Method and apparatus for removing debris from a slider in a disk drive using load/unload technology
US6084753A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 2, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 4, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 2, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/41
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and load/unload structure for implementation in a disk drive, whereby debris is prevented from accumulating on the surface of an air bearing slider by moving the slider ABS across a stationary cleaning pad formed integrally with the ramp structure during loading and unloading. As a first aspect of the invention, space at the disk perimeter is used efficiently by providing a stationary cleaning surface integral to the ramp structure. As another aspect of the invention, cleaning may be enhanced by dithering the slider across the stationary pad, e.g., at selected resonant frequencies, to remove a larger volume of debris. As yet another aspect of the invention, baffling may be provided in the disk drive interior to channel the airflow generated by the disk such that it is directed over the cleaning pad in the direction of an air filter.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.