Slider for load/unload operation with high stiffness and low unload force

A disk drive having an actuator arm, a slider and a suspension membrane which attaches the slider to the actuator arm, and a data storage disk having an outer diameter, wherein:

• said slider includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a plurality of pads and at least one cavity, which creates a region of sub-ambient pressure, said region including a negative pressure center;
• a load point being formed where said suspension membrane attaches to said slider;
• said negative pressure center being positioned towards said trailing edge relative to said load point, such that when upward force is applied to said slider at said load point, a moment is produced which raises said leading edge, allowing increased air flow into said at least one cavity, which diminishes said sub-ambient pressure, and allows said arm to be raised without damaging said suspension membrane.

A method of disengaging a slider from a disk surface, said slider having high stiffness by the inclusion of at least one subambient pressure region within at least one cavity formed in the air-bearing surface of said slider, said slider further having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a plurality of pads, and being attached to an actuator arm by a support membrane, the method comprising the steps of:

• A) contouring said air-bearing surface such that said at least one region of sub-ambient pressure has a negative pressure center which will be positioned towards said trailing edge relative to a load point where said support membrane attaches to said slider;
• and
• B) creating a moment when upward force is applied to said slider at said load point, which raises said leading edge, thus diminishing said sub-ambient pressure, and allowing said slider to be raised from engagement with said disk surface without damage to said support membrane.

A method of disengaging a slider from a disk surface, said slider having high stiffness by the inclusion of subambient pressure regions having a negative pressure center within at least one cavity formed in the air-bearing surface of said slider, said slider further having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and being attached to an actuator arm by a support membrane, the method comprising the steps of:

• A) positioning a load point relative to said slider, said load point being positioned towards said leading edge relative to said negative pressure center;
• B) creating a moment when upward force is applied to said slider at said load point, which raises said leading edge, allowing increased air flow into said at least one cavity, which diminishes said sub-ambient pressure, and allows said actuator arm to be raised without damaging said support membrane.

A method of creating low unload force in a slider used in load/unload operations from a disk surface, said slider having high stiffness by the inclusion of at least one subambient pressure region within at least one cavity formed in the air-bearing surface of said slider, said slider further having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and being attached to an actuator arm by a support membrane, the method comprising the steps of:

• A) contouring said air-bearing surface such that said at least one region of sub-ambient pressure has a negative pressure center which will be positioned towards said trailing edge relative to a load point where said support membrane attaches to said slider;
• and
• B) creating a moment when upward force is applied to said slider at said load point, which raises said leading edge, thus diminishing said sub-ambient pressure, and allowing said slider to be raised from engagement with said disk surface without damage to said support membrane.