Abstract: A glide head with a slider body that has a leading edge, a trailing edge and an air bearing surface is disclosed. The glide head also has an array of thermal proximity sensing elements connected in a bridge circuit that are adjacent both the trailing edge and the air bearing surface, a heating element mounted to the glide body for elevating the temperature of the thermal proximity sensing elements in relation to the temperature of an inspected surface, and a controller coupled to the array of thermal proximity sensing elements. The controller receives signals from the thermal proximity sensing elements, and determines the existence of a surface variation in the inspected surface based upon differences in the signals received from the thermal proximity sensing elements.

Abstract: Provided is a bearing device (10) capable of achieving weight reduction of a sleeve (40), and capable of suppressing distortion of the roller bearings (30a and 30b). The bearing device includes: a shaft (20); the sleeve (40) arranged on an outside of the shaft (20) while a central axis thereof coincides with a central axis of the shaft (20); a first roller bearing (30a) and a second roller bearing (30b), which are arranged side by side in a direction of the central axes, for supporting the shaft (20) and the sleeve (40) so that the shaft (20) and the sleeve (40) are capable of freely moving rotationally relative to each other; and a spacer portion (44) formed between the first roller bearing (30a) and the second roller bearing (30b) so as to protrude from an inner peripheral surface of the sleeve (40), in which the sleeve (40) is formed so as not to overlap in the direction of the central axes a center portion (35) on which a race surface (34a) of the first roller bearing (30a) is formed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider, includes: a slider main body; an insulating nonmagnetic film laminated on an end surface of the slider main body at an air outflow side; a head element embedded in the nonmagnetic film; a heater embedded in the nonmagnetic film in association with the head element; a conductive terminal formed on an end surface of the nonmagnetic film at the air outflow side; a conductive pattern configured to electrically connect the heater and the conductive terminal with each other; and a radiator configured to contact the conductive pattern and dissipate heat transmitted from the conductive pattern.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device includes a spindle assembly including a spindle motor configured to rotate a disk, and a clamp ring configured to fix the disk to the spindle motor, and a slider with a head configured to read/write data on/from the disk, and configured to fly over a surface of the rotating disk. The slider includes a trailing edge on a floating surface of the slider opposed to the disk, and the trailing edge is an end part through which an airflow exits. The spindle assembly and the slider are configured to satisfy a relationship of 0.95f?F?1.05f at a temperature of 23° C., where f is an anti-resonance frequency of the trailing edge, and F is a resonance frequency of the spindle assembly.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head has a magneto-resistive (MR) effect element including an MR effect film formed by sequentially layering a magnetic pinned layer, a nonmagnetic layer and a free layer, and a pair of bias magnetic field application layers formed at junction tapered parts formed on both end parts of the magneto-resistive effect film in the width direction via insulating layers. Further, magnetic pinned layer oxidized films whose thickness is Hx (unit: nm) are disposed on end parts of the magnetic pinned layer at the junction tapered parts, free layer oxidized films whose thickness is Hf (unit: nm) are disposed on end parts of the free layer at the junction tapered parts, and the oxidized films are configured such that the thickness ratio (Hx/Hf) is not more than 0.5.

Abstract: Foundation layers of a thin film magnetic head are disposed between insulating layers and bias magnetic field application layers, and are configured of Cr or Cr alloy. The insulating layers are configured of a Si oxide such that the Si content of the Si oxide is in the range of 30˜56 at % (atom %) and that the atom ratio of oxygen to Si (O/Si) is in the range of 0.8˜1.3. With the configuration, the occurrence rate of noise is reduced.

Abstract: A slider for magnetic data recording having a semiconductor based magnetoresistive sensor such as a Lorentz magnetoresistive sensor formed on an air bearing surface of the slider body. The slider is constructed of Si, which advantageously provides a needed physical robustness as well being compatible with the construction of a semiconductor based sensor thereon. A series of transition layers are provided between the surface of the Si slider body and the semiconductor based magnetoresistive sensor in order to provide a necessary grain structure for proper functioning of the sensor. The series of transition layers can be constructed of layers of SiGe each having a unique concentration of Ge.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a head includes is configured to fly from a surface of a disk. The slider includes a floating surface configured to oppose the surface of the disk, a positive pressure section in the floating, configured to produce floating force in conjunction with airflow formed by a rotation of the disk, and a first identifying section having a height identical to that of the positive pressure section in the floating surface and configured to identify a gravity center position of positive pressure force generated by the positive pressure section in the floating surface.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a magnetoresistance (MR) layered body that has first and second magnetic layers whose magnetization direction are changed according to an external magnetic field, a nonmagnetic middle layer and where the first magnetic layer, the nonmagnetic middle layer and the second magnetic layer are disposed in a manner of facing each other in respective order, first and second shield layers that are disposed in a manner of sandwiching the MR-stack in the film surface orthogonal direction of the MR-stack facing the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, respectively, and that also serve as an electrode for applying a sense current to the film surface orthogonal direction of the MR-stack; and a bias magnetic field application means that is disposed on an opposite surface of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the MR-stack, and that applies a bias magnetic field to the MR-stack in the direction orthogonal to the ABS.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a write element, a first insulating member, and a second insulating member. The first insulating member is made of an insulating material with high rigidity. The first insulating member is formed around the write element as a surface layer of the floating surface. The second insulating member is made of an insulating material with lower rigidity than the first insulating member. The second insulating member is formed near the first insulating member around the write element beneath the surface layer of the floating surface. The first insulating member is polished on the floating surface. A portion of the floating surface where the second insulating member is arranged protrudes more than a portion of the floating surface around the write element.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a slider that floats from a surface of a recording medium by an airflow generated on the surface of the recording medium to be rotated, and a thin film magnetic head element structure that is formed on an air discharging end face of the slider. A thermal plastic deformation portion is provided in the vicinity of the air discharging end face on a back surface of a recording medium facing surface of a slider so that a part of the thin film magnetic head element structure is further spaced from the surface of the recording medium than the recording medium facing surface of the slider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent the write element lead wires from inducing crosstalk current in the read element lead wires. In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider comprises: a substrate portion; a heating resistor formed on the substrate portion through the intermediary of an insulation layer; a magnetic write element and a magnetic read element which are formed over the heating resistor through the intermediary of an insulation layer; and a terminal array structure provided with first terminals to wire the magnetic write element, second terminals to wire the magnetic read element, and third terminals to wire the heating resistor, wherein two of the third terminals for the heating resistor are located respectively on the opposite outer sides of the first and second terminals.

Abstract: An assembly includes a slider and a suspension assembly. The slider includes an air bearing surface and a slider mounting surface opposite the air bearing surface. There are a plurality of slider pads on the slider mounting surface. The suspension assembly includes a plurality of suspension pads on a suspension mounting surface. Each of the suspension pads is connected to one of the slider pads with a solder joint so that the slider mounting surface has at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle with respect to the suspension mounting.

Abstract: A head-slider. The head-slider includes a slider and a magnetic-recording head formed on the slider. The magnetic-recording head includes a main pole, a return pole to which a recording magnetic field from the main pole returns, a sensor element, a shield provided between the sensor element and the main pole, and a heater element for adjusting a shape of a flying surface of the magnetic-recording head. The magnetic-recording head further includes a first recess provided at a tip end face of at least one element selected from the group consisting of the return pole and the shield, and a second recess provided on an exposed flying surface and corresponding to the first recess.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head slider includes a slider main body, an element embedded film, a head element, and a plurality of recesses. The head element is embedded in the element embedded film. The recesses are distributed in a predetermined area formed on the trailing end surface of the element embedded film.

Abstract: A substrate for a magnetic read/write head is disclosed. The substrate can reduce detachment of crystal grains when the substrate is machined. The substrate may be machined when the substrate is cut into strips or a flow path surface recess is formed to produce the magnetic read/write head. The reduced detachment of crystal grains makes the magnetic read/write head more resilient to chipping, which allows the magnetic read/write head to have a lower and more stable flying height that increases recording density.

Abstract: A glide head includes a slider configured to float by airflow generated by rotation of a recording medium and detects a contact between the recording medium and the slider. The slider includes a floating rail. The floating rail includes a surface facing the recording medium and including an obtuse-angled corner. The floating rail is configured such that a rear end thereof is formed into a wedge shape and a thickness thereof is maximized at the obtuse-angled corner.

Abstract: There is provided a recording head 2 including a slider 20, a recording element 21 fixed to a side surface of the slider 20 on the side of an outflow end and having a main magnetic pole 32 and an auxiliary magnetic pole 30 which generate a recording magnetic field; and a spot light generating element 22 including a core 40 having a reflecting surface 40a configured to reflect a luminous flux L introduced from one end side to the other end side in a direction different from the direction of introduction and a luminous flux condensing unit 40b configured to generate a spot light R by propagating the reflected luminous flux to the other end side while condensing the same, and a clad 41 configured to confine the core in the interior thereof, and fixed adjacently to the recording element in a state in which the other end side is faced toward a magnetic recording medium; and luminous flux introducing means 4 arranged in parallel with the slider and allows the luminous flux to be introduced from the one end side int

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a carriage assembly includes a carriage block main body, a carriage arm, a head suspension, a flexible printed circuit board, and a viscoelastic adhesive. The carriage block main body is rotatably supported by a shaft. The carriage arm extends from the carriage block main body. The head suspension is attached to an end of the carriage arm, and supports a head slider at an end. The flexible printed circuit board is partially fixed to the head suspension, extends from the head suspension toward the carriage block main body, and is affixed to a surface of the carriage arm. The viscoelastic adhesive is sandwiched between the carriage arm and the flexible printed circuit board.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a slider of a head includes a negative-pressure cavity defined by a recess formed in a disk-facing surface, a leading step portion which is situated on an upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow and projects from a bottom surface of the negative-pressure cavity, a trailing step portion which is provided on an outflow-side end portion of the facing surface on the downstream side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to the airflow, projects from the bottom surface of the negative-pressure cavity, and constitutes a part of the facing surface, and a maximum-positive-pressure producing step portion which is spaced upstream from the trailing step portion with respect to the airflow, projects from the bottom surface of the negative-pressure cavity, and produces a maximum positive pressure. A head portion is provided on the trailing step portion.

Abstract: A head slider includes a medium opposing surface configured to oppose a recording surface of a magnetic recording medium, a head element provided on the medium opposing surface, and an outlet end surface provided on a downstream side of the head element in a direction in which the magnetic recording medium moves relative to the head element, and extending substantially in a perpendicular direction from the medium opposing surface. The outlet end surface has a surface free energy greater than a surface free energy of the medium opposing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes: a slider which floats above a recording medium by air flow generated by rotation of the recording medium; and an element forming section fixed to an air outflow side of the slider and formed with an element which accesses the recording medium. The element forming section includes: a recording element having a main magnetic pole which records data in the recording medium; and a reproducing element which is formed closer to the slider than the recording element and which reproduces data recorded in the recording medium. The element forming section further includes: a heat insulation layer formed between the main magnetic pole and the reproducing element; and a heater formed closer to the slider than the heat insulation layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly includes: a magnetic recording head, a head slider, a suspension and an actuator arm. The magnetic recording head includes a spin torque oscillator and a main magnetic pole. The spin torque oscillator includes, a first magnetic layer including at least one selected from the group consisting of a Fe—Co—Al alloy, a Fe—Co—Si alloy, a Fe—Co—Ge alloy, a Fe—Co—Mn alloy a Fe—Co—Cr alloy and a Fe—Co—B alloy, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The main magnetic pole is placed together with the spin torque oscillator. The magnetic recording head is mounted on the head slider. The head slider is mounted on one end of the suspension. The actuator arm is connected to other end of the suspension.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly includes a magnetic recording head, a main magnetic pole, a head slider, a suspension and an actuator arm. The magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole having an air bearing surface facing a magnetic recording medium; and a stacked structure having, a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. A stacked plane of the stacked structure is inclined with respect to the air bearing surface. The magnetic recording head is mounted on the head slider. The head slider is mounted on one end of the suspension. The actuator arm is connected to the other end of the suspension.

Abstract: A head slider includes a slider that is disposed at a tip of a supporting member, floats with an air flow occurring due to rotation of a storage medium, and has a medium facing surface onto which a water-repellent material is applied, with an area near the magnetic head being exposed; and a magnetic head that is disposed at an air outflow end side of the slider and has a recording element and a reproducing element.

Abstract: An opening (3) is formed on a surface of a metal film (2), a plurality of axes (4, 5, 6, 7) cross each other substantially perpendicularly at the opening (3), a plurality of periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) are provided for respective axes (4, 5, 6, 7), and each of the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) includes a plurality of grooves (8-n, 9-n, 10-n, and 11-n) substantially perpendicular to the axis for which each periodic groove is provided, and the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) is positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the opening (3).

Abstract: A slider for use in a magnetic data recording system that is constructed from a Si wafer by a method that saves valuable wafer real estate by minimizing kerf related to the cutting of the wafer into slider rows. The sliders are produced from a (110) oriented Si wafer, and the sliders are parsed into rows by a process that involves forming a mask having a trench or opening between the rows of sliders at the location of the desired cut and parallel to a vertical (111) plane of the wafer. The wafer is then exposed to KOH which removes wafer material in the vertical direction through the wafer without removing wafer material in the horizontal direction. The vertical removal of wafer material is due to the extreme preferential removal of the (110) surface Si over that of the (111) surface Si. This results in a narrow straight trench being formed. The KOH etch removal can form a trench or cut having a width of only 30 to 50 um through a 1 mm thick wafer.

Abstract: A DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) type slider ABS design has significantly improved DFH efficiency and a decreased sensitivity of flying height to both ambient conditions and disk surface variations. This is a result of embedding the read/write head and heater in a micro-pad having a very small surface area. The micro-pad is surrounded by a wing-like structure that projects from a central rail in the ABS. The micro-pad is separated from the central rail by a surrounding trench whose depth can be varied to tune the DFH efficiency. The small surface area of the micro-pad reduces the air pressure at the read/write head and the projecting wings and adjacent topology help to direct the airflow around the micro-pad.

Abstract: A slider of a hard disk drive can include a slider main body on which a read/write head is mounted, the read/write head configured to write data to a disk and to read data from the disk by being lifted a predetermined height from a surface of the disk by a lift force when the disk is rotating, and a lift force generation unit provided in an area of the slider main body proximate to the read/write head to improve the lift force of the slider main body with respect to the disk.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium on which a plurality of concentric recording tracks is formed, the recording tracks including a plurality of closed shaped magnetic parts formed to be symmetrical with respect to two orthogonal axes in shape, the magnetic recording medium being rotated by a recording and reproducing apparatus provided with a slider including a recording and reproducing head to record or reproduce a magnetic recording, wherein when the recording and reproducing head which is moved with movement of a slider to record data on or reproduce data from the recording tracks is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to a tangent line of concentric circles of the recording tracks, the slider moving in a radial direction of the concentric circles of the recording tracks, one of the two orthogonal axes of the magnetic parts is perpendicular to the recording and reproducing head.

Abstract: A storage apparatus includes a magnetic storage medium which is formed with a data portion based on isolated magnetic dots and a servo pattern portion, a drive mechanism which drives the storage medium, a head actuator which includes a head for reading and writing data from and to the storage medium, and a permanent magnet which is disposed at a position that is opposable to a whole radial region of the servo pattern portion, during a rotation of the storage medium.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect element comprises: a magnetoresistive stack including: first, second and third magnetic layers whose magnetization directions change in accordance with an external magnetic field, said second magnetic layer being located between said first magnetic layer and the third magnetic layer; a first non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between said first and second magnetic layers, said first non-magnetic intermediate layer allowing said first magnetic layer and said second magnetic layer to be exchange-coupled such that the magnetization directions thereof are anti-parallel to each other when no magnetic field is applied; and a second non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between said second and third magnetic layers, said second non-magnetic intermediate layer producing a magnetoresistance effect between said second magnetic layer and said third magnetic layer; wherein sense current is adapted to flow in a direction perpendicular to a film plane; a bias magnetic layer provided

Abstract: A storage medium driving apparatus includes a head slider opposed to a storage medium, an acceleration detector detecting an acceleration of the apparatus. A control circuit retracts the head slider from above the storage medium according to a result detected by the acceleration detector and selectively executes one or more operations from among a plurality kinds of operations according to an index that is derived from the result detected by the acceleration detector and represents an amount of an impact energy.

Abstract: A head slider body includes a main body having a protruding air bearing surface, and a wall portion protruding from the air bearing surface near one end in one axial direction of the main body. Extending in the other axial direction in the air bearing surface, a groove portion extends between the wall portion and the air bearing surface in the main body. A read/write head is provided near the other end in the one axial direction of the head slider body.

Abstract: A groove is formed on the surface of a base plate in a head suspension unit. A flexure extends from a load beam and received in the groove of the base plate. The flexure is thus allowed to extend outward from the contour of the base plate at a position closest to the rear end of the base plate. The area of the flexure is significantly reduced outside the contour of the base plate as compared with the case where the flexure extends outward from the contour of the base plate at a position closer to the front end of the base plate. Vibration of the flexure is suppressed. Even when a jig is urged against the base plate, the flexure is reliably prevented from being damaged. Simultaneously, a sufficiently large contact area is ensured between the base plate and the jig.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention achieve a decrease in electric power consumption while ensuring high recording density and high reliability in a magnetic disk apparatus. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus comprises a rotatable magnetic disk and a magnetic head slider to be able to fly above a surface of the magnetic disk. The magnetic head slider comprises an air bearing surface, by which the magnetic head slider is caused to fly and come near to the rotating surface of the magnetic disk with a predetermined spacing therebetween, recording and reproducing elements to perform at least one of recording on and reproduction from the magnetic disk, and a heating device to adjust a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk. The heating device is mounted such that heating thereof causes a part of the air bearing surface to expand and project to increase a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: Modified strain regions are created in correlation to strain reactive structures that are subjected to a predetermined dimensional precision adjustment. The modified strain regions are created by impacting incident particles into exposed regions of the strain reactive structures. The irradiation by the incident particles creates a predetermined material disruption and consequently a change in strain energy. The strain energy, and the associated dimensional adjustment is dependent on the irradiation process and the sum properties of the modified strain regions and the strain reactive structure.

Abstract: To efficiently manufacture a feedthrough used in a disk drive device having a hermetically sealed enclosure, embodiments of the present invention manufacture a feedthrough used in an HDD having a hermetically sealed enclosure. An embodiment of a manufacturing method of the present embodiment manufactures a columnar body, cuts the columnar body in the direction vertical to the axes of pins, and cuts out a feedthrough. Then, necessary plating is made on the outer surfaces of the cut out feedthrough. The columnar body comprises a hollow tube, a plurality of pins inserted inside the tube, and an insulating sealant filled inside the tube. This manufacturing method achieves efficient manufacture of the feedthrough.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments relate to a method for bonding slider row bars for a photolithography process. A holding device having a sticky surface is formed. A plurality of slider row bars is provided, with each having a first surface for forming an air bearing surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The slider row bars are secured to the holding device with their first surfaces facing the sticky surface so that the first surfaces of the slider row bars are aligned each other. The slider row bars are bonded together by an encapsulating glue. A carrier is provided, and the carrier is bonded to the second surfaces of the slider row bars. The holding device is removed. The example embodiments also can be used to manufacture sliders.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording write head is formed on the trailing surface of a head carrier or slider that has an air-bearing surface (ABS) oriented generally parallel to the surface of the disk during operation of the disk drive. The write head has a slanted ferromagnetic write pole (WP) that forms an angle between about 5 and 20 degrees from a normal to the ABS. The slanted WP is formed over the generally planar surface of the ferromagnetic main pole and the slanted surface of a support layer located between the ABS and the recessed end of the main pole. A trailing shield (TS) has a slanted face that is generally parallel to and spaced from the slanted WP, with a nonmagnetic gap layer located between the slanted face of the TS and the slanted WP.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a highly reliable magnetic head slider, with a simplified manufacturing process which provides reduction in manufacturing time and costs, is provided. The manufacturing method includes a multi-layer forming step for forming a magnetic head section in a multi-layered manner, the magnetic head section including a read element and/or a write element and a magnetic shield for magnetically shielding the read element and/or the write element, and the magnetic head slider is manufactured by being cut off from a multi-layered body having the magnetic head section. The manufacturing method further includes, after the multi-layer forming step, a shield end removing step for removing end portions in a width direction of the magnetic shield located on the flying surface side of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head that can stably supply a perpendicular magnetic field component while generating high recording field strength from a main pole. According to one embodiment, a magnetic body is deposited in a trailing side of a pole tip of a main pole via a nonmagnetic layer, so that a second flare section is magnetically coupled with each sidewall.

Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method which can adjust the lengths of a recording element and a reproducing element for enabling manufacture of high-quality magnetic head sliders. The manufacturing method comprises: a stacked-layer forming step which stacks magnetic heads on a substrate; a lapping step which cuts out a bar block having a plurality of connected magnetic head sliders, and polishes a flying surface; and a slider cutting step which cuts out individual magnetic head sliders from the bar block. The stacked-layer forming step forms a reproducing-element polish amount detecting sensor on a same layer as that of the reproducing element, and forms a recording-element polish amount detecting sensor on a same layer as that of the recording element. The lapping step carries out polishing based on each output value of the reproducing-element polish amount detecting sensor and the recording-element polish amount detecting sensor.

Abstract: A HGA includes a slider, a suspension to load the slider, and a particle filter device to fix in leading side of the slider. The particle filter device is made of power material or porous material. The HGA further comprise a micro-actuator to connect with the slider. Because the particle filter device is positioned on the leading edge of the slider that is a passage of the particles, so the particles generating from the components in the disk drive unit, such as the HGA will be catched by the particle filter device. Thus the particles will be prevented from flying on the disk and deposited on ABS of the slider, this will ensure the slider to read from/write to data information to the disk successfully and eliminate a possibility to damage the slider/the disk. A disk drive unit with such an HGA is also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head slider having a surface that is formed into a multiple step configuration to stabilize flying of the slider. According to one embodiment, a magnetic head slider has an air bearing surface including surfaces in three stages different in height from one another. An outflow side rail surface and inflow side rail surfaces, in a first stage are approximately the same in height. A rear step bearing surface, front step bearing surface, and side step bearing surfaces and, which are in a second stage, are shallow step surfaces being approximately the same in height, and being formed lower than the surfaces in the first stage. A deep cavity surface is formed further lower than the surfaces in the second stage. A film for preventing adhesion of organic contaminants and a lubricant is formed on the shallow step surfaces, and in the second stage.

Abstract: A discrete track medium and a bit patterned medium with a high SNR are manufactured at low cost. A seed layer and a recoding layer are formed on a bottom surface and a side wall of a groove portion, which is formed between non-magnetic projected structures artificially patterned. Then, the recording layer on the projected portion is removed.

Abstract: A laser beam is radiated to the corner of the back surface of the head slider having the front surface defining a medium-opposed surface. This method employs a laser beam radiated to the corner of the back surface of the head slider. The material thus gets molten at least partly at the corner of the head slider. The molten material then gets cured or hardened. The corner of the head slider warps back. The corner of the medium-opposed surface is in this manner chamfered. The shape of the chamfer can clearly be observed. Such chamfering process can be repeated until a desired shape is obtained. In this manner, the head slider can readily be chamfered with a high accuracy.

Abstract: A head slider has a medium-opposed surface opposed to a storage medium at a distance in a storage apparatus. The medium-opposed surface receives airflow through relative movement between the storage medium and the head slider. The flexure holds the head slider at a predetermined mounting area. The head slider flies above the storage medium in a pitched attitude. A predetermined pitch angle is established in the pitched attitude. An actuator serves to deform the flexure outside the mounting area for the head slider so as to forcefully change the pitched attitude within a predetermined range of a pitch angle. A change in the pitched attitude, namely a change in the pitch angle results in a change in the flying height of the head slider. The flying height can be changed without changing the design of the head slider.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing sliders with protective contacts features the fabrication of which is initiated at the wafer level. Recesses are formed in the wafer, a protective material is provided in the recesses, and the wafer is sliced along the recesses and diced into sliders, such that the protective material forms corners of the sliders. The protective material may be disposed such that it has a low elastic modulus at the corners, and a higher elastic modulus at a displacement from the corners which is still lower than the elastic modulus of the slider body, thereby providing superior protection for potential contacts between the slider and an adjacent media surface.

Abstract: A head slider that includes a slider body having a air bearing surface, a magnetic head provided on the slider body, and a lubricant layer disposed on the air bearing surface, the lubricant layer being composed of a fluorocarbon resin.