Seagate Technology Incorporated

Other

Paul W Smith

Serge Jacques Fayeulle

Gary Edwin Bement

Michael David Mundt

Mark Andrew Chapin

A device and method for testing a slider of a head-gimbal assembly during disc drive manufacturing. The device includes a test disc, an actuator arm and a control module. The test disc has a first circumferential area for detecting contact between the slider and the test disc and a second circumferential area for burnishing sliders that contact the first circumferential area as the test disc rotates at or above the predetermined velocity. The head-gimbal assembly is affixed to the actuator arm such that the slider is operable to move between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the test disc. The control module controls the movement of the actuator arm, and thus the slider, relative to the test disc. The control module monitors the slider-disc interface for contact therebetween. If contact is detected, the slider is either burnished or the head-gimbal assembly is discarded altogether.

Techniques for certifying a head-gimbal assembly

A device and method for testing a slider of a head-gimbal assembly during disc drive manufacturing. The device includes a test disc, an actuator arm and a control module. The test disc has a first circumferential area for detecting contact between the slider and the test disc and a second circumferential area for burnishing sliders that contact the first circumferential area as the test disc rotates at or above the predetermined velocity. The head-gimbal assembly is affixed to a support, or flexure, on the actuator arm such that the slider is operable to move between an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the test disc. The control module controls rotation of the test disc and movement of the actuator arm, and thus the slider, relative to the test disc. The control module monitors the slider-disc interface for contact therebetween. If contact is detected, the slider is either burnished or the head-gimbal assembly is discarded altogether.

Tool for certifying a head-gimbal assembly

A disc stabilization system comprises a spinning disc with a disc surface deflectable by shock. The disc surface is in contact with a gas layer adjacent the disc surface. When the suspension system is subjected to a mechanical shock, the disc can deflect. The amplitude and duration of the deflection due to mechanical shock is limited by a wing feature. The wing feature includes an aerodynamic surface that interacts with the gas layer to generate an aerodynamic force on the disc surface. A strut supports the wing feature over the disc surface in a position such that the aerodynamic force increases as the disc surface deflects toward the aerodynamic surface.

Disc stabilization system

A system and method for measuring the fly height of a head flying over a disc in a disc drive is disclosed. A head is vertically spaced from a rotating disc surface by an air bearing surface. The disc has one or more radial grooves in the surface of the disc. As the disc rotates, the radial grooves on the disc pass under the head and induce a perturbation in the signal. By measuring the perturbations in the signal caused by the grooves in the disc surface, and by processing the measurement signal, a vertical spacing signal proportional to the vertical spacing between the disc and the head can be obtained.

Method and system for measuring fly height

Dispersing and reducing wear of a rotatable disc surface using a stimulated take off process to accelerate formation of an air bearing between a read/write head and a non-textured circumferential landing zone of a rotatable disc surface of a disc drive by accelerating the non-textured circumferential landing zone of the rotatable disc surface to a rotational operating speed through application of a current to a spindle motor assembly securing the rotatable disc surface while stimulating a head stack assembly with a reciprocating lateral displacement effectuating a tracing of a radially varying path across and around the circumferential landing zone of the rotatable disc surface by the read/write head accelerating formation of the air bearing between the read/write head and a non-textured circumferential landing zone, thereby dispersing and reducing wear of the rotatable disc surface.

Method for wear reduction of a disc surface through stimulated take off of a head for a disc drive

A fly height detector apparatus and associated method for detecting the fly height of a read/write head spatially disposed from a data storage surface during a data transfer operation. The fly height detector apparatus comprises a receiver circuit measuring the frequency of the read/write head; a perturbation deliverable to the gap between the read/write head and the data storage surface to invoke a dynamic response in the read/write head; and a processor circuit responsive to the receiver circuit to derive a fly height in relation to the dynamic response frequency. The processor circuit comprises a memory in which is stored a numerical model describing a functional interrelationship between the fly height and the read/write head frequency.

Fly height detector

A disc head slider includes a slider body having a disc-facing surface, a recessed area positioned on the disc-facing surface, and a raised rail positioned on the disc-facing surface adjacent the recessed area. The raised rail includes a bearing surface and a recessed step surface which is recessed from the bearing surface and is raised from the recessed area. A plurality of bearing pads are formed on the recessed step surface and have upper surfaces that together define the bearing surface. A non-bearing pad is formed on the recessed step surface and has an upper surface, which is generally coplanar with the bearing surface, and a pointed leading pad edge.

Disk head slider having air bearing pressure relief features

A method and apparatus for cutting and scoring plastic and paper box blanks is disclosed wherein a creaseless score line is formed using a score forming strip which is aligned on one die platen and is transferred to the cooperating die platen in mirror image alignment.

Method and apparatus for cutting and scoring folding container blanks

A hand-held protector for permitting removal of a phonograph disc record from a record jacket, for placing the record on a phonograph spindle, for removing the record from the spindle and reinserting the record into a jacket, all without touching the record. The protector comprises a flat cap-like device which fits over a portion of the record but not extending as far as the central spindle engaging opening. It is intended to remain in the record jacket with the record. Desirably the record jacket includes an inner sleeve against which the open edge of the protector cap butts when the record is in place for storage.

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Niwot, CO, United States of America

Paul W Smith