Patent · US Expired

Air bearing slider

US6137656A · kind A · utility

57Cited by
4References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 26, 1998
Grant dateOct 24, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 26, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B5/6005
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An air bearing slider for use in a disk drive includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and parallel sides defined between said edges. The slider has a plurality of pads that form discrete air bearing surfaces having a uniform height. The pads include two leading pads formed along the leading edge, a center pad defined along the trailing edge and two side pads. A platform surrounds the center pad and another platform is formed between the leading pads. The slider has a side bridge between each side pad and leading pad and a leading bridge between the leading pads. The side bridge has a height that is less than the height of the pads and which is configured to direct air towards the side pads. The directed air in cooperation with the slider geometry regulates lifting pressure under the center and side pads to limit pitch and maintain a constant slider flying height.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.