Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for improving the tribology between an air bearing surface of a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording medium. In addition, techniques are described for reducing resistance to wear and corrosion of the air bearing surface of the recording head as well as resistance to corrosion of the recording medium. Various ion beam techniques can be used to enhance the properties of the recording head and recording medium, and include ion implant techniques, ion mixing techniques and ion burnishing techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for controlling initial load and unload wear on a slider by using a trailing edge extender. A slider for supporting a transducer proximate to a recording medium is disclosed. The slider includes a trailing edge extender positioned on a trailing edge to allow additional controlled wear to occur before a substrate of the slider contacts the recording medium. The trailing edge extender can be positioned at an outer corner on the trailing edge of the slider and at a transducer pad on the trailing edge of the slider. The trailing edge extender can include a depth of the step depth, cavity depth, or air bearing surface level depth. The method includes fabricating a trailing edge extender positioned on a trailing edge to allow additional controlled wear to occur before a substrate of the slider contacts the recording medium.

Abstract: A read/write head includes a slider flying above a rotating disc. The slider has an upper side, a lower side, and a trailing edge face. The lower side faces the rotating disc and is separated from the rotating disc by an air gap. A write transducer is located on the lower side of the slider and is at a first height above the rotating disc. A read transducer is located on the lower side of the slider and is at a second height above the rotating disc. The second height is greater than the first height.

Abstract: A slider for improved head-disc interface. The slider includes a slider body, an air bearing and edge surfaces. Edge surfaces of the slider include a rounded edge surface having a deposited edge covering for head-disc interface.

Abstract: A method and system is presented for a slider positioned to control a flow of lubricant over the slider body. The slider can also include a raised rail. A pad can be positioned on the slider between the raised rail and a trailing edge of the slider. The pad can extend to the trailing edge of the slider. The pad can include at least two separated edges, which form a central channel. The pad can be made of carbon. The pads can be approximately 0.03 micron tall in a cavity that is approximately 2 micro deep. The pad can be angled in relation to an air flow across the slider to control lube.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction element is mounted on a magnetic head slider via a piezoelectric element so that a displacement of the piezoelectric element performs fine control of the position of the recording/reproduction, thus enabling to obtain a fine spacing and a high track positioning accuracy. This improves a linear recording density and a track density. A pair of electrodes 15a and 15b are formed on both sides of a piezoelectric element to constitute a piezoelectric actuator. The electrode 15a is arranged so as to oppose to the rear surface (air flow out end) of a magnetic head slider 11. A recording/reproduction element 12 is arranged on the other electrode 15b in a state electrically insulated.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optimized pad design for a slider that minimizes the effect of mask alignment tolerances to allow for a more consistent N58 pad area and hence a more controllable burnish rate of the protruding pad. The protruding pad includes a first portion and a second portion formed by processing material to form the first and second portion wherein at least a quantity of the first portion comprises a first material type and the second portion comprises a second material type, the protruding pad further comprising a boundary interface separating the first material type from the second material type, the boundary interface having a position on the first portion that is dependent upon an alignment tolerance for the processing and that defines a surface area for the material of the second type, wherein the surface area of the material of the second type is negligibly affected by the position of the boundary interface.

Abstract: A recording/reproduction element is mounted on a magnetic head slider via a piezoelectric element so that a displacement of the piezoelectric element performs fine control of the position of the recording/reproduction, thus enabling fine spacing and high tract positioning accuracy. This improves linear recording density and track density. A pair of electrodes are formed on both sides of a piezoelectric element to constitute a piezoelectric actuator. One electrode is arranged opposite the rear surface (air flow out end) of a magnetic head slider 11. A recording/reproduction element is arranged on and electrically insulated from the other electrode. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric element displaced in a spacing direction, enabling fine spacing control, a piezoelectric element displaced in the track direction, enabling fine track position control, and a piezoelectric element displaced in a magnetic disc rotation direction, enabling reduction of jitter of a reproduction signal.

Abstract: A slider head assembly is provided which includes a slider head for reading/writing data on the surface of a rotating disc. The slider head is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the disc for read/write (R/W) operations. The slider head assembly is comprised of a body portion having an essentially planar surface positioned to co-act with the surface of the disc with a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end or trailing slider surface of the head assembly has a read/write element thereat. The distal end or leading slider surface of the assembly has an actuation device mounted thereon, having a surface the position of which can be modified by an external signal to change the position of the head with respect to the planar or air bearing surface (ABS) of the head assembly. This will change the characteristics of the boundary layer of air between the rotating disc and the head, causing the head assembly to move closer to or farther from the rotating disc when actuated by the external signal.

Abstract: A slider includes an air bearing surface (ABS) including a plurality of separate coplanar pads, a cavity recessed to a certain depth beneath the level of the ABS, and a plurality of steps in which each step is disposed at a level between that of the ABS and that of the cavity. The plurality of steps include a trailing edge step and a leading edge step, and in some embodiments a first side step and a second side step. The leading edge step is provided at a level deeper than that of the trailing edge step. The first side step and the second side step may be provided at the same or different levels to tailor the flight characteristics of the slider. A process is also disclosed for the fabrication of a slider of the present invention. The process includes at least three cycles of masking, etching, and stripping in order to form at least three successively deeper levels, the deepest level being the cavity.

Abstract: A flying head slider often comprises support projections defining the top ends higher than the level of an air bearing surface opposed to the surface of a recording disk. The support projections serve to reduce adsorption or effect of meniscus acting on the slider seated on the disk. The slider further comprises an adsorption prevention protrusion formed on a transducer protection layer superposed on the outflow end of a slider body. The adsorption prevention protrusion swells from a medium-opposed surface at which a transducer element is exposed. When the slider inclines downstream around the tip end of the support projection in response to a reverse rotation of the disk, the slider allows the adsorption prevention protrusion to first contact the surface of the disk at the outflow end. Enlargement of the contact area can be avoided between the slider and the surface of the disk. The adsorption or effect of meniscus cannot be intensified between the slider and the surface of the disk.

Abstract: A rail is formed on a medium-opposed surface of a slider body in a flying head slider. An air bearing surface is defined on the upper surface of the rail, which faces the medium. Projections are formed on the medium-opposed surface. The projections serve to space the air bearing surface from a medium such as a recording disk when the slider body contacts the recording disk. A trailing end of the rail is narrowed laterally along the trailing end of the medium-opposed surface. Even when the slider body contacts the recording disk at the trailing end, in addition to the projections, the contact area between the slider body and the recording disk is reduced because of the narrowed trailing end. Since the rail is narrowed without changing its original thickness or height from the bottom base of the medium-opposed surface, no additional processing is required to form the air bearing surface.

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

Abstract: The present invention provides a read/write head for use in a hard disk drive system. The head includes a self-adjusting sacrificial pad constructed of a material relatively softer than the recording medium of the recording system. The pad, present on an air-bearing surface of the head, generates an area of negative pressure, which acts to pull the head toward a magnetic disk of the disk drive system. Upon contact with certain asperities in the generally smooth surface of disk, the sacrificial pad wears down. As the pad wears, the negative pressure created by the pad decreases, allowing the head to fly further from the disk until there is no more contact with the disk. In this way the head of the present invention flies as close as possible to the disk. The sacrificial pad also acts to protect the read and write elements of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is presented for controlling initial load and unload wear on a slider by using a trailing edge extender. A slider for supporting a transducer proximate to a recording medium is disclosed. The slider includes a trailing edge extender positioned on a trailing edge to allow additional controlled wear to occur before a substrate of the slider contacts the recording medium. The trailing edge extender can be positioned at an outer corner on the trailing edge of the slider and at a transducer pad on the trailing edge of the slider. The trailing edge extender can include a depth of the step depth, cavity depth, or air bearing surface level depth. The method includes fabricating a trailing edge extender positioned on a trailing edge to allow additional controlled wear to occur before a substrate of the slider contacts the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic head has a first magnetic head unit for recording and reproducing information to and from a first flexible rotating recording medium; a second magnetic head unit for recording and reproducing information to and from a second flexible rotating recording medium having a coercive force lower than a coercive force of the first flexible rotating recording medium; and a slider supporting the first and second magnetic head units, the slider having a central groove separating a first air bearing surface at which the first magnetic head unit is provided and a second air bearing surface at which the second magnetic head unit is provided, the slider generating an elevating force from an air flow generated in a space between the first and second air bearing surfaces and the flexible rotating recording medium, the first air bearing surface having a width on a leading edge side thereof perpendicular to a direction of approach of the flexible rotating recording medium and a width on a trailing edge side thereof d

Abstract: A projection serves to space the air bearing surface apart from the surface of a recording disk when the recording disk stands still. The contact area can be reduced between a flying head slider and the surface of the recording disk. When the flying head slider inclines downstream around the tip end of the projection in response to a reverse rotation of the recording disk at the beginning of the rotation, the flying head slider allows a rugged surface to contact the surface of the recording disk at the outflow end thereof. The effect of meniscus or adsorption cannot be intensified between the lubricating agent or oil and the air bearing surface, namely, the flying head slider. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably avoid failure in starting the recording disk to rotate. Less torque of the spindle motor allows the recording disk to normally start rotating.

Abstract: An information handling system, such as a disk drive, includes a base, a disk stack rotatably attached to the base, and an actuator assembly movably attached to the base. The actuator assembly also includes a load spring and a slider attached to said load spring. The slider includes an air-bearing surface which has roughened contact surface areas to reduce stiction in a contact start stop drive or in a drive that parks the slider on a ramp.

Abstract: The head slider mounts a recording/reproducing element and flies over a recording medium with the airflow generated when the recording medium moves. The head slider comprises a slider body having an air inflow end and an air outflow end, a rail projected from the slider body to define an air bearing surface extended to the outflow end, a projection formed on the rail and between the inflow end and the outflow end, and a recess formed at the outflow end of the rail to make narrow the width of the rail. When the recording medium stops, the head slider and the recording medium are in contact at the projection and the air outflow end of the rail. Since the outflow end of the rail is narrow in width, the stiction can be prevented. Moreover, it is unnecessary to form a projection near the outflow end of the rail and thereby the flying height of the recording/reproducing element can be lowered to improve the recording/reproducing sensitivity.

Abstract: An MR head includes a slider, and a film structure part which is located on an air outflow side of the slider and includes an MR element for reproducing. The film structure part has an end surface located on an identical side as a floating surface of the slider. The end surface of the film structure part and the floating surface of the slider form a step-like recess which has a depth making it possible to prevent a fine projection on a magnetic disk from hitting the end surface of the film structure part.

Abstract: Flying height Adjustment for Air Bearing Sliders An air bearing slider for sliding over a medium surface of a recording medium and having an air bearing surface facing the disk surface, a back surface perpendicular to the air bearing surface and a head at the back surface. During operation the head is maintained at a flying height above the disk surface with the aid of a flying height adjustment mechanism consisting of one or more ducts, each having an inlet at the air bearing surface and an outlet at the back surface. A valve mechanism controls an air flow through the duct or ducts by opening and closing the valve or valves together or independently. Alternatively, a deformable surface feature located on the back surface of the slider is used to alter the air flow to thus control the flying height. The mechanism of the invention allows one to achieve accurate flying height control in a range between 5 and 50 nm and between 0 nm and 15 nm as required for near-field or contact disk drives.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly including a head and a suspension coupled to the head to support the head to fly above the disc surface for operation. The head includes a slider having a bearing surface and a transducer having a transducer element. The suspension supports the head at a pitch angle determined so that close point between the head and disc surface is located at the slider spaced from the transducer. In one embodiment of the head suspension, the suspension supports the head during operation at a pitch angle &thgr;P≦(dR−dW)/dA-B−4 dC/l to avoid transducer contact with media asperities with mean roughness.

Abstract: A flying head slider comprises a flying surface opposed to the surface of the magnetic disk. Inner and outer rails are formed on the flying surface. Air bearing surfaces (ABS) are defined on the inner and outer rails. A magnetic head element is embedded in the outer rail at the protection layer attached to the end surface of the slider body. A splay is formed on the air bearing surface (ABS) of the outer rail. When the head slider takes off from the surface of the magnetic disk, the head slider takes a slant attitude with the protection layer nearest to the surface of the magnetic disk. The splay in the outer rail serves to avoid the protection layer from colliding with the surface of the magnetic disk even when the head slider rolls. The head slider is capable of making the magnetic head element thereon approach the surface of the magnetic disk as much as possible even if the head slider is expected to change its attitude.

Abstract: An MR head includes a slider, and a film structure part which is located on an air outflow side of the slider and includes an MR element for reproducing. The film structure part has an end surface located on an identical side as a floating surface of the slider. The end surface of the film structure part and the floating surface of the slider form a step-like recess which has a depth making it possible to prevent a fine projection on a magnetic disk from hitting the end surface of the film structure part.

Abstract: A disc head slider (250,320) includes a slider body having a leading slider edge (40), a trailing slider edge (42) and a center line (48) extending from the leading slider edge (40) to the trailing slider edge (42). The slider body carries a recording head (56) along the center line (48). First and second longitudinal side rails (60,62) are positioned on the slider body and terminate prior to the trailing slider edge (42). A third longitudinal rail (63) is positioned between the first and second longitudinal side rails (60,62) and terminates prior to the head (56). A first raised side pad (252) is positioned between the first longitudinal side rail (60) and the trailing edge (42) and rearward of the head (56), relative to the leading slider edge (40). A second raised side pad (254) is positioned between the second longitudinal side rail (62) and the trailing edge (42) and rearward of the head (56), relative to the leading slider edge (40).

Abstract: An improved magnetic head comprises a slider and a thin film element, the later of which is provided on a trailing side of the slider. The slider has core layers. The surfaces of the core layers are abraded so that the thickness of an a phase constituting the surface structures of the core layers may be reduced to a very small value. In this way, even if a carbon film is directly formed on the core layers, it is still possible to ensure a desired diffusion between the carbon film and the a phase, thereby effectively preventing the carbon film from separation (peeling) and avoiding the formation of any spot on the carbon film.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider for writing or reading magnetic information while flying above a magnetic disk, includes a slider body provided with a magnetic head core, and a rail and/or a pad for generating lift, provided on the surface facing a recording medium of the slider body. A crown is formed at least at a position on the rail selected from the group consisting of the surface facing the recording medium of the slider body, the rail, and the pad. The rail includes side-rails formed on both sides of the surface facing the recording medium of the slider body and extending from the air inflow side to the air outflow side of the slider body. A groove is provided between the side-rails. At least one protrusion is provided on each side-rail on the air inflow side and/or on each side of the groove on the air inflow side. The protrusion protrudes more toward the magnetic disk than the side-rails.

Abstract: A magnetic head has first and second magnetic head units for recording to and reproducing from first and second flexible rotating recording media; a slider supporting the first magnetic head unit, the slider having a central groove separating a first air bearing surface at which the first magnetic head unit is provided and a second air bearing surface at which the second magnetic head unit is provided, the slider generating an elevating force from an air flow generated in a space between the first and second air bearing surfaces and the flexible rotating recording media; an elevating force control slot formed on at least the first air bearing surface so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction from which the first or second flexible rotating recording medium approaches the magnetic head; the first air bearing surface having a width dimension A1 located on a leading edge side of the magnetic head, and a width dimension A2 located on a trailing edge side, the width dimension A1 b

Abstract: An air bearing slider has an air bearing surface with two rails separated by a cavity. The rails are nonsymmetrical about the longitudinal axis. Instead, the width of the active rail is greater at the trailing end than at the leading end, such as by having a hook portion 64 which extends inward at a sharp angle to the longitudinal axis of the slider. The wider hook portion 64 causes an increased flying height sensitivity to underlying disc/wind speed. The nonactive rail has a greater width than the non-hook portion of the active rail, so the slider exhibits slight negative roll. A vibration sensor is attached to the air bearing slider, and the air bearing slider is used in glide testing of discs.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin film magnetic head and its manufacturing method. A slider 1 is provided with base body surfaces 13 and 14 at its surface facing opposite a medium. An inductive thin film magnetic transducer 2 is provided with a first pole tip P1 and a second pole tip P2 whose front ends emerge at the base body surfaces 13 and 14 and indented portions 4 and 5 provided at the base body surfaces 13 and 14. A protective film 10 covers the base body surfaces 13 and 14 and indented portions 4 and 5. The thickness of the protective film 10 at the indented portions 4 and 5 is larger than the thickness at the base body surfaces 13 and 14. The magnetic films constituting the pole tips P1 and P2 can thus be reliably protected from oxidation, corrosion and the like, while minimizing the spacing loss.

Abstract: A slider for supporting transducer elements for a data storage system including at least one pressure relief trench formed in the raised bearing proximate to a contact interface position of the slider and disc surface. The trench is sized to reduce capillary pressure of the meniscus relative to disjoining pressure of a lubricant film layer on the disc surface to limit the area or expansion of a film bridge or meniscus between the bearing surface of the slider and disc surface.

Abstract: A novel tri-pad head slider includes a slider body having an air bearing surface and leading and trailing edges with first and second sides extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge; first and second side pads formed on the air bearing surface of the slider body, and disposed at respective first and second sides of said slider body to extend from the leading edge toward the trailing edge of the slider body; and a third pad disposed at the rear center of said slider body at the trailing edge to extend from the trailing edge toward the leading edge of the slider body. Each of the first and second side pads has an opposite tapered portion integrally formed therein and tapered toward the leading and trailing edges of the slider body at predetermined angles for introducing air flow caused by rotation of a disk and reduction of air pressure generated when the slider head takes off from and lands on the disk.

Abstract: A quasi contact head comprises a slider with a flying surface opposed to a magnetic disk. A composite layer is formed on the slider at its trailing end so as to contain a head element such as an MR element. The head element is exposed at an exposure surface formed on the composite layer. A step serves to retract the exposure surface from the flying surface. An edge formed between the step and flying surface is subjected to grinding. The edge wears off during the initial rotation of the magnetic disk, so that the flying height of the slider can be set lower.