Programmable air bearing slider including magnetic read/write element
US5021906A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jun 4, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S360/903
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An air bearing slider according to the present invention provides a programmable slider wherein the fly height of the read/write head may be conveniently controlled using electrical signals. In an air bearing slider according to the present invention, the rear of the slider is made to fly lower by altering the angle of attack of a rear air bearing region. In one embodiment of the present invention, a slider configuration includes a first air bearing region at the leading edge of the slider and a second air bearing region at the slider's trailing edge. The first air bearing region includes a tapered region. A deformable central region, including a non air bearing surface, joins the first and second air bearing regions and controls the relative angle between the air bearing surfaces. The relative angle is adjusted by deforming the central region using a layer of piezoelectric material which overlays the central region. A conventional read/write head is placed on the rear portion of the second air bearing region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.