# US 9,437,233 B1 · Self-assembled monolayer to adjust fly height

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- Number: US 9,437,233 B1
- Document ID: US9437233B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/877,292
- Filed: 2015-10-07
- Granted: 2016-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-07
- Assignees: Seagate Technology LLC
- Applicants: Seagate Technology LLC
- Inventors: Daniel W. Olson; Timothy W. Stoebe
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9437233B1

## CPC

- G11B 5/60: Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers
- G11B 5/3106: {where the integrated or assembled structure comprises means for conditioning against physical detrimental influence, e.g. wear, contamination (G11B5/3133 takes precedence)}
- G11B 5/6005: {Specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion}
- G11B 5/6011: {Control of flying height}
- G11B 5/6035: {using electrostatic forces}
- G11B 5/40: Protective measures on heads, e.g. against excessive temperature (G11B5/31 takes precedence; protection against wear G11B5/255 {; protective structure of the head: see under structures, e.g. G11B5/3106})
- G11B 5/607: {using thermal means}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A disc drive assembly that includes a disc having a surface, a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite the disc surface, and a voltage source for applying a voltage/potential across the disc and slider. Present on either the ABS or the disc surface is a surface treatment that provides a surface potential of at least +/−0.1 V. In some implementations the surface treatment is a self-assembled monolayer (SAM).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A disc drive assembly comprising:
a disc having a surface;
a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite the disc surface;
a voltage source for applying a voltage/potential across the disc and slider; and
a surface treatment on either the ABS or the disc surface, the surface treatment providing a surface potential of at least +/−0.5 V on the ABS or disc surface and a voltage/potential across the disc and slider of at least +/−0.5 V.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The disc drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is on the ABS.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The disc drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is on the disc surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The disc drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment provides a surface potential of at least +/−0.7 V.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The disc drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is a doped DLC.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The disc drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the surface treatment is a fluorinated DLC.

### Claim 7

A disc drive assembly comprising:
a disc having a surface;
a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite the disc surface;
a voltage source for applying a voltage/potential across the disc and slider;
a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) material having a surface potential of at least +/−0.1V on either the ABS or the disc surface; and
a voltage/potential across the ABS and the disc surface of at least +/−0.5 V.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The disc drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the SAM material is on the ABS.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The disc drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the SAM material is on the disc surface.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The disc drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the SAM material is a fluorinated SAM.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The disc drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the SAM material is a fluorinated-silane SAM.