Abstract: Disclosed herein are slider designs having improved trailing air flow dams, and data storage devices including such sliders. In some embodiments, a slider comprises a trailing edge and an air-bearing surface (ABS) comprising a trailing edge pad, and a trailing air flow dam coupled to the trailing edge pad, wherein, in an ABS view of the slider, the trailing air flow dam is recessed from and curves away from the trailing edge. In the ABS view, a shape of the trailing air flow dam may comprise two segments. The slider also has a leading edge and may at least one sub-ambient pressure cavity adjacent to the trailing air flow dam and disposed between the trailing air flow dam and the leading edge. A contact point of the trailing air flow dam may be at least 50 microns from a corner of the slider.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are sliders that include at least one leading-edge pocket, data storage devices comprising such sliders, and methods of manufacturing such sliders. The at least one leading-edge pocket increases the amount of gas flowing into the leading edge area of the ABS, which can improve the performance of the slider in low-pressure environments, such as sealed helium data storage devices. The at least one leading-edge pocket can have a variety of shapes, sizes, and features to achieve the desired slider performance (e.g., fly height, stability, etc.) in low-pressure environments.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are hard disk drive sliders having an air-bearing surface (ABS) with an efficiency-flattening hole (EFH). The sliders comprise a trailing edge pad that has a first surface at a first level with a first perimeter, a second surface at a second level, the second level being below the first level, the second surface being substantially parallel to the first surface, the second surface having a second perimeter, wherein the second perimeter is within the first perimeter, and a third surface at a third level, the third level being below the second level, the third surface being substantially parallel to the first and second surfaces, the third surface having a third perimeter, wherein the third perimeter is within the second perimeter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the wear on a hard disk drive. Specifically, determining the overcoat wear of a head and/or disk during operation. In one embodiment, the magnetic head is disposed adjacent to the disk. A slider voltage is applied between a disk having a first overcoat and a head having a second overcoat as the disk is spinning By monitoring in real time a change in both touchdown power and a change in an interfacial current at a head disk interface, an electrochemical oxidation of the first overcoat can be determined. Additionally, by changing the polarity of the slider voltage, an electrochemical oxidation of the second overcoat can be determined. Finally, by measuring a passivation current produced between the head and the disk, the precise location of a touchdown event can be determined.

Abstract: A slider for a hard disk includes a leading structure having a first air bearing surface portion, a trailing structure having a second air bearing surface portion, and a cavity between the leading structure and the trailing structure. The leading structure has one or more interior walls defining a pit therein. A hard disk drive includes a rotatable magnetic recording disk and the slider.

Abstract: A disk drive is provided having one or more structural air bearing surface (ABS) features that can block particulate matter, such as lube droplets that may enter the air bearing from the trailing edge or rearward portion of the slider. Moreover, such structural ABS features can influence air flow within or about the air bearing to prevent or at least reduce the accumulation of particles and/or droplets in one or more areas of the air bearing to reduce the reliability problems induced by particle contamination and lube pick-up.

Abstract: A slider includes a substrate having a trailing edge, a leading edge opposite the trailing edge, and an air bearing surface connecting the trailing edge with the leading edge; a read/write transducer formed at the trailing edge; and a coat layer attached on the trailing edge and covering on the read/write transducer. The slider further includes a protection layer for shielding the read/write transducer thereby preventing the read/write transducer from damaging during a laser soldering process. The present invention can prevent the read/write transducer from damaging during the laser bonding process and, in turn improve the reading and writing performance of the slider. The invention also discloses an HGA and a disk drive unit.

Abstract: A DFH (Dynamic Flying Height) type slider ABS design has significantly improved DFH efficiency and back-off efficiency as well as uniform touchdown detectability. This is the result of decoupling the local pressure variations at the read/write head that result from skew angle variations across a disk, from local stiffness due to ABS protrusion caused by heater activation. The decoupling, which allows the heater activation stiffness to be carefully tuned, is a result of the effects of airflow channeled by a wide down-track channel onto a narrow down-track channel formed in an extended finger of the central pad of the slider. Airflow impinges on the finger channel in a manner that eliminates variations in air pressure at the central pad due to variations in skew angle.

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 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: In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit.

Abstract: A slider includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a transducer adjacent to the trailing edge, and an air bearing surface. The air bearing surface includes a forward pad, a rearward pad, and a center rail pad feature disposed along a longitudinal axis of the slider. The center rail pad feature includes a first shallow recess finger and a second shallow recess finger diverging from the longitudinal axis toward the trailing edge.

Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, includes an ESD adhesive operatively coupled to leads of an electronic device for providing ESD protection thereto, the ESD adhesive including a mixture of a polymeric thin film and electrically conductive fillers dispersed in the polymeric thin film, and has a structural characteristic of being formed through at least partial evaporation of a solvent therefrom and being substantially free of agglomerates of the electrically conductive fillers. In another embodiment, a method for providing ESD protection to an element of an electronic device includes preventing formation of agglomerates of electrically conductive fillers in an ESD adhesive that includes a polymeric thin film, the electrically conductive fillers dispersed therein, and a solvent by subjecting the ESD adhesive to high-energy mixing during formation thereof, applying the ESD adhesive across exposed leads, such as leads of a cable, PCB, or other substrate, and evaporating solvent from the ESD adhesive.

Abstract: A head slider for supporting a head over a magnetic disk in a hard disk drive, and a method of making the head slider are disclosed. The air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider includes a relatively deep recess in front of a trailing pad and an island pad. A recess is formed between the trailing pad and the island pad of the ABS. In operation, the recess may reduce the peak pressure of the ABS, resulting in a reduced mid disk (MD) hump without a reduction in other performance parameters. The reduction in peak pressure may also reduce lubrication pick-up from the magnetic disk.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method employing a slider having a leading edge opposing a trailing edge. A fluid bearing surface extends between the leading edge and the trailing edge. The fluid bearing surface contactingly engages a fluid stream operably imparted to the fluid bearing surface by a moving member adjacent thereto. A trailing edge pad extends from the fluid bearing surface adjacent the trailing edge. A capillary lubrication trench (CLT) is disposed entirely between a portion of the trailing edge pad and the trailing edge along a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal axis from the leading edge to the trailing edge.

Abstract: Disclosed are a slider for a memory device and a memory device having the same. The slider for a memory device includes a slider body configured to fly over the surface of a medium at a particular height; and a reverse flow preventing unit disposed at part of the slider body adjacent to a trailing edge of the slider body and configured to prevent a reverse flow of air between the medium and the slider body.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to air-bearing sliders used in magnetic storage systems that employ a trench arranged between a transducing head connected to a slider body and a leading edge of the slider body. The trench is configured to divert air passing over an air-bearing surface of the slider body away from the transducing head.

Abstract: A slider comprising a body having an air bearing surface (ABS), wherein the ABS extends between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the body. The slider comprises a transducer supported by the body and positioned near the trailing edge, wherein the transducer comprises a pole tip partially extending from the body. The slider comprises a surface defined in the body and forming the trailing edge, wherein the surface comprises a plurality of segments. A first segment of the plurality of segments extends from the ABS and is offset from a portion of the pole tip recessed within the body. The first segment is offset from the pole tip portion by a lesser extent than any other of the plurality of segments.

Abstract: A hard disk drive system is provided. The hard disk drive system includes a hard disk and at least one slider structure for reading data from and writing data onto the hard disk. The hard disk includes a plurality of layers, and at least a topmost one of the plurality of layers comprises a lubricant layer. The at least one slider structure includes an air bearing surface and one or more structures for forming lubricant reservoirs. The air bearing surface includes a read/write sensor for reading and writing the data from/onto the hard disk. And the one or more structures form the lubricant reservoirs which are fluidically coupled to the air bearing surface to prevent lubricant buildup on the air bearing surface.

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: The head-slider is configured to receive an air-stream produced by rotation of a magnetic-recording disk and is configured to fly in proximity with a recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider includes a trailing edge on an outflow side of the air-stream, and a disk-facing surface that is configured to face the recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk. A low-surface-energy film is disposed on a portion of a trailing-edge side of the head-slider that is in contact with a boundary between the trailing edge and the disk-facing surface. The low-surface-energy film has a lower surface energy than other portions of the trailing-edge side where the low-surface-energy film is not disposed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a head slider including a bearing surface opposed to a surface of a recording medium, an inflow end face, and an outflow end face, and configured to fly by an airflow between the recording medium surface and the bearing surface, and a recording element and a reproduction element disposed in an outflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow. The bearing surface of the head slider includes a trailing step on the outflow end portion, a trailing pad on the trailing step and includes an outflow end kept at an inflow-side gap away from the outflow end face, and a first groove formed along a step portion at a boundary between the trailing step and the trailing pad.

Abstract: A contact pad includes a first layer of material with a first yield strength and a second layer of material with a second yield strength is laminated to the first layer. A third yield strength of the laminated composite of the first layer and the second layer exceeds the first yield strength and the second yield strength due to the Hall-Petch phenomenon. An overcoat covers an edge of the first layer and the second layer of the contact pad to prevent wear. A method of creating the contact pad or other microelectronic structure includes depositing a first layer of material with a first yield strength on a substrate. A second layer of material with a second yield strength is deposited on the first layer. An edge of the first layer and the second layer is coated with an overcoat material to prevent wear of the first and second layers.

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: Disclosed are a slider for a memory device and a hard memory device having the same. The slider for a memory device includes a slider body configured to fly over the surface of a medium at a particular height; and a reverse flow preventing unit disposed at part of the slider body adjacent to a trailing edge of the slider body and configured to prevent a reverse flow of air between the medium and the slider body.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head slider adapted to fly over a surface of a magnetic recording medium and read or write information. The magnetic head slider includes a slider air bearing surface and a magnetic transducer. The slider air bearing surface includes a front pad having front rail surfaces and front step bearing surfaces, a rear pad having a rear rail surface and a rear step bearing surface, and a negative-pressure groove interposed between the front pad and the rear pad. A vibration suppressing groove is formed in the rear rail surface so as to be deeper than the rear rail surface and to be closed at its periphery. The vibration suppressing groove quickly damps out translational and pitching vibrations in the flying height direction of the magnetic head slider while stabilizing its flying.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to reducing the probability of a slider contacting a surface of a disk. According to one embodiment, a first etch is performed on the slider. Air compression mechanisms are created near each corner associated with a trailing edge of the slider so that the probability that the corners will contact the surface of the disk is reduced.

Abstract: This application discloses a hard disk drive, a head stack assembly, a head gimbal assembly, each including a slider with a deposited end including at least one means for retaining lubricant that tends to accumulate on the deposited end.

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 which is configured to fly above a magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider includes a disk-facing side, which faces the magnetic-recording disk. The disk-facing side includes a plurality of surfaces including at least: a step bearing surface; a rail surface, which protrudes toward the magnetic-recording disk and is configured to exert a positive pressure; a deep-recessed surface, which is formed deeper than the step bearing surface and is configured to exert a negative pressure; an extended lateral surface, which is formed at substantially a same depth as the step bearing surface and disposed outside the deep-recessed surface in a width direction of the head-slider; and, an extended rear surface, which is formed at substantially the same depth as the step bearing surface and disposed at a trailing edge of the head-slider, and contiguous with the extended lateral surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a magnetic head is provided with 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 outlet end side of the negative-pressure cavity, and a pair of embossed portions formed on the facing surface so as to project from the negative-pressure cavity and provided on the outlet side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow. The embossed portions individually extend along a second direction so as to be situated individually on the opposite sides of the trailing step portion and are formed so as to be lower than the trailing step portion with respect to the negative-pressure cavity and flush with an outlet-side end surface 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. 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: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a disk and a head-slider. The head-slider includes an air-bearing surface. The air-bearing surface includes a trailing-edge rail surface, an inner trailing-edge pad, and an outer trailing-edge pad. The pad surface of the outer trailing-edge pad includes a straight outer edge slanting outward; and, the angle of the outer edge with respect to the longitudinal direction of the head-slider is ?1. The pad surface of the inner trailing-edge pad includes a straight inner edge slanting inward; and, the angle of the inner edge with respect to the longitudinal direction of the head-slider is ?2. For absolute values of skew angles at an outermost data track position and an innermost data track position on the disk that are denoted by ?1 and ?2, respectively, the following conditions are satisfied: ?2??1,?1+?1?90°, and ?1??2,?2+?2?90°.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a head includes a trailing step portion which protrudes from a facing surface of the slider, is situated on the downstream side of a negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow, and has a top surface, a trailing pad which protrudes from the top surface, and an adjustment recess which is formed in the top surface on the upstream side of the trailing pad with respect to the airflow and is shallower than the negative-pressure cavity. The adjustment recess defines a first step portion, which extends across a first direction and hangs from the top surface toward a bottom of the adjustment recess, and a second step portion, which extends across the first direction, is spaced in the first direction from the first step portion, and rises from the bottom of the adjustment recess toward the top surface.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a slider designed to reduce fly height sigma. According to one embodiment, a slider includes an air bearing surface, a front shallow step pad, a rear shallow step pad, and rear side pockets. The front shallow step pad and the rear shallow step pad are at a first level deeper than the air bearing surface. The rear side pockets are at a second level deeper than the air bearing surface. The rear side pockets are in close proximity to rear corners of the slider.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head includes a slider including a supporting surface opposed to a surface of a rotatable recording medium, and a head section on the slider, configured to record data on and reproduce data from the recording medium. The supporting surface includes a negative-pressure cavity in the supporting surface to produce a negative pressure, a leading step on an inflow side of the airflow in relation to the negative-pressure cavity, a trailing step on an outflow side of the airflow in relation to the negative-pressure cavity, and including the head section, and a pad provided outside the trailing step at an outflow end part of the negative-pressure cavity, and open in at least one of a central side of the slider and an outflow end side of the slider.

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 an embodiment, a slider of a head is provided with a negative-pressure cavity 54 formed in a disk-facing surface, a leading step portion located on the upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a head mounting pad provided on the facing surface on an outflow side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow and provided with a head portion, a positive-pressure generating pad which is arranged on the facing surface between a leading pad and the head mounting pad and configured to produce a positive pressure, and a pair of center skirts which are disposed on the outflow side of the positive-pressure generating pad and are shallower than the negative-pressure cavity.

Abstract: A magnetic head device is provided. A slider of a magnetic head device has a side that faces a recording medium and on which a first positive pressure is exerted on the leading side and a second positive pressure is exerted on the trailing side. In the area between the first positive pressure area and the second positive pressure area, a small second negative pressure is created at the front. A first negative pressure larger than the second negative pressure is created at the rear. A third positive pressure is exerted on both sides of the first negative pressure area. When air density decreases, the small second negative pressure in a middle area and the large first negative pressure at the rear of the second negative pressure area stabilize the pitch angle of the slider and prevent an excessive decrease in the flying distance of a trailing end portion.

Abstract: A slider that includes a necked ABS pad is disclosed. More specifically, the slider includes an ABS pad having a first ABS region and a second ABS region, where the second ABS region is disposed immediately in front of the first ABS region proceeding in the direction of a leading edge of the slider. A transducer and a thermal actuator each may be disposed within the first ABS region. The width of the second ABS region (a necked portion of the ABS pad) is less than a width of the first ABS region.

Abstract: An air bearing surface for a head assembly for a data storage device comprises at least one air bearing pad. At least one channel is recessed within the at least one air bearing pad. The at least one channel is formed with an open top and is located entirely within boundaries of the at least one air bearing pad.

Abstract: A slider mounted read/write head is protected from thermal asperities due to head-disk interactions by a ridge formed along an interfacial plane that extends above the ABS plane of the slider. The ridge is formed as part of a lapping process that is directed from the read/write head towards the slider substrate and uses an abrasive slurry to which may be added a strong base such as KOH. The height of the ridge is less than approximately 2 nm.

Abstract: Recording heads for data storage systems are provided. Recording heads include a substrate layer made of a first material. The substrate layer has a bearing surface side. A tapered feature made of a second material is included on the bearing surface side. The first material is illustratively a multiphase material and the second material is illustratively diamond-like carbon.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to prevent, in a magnetic head slider adapted to be able to control flying height of a head element, the occurrence of excessive frictional force, even in case of contact with a magnetic disk, and suppress vibration of the slider. According to one embodiment, an air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider includes a deep groove, a shallow-trench rail about 100 nm higher than the deep groove, a rear end shoulder, two leading end pads about 1 ?m higher than the deep groove, a trailing end pad about 970-995 nm higher than the deep groove, and an element pad about 5-30 nm higher than the trailing end pad and flush with the leading end pads. A head element includes a magnetic head element and a heater. The element pad has an area of 50-500 ?m2, and the magnetic head element is disposed near a central section of the element pad.

Abstract: A head has a slider with an air bearing surface having a left trailing air flow dam extending from a trailing pad along a lateral axis, and a right trailing air flow dam extending from the trailing pad along the lateral axis in an opposing direction. A sub-ambient pressure cavity is disposed adjacent to and upstream of at least one of the trailing air flow dams. The trailing pad and the left and right trailing air flow dams together laterally span at least 75% of the width of the slider. Each of the left and right trailing air flow dams is recessed from the primary plane by a step depth in the range 0.05 to 0.5 microns, and the sub-ambient pressure cavity is recessed from the primary plane by a cavity depth in the range 0.8 to 2 microns.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a method of producing a magnetic head slider comprises the steps of forming, on the air bearing surface of the slider, an air bearing surface overcoat, removing the surface region from a hard amorphous carbon film by the irradiation with an ion beam which is tilted with respect to a normal to the air bearing surface, and forming a rail in the air bearing surface on which the air bearing surface overcoat has been formed. A high density and covering performance are obtained when the angle of irradiating the ion beam is not smaller than about 60 degrees from a normal to the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider and when the acceleration voltage for the ion beam is not higher than about 300 V in the step of removing part of the air bearing surface overcoat.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head which can prevent an external magnetic field form erasing a signal on the medium and whose main magnetic pole piece does not corrode during processing of the air bearing surface. In one embodiment, an anti-corrosion electrode is formed to apply a voltage to the main magnetic pole piece during processing of the air bearing surface. This retards corrosion of the main magnetic pole piece. Since a conductor (anti-corrosion wire) connected to this anti-corrosion electrode is made of a nonmagnetic material, concentration of an external magnetic field into the main magnetic pole piece can be suppressed. Consequently, since the magnetic leakage field emitted from the main magnetic pole piece is reduced, erasure of the signal on the medium can be prevented.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head that shows stable read and/or write performances, maintaining the reliability over time by suppressing the wear of the head sufficiently, is provided. The head comprises: a substrate having an element-formed surface and an opposed-to-medium surface; a magnetic head element; an overcoat layer formed on the element-formed surface so as to cover the magnetic head element; a closure provided on the overcoat layer, a surface of the closure being in contact with the upper surface of the overcoat layer; and an element contact pad formed in a sliding-side surface of the head and having a contact surface including a part of the opposed-to-medium surface, a part of an end surface of the overcoat layer and a part of an end surface of the closure, one end of the magnetic head element reaching the contact surface.

Abstract: A head for use in an information storage device includes a novel ABS, and a transducer with a heating element. The ABS includes a transducer pad that includes a surface in a first plane. The ABS also includes a pressure-relief trough that is recessed from the first plane by at least 0.1 microns and has an upstream breadth of no more than one fourth of the total length of the slider. The pressure-relief trough is disposed immediately upstream of the transducer pad and continuously spans the total width of the transducer pad. The ABS also includes a flow-diversion dam that has a dam surface that lies in the first plane. The dam surface continuously spans the total width of the transducer pad. The dam surface is disposed immediately upstream of the pressure-relief trough and generally downstream of a sub-ambient pressure cavity.