Aerodynamic magnetic head slider and magnetic disk drive
View Patent ↗Embodiments of the invention prevent the reduction of the flying height of a magnetic head slider at a high altitude and thereby to improve the reliability of a magnetic disk drive. In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider has an air inlet end, an air outlet end, and an aerodynamic structure (air bearing surface). The aerodynamic structure includes: a plurality of inlet rails respectively having inlet rail surfaces; an outlet rail having an outlet rail surface flush with the inlet rail surfaces and holding a magnetic head; a bearing surface extending at a predetermined first depth δ 1 from a reference plane including the inlet and the outlet rail surfaces; a negative-pressure surface extending in a plane at a predetermined second depth δ 2 greater than the first depth δ 1 from the reference plane; and longitudinal lands of a predetermined height h formed on the inlet rails. The bearing surface and the inlet rail surfaces extend between the air inlet end and the lands.
1. A magnetic head slider comprising:
an air inlet end;
an air outlet end; and
an aerodynamic structure;
wherein the aerodynamic structure includes:
a plurality of inlet rails respectively having inlet rail surfaces;
an outlet rail having an outlet rail surface flush with the inlet rail surfaces and supporting a magnetic head;
a bearing surface extending at a predetermined first depth δ 1 from a reference plane including the inlet and the outlet rail surfaces;
a negative-pressure surface extending in a plane at a predetermined second depth δ 2 greater than the first depth δ 1 from the reference plane; and
longitudinal lands of a predetermined height h formed on and extending between opposite sides of the inlet rails; and
wherein the bearing surface and the inlet rail surfaces extend between the air inlet end and the lands;
wherein the outlet rail surface and the inlet rail surfaces include rising diagonal surfaces formed at the air inlet end;
wherein the inlet rails extend from a position away from the air inlet end to a middle area of the slider at a position before the air outlet end.
2. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the height h of the lands is smaller than the depth δ 1 of the bearing surface.
3. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the aerodynamic structure is coated with a material which is the same as a material of the lands.
4. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the height h of the lands is about 50 nm.
5. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the height h of the lands meets a condition expressed by:
h/L≦ 5.9×10 −5
where h is the height of the lands, and L is the length of the magnetic head slider.
6. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein the area ratio of the total area of the lands to the total area of the inlet rail surfaces is in a range of about 18 to 92%.
7. The magnetic head slider according to claim 6 , wherein the height h of the lands is smaller than the depth δ 1 of the bearing surface.
8. The magnetic head slider according to claim 6 , wherein the aerodynamic structure is coated with a material which is the same as a material of the lands.
9. The magnetic head slider according to claim 6 , wherein the height h of the lands is about 50 nm.
10. The magnetic head slider according to claim 6 , wherein the height h of the lands meets a condition expressed by:
h/L≦ 5.9×10 −5
where h is the height of the lands, and L is the length of the magnetic head slider.
11. The magnetic head slider according to claim 1 , wherein a load is placed on the magnetic head slider at a point on a side of the air inlet end with respect to a center of the magnetic head slider.
12. A magnetic disk drive provided with the magnetic head slider stated in claim 1 .
13. A magnetic head slider comprising:
an air inlet end;
an air outlet end;
a negative-pressure groove; and
an aerodynamic structure;
wherein the aerodynamic structure includes:
a longitudinal bearing surface extending toward the air outlet end from the air inlet end;
a first land formed on the bearing surface and having a first step rising diagonally from the bearing surface; and
a second land formed on the first land and having a second step rising from the first step,
wherein the second land extends between opposite sides of the first land;
wherein the first land is formed at a position away from the air inlet end to a middle area of the slider at a position before the air outlet end.
14. The magnetic head slider according to claim 13 , wherein the first step rising from the bearing surface is greater than the second step rising from the first step.
15. The magnetic head slider according to claim 13 , wherein the second step is about 50 nm.
16. The magnetic head slider according to claim 13 , wherein
h/L≦ 5.9×10 −5
where h is a height of the second step, and L is an overall length of the magnetic head slider.
17. The magnetic head slider according to claim 13 , wherein the magnetic head slider is configured to receive a load applied at a point on a side of the air inlet with respect to a center of the magnetic head slider.
18. A magnetic disk drive comprising:
a magnetic disk; and
a magnetic head slider according to claim 13 .