Abstract: An lithographic reticle may be formed comprising a transparent substrate, a substantially opaque mask formed on the transparent substrate that defines at least one exposure window, wherein the at least one exposure window has a first end, a first filter formed on the transparent substrate within the at least one exposure window and abutting the first end thereof, and a second filter formed on the transparent substrate within the at least one exposure window and abutting the first filter, wherein an average transmissivity of the first filter is substantially one half of a transmissivity of the second filter. In another embodiment, the at least one exposure window includes a third filter abutting the second end and is adjacent the second filter. Further embodiments of the present description include interconnection structures and systems fabricated using the lithographic reticle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head gimbal assembly includes a suspension and a magnetic head supported by the suspension via a gimbal portion. The magnetic head includes a slider and a head portion provided in the slider. The slider includes an air bearing surface, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface, and a trailing-side end surface. The slider includes a deep groove which is formed between the leading-side step portion and the trailing-side step portion and is open to the air bearing surface and the pair of side surfaces, and a pair of partition walls which extends from the trailing-side step portion toward the leading-side step portion along the pair of side surfaces to close at least a portion of a side surface opening of the deep groove.

Abstract: Active pressure in the air bearing surface of a slider in the region of the transducer is reduced by introducing two channels in the center pad of the advanced air bearing along each side of the centerline and spaced apart from the transducer. This configuration moves the high pressure region away from the transducer zone at the trailing edge of the slider.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are hard disk drive sliders having one or more tunnels between the leading-edge surface of the slider and the air-bearing surface (ABS) that may be used to control the pitch and/or fly height of the slider. A slider comprises a leading-edge surface, an ABS, and a tunnel having an entry area at the leading-edge surface and an exit area at the ABS, the tunnel for directing gas impinging on the entry area through the slider and out the exit area toward a surface of a hard disk. The tunnel may be a convergent tunnel. The tunnel may include two or more branches.

Abstract: A disk drive for redirecting contaminating particulate matter away from an area bearing of a slider element. At least two etched channels are provided in the slider element of the disk drive. The at least two etched channels direct incoming air flow to a leading edge of the slider element from the leading edge towards respective sides of the slider element. Particulate matter that may be progressing towards the air bearing are redirected by virtue of the incoming air flow to the leading edge and expelled from the air bearing via the at least two etched channels.

Abstract: A slider that minimizes lubricant accumulation includes bearing surfaces that provide above ambient fluid pressure, a cavity located between two bearing surfaces and at least one step feature that is spaced apart from the bearing surfaces and is located in and protrudes from a floor of the cavity at a height that is less than a height of the bearing surfaces. The at least one step feature includes surfaces configured to diverge and converge airflow in the cavity.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a subambient pressure air bearing slider utilizing negative pressure grooves. In one embodiment, a groove extends from a slider's leading edge, splits, and terminates in two locations at the slider's trailing edge. In one embodiment, a groove is provided in a slider's compression pad near the trailing edge of the slider.

Abstract: A slider having an air bearing surface and a leading face is described. The slider comprises a leading edge blend comprising a first curved surface formed at an intersection of the air bearing surface and the leading face. The slider further comprises at least one step feature having a second surface with a first portion recessed from the air bearing surface and a second portion recessed from and conformal to the first curved surface of the leading edge blend.

Abstract: A magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk and a magnetic head having a magnetic head slider flying by an action of air during rotation of the magnetic disk, wherein an inflow of air from a direction of a leading side face of the magnetic head slider forming an air bearing film effect at an air bearing surface face of the magnetic head slider which faces the magnetic disk, and the air flows out from a trailing side face of the magnetic head slider. The magnetic head slider has a wettability, in at least a part of an outer region defined on the trailing side face and adjoining other faces including the air bearing surface face of the magnetic head slider, which is lower than a wettability of at least one other region present at the trailing side face.

Abstract: A head-slider. The head-slider includes a magnetic-recording head and an air-bearing surface. The air-bearing surface includes air-bearing portions, shallow-recessed surfaces, and a deep-recessed surface. Air-bearing portions are configured to fly nearest to a magnetic-recording disk; shallow-recessed surfaces have a first depth from the air-bearing portions; the deep-recessed surface has a second depth, larger than the first depth, from the air-bearing portions. Air-bearing portions and shallow-recessed surfaces are configured to generate positive pressure; and, the deep-recessed surface is configured to generate negative pressure.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head includes a slider and a head section on the slider. A supporting surface of the slider includes a leading step in an inflow side of airflow, a leading pad on the leading step, a negative-pressure cavity in a downstream side of the leading pad, a trailing step in an outflow end side of the airflow, a center rail extending from the leading step to the trailing step, a guide groove in the center rail, configured to guide the airflow to the trailing step, and an intake groove formed in the leading pad, extending in a direction transverse to the airflow, communicating with the guide groove, and includes two end parts in its longitudinal direction, the two end parts extending in a direction of the airflow and forming openings open to the inflow side of the leading pad.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling lubrication in hard disk drives. Hard disk drives often include lubrication on the disks to protect the disks from incidental contact with the head slider. Embodiments of the invention include lubrication control surfaces or dams on the air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider. The dams redirect air flow on the ABS and/or redirects excess lubrication that migrates from the disk to the head slider. By redirecting excess lubrication, the lubrication control dams remove and/or store the lubrication and avoid failure that may occur as a result of the lubrication interfering with the ABS or the read/write elements of the head.

Abstract: A novel head includes an air bearing surface having a trailing pad adjacent the read transducer and lying in a primary plane. The air bearing surface includes a sub-ambient pressure cavity recessed from the primary plane by at least 500 nm. At least one leading pad is disposed upstream of the sub-ambient pressure cavity and has a leading pad surface in the primary plane. A moat is disposed upstream of the leading pad and is recessed from the primary plane by at least 500 nm. The moat continuously spans the entire width of the slider. A particle fence in the primary plane is disposed immediately upstream of the moat and adjacent the leading face. The particle fence continuously laterally spans at least 70% of the width of the slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head includes a head slider including a bearing surface and configured to fly by an airflow between the recording medium surface and the bearing surface, and a recording element and a reproduction element arranged in an outflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow. The bearing surface includes a first pressure generating portion on an inflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow, configured to generate a pressure, a second pressure generating portion on the outflow end portion, configured to generate a pressure, and a third pressure generating portion between the first and second pressure generating portions at a transverse central part of the bearing surface, configured to generate a pressure higher than that generated by the first pressure generating portion and lower than that generated by the second pressure generating portion.

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 slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier also includes a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of the slider.

Abstract: A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head includes a slider and a head section on the slider. A supporting surface of the slider includes a leading step in an inflow side of airflow, a leading pad on the leading step, a negative-pressure cavity in a downstream side of the leading pad, a trailing step in an outflow end side of the airflow, a center rail extending from the leading step to the trailing step, a guide groove in the center rail, configured to guide the airflow to the trailing step, and an intake groove formed in the leading pad, extending in a direction transverse to the airflow, communicating with the guide groove, and includes two end parts in its longitudinal direction, the two end parts extending in a direction of the airflow and forming openings open to the inflow side of the leading pad.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preventing TMR MRR drop of a slider, including: positioning a row bar constructed by sliders on a tray, each slider incorporating a TMR element; loading the tray into a processing chamber and evacuating the processing chamber to a predetermined pressure; forming a first etching means; exposing the sliders to the first etching means such that an oxide layer is formed on a surface of the TMR element; forming a second etching means; and exposing the sliders to the second etching means such that the oxide layer is etched to get a reduced thickness. The invention also discloses a method for manufacturing sliders.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head of a disk device has a slider and a head portion disposed on the slider. The slider has a facing surface opposed to a surface of a rotatable recording medium and is flown by an airflow. The facing surface of the slider has a first direction extending in a direction of the airflow and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The slider includes a negative-pressure cavity, a leading step portion, a leading pad which protrudes from the leading step portion, a recess which is formed in that part of the leading step portion which is situated on an upstream side of the leading pad with respect to the airflow and defines a first step portion and a second step portion which individually extend in a direction across the first direction and are spaced in the first direction, and a trailing step portion.

Abstract: A head has an air bearing surface with left and right leading pressurizing steps. The left and right leading pressurizing steps are each partially surrounded by left and right leading pads, respectively. The left leading pressurizing step includes a left short region that extends for a first distance (measured parallel to the slider longitudinal axis) from the leading face of the slider to the left leading pad. The left leading pressurizing step also includes a left long region that extends for a second distance (measured parallel to the longitudinal axis) from the leading face to the left leading pad. The second distance is at least 25% greater than the first distance. The left short region is disposed closer to the left lateral face than is the left long region. The left long region is disposed closer to the longitudinal axis than is the left short region.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce damage to a disk recording medium when a slider flying above the disk recording medium inside a magnetic disk drive comes into contact with the disk recording medium due to slider vibration. In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes a front pad, a rear pad, and carbon protective films. The front pad includes a step bearing surface disposed on the side of a leading end and leading side rail surfaces formed on the step bearing surface. The rear pad includes a rear step bearing surface disposed across a deep groove surface from the front pad and a trailing side rail surface formed on the rear step bearing surface. The carbon protective films are formed on regions including vertices of slider corner portions, respectively. The leading side rail surfaces and the trailing side rail surface are formed substantially on the same level. The carbon protective films are harder than a slider base material and have a small coefficient of friction.

Abstract: A slider operating air bearing surface (ABS) to remove a front saturation water vapor pressure peak near a front bulwark and a bad flow pattern area the between front bulwark and a central island. The ABS implementing these operations. Alternatively, ABS includes a front bulwark channel in the front bulwark and a central fin between the front bulwark and the central island. Slider includes an embodiment of the ABS. Head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes the slider. Head stack assembly includes at least one HGA. Hard disk drive includes the head stack assembly. Manufacturing methods for the slider, the HGA, the head stack assembly, the hard disk drive, and these items as products of their manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An apparatus allowing for a slider for use in a disk drive is disclosed. An embodiment of the present invention may include a leading side, a trailing side, at least two main rails, a slider surface with an air bearing surface, and at least one trench substantially parallel to the width of the slider. The trench in the air bearing surface results in a lower compression length of the slider and allows for particles to be channeled off of the disk surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a controlled air bearing which allows adjustable control over the magnetic spacing between the pole tips of a slider and the surface of the disc. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a slider for use in a data storage system, the slider comprises a base portion having a leading edge end and a trailing edge end. The embodiment further comprises a movable air bearing surface element positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion. Finally, the embodiment further comprises an actuator positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion and coupling the base portion to the movable air bearing surface element, the actuator selectively controllable to move the movable air bearing surface element relative to the base portion to alter an air bearing surface provided by the base portion and the movable air bearing surface element to thereby control a fly height of the slider.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a slider of a head comprises a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on an inflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on an outflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a leading pad provided on an end portion of the leading step portion on the negative-pressure cavity side, and a plurality of recesses formed on the inflow side of the leading pad and individually opening in the inflow-side end face. The leading step portion includes a main step portion which is situated beside the inflow side of the leading pad and extends in a second direction, and at least one extended step portion extending transversely to the second direction from the main step portion toward the inflow side and situated between the recesses.

Abstract: A slider having an improved atmospheric pressure variation characteristic can be provided by ensuring the desired amount of inflow of air flowing to the air bearing surface in a region where it is difficult to ensure the desired air inflow amount, e.g., a region where the slider/disk relative speed is low or a region where the area of the air bearing surface is small by forming a groove configuration surface in a specified shape. In the negative pressure utilization type slider, a groove configuration surface lower in height than an air in flow surface is formed between the disk inner peripheral end and the disk outer peripheral end of the air inflow surface in the air flow incoming end side of a pressure generating surface, separately from a negative pressure generating surface.

Abstract: When the flying height of a magnetic head slider lowers, there arises the problem that the magnetic head slider assumes a forwardly falling attitude and a front edge portion of a leading end of the magnetic head slider comes into contact with a magnetic disk surface, causing damage to the disk surface. To address the problem, one aspect of the invention is directed to a magnetic head slider which includes an air bearing surface, a leading end and a trailing end. Three flying pads are formed on the air bearing surface and a step bearing surface is formed around the first and second flying pads near the leading end and a negative pressure groove for producing a negative pressure is formed in such a manner that the leading side is surrounded by the step bearing surface. The third flying pad is formed near the trailing end and is provided with a magnetic head. A step bearing is formed on the leading side of the third flying pad.

Abstract: A disk drive for storing data includes a rotating storage disk and a slider positioned near the storage disk. The slider has a flying side and a read/write head. The flying side includes a leading bearing surface and a leading recessed surface positioned near a leading edge of the slider. The leading bearing surface can include a leading transverse section that is positioned within approximately 20 and 200 microns of the leading edge. The leading recessed surface is positioned between the leading transverse section and the leading edge. The leading bearing surface and the leading recessed surface cooperate to form a relatively high pressure area near the leading edge that facilitates a relatively rapid take-off of the slider away from the storage disk during start up of the disk drive.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a head comprises a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on the upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on the outflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of skirt portions extending in the first direction from the side portions toward the outflow end of the slider and being deeper than the side portions, and intermediate step portions extending continuously along the skirt portions outside the skirt portions with respect to the second direction and formed to be deeper than the skirt portions and shallower than the negative-pressure cavity.

Abstract: A head apparatus includes a head that records information into and reproduces the information from a disc, a slider that supports the head, and flies above a surface of the disc when the disc rotates, the slider having a medium opposing surface that opposes to the disc, a positive pressure part that is formed on the medium opposing surface of the slider, generates a lifting power used to float the slider in cooperation with an airflow formed as the disc rotates, and defines a pitch angle of the slider, and a negative pressure part that is formed on the medium opposing surface of the slider, and decreases a flying height of the slider in cooperation with the airflow, wherein (E/L)×100?6 is met, where L is a length of the medium opposing surface along a direction from an inflow end to an outflow end of the airflow, and E is the shortest distance between the positive pressure part and the negative pressure part along the direction from the inflow end to the outflow.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a three step air bearing with improved fly height performance is disclosed. The slider includes a funnel structure for directing air flow to a predetermined location toward a trailing edge of the slider and a collection structure for gathering air flow at the predetermined location. The slider is formed using three etch depths. A crossrail and side rails may be provided. The elements of the slider form five negative pressure areas to provide improved air bearing stiffness and minimize fly height sigma performance. The collection structure includes angled sides and the side rails further include trailing ABS side angles, wherein the trailing ABS side angles and the angled sides of the collection structure directing air flow around the collection structure to prevent contamination buildup.

Abstract: A slider of a head has a negative-pressure cavity which is formed in the facing surface and generates a negative pressure, a leading step portion which protrudes from the facing surface and is situated on an upstream side of the air current with respect to the negative-pressure cavity, and a leading pad which is provided on the leading step portion and faces the recording medium. The leading pad has an inlet end edge which is situated on the upstream side of the air current and extends throughout a length of the leading step portion in the transverse direction, and a plurality of recesses which individually open in the inlet end edge and extend in the longitudinal direction from the inlet end edge.

Abstract: A magnetic head structure is formed on an air-bearing surface thereof including first, second and third surfaces located in order in a height direction from a level closest to the magnetic recording medium so as to form negative and positive pressure-generating regions. The structure includes a first positive pressure-generating region having the second and first surfaces formed at a central portion along a longitudinal direction thereof, a first negative pressure-generating region having the third surface formed on a side of an air inlet edge with respect to the first positive pressure-generating region and a second negative pressure-generating region having the third surface formed on a side of an air outlet edge with respect to the first positive pressure-generating region.

Abstract: A head slider includes a parallelepiped-shaped slider base having a flat flying surface. A flat first step is formed at an air inlet end of the flying surface to be stepped from the flying surface. A flat second step is formed on the first step to be stepped from the flying surface. A vacuum area is formed at a downstream end of an air flow flowing from the first and second steps on the flying surface. At least one groove is formed on a portion of the first step for introducing air to the vacuum area. The width of the groove at the air inlet end and the width of the groove at an air outlet end can differ from each other. A trailing edge of the first step can be closer to a trailing edge of the slider base than a trailing edge of the second step.

Abstract: In general, this invention is directed to a rail and slider system having residential and commercial organizational applications. In one aspect, the system comprises at least one rail and a slider mounted on the rail for sliding movement along the rail. The rail and slider have teeth which releasably engage with one another for locking the slider at selected positions along the rail. A spring device on the slider urges the slider toward a locked position. The slider is manually movable against the urging of the spring device from its locked position to an unlocked position in which the teeth on the arms and the tracks are disengaged to permit sliding movement of the slider along the rail to a different selected position. Various items can be attached to the slider, e.g., a funnel-shaped holder and shelf bracket.

Abstract: A head for use in a magnetic hard disk drive or other information storage device includes a novel ABS. The novel ABS includes an inter-cavity dam that is disposed between at least a portion of a cavity and a trailing pad. The inter-cavity dam is spaced longitudinally from the trailing pad by at least one thirtieth of the slider length. The inter-cavity dam includes an OD dam surface and an ID dam surface, with a slider-bisecting longitudinal plane passing between a majority of the OD dam surface and a majority of the ID dam surface. The OD dam surface is recessed from the first plane by an OD dam recession, and the ID dam surface is recessed from the first plane by an ID dam recession that is not equal to the OD dam recession.

Abstract: A head slider includes a parallelepiped-shaped slider base having a flat flying surface. A flat first step is formed at an air inlet end of the flying surface to be stepped from the flying surface. A flat second step is formed on the first step to be stepped from the flying surface. A vacuum area is formed at a downstream end of an air flow flowing from the first and second steps on the flying surface. At least one groove is formed on a portion of the first step for introducing air to the vacuum area. The width of the groove at the air inlet end and the width of the groove at an air outlet end can differ from each other. A trailing edge of the first step can be closer to a trailing edge of the slider base than a trailing edge of the second step.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention pertains to a slider that includes a substrate, a transducer tip disposed on the substrate, and a hydrodynamic surface including a responsive aeroelastic deposit. The substrate has a first coefficient of expansion responsive to a stimulus. The transducer tip has having a second coefficient of expansion responsive to the stimulus that is greater than the first coefficient of expansion. The aeroelastic deposit has a third coefficient of expansion responsive to the stimulus that is greater than the first coefficient of expansion. The responsive aeroelastic deposit allows the slider to alter its flight characteristics responsively and elastically to changing operating conditions.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider includes a magnetic head mounting surface, a slider rail surface, a step air bearing surface, and a negative pressure groove. The magnetic head mounting surface is arranged in a center area with respect to a width of the slider near an air flow-out edge on the slider and mounts a magnetic head. The slider rail surface has a first depth from the magnetic head mounting surface and its width on an air flow-in side for the magnetic head is wider that its width on an air flow-out side for the magnetic head. The step air bearing surface is formed on an air flow-in side of the slider rail surface and has a second depth from the slider rail surface. The negative-pressure groove which formed on an air flow-in side of the step air bearing surface and has a third depth from the step air bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head apparatus including a magnetic head slider having an overall front half region area (S) and a step surface area (S1) and a positive-pressure generating surface area (S2) both in the front half region, such that the area ratio S1/S is about 0.180 to about 0.232 and the area ratio S1/S2 is about 0.30 to about 0.47. With this arrangement a difference in pitch angles of the magnetic head slider at the moment when it is just levitated and during levitation is large, and a variation of the pitch angle due to a pressure change is small, thereby preventing damage to a magnetic element within the magnetic head slider while achieving a stable levitation attitude of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: A flying head slider includes a slider body. The upstream or leading end of a bottom surface on the slider body is defined along a first datum line extending in the lateral direction of the slider body. The first datum line may be set perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the slider body. The upstream or leading end of the front air bearing surface is defined along a second datum line intersecting the first datum line at a predetermined inclined angle. As the incidence angle of an airflow colliding against a step defined at the leading end of the front air bearing surface gets decreased, the pitch angle of the slider body also gets decreased in the flying head slider during flight.

Abstract: An air bearing slider of a disk including a body having a surface facing a disk; a first rail base protruding from the surface facing the disk; a first rail portion protruding from the first rail base, the first rail portion including a cross rail separated from a leading end portion of the first rail base and extending perpendicular to a direction in which air enters, and a pair of side rails respectively extending from both ends of the cross rail parallel to the direction in which air enters; a negative pressure cavity defined by the first rail base; a second rail base protruding from the surface facing the disk; a second rail portion protruding from the second rail base; and an air flow channel disposed between the leading end portion of the first rail base and the cross rail, extending perpendicular to the direction in which air enters.

Abstract: A flying head slider includes a first air bearing having plural step-faces and being prepared on a base surface at air inflow side, and a second air bearing being prepared on the base surface at air outflow side. The upper most surface of the second air bearing is lower than the upper most surface of the first air bearing.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider mounted on a magnetic disk unit for supporting a magnetic head that writes and reads information to and from a magnetic disk is constructed such that a depth ?s1 from the surfaces of leading and trailing pads, which come into contact with a medium surface when the disk is at rest, to stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the leading pads, a depth ?s2 from the contact surfaces to stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the trailing pad and a step depth ?s3 from the contact surfaces to the surfaces of side rails are in a relation of ?s1??s2??s3. With this arrangement, the slider can follow the waved medium surface at a low flying height with a small flying height fluctuation, thus realizing high density recording, high reliability and reduced cost of the magnetic disk unit.

Abstract: A flying head slider includes a slider body. The upstream or leading end of a bottom surface on the slider body is defined along a first datum line extending in the lateral direction of the slider body. The first datum line may be set perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the slider body. The upstream or leading end of the front air bearing surface is defined along a second datum line intersecting the first datum line at a predetermined inclined angle. As the incidence angle of an airflow colliding against a step defined at the leading end of the front air bearing surface gets decreased, the pitch angle of the slider body also gets decreased in the flying head slider during flight.

Abstract: A flying head slider includes a slider body. The upstream or leading end of a bottom surface on the slider body is defined along a first datum line extending in the lateral direction of the slider body. The first datum line may be set perpendicular to the longitudinal centerline of the slider body. The upstream or leading end of the front air bearing surface is defined along a second datum line intersecting the first datum line at a predetermined inclined angle. As the incidence angle of an airflow colliding against a step defined at the leading end of the front air bearing surface gets decreased, the pitch angle of the slider body also gets decreased in the flying head slider during flight.

Abstract: A Head slider 20 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and a disk-facing surface adapted to oppose a disk 400, as well as a head 22 disposed on the disk-facing surface for performing record/reproduce operations. The disk-facing surface has a cross rail 261 disposed at a predetermined distance from an upstream edge portion 36 perpendicular to the rotating direction of disk 400, and an upstream-side intermediate-level surface 32 formed to be lower than cross rail 261 and extended from the forward edge of cross rail 261 to upstream edge portion 36. A step depth H at a stepped portion 38 between cross rail 261 and intermediate-level surface 32 is set to be within a range of 5 nm to 100 nm. Thus, a disk drive is provided that is capable of record/reproduce operations while maintaining stable flight of head slider 20 when the relative speed between the head slider and disk is low and that has good shock resistance.

Abstract: A disc head slider is provided and includes a slider body having a disc-facing surface which includes a bearing surface that is generally disposed within a bearing surface plane. An angled inside rail, an angled outside rail and a cavity dam are formed on the disc-facing surface. At least one of the angled inside rail, the angled outside rail and the cavity dam includes a surface portion that defines at least a portion of the bearing surface. A sub-ambient pressure cavity is formed between the angled inside and outside rails, and includes a cavity floor that is displaced from the bearing surface plane. At least one recessed surface is formed on the disc-facing surface and is generally positioned outside of the angled inside rail, the angled outside rail and the sub-ambient pressure cavity. The recessed surface(s) is further displaced from the bearing surface plane than the cavity floor.

Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider includes a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the recording disc. First and second projections extend from a lead portion of a principal surface of the slider body to define first and second air bearing surfaces, respectively, the first and second air bearing surfaces being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of said slider body. A third U-shaped projection extends from the principal surface and includes a curved front wall portion at least partially located between the first and second projections and first and second side wall portions extending from opposite ends of the curved front wall portion to a rear portion of the principal surface so as to define a rounded negative pressure cavity therein.