of the lubricating material can be determined. The lubricating composition may include a perfluoropolyether lubricating material and a halogenated sulfur tag material such as SF6 and/or S2F10.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic disk drive for reading or writing magnetically, comprising: (i) a base plate; (ii) one or more of magnetic disks; (iii) a hub fixedly attached to the disks for supporting the disks; (iv) a motor operable to rotate the hub; (v) one or more of magnetic read/write heads, each associated with the surface of a disk; (vi) an actuator for supporting the heads and moving the heads across the disks; (vii) a support shaft attached to the base plate; and (viii) a load/unload structure for displacing the heads from the disk comprising an elongated body, a base portion fixedly attached to the base plate and a plurality of ramps extending outwardly from the body. The body of the structure is mounted through one or more holes in the body onto the support shaft so that the support shaft extends along the length of the body to support the structure.

Abstract: A slider used in a disk drive apparatus is described which has an air bearing surface and a trailing surface and a plurality of recessed steps at the trailing edge. These steps at the trailing edge greatly reduce stictional forces.

Abstract: A silicon coating on an air bearing surface for magnetic thin film heads. A thick silicon layer is provided to replace metallic layers such as TiW as an overcoat for thin film heads. The silicon layer will provide a durable head-disk interface and act as a reflective surface for fly height measurement. The silicon layer can be planarized with the pole tips to avoid any magnetic spacing loss. The thickness of the silicon coating is preferably between 125 and 6500 Angstroms thick. The slider body may be fabricated from silicon such that the silicon coating is substantially identical to the silicon slider body, thereby preventing thermal mismatch therebetween. The silicon coating is preferably applied using a magnetron sputtering technique which provides a high rate of deposition of silicon to form a dense, low stress silicon layer.