Disk Drive Slider Side Trenches for Contaminant Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional disk drive designs face challenges in preventing contaminants from entering between the air-bearing surface of the slider and the magnetic disk, leading to potential damage, as existing features either compromise flying performance or fail to effectively inhibit contaminant entry from the side surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of shallow trenches (100 to 300 nm deep) along the side edges of the air-bearing surface of the slider, which reduces the gap between the slider and the magnetic disk, thereby inhibiting contaminant entry while maintaining flying performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a leading fence is provided in the slider to block contaminant entry, then contaminant prevention is improved, but the flying performance of the magnetic head degrades due to blocked air flow
Solution Approach 1:
The air-bearing surface is segmented into a contamination prevention region with the leading fence and a flying performance region without the fence. This segmentation allows the fence to block contaminants from entering the gap between the slider and disk while maintaining unobstructed air flow in the flying performance region, thus resolving the contradiction between contaminant prevention and flying performance
Solution Approach 2:
The leading fence is positioned locally at the leading end of the air-bearing surface where contaminant entry is most likely to occur, rather than covering the entire surface. This localized structure prevents contaminants from entering the gap while minimizing interference with the overall air flow and flying performance of the magnetic head
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the air gap between slider and magnetic disk is reduced to prevent contaminant entry, then contaminant prevention is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leading fence is formed in advance on the air-bearing surface during the manufacturing process, creating a pre-established barrier that prevents contaminant entry without requiring post-manufacturing adjustment of the air gap. This preliminary structure reduces the need for high-precision gap control while maintaining effective contaminant prevention
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design effectively prevents contaminant invasion, reducing the risk of damage to the magnetic head and disk while maintaining high air-bearing surface performance and flying efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
an air flow is generated between the rotating magnetic disk and the slider, and a force (positive pressure) of flying the slider from the recording surface of the magnetic disk acts on the ABS of the slider by the principle of air fluid lubrication
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a head for a disk drive includes a slider including an air-bearing surface having a pair of side edges, a pair of side surfaces, a leading-side end surface and a trailing-side end surface, and a head section provided in the slider. The slider includes a leading step in a leading-side end portion of the air-bearing surface, a deep trench provided downstream side of the leading step, and a trailing step in a trailing side end portion of the air-bearing surface and including the head section built therein, and side trenches having a depth of 100 to 300 nm formed respectively along the pair side edges of the air-bearing surface.