Disk head stability system
View Patent ↗A slider assembly, comprising a slider having a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a storage medium, and a vibration absorber operatively coupled to the slider for reducing mechanical vibrations of the slider caused by contact of the slider with the storage medium. The vibration absorber preferably includes a coupling portion coupled to the slider, and a weight coupled to the coupling portion by a resiliently deformable (e.g., flexible or elastic) member.
1. A slider assembly comprising:
a slider having a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a storage medium; and
a vibration absorber operatively coupled to the slider for reducing mechanical vibrations of the slider caused by contact of the slider with the storage medium,
wherein the vibration absorber includes a coupling portion coupled to the slider, and a weight coupled to the coupling portion by a resiliently deformable flexure member,
wherein the flexure member forms a cantilever supporting the weight.
2. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the weight has a generally flat profile, wherein a plane of the weight along the profile is oriented at an angle with respect to an air bearing surface of the slider, the angle being greater than 0°.
3. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , the weight being spaced from the coupling portion, the weight only being coupled to the coupling portion by the flexure member.
4. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the weight is positioned at least one of towards a trailing edge of the slider and towards a leading edge of the slider.
5. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a second weight coupled to the coupling portion.
6. A slider assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the weight and second weight are positioned towards a leading and trailing edge of the slider, respectively.
7. A slider assembly as recited in claim 5 , wherein the weight and second weight are positioned towards opposite edges of the slider, the opposite edges extending between trailing and leading edges of the slider.
8. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein a pivot axis of the flexure member is about parallel to an air bearing surface of the slider.
9. A slider assembly, comprising:
a slider having a magnetic head for reading and/or writing to a storage medium; and
a vibration absorber operatively coupled to the slider for reducing mechanical vibrations of the slider caused by contact of the slider with the storage medium, the vibration absorber including a weight supported by a cantilever,
wherein the weight has a generally flat profile, wherein a plane of the weight along the profile is oriented at an angle with respect to a plane lying along an air bearing surface of the slider, the angle being greater than 0°.
10. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the flexure member allows the weight to twist about an axis of the flexure member.
11. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the weight is an integral part of the flexure member.
12. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vibration absorber is tuned to about match a natural frequency of vibration of the slider when the slider is in a flying state.
13. A slider assembly as recited in claim 1 , wherein the vibration absorber is damped.
14. A slider assembly as recited in claim 13 , wherein the damped vibration absorber is tuned to a frequency lower than a natural frequency of vibration of the slider when the slider is in a flying state.
15. A magnetic storage system, comprising:
a magnetic disk;
at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic disk;
a slider for supporting the head;
an actuator arm and suspension for supporting the slider;
a vibration absorber for reducing mechanical vibrations of the slider caused by contact of the slider with the magnetic media, wherein the vibration absorber includes a weight supported by a cantilever; and
a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head.
16. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the vibration absorber is coupled to the slider.
17. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the vibration absorber is coupled to the suspension.
18. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the vibration absorber is coupled to the actuator arm.
19. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 15 , wherein wherein the flexure member forms a cantilever supporting the weight.
20. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 19 , the weight being spaced from the coupling portion, the weight only being coupled to the coupling portion by the flexure member.
21. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the weight is positioned towards at least one of a trailing edge of the slider and a leading edge of the slider.
22. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 19 , further comprising a second weight coupled to the coupling portion.
23. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the weight and second weight are positioned towards a leading and trailing edge of the slider, respectively.
24. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 22 , wherein the weight and second weight are positioned towards opposite edges of the slider, the opposite edges extending between trailing and leading edges of the slider.
25. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 19 , wherein a pivot axis of the flexure member is about parallel to an air bearing surface of the slider.
26. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the weight has a flat profile wherein a plane of the weight along the profile is oriented at an angle with respect to a plane lying along an air bearing surface of the slider, the angle being greater than 0°.
27. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 19 , wherein the weight is an integral part of the flexure member.
28. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the vibration absorber is tuned to about match a natural frequency of vibration of the slider when the slider is in a flying state.
29. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 15 , wherein the vibration absorber is damped.
30. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 29 , wherein the damped vibration absorber is tuned to a frequency lower than a natural frequency of vibration of the slider when the slider is in a flying state.
31. A magnetic storage system, comprising:
a magnetic disk;
at least one head for reading from and writing to the magnetic disk;
a slider for supporting the head;
an actuator arm and suspension for supporting the slider;
a vibration absorber for reducing mechanical vibrations of the slider caused by contact of the slider with the magnetic media; wherein the vibration absorber includes a coupling portion operatively coupled to the slider, and a weight coupled to the coupling portion by a resiliently deformable flexure member, the flexure member forming a cantilever supporting the weight; and
a control unit coupled to the head for controlling operation of the head.
32. A magnetic storage system as recited in claim 31 , wherein the weight is positioned towards a trailing edge of the slider, the weight being spaced from the coupling portion, the weight only being coupled to the coupling portion by the flexure member.