Slider head having thermally controlled distal end and assembly with a rotating disc
US6775103B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B5/607
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A slider head assembly is provided which includes a slider head for reading/writing data on the surface of a rotating disc. The slider head is disposed in spaced relationship with respect to the disc for read/write (R/W) operations. The slider head assembly is comprised of a body portion having an essentially planar surface positioned to co-act with the surface of the disc with a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end or trailing slider surface of the head assembly has a read/write element thereat. The distal end or leading slider surface of the assembly has an actuation device mounted thereon, having a surface the position of which can be modified by an external signal to change the position of the head with respect to the planar or air bearing surface (ABS) of the head assembly. This will change the characteristics of the boundary layer of air between the rotating disc and the head, causing the head assembly to move closer to or farther from the rotating disc when actuated by the external signal. A preferred embodiment is a patterned heating element which selectively heats the edge of the leading surface of the slider to cause position modification of the device. The inv…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.