Magnetic Head Slider Shared Terminals for Heater and Contact Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of terminals on magnetic head sliders for heater and contact sensor elements complicates the solder attachment process, reduces terminal area, and increases production costs, while existing solutions like shared series or parallel connections face challenges in controlling current and integrating multiple elements effectively.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic head slider design with shared terminals for both heater and contact sensor elements, where resistive elements regulate current to the contact sensor, allowing for accurate control and reduced terminal count, and the use of parallel connections with a common terminal to separate signal frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the number of terminals on the magnetic head slider is increased to accommodate additional heater elements and contact sensor elements, then the control accuracy of flying height and contact detection is improved, but the terminal area required increases, reducing solder attachment quality and increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the terminals for heater elements and contact sensor elements into shared terminal structures. Specifically, terminal pads are configured to serve dual purposes: providing electrical connection to heater elements while also serving as connection points for contact sensor elements, thereby reducing the total number of terminals required on the slider
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal pads are designed with multi-functionality to accommodate both heater element connections and contact sensor element connections. The same terminal infrastructure serves multiple functions, allowing the system to maintain accurate flying height control and contact detection without requiring separate dedicated terminals for each function
2Measurement precision
If the number of terminals on the magnetic head slider is increased to accommodate additional heater elements and contact sensor elements, then the control accuracy of flying height and contact detection is improved, but the solder attachment process becomes more complex and work yield decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the terminal structures for contact sensor elements with the heater element terminals, creating shared terminal pads that reduce the total number of discrete connection points. This consolidation simplifies the solder attachment process by reducing the number of individual soldering operations required while maintaining the capability to detect contact accurately
3Adaptability or versatility
If the number of terminals on the magnetic head slider is increased to accommodate additional heater elements and contact sensor elements, then the functionality of the magnetic head is enhanced, but the number of magnetic heads per wafer is reduced, increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple terminal functions into shared terminal structures, reducing the total terminal count per magnetic head. This reduction in terminal density allows for more magnetic heads to be manufactured per wafer, thereby increasing production efficiency and reducing costs while maintaining enhanced functionality through the shared terminal design
4Area of stationary object
If shared terminals are used for heater and contact sensor elements, then the terminal area is reduced and manufacturing is simplified, but current control to individual elements becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces resistive elements as intermediary components in the electrical paths between the shared terminals and the heater/contact sensor elements. These resistive elements serve as current control mechanisms, allowing independent regulation of current to each element type while utilizing the shared terminal infrastructure, thereby maintaining element control capability without requiring separate dedicated terminals
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 simplifies the connection process, improves yield, reduces terminal area requirements, and allows for more accurate control of the magnetic head's flying height and contact detection, while minimizing production costs by reducing the number of terminals and enhancing integration.
Implementation Method 1
a heater element adapted for controlling an amount of protrusion of portions of the magnetic head by heating
Implementation Method 2
a contact sensor element adapted for detecting contact between the magnetic head slider near the at least one magnetic head element and the magnetic recording medium
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes at least one magnetic head element chosen from a group consisting of: a write element adapted for writing data to a magnetic recording medium and a read element adapted for reading data from the magnetic recording medium, a heater element adapted for controlling a flying height of the at least one magnetic head element above the magnetic recording medium, a contact sensor element adapted for detecting contact between the magnetic head slider near the at least one magnetic head element and the magnetic recording medium, and shared terminals adapted for supplying voltage to the heater element and for conveying signals from the contact sensor element. Other magnetic head sliders and methods of use are described according to additional embodiments.