Read Rite Corporation

Marcus H Barnes

Jimmy J Shen

Jeffrey P Wilde

Yugang Wang

Joseph Eugene Davis

Howie Trang

A slider is used in an optical or magneto-optical head having an optical assembly mounted on the slider body, for directing a read-write laser beam onto and from a data storage disk. The optical assembly includes an optical fiber a mirror a quarter wavelength plate, and a lens. The optical fiber guides the laser beam along an optical path defined by the optical assembly and the slider body. The laser beam emanating from the optical fiber impinges upon the mirror and is reflected thereby onto and through the quarter wavelength plate. The laser beam continues its travel along the optical path through the lens and a magnetic coil assembly onto the disk. The slider includes a channel pattern formed on its upper surface for positioning the optical components on the slider body. The channel pattern includes a plurality of channels that define an optical path, and a plurality of cavities formed along these channels for receiving various components such as optical, magnetic and electrical components.

Slider design

A slider supports or stores a device such as an electro-magnetic coil assembly, an electronic component, or an optical component, and includes an underside formed of a taper, a flat or patterned air bearing surface, and a recessed region. The recessed region receives the device without significantly affecting the aerodynamic performance of the air bearing surface, and is located at the slider trailing edge. The weight of the device can be compensated by the suspension gram load. In certain applications the device underside is recessed relative to the air bearing surface, while in other application the device underside is flush with the air bearing surface. The device includes an electrical conductor that extends along the recessed region. According to another embodiment, the slider includes a vertical channel located in a front side of the slider that extends along the entire slider depth. The vertical channel accommodates the electrical conductor of the device. One or more horizontal channels may optionally be formed in the slider front side, at an angle relative to the vertical channel, such that at least one of these horizontal channels is connected to the vertical channel. According to yet another embodiment, the slider is modularly formed, and has an upper section, a lower section secured to the upper section, wherein the upper slider section includes a taper at a leading edge, and a flat or patterned air bearing surface. A recessed region is defined by a trailing edge of the upper slider section, and the lower slider section.

Growing community of inventors

Felton, CA, United States of America

Marcus H Barnes