Simplified self-loading head slider

#The present invention relates to transducer head assemblies for rotating disc drives, and more particularly to self-loading air bearing sliders.

#Transducer head assemblies that "fly" relative to a rotating disc are used extensively in rotating disc drives. A head assembly includes a gimbal and an air bearing slider for carrying a magnetic transducer proximate the rotating disc. An actuator arm positions the slider and the transducer over individual data tracks on the disc surface. The gimbal is positioned between the slider and the actuator arm to provide a resilient connection which allows the slider to follow the topography of the disc. The gimbal includes a dimple that is in point contact with the slider. The dimple provides a point about which the slider can pitch and roll while following the topography of the disc.

#The slider includes a pair of side rails which are positioned along its side edges and are disposed about a recessed area. The side rails form a pair of air bearing surfaces. As the disc rotates, the disc drags air under the slider and along the air bearing surfaces in a direction approximately parallel to the tangential velocity of the disc. As the air passes beneath the side rails, skin friction on the air bearing surfaces causes air pressure between the disc and the air bearing surfaces to increase which creates a hydrodynamic lifting force that causes the slider to lift and fly above the disc surface.

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an actuator arm supporting a transducer head assembly over a rotating disc.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a self-loading, subambient pressure air bearing slider in accordance with the present invention.

#FIG. 3A is a side plan view of the self-loading, subambient pressure air bearing slider shown in FIG. 2.

#The present invention is an advanced self-loading, subambient pressure air bearing slider which is configured for use in a rotating disc drive. The slider includes a subambient pressure cavity which partially extends into a leading edge taper, thereby creating a cavity "dam" that is offset by about 1.0 micron from a pair of air bearing surfaces. The slider requires only one etching cycle to manufacture, as opposed to a current two cycle process. Since the subambient pressure cavity extends into the leading edge taper, a second etching cycle is not required to relieve the cavity dam from the air bearing surfaces. The present invention preserves many advantages of advanced air bearing designs while simplifying their fabrication.

#FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a disc drive with an actuator arm supporting a transducer (not shown) over a rotating disc. An actuator 10 and an actuator arm 12 support the transducer proximate to the surface of disc 16. Arm 12 includes a supporting arm 18, a base plate 20 and a load beam 22. Load beam 22 is connected to a gimbal spring 24 which carries an air bearing slider 26. Actuator 10 rotates arm 12 to position slider 26 over various data tracks (not shown) on the disc surface along arc 14. Slider 26 carries a transducer (not shown) which communicates with data locations on the disc surface. Although slider 26 is described as an air bearing slider, the present invention can also be applied to other hydrodynamic sliders.

#FIG. 2 is a perspective view of slider 26, as viewed from the disc surface. Slider 26 is a self-loading, subambient pressure air bearing (NPAB) slider in accordance with the present invention. Slider 26 includes a leading edge 30, a trailing edge 32, and first and second side edges 34 and 36. A pair of side rails 38 and 40 are positioned along first and second side edges 34 and 36, respectively, and extend between leading edge 30 and trailing edge 32. Side rails 38 and 40 form air bearing surfaces 42 and 44. A cavity dam 46 defines a subambient pressure cavity 48 which trails the cavity dam, between side rails 38 and 40. Cavity dam 46 is positioned at leading edge 30. Side rails 38 and 40 may include relatively deep outside edge steps 50, 52, 54 and 56.