Hard Disk Drive Contact Sensor Shield Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shield structures around contact sensor elements in hard disk drives face issues such as reduced sensitivity due to heat absorption, potential damage from particle collisions, and electrical shorts, which affect contact detection sensitivity and the integrity of the sensor elements.
Innovation Solution
A shield structure made from a metal alloy with lower thermal conductivity than the contact sensor element and greater hardness, such as Fe, Ni, or Cr alloys, is positioned around the contact sensor element, electrically connected to the slider's main body via a resistor, maintaining a constant ground potential and incorporating a circuit to monitor resistance values for damage assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a shield structure is provided around the contact sensor element, then particles are blocked from contacting the sensor element, but heat is absorbed by the shield structure reducing contact detection sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
A shield structure made of metal with lower thermal conductivity than the contact sensor element is positioned between particles and the sensor element. This intermediary structure blocks particles from directly contacting the sensor element while its lower thermal conductivity ensures it does not significantly absorb heat that would reduce the sensor element's contact detection sensitivity.
2Measurement precision
If the shield structure projection is smaller than the contact sensor element projection, then heat absorption is reduced, but particles may pass the shield structure and collide with the sensor element
Solution Approach 1:
The shield structure's material thermal conductivity parameter is specifically selected to be lower than that of the contact sensor element. This parameter change allows the shield to provide adequate protection against particles while minimizing heat absorption that would otherwise reduce contact detection sensitivity.
3Reliability
If the shield structure is electrically connected to the contact sensor element, then electrical potential is stabilized, but electrical shorts may occur between the shield structure and the sensor element
Solution Approach 1:
A resistor is introduced as an intermediary element between the shield structure and the contact sensor element's electrical connection. This resistor prevents direct electrical contact that could cause shorts, while still allowing the shield structure to be electrically connected to the slider body, thereby stabilizing electrical potential without creating harmful electrical shorts.
4Strength
If the shield structure is made from harder material than the contact sensor element, then particle impact damage is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shield structure is fabricated from metal materials with specific hardness parameters greater than the contact sensor element material. By selecting appropriate metal alloys with suitable hardness properties, the shield structure achieves superior particle impact resistance while remaining manufacturable using standard metal fabrication processes.
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 configuration enhances contact detection sensitivity, reduces the likelihood of particle contact and electrical shorts, and allows for timely detection and notification of sensor element damage, thereby improving the reliability and user-friendliness of the hard disk drive.
Implementation Method 1
Heat is taken by the shield structure at the time of contact with particles
Implementation Method 2
The power supply electrodes of the contact sensor element are electrically connected to the main body portion of the slider by way of a resistor
Data Source
AI summary
A slider comprising a contact sensor element configured to respond to a change in resistance due to a change in temperature, and a shield structure. The shield structure comprises a lower thermal conductivity than the contact sensor element and a greater hardness than the contact sensor element.