IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,038,883
Granted Patent B2
US 7,038,883 · App. 10/385,674 · Granted May 2, 2006

Magnetic head slider, support therefor and magnetic disk unit

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,038,883
App. No.
10/385,674
Granted
May 2, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A magnetic head slider mounted on a magnetic disk unit for supporting a magnetic head that writes and reads information to and from a magnetic disk is constructed such that a depth δs 1 from the surfaces of leading and trailing pads, which come into contact with a medium surface when the disk is at rest, to stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the leading pads, a depth δs 2 from the contact surfaces to stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the trailing pad and a step depth δs 3 from the contact surfaces to the surfaces of side rails are in a relation of δs 1 ≦δs 2≦ δs 3. With this arrangement, the slider can follow the waved medium surface at a low flying height with a small flying height fluctuation, thus realizing high density recording, high reliability and reduced cost of the magnetic disk unit.

Claims (39)

1. A magnetic head slider for supporting a magnetic head above a rotating disk, comprising:

a slider body;

two leading pads formed on an air inflow side of the slider body with a stepped surface provided in each of the leading pads, each of the leading pads having an air bearing surface coming into contact with a medium surface of the disk when the disk is at rest;

a trailing pad formed on an air outflow side of the slider body with a stepped surface provided in the trailing pad, the trailing pad having an air bearing surface coming into contact with the medium surface of the disk when the disk is at rest;

a pair of side rails formed along both lateral sides of the slider body; and

said leading pads having a depth δs 1 from the air bearing surfaces thereof to the stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the leading pads, said trailing pad having a depth δs 2 from the air bearing surface thereof to the stepped surface formed on the air inflow side of the trailing pad and said side rails having a step depth δs 3 from the air bearing surfaces of the leading and trailing pads to surfaces of the side rails, said depths δs 1 , δs 2 and δs 3 being in a predetermined relation, where at least one of δs 3 >δs 1 and δs 3 >δs 2 .

2. A magnetic head slider support for supporting a magnetic head above a rotating disk, comprising:

a load beam portion;

a gimbal portion swingably mounted to the load beam portion;

a magnetic head slider mounted on the gimbal portion;

a dimple formed on the load beam portion and coming in contact with the magnetic head slider to apply the load from the beam portion to the magnetic head slider; and

the magnetic head slider comprising:

a slider body;

two leading pads formed on an air inflow side of the slider body with a stepped surface provided in each of the leading pads, each of the leading pads having an air bearing surface coming into contact with a medium surface of the disk when the disk is at rest;

a trailing pad formed on an air outflow side of the slider body with a stepped surface provided in the trailing pad, the trailing pad having a air bearing surface coming into contact with the medium surface of the disk when the disk is at rest;

a pair of side rails formed along both lateral sides of the slider body; and

said leading pads having a depth δs 1 from the air bearing surfaces thereof to the stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the leading pads, said trailing pad having a depth δs 2 from the air bearing surface thereof to the stepped surface formed on the air inflow side of the trailing pad and said side rails having a step depth δs 3 from the air bearing surfaces of the leading and trailing pads to surfaces of the side rails, said depths δs 1 , δs 2 and δs 3 being in a predetermined relation, where at least one of δs 3 >δs 1 and δs 3 >δs 2 .

3. A magnetic disk unit comprising:

a magnetic recording medium;

a drive unit for spinning the magnetic recording medium;

a magnetic head for writing and reading information to and from the magnetic recording medium; a slider for mounting a magnetic head;

a support for supporting the magnetic head slider;

a drive unit for driving the support relative to the magnetic recording medium;

a circuit for processing a write/read signal to and from the magnetic head; and

the magnetic head slider comprising:

a slider body;

two leading pads formed on an air inflow side of the slider body with a stepped surface provided in each of the leading pads, each of the leading pads having an air bearing surface coming into contact with a medium surface of the disk when the disk is at rest;

a trailing pad formed on an air outflow side of the slider body with a stepped surface provided in the trailing pad, the trailing pad having an air bearing surface coming into contact with the medium surface of the disk when the disk is at rest;

a pair of side rails formed along both lateral sides of the slider body; and

said leading pads having a depth δs 1 from the air bearing surfaces thereof to the stepped surfaces formed on the air inflow side of the leading pads, said trailing pad having a depth δs 2 from the air bearing surface thereof to the stepped surface formed on the air inflow side of the trailing pad and said side rails having a step depth δs 3 from the air bearing surfaces of the leading and trailing pads to surfaces of the side rails, said depths δs 1 , δs 2 and δs 3 being in a predetermined relation, where at least one of δs 3 >δs 1 and δs 3 >δs 2 .

4. A magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined relation further includes that δs 2 is one of equal to and greater than δs 1 .

5. A magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined relation further includes that δs 2 is greater than δs 1 .

6. A magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined relation includes that δs 2 =δs 1 .

7. A magnetic head slider according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined relation further includes that δs 2 is one of equal to and greater than δs 1 .

8. A magnetic head slider according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined relation further includes that δs 2 is greater than δs 1 .

9. A magnetic head slider according to claim 2 , wherein the predetermined relation includes that δs 2 =δs 1 .

10. A magnetic disk unit according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined relation further includes that δs 2 is one of equal to and greater than δs 1 .

11. A magnetic disk unit according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined relation further includes that δs 2 is greater than δs 1 .

12. A magnetic disk unit according to claim 3 , wherein the predetermined relation includes that δs 2 =δs 1 .