Magnetic disk device and magnetic head slider

#This invention relates to a magnetic disk device; and, more particularly, the invention relates to the structure of a magnetic head slider and to a magnetic disk in a contact recording magnetic disk device in which the magnetic head slider touches the magnetic disk.

#To increase the recording density of a magnetic disk device, a narrowing of flying height, that is defined as the spacing between a magnetic head slider mounted with a magnetic head and a rotating magnetic disk, is important. A uniform flying height over the entire surface of the magnetic disk is also required. Further, any fluctuation of flying height due to environmental changes, especially a decrease of the flying height due to a drop in atmospheric pressure when operating at a high altitude, is required to be minimized. In proportion to a decrease in the flying height, the possibility of contact by the magnetic head slider with the magnetic disk increases; and, if the degree of contact is severe, the magnetic head slider crashes against the magnetic disk and there is a possibility of destroying the recorded data on the magnetic disk.

#A technique for generally equalizing the flying height over the entire surface of the magnetic disk, for reducing a decrease of the flying height and for keeping a uniform flying height all over the magnetic disk when the disk is used at a high altitude, is disclosed by JP-A-2000-57724. This Japanese publication discloses a step air bearing sub-ambient pressure force magnetic head slider which generally equalizes the flying height over the entire surface of the magnetic disk and makes it possible to reduce a decrease of the flying height when the disk is used at a high altitude by the adequate combination of the rail surfaces with a step air bearing having a recess with a depth of sub-microns, the recess being deeper than that of the air bearing, for generating a sub-ambient pressure force.

#FIG. 1 is the top view of the magnetic head slider representing a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in the FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is the diagram illustrating the state of contact between the magnetic head slider and the magnetic disk in the first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

#A description of various embodiments of the magnetic head slider and the magnetic disk device therewith according to the present invention will be presented with reference to the drawings.

#FIG. 1 is a top view of the magnetic head slider of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is the cross section taken along line A-A in FIG. 1.

#As is shown, the magnetic head slider 1 of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided with an air flow-in edge 2, an air flow-out edge 3 and a floating surface 4. The floating surface 4, facing a magnetic disk which is not shown, is provided with first surface constituting elements 5a, 5b and 5c, which form a first surface positioned most closely adjacent to the magnetic disk, second surface constituting elements 6a, 6b and 6c, which form a second surface further separated from the magnetic disk than the first surface, third surface constituting elements 7a, 7b and 7c, which form a third surface even further separated from the magnetic head than the second surface, and fourth surface constituting element 8 which forms a fourth surface most separated from the magnetic disk.