Patent · US Expired

Controlled air bearing (CAB) for magnetic spacing control

US7755867B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
26References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 16, 2002
Grant dateJul 13, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 28, 2024

Classification

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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a controlled air bearing which allows adjustable control over the magnetic spacing between the pole tips of a slider and the surface of the disc. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a slider for use in a data storage system, the slider comprises a base portion having a leading edge end and a trailing edge end. The embodiment further comprises a movable air bearing surface element positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion. Finally, the embodiment further comprises an actuator positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion and coupling the base portion to the movable air bearing surface element, the actuator selectively controllable to move the movable air bearing surface element relative to the base portion to alter an air bearing surface provided by the base portion and the movable air bearing surface element to thereby control a fly height of the slider. The present invention includes a method for implementing the steps performed by the embodiment of the apparatus.

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