Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Fluid bearing head support – Disk record
Patent
1999-03-20
2000-12-12
Klimowicz, William
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Fluid bearing head support
Disk record
G11B 2121, G11B 1732, G11B 560
Patent
active
061606839
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to disc storage systems of the type used to store information. More specifically, the invention relates to the interface between slider and a surface of a storage disc.
Magnetic disc drives are used to store magnetically encoded information. As the magnetic disc spins, a transducing head "flies" over the surface of the disc. The transducing head is used to sense magnetic fields from the disc surface during readback of information, and to generate magnetic fields which are impressed onto the surface of the disc during writing of information. As the disc spins, the transducing head is supported by an "air bearing" which is formed between the disc surface and an air bearing slider of the transducer head assembly. The slider body has aerodynamic properties which provide a lifting force.
It is known that improved magnetic interaction between the disc surface and the transducing head can be achieved by reducing the spacing between the head slider and the disc surface. However, as the spacing between slider and disc is reduced, it becomes critical that the fly height be accurately maintained. If the slider should dip slightly, it will touch the surface of the disc and potentially damage the surface. This is particularly problematic with magnetoresistive or magneto-optic recording heads in which contact with an asperity on the disc surface can generate an error in the readback signal.
One technique for achieving very close spacing between the transducing head and the disc surface is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,691 which issued Aug. 27, 1996 to Hamilton and is entitled "SIZE-INDEPENDENT, RIGID-DISK, MAGNETIC, DIGITAL-INFORMATION STORAGE SYSTEM WITH LOCALIZED READ/WRITE ENHANCEMENTS. The Hamilton reference describes a slider for contact recording in which the surface of the slider is dragged across the disc surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A storage device for storing information includes a disc storage medium having a disc surface. An armature is positioned over the disc surface and carries a magnetoresistive or a magneto-optic head proximate the disc surface. Transducing circuitry is coupled to the head for reading and writing information onto the disc surface. The slider is coupled to the armature near an end of the armature for carrying the head and is adapted to position the head proximate the disc surface. The slider includes an interface surface facing the disc surface having an air bearing region adapted to form an air bearing with the disc surface and having at least one contact pad extending from the air bearing region for contact recording. The air bearing provides an opposed lifting force which, when combined with the contact force on the pad, is substantially equal to the preload force.
In one aspect of the invention a sacrificial wear layer is provided on the at least one contact pad. In another aspect of the invention, the contact pad has a height which is at equilibrium with the air bearing during operation of the disc whereby the air bearing forms a shock absorbing cushion for the slider.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a disc storage system having a slider in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a slider in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the slider of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a graph of separation distance between a slider and a disc surface versus lift provided by the slider.
FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram showing a geometrical relation between slider pitch, pad position and pad height.
FIG. 6 shows the fly height distribution of typical sliders.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention provides a new design for a slider for use with a rotating disc storage medium. U.S. Pat. No. 5,550,691, issued Aug. 27, 1996 to Hamilton shows one prior art technique in which a slider is dragged across the disc surface. The Hamilton patent describes a slider having "feet" which are constructed of a hardened material
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Klimowicz William
Seagate Technology LLC
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