Claims
- 1. A slider for use in a data storage system, the slider comprising:
a base portion having a leading edge end, a trailing edge end, a top surface and a bottom surface; a movable air bearing surface element positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion; and an actuator positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion and coupling the base portion to the movable air bearing surface element, the actuator selectively controllable to move the movable air bearing surface element relative to the base portion to alter an air bearing surface provided by the base portion and the movable air bearing surface element to thereby control a fly height of the slider.
- 2. The slider of claim 1, wherein the base portion additionally comprises a transducer on the trailing edge end.
- 3. The slider of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a PZT actuator.
- 4. The slider of claim 3, and further comprising first and second contacts coupled respectively to first and second surfaces of the PZT actuator to selectively control the actuator to move the air bearing surface element relative to the base portion.
- 5. The slider of claim 4, and further comprising insulation and metal films formed on the top surface to dispose the first and second contacts on the actuator, the contacts allowing control of the actuator and movement of the movable air bearing surface element relative to the slider base portion.
- 6. The slider of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a MEMS actuator.
- 7. The slider of claim 1, and further comprising an insulator formed at the bottom surface across the actuator, and a shield formed at the bottom surface across the insulator to prevent snap over between the slider and a disc surface.
- 8. A method for manufacturing a slider for use in a data storage system, the method comprising:
providing a slider base portion having a leading edge end, a trailing edge end, a top surface, a bottom surface and a thin film transducer at the trailing edge end; forming an actuator at the leading edge end; and disposing a movable air bearing surface element on the actuator.
- 9. The method of claim 8 and before forming the actuator at the leading edge end and disposing the movable air bearing surface element on the actuator, further comprising the additional step of:
removing material from the slider base portion to produce a new leading edge end.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein forming the actuator at the leading edge end comprises forming the actuator at the new leading edge end of the base portion.
- 11. The method of claim 10, wherein disposing the movable air bearing surface element on the actuator includes attaching to the actuator at least a portion of the removed material.
- 12. The method of claim 8, and further comprising:
depositing insulation and metal films on the top surface to dispose electrical contacts on the actuator which allow control of the actuator and movement of the movable air bearing surface element relative to the slider base portion; depositing an insulator at the bottom surface across the actuator; and depositing a shield at the bottom surface across the insulator to prevent snap over between the slider and a disc surface.
- 13. A slider for use in a data storage system, the slider comprising:
a base portion having a leading edge end, a trailing edge end, and an air bearing surface formed on a bottom surface extending therebetween; and means extending from the bottom surface for regulating airflow between the slider and a storage disc to adjust fly height of the slider during operation of the data storage system.
- 14. The slider of claim 13 wherein the means for regulating airflow includes an air flow regulation element positioned at the leading edge end, and extendable toward the disc relative to the bottom.
- 15. The slider of claim 14, wherein the means for regulating airflow further includes an actuator positioned at the leading edge end and coupling the air flow regulation element toward the disc.
- 16. A slider for use in a data storage system, the slider comprising:
a base portion having a leading edge end, a trailing edge end, a bottom extending therebetween providing an air bearing surface, and a data transducer positioned at the trailing edge end; an air flow regulation element positioned at the leading edge end of the base portion; and an actuator coupled to the base portion at the leading edge end and to the air flow regulation element, the actuator selectively controllable to move the air flow regulation element relative to the bottom of the base portion to regulate air flow past the air bearing surface to thereby control a fly height of the slider.
- 17. The slider of claim 16, wherein the actuator is a PZT actuator.
- 18. The slider of claim 17, and further comprising first and second contacts coupled respectively to first and second surfaces of the PZT actuator to selectively control the actuator to move the air flow regulation element relative to the base portion.
- 19. The slider of claim 16, wherein the actuator is a MEMS actuator.
- 20. The slider of claim 16, wherein the transducer is a magnetic transducer.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/305,745 filed on Jul. 16, 2001 for inventors Youping Mei and Lance E. Stover and entitled CONTROLLED AIR BEARING (CAB) FOR MAGNETIC SPACING CONTROL.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60305745 |
Jul 2001 |
US |