Data Storage Institute

Yaolong Zhu

Bo Liu

A method for dynamically measuring the spatial position and orientation of a slider used in a magnetic disk drive operates by directing one or more beams of light through a microscope to an interface between the slider and the magnetic disk. The light beam reflected from the slider-disk interface is used to derive the spacing between the surface of the disk and the multiple points on the slider so that the spatial position of the slider can be determined. The number of measured points on the slider is at least equal to the number of degrees of freedom of the slider so that the spatial position of the slider can be fully determined.

Method and apparatus for dynamically measuring the full flying state of a slider

The invention provides an apparatus ( ) and method for monitoring the load/unload process of a head-gimbal assembly (HGA) ( ), disk ( ) and ramp ( ) combination. A ramp strain arm ( ) is used to monitor the entire load/unload process. The ramp strain arm ( ), on which the ramp ( ) is mounted, includes force sensors ( ) that measure the friction force between the HGA ( ) and ramp ( ) as well as the air-bearing force on the slider ( ) of the HGA ( ) during the load/unload process. The signals form the force sensors ( ) are input to a computer ( ) through an interface circuit ( ) for recording and analysis in order to evaluate the performance of the combination of the HGA ( ), disk ( ) and ramp ( ).

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Singapore, Singapore

Yaolong Zhu