Head slider having pads formed on rail surfaces

1. A head slider having an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and a disk opposing surface opposed to a disk, comprising:

a front rail formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air inlet end, said front rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a pair of rear rails formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air outlet end, each of said rear rails having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a groove formed downstream of said front rail for generating a negative pressure by expanding air once compressed at said front rail;

a transducer formed near said air outlet end at a transverse position where one of said rear rails is formed; and

a plurality of pads formed on said front rail and on at least one of said rear rails;

wherein at least said pads that are formed on said front rail have a side surface substantially normal to said air bearing surface of corresponding said front and rear rails, a first height, a second height and an inclined upper end surface extending from said first height to said second height with a given inclination angle such that the upstream end of said inclined upper end surface is higher in level than the downstream end thereof.

2. A head slider according to claim 1 , wherein said given inclination angle is less than or equal to a pitch angle in flying said slider.

3. A head slider according to claim 1 , wherein each of said front rail and said rear rails has a step surface adjacent to said corresponding air bearing surface and lower in level than said corresponding air bearing surface;

each of said pads being formed on said step surface.

4. A head slider having an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and a disk opposing surface opposed to a disk, comprising:

a front rail formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air inlet end, said front rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a pair of rear rails formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air outlet end, each of said rear rails having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a groove formed downstream of said front rail for generating a negative pressure by expanding air once compressed at said front rail;

a transducer formed near said air outlet end at a transverse position where one of said rear rails is formed; and

a plurality of pads formed on said front rail and at least one of said rear rails;

each of said pads including a base pad having a first sectional area and an auxiliary pad formed on said base pad, said auxiliary pad having a second sectional area smaller than said first sectional area.

5. A head slider according to claim 4 , wherein the angle formed between a horizontal plane and a straight line connecting the downstream end of the upper end surface of said base pad and the downstream end of the upper end surface of said auxiliary pad is less than or equal to a pitch angle in flying said slider.

6. A head slider according to claim 4 , wherein each of said front rail and said rear rails has a step surface adjacent to said corresponding air bearing surface and lower in level than said corresponding air bearing surface;

each of said pads being formed on said step surface.

7. A disk drive comprising:

a housing having a base;

a disk rotatably mounted in said housing and having a plurality of tracks;

a head slider having an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and a disk opposing surface opposed to said disk; and

an actuator for moving said head slider across said tracks of said disk;

said actuator comprising:

an actuator arm rotatably mounted on said base;

a suspension fixed at a base end portion thereof to a front end portion of said actuator arm; and

said head slider mounted on a front end portion of said suspension;

said head slider comprising:

a front rail formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air inlet end, said front rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a pair of rear rails formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air outlet end, each of said rear rails having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a groove formed downstream of said front rail for generating a negative pressure by expanding air once compressed at said front rail;

a transducer formed near said air outlet end at a transverse position where one of said rear rails is formed; and

a plurality of pads formed on said front rail and at least one of said rear rails;

wherein at least said pads that are formed on said front rail have a side surface substantially normal to said air bearing surface of corresponding said front and rear rails, a first height, a second height and an inclined upper end surface extending from said first height to said second height with a given inclination angle such that the upstream end of said inclined upper end surface is higher in level than the downstream end thereof.

8. A disk drive comprising:

a housing having a base;

a disk rotatably mounted in said housing and having a plurality of tracks;

a head slider having an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and a disk opposing surface opposed to said disk; and

an actuator for moving said head slider across said tracks of said disk;

said actuator comprising:

an actuator arm rotatably mounted on said base;

a suspension fixed at a base end portion thereof to a front end portion of said actuator arm; and

said head slider mounted on a front end portion of said suspension;

said head slider comprising:

a front rail formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air inlet end, said front rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a pair of rear rails formed on said disk opposing surface at a longitudinal position adjacent to said air outlet end, each of said rear rails having a flat air bearing surface for generating a flying force during rotation of said disk;

a groove formed downstream of said front rail for generating a negative pressure by expanding air once compressed at said front rail;

a transducer formed near said air outlet end at a transverse position where one of said rear rails is formed; and

a plurality of pads formed on said front rail and at least one of said rear rails;

each of said pads having a base pad having a first sectional area and an auxiliary pad formed on said base pad, said auxiliary pad having a second sectional area smaller than said first sectional area.