Glide head using an ion etched air bearing
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsMark J. Schaenzer, Zine-Eddine Boutaghou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A glide head for determining surface characteristics of a material includes a body positioned proximate to the surface of the material and an impact edge, formed through ion etching, that extends from the body toward the material. A sensor is mounted on the body and is capable of sensing impacts between the impact edge and portions of the surface of the material.
Claims17
A glide head for determining surface characteristics of a material, the glide head comprising:
- a body, for being positioned proximate to a surface of the material;
- an impact edge extending from the body toward the material, the impact edge formed through ion etching of a single phase material;
- and
- a sensor, mounted on the body, the sensor capable of sensing impacts between the impact edge and portions of the surface of the material.
A method of forming a glide head useful in determining surface characteristics of a surface of a material, the method comprising:
- forming a body from a single phase material;
- combining a sensor with the body, the sensor capable of creating a signal based on impacts between the body and the surface of material;
- and
- ion etching a portion of the body to form an impact edge, the impact edge formed to be closer to the surface of the material than any other portion of the glide head when determining surface characteristics of the material.
A system for determining surface characteristics of a material, the system comprising:
- means for moving the material;
- a glide head having an impact edge formed from a single phase material through ion etching;
- a sensor, in contact with the glide head, the sensor for affecting a sensor electrical signal when the impact edge contacts a portion of a surface of the material;
- and
- output means, coupled to the sensor for creating a perceivable output based on the sensor electrical signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.