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: Embodiments of the present invention include a head slider for a magnetic disk drive. The head slider comprises a first recess on the air bearing surface of the head slider. The head slider further comprises a second recess on the air bearing surface, wherein the first recess is deeper than the second recess and is closer to the leading edge than the second recess and wherein the second recess is closer to the trailing edge than the first recess.

Abstract: A head slider for a disk drive storage device. The head slider is adapted to fly at the target height above the disk, reduce contamination by preventing particles from being trapped under the head slider, fly well in helium at low velocity and obtain a manufacturing tolerance so that multiple head sliders may be produced and function properly. The head slider has an internal cavity that is substantially enclosed by the air bearing surface. There are two gaps in the air bearing surface that are misaligned relative to the leading edge. The gaps aid in preventing particles from entering the cavity.

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 head slider for a disk drive storage device. In general, the head slider should fly at the target height above the disk without crashing onto the hard disk. The head slider has an outside flange that encloses a plateau and an inside flange that encloses a plateau. The two plateaus may have the same surface area or the outside plateau may have a greater surface area. Because of the design of the outside flange, the likelihood that the head slider will crash on the hard disk is reduced.

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: A method and apparatus for improving flying height stability in a small form factor hard disk drive that typically moves at lower speeds is achieved by a slider having an ABS with an air channel and pocket. The air channel and pocket are configured to increase the amount of aerodynamic lift provided by normally smaller amounts of intake air at the inner diameter of the rotating disk and, thereby, to achieve a desired flying height profile.

Abstract: A head slider and a hard disk drive (HDD) including the head slider, the head slider including an air bearing surface (ABS) protruding from a disk facing surface of the head slider toward the disk, a shallow recess (SR) retreated behind the ABS, and a cavity recess (CR) retreated behind the ABS and the SR.

Abstract: An air-bearing surface of a hard disk drive slider comprises a trailing edge wherein a magnetic transducer is coupled to the air-bearing surface. A leading edge is opposite from the trailing edge. A channel is coupled to the air-bearing surface wherein the channel comprises: a closure at a distal end proximal to the leading edge; a bottom surface; and a center of the channel approximately aligned colinear with a center of the magnetic transducer. In this configuration the channel generates significantly more negative pressure proximal to the leading edge thereby stiffening the air bearing during operation.

Abstract: A head slider for a magnetic disk drive is provided. The head slider includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, an inner diameter side and an outer diameter side of an air bearing surface. The head slider further includes a first recess on the air bearing surface of the head slider, the first recess defining a first rail proximate the inner diameter side and a second rail proximate the outer diameter side wherein the first rail and the second rail are higher with respect to the recess and are asymmetrical with respect to each other.

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: An air bearing surface of a slider is described. In one embodiment, the air bearing surface comprises a center channel. The air bearing surface further comprises a plurality of side channels, wherein at least one side channel of the plurality of side channels is open to the center channel, and a plurality of pocket areas. The center channel, the plurality of side channels, and the plurality of pocket areas are configured to allow air to flow along the center channel toward the trailing edge of the ABS, such that a change in ambient pressure and a change and relative velocity of a head assembly with respect to a data storage medium of a data storage device would not significantly affect the fly height of a head assembly utilizing the ABS.

Abstract: A compact slider has a reduced area of bearing surfaces, thus substantially decreasing a lifting force obtained through an air bearing characteristic. In one embodiment, a shallowly grooved surface and air bearing surfaces are disposed on an inflow side of a bearing surface of a slider. The air bearing surfaces are connected to each other through a connection air bearing surface. Side shallowly grooved surfaces are respectively disposed rearward of the air bearing surfaces. The side shallowly grooved surface extends up to a point near an outflow end. A center air bearing surface is disposed on the outflow end of the slider. A magnetic head is mounted on the center air bearing surface. A center shallowly grooved surface is disposed on an inflow side of the center air bearing surface. A deeply grooved surface is disposed at a center of the bearing surface. No cutting margins are provided on both sides of the slider.

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: An air-bearing surface of a hard disk drive slider comprises a trailing edge wherein a magnetic transducer is coupled to the air-bearing surface. A leading edge is opposite from the trailing edge. A channel is coupled to the air-bearing surface wherein the channel comprises: a closure at a distal end proximal to the leading edge; a bottom surface; and a center of the channel approximately aligned colinear with a center of the magnetic transducer. In this configuration the channel generates significantly more negative pressure proximal to the leading edge thereby stiffening the air bearing during operation.

Abstract: A medium-opposed surface of a slider body is hemisected into first and second areas by the centerline extending in the longitudinal direction of the slider body. The second area is designed to generate a positive pressure larger than that generated at the first area when a load acting on the slider body in a direction toward a recording medium decreases. The head slider of the type is allowed to enjoy the imbalance of the lift on the slider body. This imbalance can be utilized to intentionally induce increases in the roll angle and the pitch angle of the slider body. The increase in the roll and pitch angles causes disappearance of the lift and the negative pressure generated at the medium-opposed surface. The head slider can reliably be distanced from the moving surface of the recording medium solely with the assistance of the airflow acting on the medium-opposed surface.

Abstract: An air bearing surface of a slider is described. In one embodiment, the air bearing surface comprises a center channel. The air bearing surface further comprises a plurality of side channels, wherein at least one side channel of the plurality of side channels is open to the center channel, and a plurality of pocket areas. The center channel, the plurality of side channels, and the plurality of pocket areas are configured to allow air to flow along the center channel toward the trailing edge of the ABS, such that a change in ambient pressure and a change and relative velocity of a head assembly with respect to a data storage medium of a data storage device would not significantly affect the fly height of a head assembly utilizing the ABS.

Abstract: An air bearing burnish slider burnishes very small asperities and cleans the loose particles that adhere to the magnetic recording media. The slider applies a controllable contact force to effectively burnish disk asperities or partially attached particles. In addition, the slider cleans the loose particles effectively while flying in a stable fashion. In a low pitch design, diagonal rails push particles away from the disk surface and trailing edge pads contact the disk at lower linear velocities. Rail pads retain loose contamination and debris in their pockets and burnish asperities. Another design provides a milder burnish force and flies in a high pitch configuration. The trailing edge pads provide stable contacts and the rails help in sweeping away debris. In both designs, the contact forces can be controlled by adjusting linear velocities. A step taper at the leading edge provides a pitch-producing lift force.

Abstract: A converter that records or reproduces information to or from a recording medium while making a movement relative to the recording medium is mounted on a slider. The slider has at least a pair of openings on a side face thereof, and airflow generated by the movement relative to the recording medium flows in via one of the paired openings, passes in a vicinity of a surface of the converter other than a surface thereof facing the recording medium, and thereafter flows out via the other one of the paired openings. With this, the ability to cool the converter is improved.

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: A magnetic element has a shape in which the outside portions of a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer, which protrude from both side ends of a trailing-side ABS to both side ends of a slider, retreat from a magnetic functional portion G so as not to be exposed at a protecting layer. Therefore, it is possible to decrease a flying amount between the magnetic functional portion and a disk, and impart design freedom to the slider, thereby permitting the manufacture of a magnetic head having excellent corrosion resistance and adaptable to a higher recording density.

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 subambient pressure air bearing slider for disk drives and the like is presented where the subambient pressure area is divided into two or more areas. For example, a first area extending between the rails can have a depth (e.g., between 20 and 100 microinches) relative to the height of the rails, while the second area has a deeper depth (e.g., between 20 and 200 microinches). In one embodiment, the second area is placed in the outside rear quadrant relative to the rear edge of the slider and the rail closer to the outside diameter of the moving disk. By partitioning the subambient pressure area and properly selecting the depths of the partitioned areas, the slider can achieve a more uniform flying height over the range of diameters of the moving disk, at different rotational speed velocities for the disk and at different operation altitudes.

Abstract: A head slider having a slider body with a disc facing surface and a bearing plane is provided. A first recessed area and a second recessed area are positioned on the disc facing surface and recessed from the bearing plane. A rail on the disc facing surface has a channel that includes a first side edge proximate the first recessed area and a second side edge proximate the second recessed area. The channel is isolated from the first recessed area and open to the second recessed area.

Abstract: An air bearing surface for read/write head of a magnetic disk drive is disclosed. The air bearing surface includes a trailing edge pad and a leading edge pad with trailing portions. A cavity is defined between the trailing edge pad and the trailing portions of the leading edge pad. A cavity patch is disposed within the cavity. The cavity patch can be disposed within the cavity towards one side of the read/write head.

Abstract: A slider is disclosed for use with a magnetic data recording system such as that used in computer systems. The slider has an improved air bearing design which allows placement of the read and write elements at an edge of the slider, while maintaining stable fly height at the location of the read and write sensors. Placing the read and write elements allows more of the surface area of the disk to be used by allowing the head to perform correctly while reading and writing data right up to the edge of the disk. Stable fly height of the slider is achieved by using a single pad at a corner of the trailing edge, the pad having the read and write elements therein. A stable flight profile is maintained through use of asymmetrical rails disposed longitudinally along lateral sides of the slider.

Abstract: A slider 3a is disposed to face a disk-like recording medium and enabled to support a read/write head. The slider 3a has an air bearing surface formed between a leading edge 10 and a trailing edge 11; side rails 20 and 21 formed on the air bearing surface almost like a U-letter so as to dispose its tip at the trailing edge side 11; a cross rail 22; and a pair of landing pads 30a and 31a formed between the tip of each of the side rails and the cross rail 20 to 22 and the trailing edge 11. One of the pair of landing pads 30a and 31a is formed as a convex surface at its side facing the rail of the landing pad 31a disposed at the outer periphery side of the disk-like recording medium while the slider is disposed so as to face the disk-like recording medium.

Abstract: A slider utilizes a triple-etch, high pitch-stiffness side rail ABS design. The slider is characterized by a relatively deep shallow recession at its leading edge, which maximizes the cavity area while at the same time increases the pitch angle to achieve DLC pad clearance as required by smooth media ABS designs. The slider ABS has a shallower recession at the trailing edge, which provides low gram-load sensitivity and low flying standard deviation. The slider ABS further presents a decreased sensitivity in response to altitude variations.

Abstract: A medium-opposed surface of a slider body is hemisected into first and second areas by the centerline extending in the longitudinal direction of the slider body. The second area is designed to generate a positive pressure larger than that generated at the first area when a load acting on the slider body in a direction toward a recording medium decreases. The head slider of the type is allowed to enjoy the imbalance of the lift on the slider body. This imbalance can be utilized to intentionally induce increases in the roll angle and the pitch angle of the slider body. The increase in the roll and pitch angles causes disappearance of the lift and the negative pressure generated at the medium-opposed surface. The head slider can reliably be distanced from the moving surface of the recording medium solely with the assistance of the airflow acting on the medium-opposed surface.

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 for use in a disk drive. The slider includes a leading side and an opposing trailing side. The slider includes a pair of opposing lateral sides disposed between the leading and trailing sides. The slider includes a leading side air bearing surface including a main portion adjacent the leading side and a trailing portion extending from the main portion toward the trailing side along a respective one of the lateral sides. The slider includes a side rail disposed laterally along and between the respective lateral side and the trailing portion. The slider includes a channel formed between the side rail and the trailing portion disposed angularly with respect to the respective lateral side by extending from adjacent the respective lateral side towards the trailing side away from the respective lateral side for receiving airflow through the channel during operation of the disk drive.

Abstract: The slider and method of the present invention relate to a slider for a disc drive. The slider includes a substrate having a cavity and a filler within the cavity. The slider further includes a transducer that is positioned near the filler. The design facilitates controlling the relative thermal expansion between the transducer and substrate of the slider that is near the transducer. Compensating for the thermal expansion of the transducer provides a more consistent fly height of the slider during operation of the disc drive. In addition, the design adjusts the air-bearing surface of the slider such that the transducer does not extend below the rest of the slider as the transducer expands.

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 includes a front rail formed on the disk opposing surface adjacent to the air inlet end, the front rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of the disk; and a pair of rear rails formed on the disk opposing surface adjacent to the air outlet end, each of the rear rails having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of the disk. The head slider further includes a transducer formed near the air outlet end where one of the rear rails is formed; and a plurality of pads formed on the front rail and at least one of the rear rails. Each pad has an inclined upper end surface with a given inclination angle such that the upstream end of the inclined upper end surface is higher in level than the downstream end thereof.

Abstract: A head slider having an air inlet end and an air outlet end includes a rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating floating force when the disk rotates, the rail being disposed on a disk-facing surface, and an electromagnetic transducer disposed near the air outlet end where the rail is positioned. The head slider has a cavity on the air outlet end near the electromagnetic transducer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a ramp load disc drive storage system having improved loading performance and a reduced likelihood of failure due to stiction and damage caused by contact between a slider and a disc surface during ramp load operations. The slider generally includes wear-resistive pads which allow for improved loading performance and reduce stiction between the slider and a disc surface. The pads also allow the ramp load disc drive storage system to be operated in a ramp load/unload mode or a contact start/stop mode. Additionally, a method of operating a ramp load disc drive is provided where the slider is loaded above a disc surface from a ramp prior to the disc reaching a full operating speed.

Abstract: A head slider having a slider body with a disc facing surface and a bearing plane is provided. A first recessed area and a second recessed area are positioned on the disc facing surface and recessed from the bearing plane. A rail on the disc facing surface has a channel that includes a first side edge proximate the first recessed area and a second side edge proximate the second recessed area. The channel is isolated from the first recessed area and open to the second recessed area.

Abstract: A dual depth slider air bearing surface that enables the slider to achieve a ramp fly height profile near the textured landing zone of a disk. The air bearing slider includes a slider body on which a U-shaped leading ABS pad is defined near and along a leading edge (relative to a moving recording medium) and partially along each side of the slider body. A front step pad extends from the leading edge section of the leading ABS pad to the leading edge of the slider body, at a reduced height relative to the height of the ABS pad. An asymmetric rear pad is defined along a longitudinal axis of the slider body and proximate to a trailing edge of the slider body. Extending above the rear pad is a trailing ABS pad, which has an asymmetric profile with respect to the longitudinal axis of the slider. The trailing ABS pad has a curved bowing profile towards the front of the slider body on the leading edge side of the trailing ABS pad.

Abstract: A dual etch depth slider air bearing surface includes a front pad disposed along the front and partially along the sides of the slider and a rear pad partially disposed along the rear of the slider, wherein a skewed center rail connects the front pad to the rear pad. Extending above the rear pad is a V-shaped ABS pad and extending above the front pad are two leading edge ABS pads that are separated by a channel towards the longitudinal center of the slider. The design enables the slider to fly much higher over the landing zone of the disk than at the data zone and provides for a steep take off profile followed by a rapid descend over the data zone.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a disk drive including a housing having a base, a disk rotatably mounted in the housing and having a plurality of tracks, a negative pressure type head slider having a transducer for reading/writing data from/to a disk, an actuator for moving the head slider across tracks of the disk, a mechanism for controlling the actuator to load/unload the head slider with respect to the disk, and a ramp member fixed to the base for supporting the head slider unloaded. The actuator includes a suspension having a gimbal, a reinforcing plate fixed to the suspension, and the head slider mounted on the gimbal. The reinforcing plate has a pivot for supporting the head slider at a position shifted from the longitudinal center of the head slider toward an air outlet end of the head slider by a distance less than 20% of the length of the head slider.

Abstract: A subambient pressure air bearing slider for disk drives and the like is presented where the subambient pressure area is divided into two or more areas. For example, a first area extending between the rails can have a depth (e.g., between 20 and 100 microinches) relative to the height of the rails, while the second area has a deeper depth (e.g., between 20 and 200 microinches). In one embodiment, the second area is placed in the outside rear quadrant relative to the rear edge of the slider and the rail closer to the outside diameter of the moving disk. By partitioning the subambient pressure area and properly selecting the depths of the partitioned areas, the slider can achieve a more uniform flying height over the range of diameters of the moving disk, at different rotational speed velocities for the disk and at different operation altitudes.

Abstract: A disk drive (22) for load/unload applications having an actuator arm (32), a slider (34) and a suspension membrane (48) which attaches the slider (34) to the actuator arm (32). The slider (34) includes a leading edge (50), a trailing edge (52), a number of pads (80, 82) and a cavity (60), which creates a region of sub-ambient pressure (61), including a negative pressure center (62). A load point (64) is formed where the suspension membrane (48) attaches to the slider (34). The negative pressure center (62) is positioned towards the trailing edge (52) relative to the load point (64), such that when upward force (96) is applied to the slider (34) at the load point (64), a moment (98) is produced which raises the leading edge (50), allowing increased air flow into the cavity (60), which diminishes the sub-ambient pressure (61), and allows the arm (34) to be raised without damaging the suspension membrane (48).

Abstract: An air bearing slider includes an asymmetric taper for control of pressurization and suction force formation. The asymmetric taper is disposed on an edge of a slider to accommodate for the speed differential across the disc radial direction, thereby improving take-off performance, reducing sensitivity to skew angle and altitude variation, and reducing the severity of impacts during ramp loading and unloading. A leading taper intersecting a leading surface and air bearing surface of the slider is asymmetric about a longitudinal, bisecting plane of the slider. In another embodiment, side taper intersecting a side surface and air bearing surface of the slider is asymmetric about a latitudinal, bisecting plane of the slider. In another embodiment, rail taper intersecting a rail recess surface and air bearing surface of the slider is asymmetric about a longitudinal, rail-bisecting plane.

Abstract: A dual etch depth slider air bearing surface includes a front pad disposed along the front and partially along the sides of the slider and a rear pad partially disposed along the rear of the slider, wherein a skewed center rail connects the front pad to the rear pad. Extending above the rear pad is a V-shaped ABS pad and extending above the front pad are two leading edge ABS pads that are separated by a channel towards the longitudinal center of the slider. The design enables the slider to fly much higher over the landing zone of the disk than at the data zone and provides for a steep take off profile followed by a rapid descend over the data zone.

Abstract: A protector protuberance is formed on a head slider incorporated in a recording medium drive such as a hard disk drive. The protector protuberance is allowed to collide against a contamination on a recording medium in front of a head element mounted on the head slider. The head element can be protected from collision against the contamination behind the protector protuberance. The protector protuberance is located as close to the head element as possible. Even with a smaller protector protuberance, the front and rear support protrusions contact the recording medium so as to hold the slider body above the surface of the recording medium. An increase can be prevented in the adsorption acting between the slider body and a lubricant agent spreading over the surface of the recording medium. A smaller protector protuberance enables the head element to approach the recording medium as close as possible upon read/write operations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a disk drive including a housing having a base, a disk rotatably mounted in the housing and having a plurality of tracks, a negative pressure type head slider having a transducer for reading/writing data from/to a disk, an actuator for moving the head slider across tracks of the disk, a mechanism for controlling the actuator to load/unload the head slider with respect to the disk, and a ramp member fixed to the base for supporting the head slider unloaded. The actuator includes a suspension having a gimbal, a reinforcing plate fixed to the suspension, and the head slider mounted on the gimbal. The reinforcing plate has a pivot for supporting the head slider at a position shifted from the longitudinal center of the head slider toward an air outlet end of the head slider by a distance less than 20% of the length of the head slider.

Abstract: One embodiment of a recording head for a disk drive with a load/unload mechanism has an air bearing on one surface. The air bearing comprises a patterned set of three air bearing pads, and at least one deep pocket. The three air bearing pads are spaced apart from each other by the deep pocket, with the largest of the air bearing pads located on the leading edge, and the other pads on the trailing edge. The air bearing pads have unique geometry one of the trailing corners of the air bearing is free of all the air bearing pads. This configuration gives the air bearing superior performance characteristics over prior art designs with load/unload mechanisms, particularly in regard to contact with the disk during loading and unloading sequences.

Abstract: A disc head slider includes a slider body having a disc-opposing face with leading and trailing slider edges, a slider length measured between the leading and trailing slider edges, a bearing surface, a recessed area, an inlet and a convergent channel. The recessed area is recessed from the bearing surface. The inlet has a leading channel end, which is open to air flow from the leading slider edge, channel side walls and a trailing channel end. The convergent channel has a leading channel end, which is open to fluid flow from the inlet, channel side walls and a trailing channel end, which is closed to the fluid flow. The trailing channel end of the convergent channel is located along the slider length rearward of at least a portion of the recessed area and forward of at least a portion of the bearing surface.

Abstract: A slider for carrying transducers for a data storage device including a stiction control trench. The stiction control trench includes a boundary dimension to reduce creep or interference of the pressurized profile of the raised bearing surface to provide stiction control while limiting interference with the hydrodynamic bearing design.