Air bearing slider having debris removing channels

Abstract

An air bearing slider having debris removing channels for a hard disk drive. An air bearing slider contains a center pad having multiple longitudinal debris channels cut therein approximately 1-3 microns wide and approximately 1-3 microns deep and spanning the entire length of the air bearing surface of the center pad. The debris channels are effective for collecting small sized debris and passing them through the channel length and out the trailing end of the center pad. By this action, the debris are prevented from collecting along the edges, corners and on the top surface of the center pad or on and around the transducer situated on the center pad. By reducing debris in these locations, the debris does not alter the flying height of the slider with respect to the surface of the disk. Therefore, by eliminating debris around the transducer, this invention eliminates errors caused by the debris and thereby provides a more reliable disk drive.