US5166845A — Integrated read/write heads, flexure assembly and…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 120 words

An integrated read/write structure for magnetic media comprising: a sheet of flexible magnetic material having integrated therein: at least one magnetic pole, an air-bearing flying structure, a flexure assembly, said air-bearing structure being supported by said flexure assembly, at least one second magnetic pole joined to said magnetic sheet material in operative association with said at least one pole, said poles being supported on a first surface of said air-bearing flying structure for interacting magnetically with a planar magnetic media moving parallel with and facing said first surface, said flexure assembly allowing positioning of said air-bearing flying structure at an optimal distance from said media, and an electrical coil formed in said magnetic sheet material operatively associated with said poles.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 120 words

An integrated read/write structure for magnetic media comprising: a sheet of flexible magnetic material having integrated therein: at least one magnetic pole, an air-bearing flying structure, a flexure assembly, said air-bearing structure being supported by said flexure assembly, at least one second magnetic pole joined to said magnetic sheet material in operative association with said at least one pole, said poles being supported on a first surface of said air-bearing flying structure for interacting magnetically with a planar magnetic media moving parallel with and facing said first surface, said flexure assembly allowing positioning of said air-bearing flying structure at an optimal distance from said media, and an electrical coil formed in said magnetic sheet material operatively associated with said poles.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 17 words

A read/write structure as in claim 1 in which said sheet of flexible magnetic material is Metglas®.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 27 words

A read/write structure as in claim 1 in which the overall mass of the read/write structure is in the range of between about 3-milligrams and about 15-milligrams.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

A read/write structure as in claim 1 including electrical conductors formed in said magnetic sheet material for selectively energizing said electrical coil means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 77 words

A read/write structure as in claim 4 in which said sheet of magnetic material includes a mounting end for attaching the read/write structure to an external support, said flexure means including a parallel beam support for said air-bearing flying structure, and said electrical conductors extend from interconnection pads formed adjacent said mounting end along said parallel beam support to said air-bearing flying structure, said poles and said electrical coil means being supported on said air-bearing flying structure.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 31 words

A read/write structure as in claim 1 in which said sheet of magnetic material includes a pattern of removed sheet material to form said air-bearing flying structure and said flexure means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

A read/write structure as in claim 6 in which said flexure means includes parallel beams which support said air-bearing flying structure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 99 words

A read/write structure as in claim 7 in which said sheet of magnetic material includes a mounting end for attaching the read/write structure to an external support, and a free end opposite said mounting end, said parallel beams including at least one primary beam extending from said mounting end to said free end, and at least one secondary beam supported at one end from said primary beam adjacent said free end and attached to said air-bearing flying structure at the other end, the flexure of said beams and resilient movement therebetween providing flexure support for said air-bearing flying structure.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 68 words

A read/write structure as in claim 7 in which said air-bearing flying structure includes a first surface for facing adjacent magnetic media, said magnetic poles being on said first surface, and a second surface facing opposite said first surface, the read/write structure further including a stiffener attached to said second surface of said air-bearing flying structure to maintain a generally flat, planar shape to said air-bearing flying structure.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 121 words

A read/write structure as in claim 7 in which said air-bearing flying structure includes means defining at least one rail and an adjacent recessed area on a first surface thereof, said poles being supported on said rail for interacting magnetically with planar magnetic media moving parallel with and facing said first surface, said air-bearing flying structure and said beams being configured to direct a portion of the air flowing adjacent moving media between said first surface and the media, whereby air flows adjacent said rail and said recessed area to produce respective above-ambient and below-ambient air pressure zones between said first surface and the media to assist in controlling the fly height of the air-bearing flying structure relative to the media.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 69 words

A read/write structure as in claim 10 in which said at least one rail is a longitudinally-extending area of said magnetic sheet material of greater thickness than adjacent areas of said firs surface, and wherein, when the read/write structure is adjacent moving magnetic media and oriented such that air flows between said first surface and the media, said rail is oriented generally parallel with the direction of air flow.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 35 words

A read/write structure as in claim 11 in which at least two said rails are formed on said first surface, said at least two rails being mutually parallel and said recess being between said rails.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 113 words

A read/write structure as in claim 7 in which said sheet of magnetic material includes a mounting end for attaching the read/write structure to an external support, and a free end opposite said mounting end, said structure being mountable from said mounting end on an external support in cantilever fashion such that it extends generally parallel to planar magnetic media moving relative thereto with said free end extending into the air flow adjacent the magnetic media, the parallel beams converging and being joined together adjacent said free end whereby air flow adjacent the media exerts air pressure on and around the beams to help position the air-bearing flying structure relative to the media.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 100 words

A read/write structure as in claim 13 in which, when the read/write structure is adjacent moving magnetic media and oriented such that one or more of said beams extends from said pole platform into the air flow adjacent the media, said air-bearing flying structure, and the one or more beams extending therefrom, are configured to direct a portion of the air flow into a positive pressure region between the media and a first surface of said air-bearing flying structure facing the media, whereby above-ambient air pressure in said positive pressure region urges the air-bearing flying structure away from the media.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 62 words

A read/write structure as in claim 14 in which said air-bearing flying structure includes means forming a recess in said first surface of said air-bearing flying structure which, when the read/write structure is adjacent moving recording media, creates below-ambient air pressure in a negative pressure region adjacent said recess, whereby the below-ambient air pressure urges the air-bearing flying structure toward the media.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 39 words

A read/write structure as in claim 15 in which said sheet of flexible material, including said beams and portions of said air-bearing flying structure, is approximately 30-microinches thick, and said recess in said first surface is approximately 4.5-microinches deep.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 139 words

An integrated magnetic head and flying support structure for attachment to a positioning arm adjacent planar magnetic media moving relative thereto, the integrated structure comprising: at least one flexure beam and an air-bearing platform including at least one magnetic pole supported by said at least one flexure beam integrally formed in a unitary sheet of thin, flexible magnetic material, a second magnetic pole juxtaposed with respect to each at least one magnetic pole on said air-bearing platform, each pair of juxtaposed poles defining a read/write head gap on a first surface of said air-bearing platform, an electrical coil on said air-bearing platform operatively associated with said poles, and at least a portion of the integrated air-bearing platform and flexure beams being configured to direct air flowing adjacent magnetic media moving relative thereto between said first surface and the media.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 139 words

An integrated magnetic head and flying support structure for attachment to a positioning arm adjacent planar magnetic media moving relative thereto, the integrated structure comprising: at least one flexure beam and an air-bearing platform including at least one magnetic pole supported by said at least one flexure beam integrally formed in a unitary sheet of thin, flexible magnetic material, a second magnetic pole juxtaposed with respect to each at least one magnetic pole on said air-bearing platform, each pair of juxtaposed poles defining a read/write head gap on a first surface of said air-bearing platform, an electrical coil on said air-bearing platform operatively associated with said poles, and at least a portion of the integrated air-bearing platform and flexure beams being configured to direct air flowing adjacent magnetic media moving relative thereto between said first surface and the media.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

A read/write structure as in claim 17 in which said air-bearing platform includes a first surface for facing adjacent magnetic media, said magnetic poles being on said first surface, and a second surface facing opposite said first surface, the read/write further including a stiffener attached to said second surface of said air-bearing platform to maintain a generally flat, planar shape to said air-bearing platform.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

An integrated structure as in claim 17 in which the flexible magnetic sheet material forming said air-bearing platform and said at least one flexure beam is an amorphous metallic material resistant to tribo-electrification.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 23 words

An integrated structure as in claim 17 in which the flexible magnetic sheet material forming said air-bearing platform and flexure beams is Metglas®.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 27 words

A read/write structure as in claim 17 in which the overall mass of the read/write structure is in the range of between about 3-milligrams and about 15-milligrams.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 60 words

An integrated structure as in claim 17 in which at least one flexure beam for supporting said air-bearing platform includes at least one primary beam extending longitudinally between a mounting end where the integrated structure is attached to a positioning arm and an unattached free end, said air-bearing platform being supported from adjacent said free end of said primary beam.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 50 words

An integrated structure as in claim 22 in which at least one flexure beam include at least one secondary beam extending from adjacent said free end of said primary beam toward said air-bearing platform, whereby said air-bearing platform forms a flexure connection with said primary beam through said secondary beam.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 65 words

An integrated structure as in claim 23 including a pair of generally parallel primary beams, a cross leg connecting said primary beams adjacent said free end, and a pair of generally parallel secondary beams extending from said cross leg between said primary beams toward said mounting end, all formed in said unitary sheet of magnetic material, whereby said air-bearing platform is between said primary beams.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 56 words

An integrated structure as in claim 17 including means forming at least one negative-pressure recess on said first surface of said air-bearing platform for producing below-ambient pressure in air flowing adjacent thereto between said first surface and the magnetic medium, whereby said air-bearing platform is urged by the below-ambient pressure toward magnetic media moving relative thereto.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 34 words

An integrated structure as in claim 25 including at least one air-bearing rail on said first surface for producing above-ambient pressure in air flowing adjacent thereto between said first surface and moving magnetic media.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 78 words

An integrated structure as in claim 26 in which at least one flexure beam for supporting said air-bearing platform ,includes at least one primary beam extending longitudinally between a mounting end where the integrated structure is attached to a positioning arm and an unattached free end, said air-bearing platform being supported from adjacent said free end of said primary beam, and said at least one air-bearing rail on said first surface extends generally parallel to said primary beam.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 103 words

An integrated structure as in claim 26 together with positioner means for urging said air-bearing platform toward adjacent magnetic media against the flexure of at least one flexure beam to a rest position spaced from the magnetic media, whereby said air-bearing platform is held in said rest position by said positioner means when the relative motion of the media is insufficient to produce an air flow which urges said air-bearing platform closer to the media, and said air-bearing platform is drawn toward the magnetic media to predetermined fly height by the air adjacent said negative-pressure recess when the media has sufficient relative motion.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 36 words

An integrated structure as in claim 28 in which said first surface of said air-bearing structure is spaced between about 8-microinches and about 16-microinches from the surface of the magnetic media when in said rest position.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1995-11-24	1996-05-25	1996-11-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1999-11-24	2000-05-25	2000-11-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2003-11-24	2004-05-25	2004-11-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Integrated read/write heads, flexure assembly and air-bearing structure on common unitary substrate

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