Floating Head Heater Element Thermal Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technologies for manufacturing magnetic disks face challenges in reducing the clearance between the magnetic head and the disk during the burnish and glide tests, leading to increased durability issues and frequent replacement of magnetic heads due to repeated contact, which affects data recording density and performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that utilize a floating head with a slider body and an element unit, where a heater element is used to protrude a portion of the slider body towards the magnetic disk, maintaining the element unit away from the disk surface, thereby reducing clearance and enhancing durability by ensuring the slider body contacts the disk instead of the element unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the clearance between the magnetic head and magnetic disk is reduced to improve data recording density, then the magnetic spacing is narrowed, but the probability of head/disk contact increases greatly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the slider body by applying heat to induce thermal expansion, thereby dynamically adjusting the clearance between the magnetic head and disk. This allows the clearance to be reduced for improved recording density while maintaining reliability through controlled expansion that prevents excessive contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heater element that enables dynamic adjustment of the slider body's position relative to the magnetic disk. By controlling the heating, the clearance can be dynamically optimized during operation, allowing the system to adapt between narrow spacing for recording and sufficient clearance for reliability.
2Manufacturing precision
If the floating height of the slider body is reduced to improve data recording density, then the magnetic spacing is decreased, but the possibility of contact between magnetic disk and magnetic head is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies thermal expansion to the slider body through a heater element, changing its physical dimensions dynamically. This allows the initial reduced floating height to be compensated during operation, maintaining both improved recording density and reduced contact possibility.
3Manufacturing precision
If the clearance between burnish head and magnetic disk surface is reduced to improve smoothness, then the magnetic disk surface quality is enhanced, but head durability deteriorates due to repeated contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses thermal expansion of the slider body to dynamically adjust clearance during the burnish process. This allows the head to operate at very low clearance for improved surface smoothness while the thermal expansion prevents excessive contact, thereby improving head durability during repeated burnish operations.
4Measurement precision
If the clearance between glide head and magnetic disk is reduced to test float condition accurately, then the test precision is improved, but the element unit may contact the disk causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heat to the slider body to induce thermal expansion during glide testing. This allows the clearance to be reduced for accurate float condition testing while the thermal expansion protects the element unit from contacting the disk, preventing damage.
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 approach effectively reduces the clearance between the floating head and the magnetic disk, improving the durability of the magnetic head and maintaining data recording density while minimizing damage during the burnish and glide processes.
Implementation Method 1
protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element of the element unit
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit.