Magnetic Head Slider Stepped Surfaces Airflow Stabilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic head sliders experience unstable flying positions due to reductions in air inflow caused by atmospheric pressure changes and reduced peripheral speed, which existing technologies fail to adequately stabilize.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic head slider design featuring a magnetic device surface on the trailing side, raised leading surfaces on the leading side at the same height as the magnetic device surface, and connecting rail surfaces, with a central step surface extending between the raised leading surfaces and rail surfaces at a lower level than the magnetic device surface, ensuring efficient air guidance and pressure balance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a separate center pad including a magnetic device is provided with an uneven surface made up of cavity dam, cavity, and like, then air flow guidance is achieved, but air disturbance occurs and air escapes from the sides of the center pad, reducing the amount of air reaching the center pad
Solution Approach 1:
The disk-facing surface is divided into distinct functional regions: a first raised surface (air intake region), a second raised surface (magnetic device region), and a step surface connecting them. This segmentation allows air to be guided efficiently through the step surface to the magnetic device region without escaping, while maintaining proper pressure distribution across different zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The step surface acts as an intermediary element between the first raised surface and the second raised surface. It provides a controlled transition zone that guides air flow from the air intake region to the magnetic device region, preventing air escape while maintaining efficient air delivery to the center pad.
2Adaptability or versatility
If atmospheric pressure changes or reduced peripheral speed occur, then air inflow is reduced, but flying height is reduced and flying position becomes unstable
Solution Approach 1:
The negative pressure region (recessed area) acts as a counterbalancing force to the positive pressure generated by the raised surfaces. This pressure balance compensates for reductions in air inflow due to atmospheric pressure changes or reduced peripheral speed, maintaining stable flying height and position under varying operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the physical parameters of the disk-facing surface by creating specific raised and recessed areas with controlled geometries. These structural parameter changes enable the generation of appropriate pressure distributions that maintain stable air bearing operation across different atmospheric pressure conditions and disk rotation speeds.
3Stress or pressure
If a convex center-rail bearing surface is provided at the highest level, then positive pressure is generated, but significant air loss occurs before reaching the surface, greatly reducing flying height
Solution Approach 1:
The step surface is positioned upstream (at the air intake end side) of the magnetic device region, allowing air to be guided and pressurized in advance before reaching the second raised surface. This preliminary action ensures sufficient air reaches the positive pressure generation region without significant loss, maintaining both pressure and flying height.
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 stabilizes the flying position of the magnetic head slider by efficiently guiding air and maintaining pressure balance, even with reduced air inflow, thereby minimizing variations in flying height and preventing contact with the magnetic disk.
Implementation Method 1
A disk-facing surface of a magnetic head slider generally has a recessed area that is located at the lowest level and causes a negative pressure, and a raised surface that causes a positive pressure.
Implementation Method 2
air from the leading side flows, before reaching the separate center pad 240, over an uneven surface, which is made up of the cavity dam 230, cavity 236, and the like with varying heights different from the height of the center pad 240
Data Source
AI summary
On a disk-facing surface of a magnetic head slider, rail surfaces that are at the same height as a magnetic device surface and raised leading surfaces connect the magnetic device surface to the raised leading surfaces. Moreover, a central step surface at a level lower than the magnetic device surface and higher than a recessed area extends from an area between the raised leading surfaces to an area between the rail surfaces. Therefore, even if the amount of Air intake is reduced due to atmospheric pressure changes or the like, air can be efficiently guided to the magnetic device surface and thus, the flying position of the magnetic head slider can be stabilized.