Pseudo contact type negative pressure air bearing slider

Abstract

A negative pressure air bearing slider includes a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the recording disc. First and second projections extend from a lead portion of a principal surface of the slider body to define first and second air bearing surfaces, respectively, the first and second air bearing surfaces being spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of said slider body. A third U-shaped projection extends from the principal surface and includes a curved front wall portion at least partially located between the first and second projections and first and second side wall portions extending from opposite ends of the curved front wall portion to a rear portion of the principal surface so as to define a rounded negative pressure cavity therein. A fourth projection extends from the rear portion of the principal surface of the slider body at a position centrally located in the lateral direction of the slider body, and a transducer is mounted on a rear edge of the third projection so as to establish pseudo contact with the disc surface while the slider body is flying above the disc surface.

1. A negative pressure air bearing slider, comprising:
 a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the disc, the slider body having a principal surface for confronting the surface of the disc, said principal surface having a lead portion, a rear portion, a first side portion and a second side portion, wherein the lead portion is spaced upstream of the rear portion relative to a longitudinal direction of said slider body which is coincident with a tangential rotational direction of the recording disc, and wherein the first side portion is spaced from the second side portion relative to a lateral direction of said slider body;  
 first and second projections extending from said lead portion of said principal surface of said slider body to define first and second air bearing surfaces, said first and second air bearing surfaces spaced apart from each other in the lateral direction of said slider body;  
 a U-shaped projection extending from said principal surface of said slider body, said U-shaped projection including an arcuate front wall portion at least partially located between said first and second air bearing surfaces, said U-shaped projection further including first and second side wall portions extending from opposite ends of said arcuate front wall rearwardly toward said rear portion and outwardly toward said first and second side portions of said principal surface for defining a negative pressure cavity therein, said first and second wall portions terminating at said rear portion of said principle  principal surface of said slider body for defining third and fourth air bearing surfaces, said third and fourth air bearing surfaces spaced apart from each other along said lateral direction of said slider body and spaced apart from said first and second air bearing surfaces along said longitudinal direction of said slider body; a fourth projection extending from said rear portion of said principal surface of said slider body, said fourth projection interposed between said third and fourth air bearing surfaces and generally aligned with said longitudinal direction of said slider body; and  
 a transducer mounted on a rear edge of said fourth projection for establishing pseudo contact with the disc surface while said slider body is flying above said disc surface.  
 
     
     
       2. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said U-shaped projection is axisymmetrical about a longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       3. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and said second air bearing surfaces are symmetric about said longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       4. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first and said second air bearing surfaces are respectively longitudinally aligned with said third and fourth air bearing surfaces, and wherein said negative pressure cavity is centrally located between said air bearing surfaces. 
     
     
       5. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and said second air bearing surfaces include a tapered surface portion, the tapered surface portion tapering from each air bearing surface toward a lead edge of said slider body. 
     
     
       6. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of said first and said second air bearing surfaces include a stepped down surface portion, the stepped down surface portion extending from each air bearing surface to a lead edge of said slider body. 
     
     
       7. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an interface region between said arcuate front wall portion and said first side wall portion includes a first stepped down surface portion extending between said third air bearing surface and an inner edge of said slider body, and wherein an interface region between said arcuate front wall portion and said second side wall portion includes a second stepped down surface portion extending between said fourth air bearing surface and an outer edge of said slider body. 
     
     
       8. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an interface region between said arcuate front wall portion and said first side wall portion includes a first stepped down surface portion extending between said third air bearing surface and said negative pressure cavity, and wherein an interface region between said arcuate front wall portion and said second side wall portion includes a second stepped down surface portion extending between said fourth air bearing surface and said negative pressure cavity. 
     
     
       9. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the interface region between said arcuate front wall portion and said first side wall portion further includes a third stepped down surface portion extending between said third air bearing surface and said negative pressure cavity, and wherein the interface region between said arcuate front wall portion and said second side wall portion further includes a fourth stepped down surface portion extending between said fourth air bearing surface and said negative pressure cavity. 
     
     
       10. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an elongated groove is provided in said arcuate front wall portion, said groove extending between said first and second side wall portions. 
     
     
       11. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an opening is provided in said arcuate front wall portion, said opening located between said first and second side wall portions and extending to said principle  principal surface of said slider body. 
     
     
       12. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said opening is offset from a longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       13. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said opening is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       14. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said elongated groove in said arcuate front wall portion is symmetrical about a longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       15. The negative pressure air bearing slider as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said elongated groove in said arcuate front wall portion is offset about a longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       16. A negative pressure air bearing slider, comprising:
 a slider body for flying above a surface of a recording disc during relative rotation of the disc, the slider body having a principal surface facing the surface of the disc, said slider having a lead edge, a rear edge, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the lead edge is spaced upstream of the rear edge along a longitudinal axis of said slider body, the longitudinal axis coincident with a tangential rotational direction of the recording disc, and wherein the first side edge is spaced from the second side edge along a latitudinal axis of said slider body;  
 first and second projections extending from a lead portion of said principal surface adjacent to said lead edge to provide first and second air bearing surfaces, said first and second air bearing surfaces spaced apart from each other along said latitudinal axis and located proximal to said first and second side edges of said slider body such that a gap is provided therebetween;  
 a U-shaped projection extending from said principal surface of said slider body, said U-shaped projection including an arcuate front wall and first and second side walls extending from each end of said front wall, each of said side walls extending rearwardly toward said rear portion and outwardly toward an adjacent side edge of said slider body for defining a negative pressure cavity therein, a forwardmost portion of said arcuate front wall located at least partially between said first and second air bearing surfaces such that first and second passages are formed between the arcuate front wall and a rear edge of said first and second air bearing surfaces, said passages communicating with said gap to provide a flow path that extends from said lead portion and terminates along said side edges prior to reaching a rear portion of said slider body adjacent to said rear edge thereof, said first and second wall portions terminating at said rear portion of said slider body for defining third and fourth air bearing surfaces spaced apart along said latitudinal axis and located proximal to said first and second side edges of said slider body, the air bearing surfaces positioned about on said principle  principal surface of said slider body such that four separate and distinct positive pressure areas are provided when said slider body is flying above said rotating disc; and  
 a fourth projection extending from said rear portion of said slider body, said fourth projection generally aligned with said longitudinal axis of said slider body, the fourth projection including a transducer mounted on a rear edge thereof for establishing pseudo contact with the disc surface while said slider body is flying above said disc.  
 
     
     
       17. The negative pressure air bearing slider of  claim 16  wherein said forward most portion of said arcuate front wall is aligned generally with said longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       18. The negative pressure air bearing slider of  claim 16  wherein said negative pressure cavity is generally rounded. 
     
     
       19. The negative pressure air bearing slider of  claim 16  wherein each of the passages of said flow path extend tangentially to said longitudinal axis of said slider body. 
     
     
       20. The negative pressure air bearing slider of  claim 16  wherein each of the passages and said gap of said flow path coact to provide a wide flow path.