Western Digital Technologies, Inc.

Western Digital (Fremont), Inc.

Terrance J Willis

David K Myers

Marc Davidson

A magnetic hard disk drive apparatus includes a first slider with a magnetic head for recording to the disk, the first slider supported by a first suspension arm, and a second slider having a magnetic head, the second slider supported by a second suspension arm. The apparatus further includes a ramp configured to guide and hold the first and second suspension arms in place when parked, and a separator configured to be suspended beyond leading edges of the first and second sliders, such that the first and second sliders are suspended between the separator and the ramp.

Magnetic head separator connected to a ramp

An apparatus for a magnetic storage drive includes a magnetic head assembly having a first slider and a second slider arranged with a gap between the first and second sliders, the first slider comprising a first magnetic head and the second slider comprising a second magnetic head. The apparatus includes a ramp constructed of a first material, the ramp being configured to guide and hold the magnetic head assembly in place when parked; and a fin constructed of a second material different than the first material, the fin arranged with the ramp to protect the first slider from contacting the second slider when the magnetic head assembly is parked on the ramp.

Magnetic head separator fin material to prevent particulate contamination on slider

A method and system for interrogating a thickness of a carbon layer are described. The carbon layer resides on at least one of a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording disk. The method and system include providing an enhancement film on the carbon layer. The enhancement film is continuous across a portion of the carbon layer. The method and system also include exposing the enhancement film to light from a light source and detecting scattered light from the carbon layer to provide a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectrum. The enhancement film resides between the light source and the carbon layer. The method and system also include determining the thickness of the carbon layer based on the SERS spectrum.

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Campbell, CA, United States of America

Terrance J Willis