Air bearing slider with relieved rail ends

Abstract

A self-loading slider supports a transducer proximate a rotating disc. The slider includes a slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges. First and second side rails are positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. The first and second side rails form coplanar air bearing surfaces. A cross rail extends between the first and second side rails to form a negative pressure cavity between the cross rail, the trailing edge and the first and second side rails. First and second trailing edge reliefs are formed within the first and second side rails, respectively. Each relief extends into a portion of the side rail from the negative pressure cavity, at the trailing edge to form first and second rail end portions adjacent the first and second side edges. The first and second rail end portions extend the air bearing surfaces to the trailing edge of the slider.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate a rotating . .disk.!. .Iadd.disc.Iaddend., the slider comprising: a slider body;   first and second raised air bearing surfaces which are positioned on the slider body and are generally parallel to one another, the first and second raised air bearing surfaces each having leading and trailing edges and inside and outside edges;   first and second trailing edge reliefs extending into the first and second raised air bearing surfaces, respectively, from the trailing edges toward the leading edges and communicating with one of the inside and outside edges, the first and second trailing edge reliefs forming third and fourth raised air bearing surfaces, respectively, which interact with the disc as the disc rotates proximate to the slider, wherein the third and fourth raised air bearing surfaces are raised from the slider body, extend in a plane which is parallel to the first and second air bearing surfaces, and are recessed from the first and second air bearing surfaces by a substantially constant depth; and wherein the transducer is positioned along the trailing . .edges.!. .Iadd.edge .Iaddend.of one of the first and second air bearing surfaces.     
     
     
       2. The slider of claim 1 wherein the slider body has a length and the first and second trailing edge reliefs extend from the trailing edges toward the leading edges for a distance that is about 1/12 to 1/4 the length of the slider body. 
     
     
       3. The slider of claim 1 wherein: the first raised air bearing surface includes a first narrow, rail end portion which extends from the trailing edge toward the leading edge of the first air bearing surface, generally parallel to the first trailing edge relief; and   the second raised air bearing surface includes a second narrow, rail end portion which extends from the trailing edge toward the leading edge of the second air bearing surface, generally parallel to the second trailing edge relief.   
     
     
       4. The slider of claim 1 wherein the depths of the third and fourth raised air bearing surfaces are approximately 1.0 . .microns.!. .Iadd.micron.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       5. The slider of claim 1 wherein the depths of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces are approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns. 
     
     
       6. A slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate a rotating disc, the slider comprising: a slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges;   first and second raised side rails positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively, the first and second raised side rails forming first and second respective air bearing surfaces with inside and outside edges;   a cross rail extending between the first and second raised side rails and forming a subambient pressure cavity between the cross rail, the trailing edge and the first and second raised side rails, the subambient pressure cavity having a depth which is measured from the first and second air bearing surfaces; and   first and second trailing edge relief means for limiting buildup of positive pressure at the trailing edge and for shifting a center of positive pressure forward along the first and second air bearing surfaces toward the leading edge, the first and second trailing edge relief means being formed within the first and second raised side rails, respectively, with each trailing edge relief means extending forward from the trailing edge into a portion of the raised side rail and communicating with one of the inside and outside edges, the first and second trailing edge relief means being so sized and arranged as to form respective third and fourth air bearing surfaces which interact with the disc as the disc rotates proximate to the slider, the third and fourth air bearing surfaces extending in a plane which is parallel to the first and second air bearing surfaces and having a substantially constant depth which is measured from the first and second air bearing surfaces, wherein the depth of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces is less than the depth of the subambient pressure cavity.   
     
     
       7. The slider of claim 6 wherein the depths of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces are sufficient to form subambient pressure regions adjacent the trailing edge of the slider body. 
     
     
       8. The slider of claim 6 wherein the subambient pressure cavity depth is approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns and the depths of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces are approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns. 
     
     
       9. The slider of claim 6 wherein the subambient pressure cavity depth is approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns and the depths of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces are approximately 1.0 . .microns.!. .Iadd.micron.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       10. The slider of claim 6 wherein the first and second raised side rails include first and second rail end portions, respectively, which are coplanar with the first and second air bearing surfaces and extend along and generally parallel to the first and second trailing edge relief means and wherein the transducer is positioned along the trailing edge, adjacent one of the first and second rail end portions. 
     
     
       11. The slider of claim 10 wherein the first and second trailing edge relief means and the first and second rail end portions have rectangular shapes. 
     
     
       12. The slider of claim 10 wherein the first and second trailing edge relief means and the first and second rail end portions are each defined by at least one angled line segment extending from the subambient pressure cavity toward the trailing edge. 
     
     
       13. The slider of claim 12 wherein the first and second trailing edge relief means and the first and second rail end portions have generally triangular shapes. 
     
     
       14. The slider of claim 12 wherein the first and second trailing edge relief means and the first and second rail end portions are each defined by a plurality of intersecting line segments that extend from the subambient pressure cavity toward the trailing edge. 
     
     
       15. The slider of claim 6 wherein the first and second trailing edge relief means extend from the trailing edge toward the leading edge for a distance that is approximately 1/12 to . .1/4of.!. .Iadd.1/4 of .Iaddend.a length of the slider, as measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge. 
     
     
       16. The slider of claim 6 and further including first and second edge steps positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively. 
     
     
       17. The slider of claim 16 wherein the first and second edge steps have a depth measured from the first and second air bearing surfaces of approximately 10 microns. 
     
     
       18. The slider of claim 6 wherein the first and second air bearing surfaces narrow in width from the leading edge to a central section and widen from the central section toward the trailing edge. 
     
     
       19. The slider claim 18 wherein the first and second air bearing surfaces include inside and outside edge steps extending along a portion of a length of the air bearing surfaces, as measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge, with the inside and outside edge steps having depths measured from the first and second air bearing surfaces of up to about 2.0 microns. 
     
     
       20. The slider of claim 6 wherein the first and second raised side rails include outside edge steps which are positioned substantially at the trailing edge and are recessed by depths of up to about 2.0 microns from the first and second air bearing surfaces. 
     
     
       21. The slider of claim 6 wherein the cross rail is positioned at the leading edge. 
     
     
       22. The slider of claim 6 wherein the cross rail is recessed from the first and second air bearing surfaces by a depth of up to about 2.0 microns. 
     
     
       23. A self-loading air bearing disc head slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate a rotating disc, the slider comprising: a slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges;   first and second raised side rails positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively, the first and second raised side rails forming coplanar air bearing surfaces which narrow in width from the leading edge toward a central section and widen from the central section toward the trailing edge;   a cross rail positioned at the leading edge and extending between the first and second raised side rails;   a subambient pressure cavity positioned between the cross rail, the trailing edge and the first and second raised side rails;   first and second trailing edge reliefs formed within a portion of the first and second raised side rails, respectively, and extending forward from the trailing edge, each of the reliefs having a depth and an area sufficient to limit buildup of positive pressure at the trailing edge and to shift a center of positive pressure forward along the air bearing surfaces toward the leading edge, wherein the depth is measured from the air bearing surfaces;   first and second rail end portions positioned adjacent the first and second trailing edge reliefs, respectively, which extend from the air bearing surfaces to the trailing edge and which include surfaces that are coplanar with the air searing surfaces; and wherein the transducer is positioned along the trailing edge, adjacent one of the first and second raised side rails.     
     
     
       24. The slider of claim 23 wherein the depth of the first and second trailing edge reliefs is substantially constant and is approximately 1.0 . .microns.!. .Iadd.micron.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       25. The slider of claim 23 wherein the depth of the first and second trailing edge reliefs is substantially constant and is approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns. 
     
     
       26. The slider of claim 23 wherein the first and second trailing edge reliefs have generally rectangular shapes. 
     
     
       27. The slider of claim 23 wherein the first and second trailing edge reliefs are each defined by at least one angled line segment extending toward the trailing edge. 
     
     
       28. The slider of claim 27 wherein the first and second tailing edge reliefs have generally triangular shapes. 
     
     
       29. The slider of claim 23 wherein the air bearing surfaces include inside and outside edge steps extending along a portion of a length of the air bearing surfaces, as measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and wherein the inside and outside edge steps have depths measured from the air bearing surfaces of up to about 2.0 microns. .Iadd. 
     
     
       30.  An air bearing disc head slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate a rotating disc, the slider comprising: a slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge and first and second side edges;   first and second raised side rails positioned along the first and second side edges, respectively, the first and second raised side rails forming coplanar air bearing surfaces which narrow in width from the leading edge toward a central section and widen from the central section toward the trailing edge;   first and second trailing edge reliefs formed within a portion of the first and second raised side rails, respectively, and extending forward from the trailing edge, each of the reliefs having a depth and an area sufficient to limit buildup of positive pressure at the trailing edge and to shift a center of positive pressure forward along the air bearing surfaces toward the leading edge, wherein the depth is measured from the air bearing surfaces;   first and second rail end portions positioned adjacent the first and second trailing edge reliefs, respectively, which extend from the air bearing surfaces to the trailing edge and which include rail end surfaces that are coplanar with the air bearing surfaces; and   wherein the transducer is positioned along the trailing edge, adjacent one of the first and second raised side rails. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. The slider of claim 30, further comprising a subambient pressure cavity positioned between the leading edge, the trailing edge and the first and second raised side rails, wherein the subambient pressure cavity has a depth which is measured from the coplanar air bearing surfaces and wherein the first and second trailing edge reliefs have depths which are less thin the depth of the subambient pressure cavity and are sufficient to form subambient pressure regions adjacent the trailing edge of the slider body. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. The slider of claim 30 wherein the depth of the first and second trailing edge reliefs is substantially constant and is approximately 1.0 micron. .Iaddend..Iadd.33. The slider of claim 30 wherein the depth of the first and second trailing edge reliefs is substantially constant and is approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. The slider of claim 30 wherein the first and second trailing edge reliefs have generally rectangular shapes. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. The slider of claim 30 wherein the first and second trailing edge reliefs are each defined by at least one angled line segment extending toward the trailing edge. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. The slider of claim 35 wherein the first and second trailing edge reliefs have generally triangular shapes. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. The slider of claim 30 wherein the air bearing surfaces include inside and outside edge steps extending along a portion of at length of the air bearing surfaces, as measured from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and wherein the inside and outside edge steps have depths measured from the air bearing surfaces of up to about   
     
     
        2.0 microns. .Iaddend..Iadd.38.  A slider configured for supporting a transducer proximate a rotating disc, the slider comprising: a slider body;   first and second raised air bearing surfaces which are positioned on the slider body and are generally parallel to one another, the first and second raised air bearing surfaces each having leading and trailing edges and inside and outside edges;   first and second trailing edge reliefs extending into the first and second raised air hearing surfaces, respectively, from the trailing edges toward the leading edges and communicating with one of the inside and outside edges, the first and second trailing edge reliefs in the first and second raised air bearing surfaces forming first and second narrow rail end portions, respectively, along and continuous with the other of the inside and outside edges, the first and second narrow rail end portions each extending from the trailing edge toward the leading edge of the respective air bearing surface, generally parallel to the respective trailing edge relief, for a distance that is about 1/12 to 1/4 the length of the slider body, the first and second trailing edge reliefs forming third and fourth air bearing surfaces, respectively, which are recessed from the first and second raised air bearing surfaces and interact with the disc as the disc rotates proximate to the slider, wherein the third and fourth air bearing surfaces extend in a plane which is parallel to the first and second raised air bearing surfaces and have an area and a substantially constant depth sufficient to limit buildup of positive pressure at the trailing edges and to shift a center of positive pressure forward along the first and second raised air bearing surfaces toward the leading edges, wherein the depth is measured from the first and second raised air bearing surfaces; and   wherein the transducer is positioned along the trailing edge of one of the   
     
     
        first and second raised air bearing surfaces. .Iaddend..Iadd.39.  The slider of claim 38 wherein the depths of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces are approximately 1.0 micron. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. The slider of claim 38 wherein the depths of the third and fourth air bearing surfaces are approximately 4.0 to 12.0 microns. .Iaddend.