Contact magnetic recording disk file with improved head assembly

US5734519A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• International Business Machines Corporation · US

Inventors

• Robert E. Fontana, Jr. · San Jose, US
• Cherngye Hwang · San Jose, US
• Vlad Novotny · Los Gatos, US
• Timothy C. Reiley · Los Gatos, US
• Celia E. Yeack-Scranton · South Salem, US
• Clinton David Snyder · Los Gatos, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 25, 1993
• Grant date: Mar 31, 1998
• Expiry date: Mar 25, 2013

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G11B5/255
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A contact recording disk file uses an integrated head-suspension assembly having a head carrier with a dual-layer wear pad for contacting the disk during read and write operations. The outer wear layer of the pad is relatively soft and wear prone compared to a harder and more wear-resistant inner layer. The outer wear layer wears away at a relatively rapid rate during initial wear-in of the head carrier. In this manner the head pole pieces, which extend into the wear pad, are rapidly put into contact with the disk, thereby compensating for initial misalignment of the wear pad with the surface of the disk. The inner wear layer then provides wear resistance over the life of the disk file. In the preferred embodiment, both the outer and inner wear layers are formed of essentially amorphous carbon doped with different amounts of hydrogen.