US 6,441,385 B1 · Method and apparatus for optimizing adjustment of disc head slider curvature

Abstract

An apparatus and method for adjusting curvature of a disc head slider having a bearing surface is provided. The apparatus includes a light source and an apparatus for controlling the light source. The light source is adapted to produce a light beam capable of altering material stresses in a working surface of the slider. The apparatus for controlling the light source is adapted for obtaining a measure of first and second curvature characteristics of the bearing surface and for scanning the light beam across the working surface in a pattern to alter the material stresses in the working surface such that the first and second curvature characteristics move to within predetermined specifications. The pattern is based on the measures of the first and second curvature characteristics and estimates of responses in the first and second curvature characteristics to the pattern.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method of controlling curvature of a disc head slider having a bearing surface, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining measures of first and second curvature characteristics of the bearing surface;
and
(b) selecting a first material stress pattern to be applied to a working surface of the slider based on the measure of the first curvature characteristic and a first target value;
(c) estimating a change to the second curvature characteristic due to application of the first material stress pattern to the working surface of the slider;
(d) selectively changing the first target value and the first material stress pattern based on the change to the second curvature characteristic estimated in step (c);
and
(e) applying the first material stress pattern, as selectively changed in step (d), to the working surface of the slider to induce a change in the first curvature characteristic toward the first target value.

4 more elements

A method of controlling curvature of a disc head slider having a bearing surface, the method comprising:

(a) defining a respective specification range, including a nominal value, for twist, crown and cross curvatures of the bearing surface;
(b) obtaining a measure of the twist, crown and cross curvatures of the bearing surface;
and
(c) selectively altering material stresses on a working surface of the slider in a first pattern that is selected to induce a desired change in the twist curvature based on the measure of the twist curvature, the specification range for the twist curvature and estimated responses in the crown and cross curvatures to the first pattern;
and
(d) selectively altering material stresses on the working surface in a second pattern that is selected to induce a change in at least one of the crown and cross curvatures based on the specification ranges for the crown and cross curvatures and estimated responses in the crown and cross curvatures to the second pattern.

3 more elements

A method of controlling curvature of a disc head slider having a bearing surface, the method comprising:

(a) obtaining a measure of twist, crown and cross curvatures of the bearing surface;
and
(b) selecting a first material stress pattern for inducing a change in the twist curvature in response to application of the first material stress pattern to a working surface of the slider, based on the measure of the twist curvature obtained in step (a);
(c) estimating a response in at least one of the crown and cross curvatures to the first material stress pattern due to application of the first material stress pattern to the working surface of the slider;
(d) selectively applying or not applying the first material stress pattern to the working surface of the slider, based on the estimated response in at least one of the crown and cross curvatures;
(e) selecting a second material stress pattern for inducing a change in at least one of the crown and cross curvatures in response to application of the second material stress pattern to the working surface of the slider;
and
(f) applying the second material stress pattern to the working surface of the slider.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for optimizing adjustment of disc head slider curvature

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for optimizing adjustment of disc head slider curvature

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17