Read Rite Corporation

Western Digital (fremont), Inc.

Wuxing Gan

Pablo G Levi

Manuel Anaya-Dufresne

Jesse Jianxian Dong

David E Fowler

Lanshi Zheng

Vijay Prabhakaran

Ladislav R Pust

A method and system for determining a shape of a portion of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of a head residing on a slider are described. The ABS is configured to fly at a fly height from and with a velocity with respect to a disk during normal operating conditions. The method and system include driving at least one heater residing in the head while the slider is substantially at the normal operating conditions with respect to the disk and the fly height. The shape of the portion of the ABS changes in response to the heater(s) being driven. The method and system also include performing Doppler measurements on the slider while the heater is driven. The shape may then be determined based on the Doppler measurements.

Method and system for mapping the shape of a head under operating conditions

An air bearing surface for use on a magnetic read/write head. The air bearing surface provides a stable flight profile while exhibiting exception load/unload characteristics through the use of a plurality of pads providing high pressure areas as well as a central cavity providing a sub-ambient pressure to counter the high pressure areas. The channel is set a predetermined distance from the leading edge of the air bearing, the predetermined distance being greater than with prior art designs. A channel extends from the leading edge to the cavity to allow airflow into the cavity. The channel and the set back of the cavity both act in conjunction to facilitate unloading of the air bearing by preventing excessive sub ambient pressures.

Air bearing facilitating load/unload of a magnetic read/write head

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Fremont, CA, United States of America

Wuxing Gan