Method and apparatus for utilizing a small pad to increase a head to a disk interface reliability for a load/unload drive

A slider having a small pad on a leading edge to increase a head to a disk interface reliability for a load/unload drive comprising:

• a suspension for reaching over a disk;
• a slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion, said slider coupled with said suspension;
• a low friction zone proximal to a leading edge (LE) portion of said slider;
• at least two pads in said low friction zone proximal to said leading edge of said slider;
• and
• a linked portion having a reduced friction zone between said at least two pads in said low friction zone of said slider such that when said LE portion of said slider is aligned to contact a disk element during the load phase, the low friction zone contacts the disk element and provides a reduced contact area with respect to said LE portion of said slider such that a friction force is reduced and said slider can assume a proper flying attitude.

A hard disk drive comprising:

• a housing;
• a disk pack mounted to the housing and having a plurality of disks that are rotatable relative to the housing, the disk pack defining an axis of rotation and a radial direction relative to the axis;
• an actuator mounted to the housing and being movable relative to the disk pack, the actuator having a suspension for reaching over the disk, the suspension having a slider coupled therewith, said slider having a small pad on a leading edge to increase a head to a disk interface reliability for a load/unload drive comprising:
• a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion of said slider;
• and
• a low friction zone proximal to a leading edge (LE) portion of said slider;
• at least two pads in said low friction zone proximal to said leading edge of said slider;
• and
• a linked portion having a reduced friction zone between said at least two pads in said low friction zone of said slider such that when said LE portion of said slider is aligned to contact a disk element during the load phase, the low friction zone contacts the disk element and provides a reduced contact area with respect to said LE portion of said slider such that a friction force is reduced and said slider can assume a proper flying attitude.

A slider having a small pad on a leading edge to increase a head to a disk interface reliability for a load/unload drive comprising:

• a means for providing a suspension for reaching over a disk;
• a means for providing a slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion, said slider coupled with said suspension;
• a means for providing a low friction zone proximal to a leading edge (LE) portion of said slider;
• a means for providing at least two pads in said low friction zone proximal to said leading edge of said slider;
• and
• a means for providing a linked portion having a reduced friction zone between said at least two pads in said low friction zone of said slider such when said LE portion of said slider is aligned to contact a disk element during the load phase, the low friction zone contacts the disk element and provides a reduced contact area with respect to said LE portion of said slider such that a friction force is reduced and said slider can assume a proper flying attitude.