Subambient pressure air bearing slider for disk drive

Claim 2

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said cavity being bounded by portions of said slider that are raised from a lower surface opposing said storage disk, said slider comprising an island that protrudes from said lower surface of said slider for supporting said transducer, at least a portion of said island being disposed outside of said cavity, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider.

Claim 3

The slider of claim 1 wherein said island is disposed to position said transducer centrally with respect to the width dimension of said slider.

Claim 4

The slider of claim 1 wherein said cavity extends longitudinally along the length dimension of said slider between a forward edge and a rearward edge said slider, said island being disposed adjacent to said rearward edge and terminating substantially rearwardly of said forward edge.

Claim 5

The slider of claim 3 wherein said island does not substantially extend longitudinally into said cavity.

Claim 6

The slider of claim 1 wherein said portions include a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider for defining said cavity therebetween.

Claim 7

The slider of claim 1 wherein said island has a selected height dimension with respect to said cavity surface, said width dimension of said island being substantially constant over said height dimension.

Claim 8

The slider of claim 5 wherein said island is laterally disposed between said rails.

Claim 9

The slider of claim 7 wherein said island is laterally spaced from each of said side rails.

Claim 10

The slider of claim 1 wherein said island is disposed adjacent to a rearward edge of said slider and extends forwardly along a longitudinal axis of said slider, a forward portion of said island being oriented obliquely with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 11

The slider of claim 9 wherein said island includes a pair of forwardly extending sides each of which is inclined with respect to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 12

The slider of claim 10 wherein said inclined sides meet at a forward end of said slider.

Claim 13

The slider of claim 1 wherein said portions include a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails for defining said cavity therebetween, said rails having surfaces that face said disk, at least one of said rails including means for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface.

Claim 14

The slider of claim 12 wherein said means for maintaining includes a groove positioned to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity.

Claim 15

The slider of claim 13 wherein both of said rails include said groove.

Claim 16

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider for defining a cavity therebetween for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said rails terminating at end disposed forwardly of said rearward edge of said slider, and an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider, said island being disposed adjacent to said rearward edge and terminating proximate to said ends of said rails.

Claim 17

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider for defining a cavity therebetween for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said rails terminating at end disposed forwardly of said rearward edge of said slider, and an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider, said island being disposed adjacent to said rearward edge and terminating proximate to said ends of said rails.

Claim 18

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said slider comprising an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider said island having a selected height dimension with respect to said cavity surface, said width dimension decreasing along said height dimension.

Claim 19

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said slider comprising an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider said island having a selected height dimension with respect to said cavity surface, said width dimension decreasing along said height dimension.

Claim 20

The slider of claim 16 wherein said width dimension decreases in a plurality of steps along said height dimension.

Claim 21

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said slider comprising an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider, and a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails for defining said cavity therebetween, said rails having surfaces that face said disk, at least one of said rails including a groove constructed to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside said cavity for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, said side rails being disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, said side rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to define a forward end of said cavity, said groove being positioned at said forward end of said one rail.

Claim 22

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, said slider comprising an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider, and a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails for defining said cavity therebetween, said rails having surfaces that face said disk, at least one of said rails including a groove constructed to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside said cavity for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, said side rails being disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, said side rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to define a forward end of said cavity, said groove being positioned at said forward end of said one rail.

Claim 23

The slider of claim 10 wherein said groove is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said slider.

Claim 24

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, slider comprising an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails for defining said cavity therebetween, said rails having surfaces that face said disk, at least one of said rails including a groove constructed to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside said cavity for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, said side rails being disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, and a second groove disposed in at least one of said rails rearwardly of said groove.

Claim 25

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider having a cavity for developing a subambient pressure as the disk rotates that tends to draw said slider toward the disk surface, slider comprising an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer, said island having length and width dimensions that are less than those of said slider, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending side rails for defining said cavity therebetween, said rails having surfaces that face said disk, at least one of said rails including a groove constructed to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside said cavity for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, said side rails being disposed between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, and a second groove disposed in at least one of said rails rearwardly of said groove.

Claim 26

The slider of claim 20 wherein both of said rails include said groove and said second groove.

Claim 27

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to form a cavity, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a groove positioned at said forward end thereof proximate to said ramp section to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity, said groove being oriented in said at least one of said rails to reduce the pressure developed under said at least one of said rails in the region of said groove as the disk rotates, said groove serving to maintain the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between the surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface.

Claim 28

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to form a cavity, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a groove positioned at said forward end thereof proximate to said ramp section to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity, said groove being oriented in said at least one of said rails to reduce the pressure developed under said at least one of said rails in the region of said groove as the disk rotates, said groove serving to maintain the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between the surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface.

Claim 29

The slider of claim 22 wherein both of said rails include said groove.

Claim 30

The slider of claim 22 further comprising a second groove disposed in said rail rearwardly of said groove.

Claim 31

The slider of claim 24 wherein said second groove is open at a side of said slider and is spaced from said cavity by a portion of said rail.

Claim 32

The slider of claim 25 wherein said cavity, said groove, and said second groove are relieved to substantially the same depth.

Claim 33

The slider of claim 24 wherein both of said rails include said groove and said second groove.

Claim 34

The slider of claim 22 wherein said groove is oriented in said first rail to extend between said cavity and said area outside of said slider in a direction away from said forward end.

Claim 35

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disks rotates, an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer centrally with respect to a width dimension of said slider, said island terminating rearwardly of a forward edge of said slider and being disposed between and laterally spaced from sad rails, at least one of said rails having a plurality of grooves disposed therein for maintaining the distance between said surface of said one rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, a first one of said grooves intersecting said cavity to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said slider, and a second one of said grooves being spaced from the cavity by a portion of said one rail.

Claim 36

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disks rotates, an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer centrally with respect to a width dimension of said slider, said island terminating rearwardly of a forward edge of said slider and being disposed between and laterally spaced from sad rails, at least one of said rails having a plurality of grooves disposed therein for maintaining the distance between said surface of said one rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, a first one of said grooves intersecting said cavity to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said slider, and a second one of said grooves being spaced from the cavity by a portion of said one rail.

Claim 37

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to form a cavity, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a groove positioned at said forward end thereof to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity, said groove serving to maintain the distance between said surface of said one rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between the surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, and an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer.

Claim 38

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to form a cavity, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a groove positioned at said forward end thereof to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity, said groove serving to maintain the distance between said surface of said one rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between the surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, and an island that protrudes from a surface of said cavity for supporting said transducer.

Claim 39

The slider of claim 30 wherein said island terminates rearwardly of said forward ends of said rails and is disposed between and laterally spaced from said side rails.

Claim 40

The slider of claim 31 wherein said island is disposed to position said transducer centrally with respect to a width dimension of said slider.

Claim 41

The slider of claim 31 wherein said island is coextensive with a rearward edge of said slider, said side rails terminating forwardly of said rearward edge.

Claim 42

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a plurality of grooves disposed therein for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, a first one of said grooves intersecting said cavity to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said slider, and a second one of said grooves terminating at an end that is spaced from the cavity by a portion of said one rail.

Claim 43

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising, a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails defining a cavity therebetween, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a plurality of grooves disposed therein for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, a first one of said grooves intersecting said cavity to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said slider, and a second one of said grooves terminating at an end that is spaced from the cavity by a portion of said one rail.

Claim 44

The slider of claim 34 wherein said rails extend between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, said first groove being disposed forwardly of said second groove.

Claim 45

The slider of claim 35 wherein said rails have forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section, said first groove being disposed at said forward end of said one rail.

Claim 46

The slider of claim 35 wherein at least said one rail is configured to develop relatively high pressure thereunder as air flows between the slider and the disk surface to cause said slider to be lifted above the surface of the disk, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk, said first groove being configured to relieve said relatively high pressure and induce relatively low pressure thereunder.

Claim 47

The slider of claim 34 wherein said first groove and said second groove are disposed in both of said side rails.

Claim 48

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinal extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails extending between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, at least one of said rails being configured to develop relatively high pressure thereunder as air flows between the slider and the disk surface to cause the slider to be lifted above the surface of the disk, said rails having side surfaces that define a cavity therebetween, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a plurality of grooves disposed therein for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, a first one of said grooves intersecting said cavity to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said slider, said first groove being configured to relieve said relatively high pressure and induce relatively low pressure thereunder, at least said side surface of said one rail being disposed obliquely to a lower surface of said cavity and tending to induce an inequality between the distance from said surface of said one rail to the disk surface and the distance from said surface of the other said rial to the disk surface, and a second one of said grooves being spaced from the cavity of a portion of said rail, said first groove being disposed forwardly of said second groove, said second groove being configured to relieve said relatively high pressure and induce relatively low pressure thereunder, thereby to substantially correct said inequality.

Claim 49

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinal extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails extending between a forward edge of said slider and a rearward edge of said slider, at least one of said rails being configured to develop relatively high pressure thereunder as air flows between the slider and the disk surface to cause the slider to be lifted above the surface of the disk, said rails having side surfaces that define a cavity therebetween, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a plurality of grooves disposed therein for maintaining the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between said surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface, a first one of said grooves intersecting said cavity to allow air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said slider, said first groove being configured to relieve said relatively high pressure and induce relatively low pressure thereunder, at least said side surface of said one rail being disposed obliquely to a lower surface of said cavity and tending to induce an inequality between the distance from said surface of said one rail to the disk surface and the distance from said surface of the other said rial to the disk surface, and a second one of said grooves being spaced from the cavity of a portion of said rail, said first groove being disposed forwardly of said second groove, said second groove being configured to relieve said relatively high pressure and induce relatively low pressure thereunder, thereby to substantially correct said inequality.

Claim 50

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to form a cavity, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a groove that allows air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity, said groove being positioned at the forward end of said at least one of said rails so that said groove intersects said cavity at a junction between said forward end and said ramp section, said groove serving to maintain the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between the surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface.

Claim 51

A slider for moving a transducer across a surface of a rotating storage disk while maintaining the transducer in proximity to and spaced from the disk surface, said slider comprising a pair of spaced, longitudinally extending rails, each having a surface for facing the disk, said rails having forward ends that are coupled together by a ramp section to form a cavity, said cavity developing a subambient pressure that tends to draw said slider toward the surface of the disk as the disk rotates, at least one of said rails having a groove that allows air to flow between said cavity and an area outside of said cavity, said groove being positioned at the forward end of said at least one of said rails so that said groove intersects said cavity at a junction between said forward end and said ramp section, said groove serving to maintain the distance between said surface of one said rail and the disk surface equal to the distance between the surface of the other said rail and the disk surface as said slider moves across the disk surface.

Claim 52

The slider of claim 40 wherein said groove is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of said slider.