Jack Wh Tsai

US Patent:

7388726, Jun 17, 2008

Filed:

Aug 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/503354

Inventors:

Robert McKenzie - Longmont CO, US
Thao Nguyen - San Jose CA, US
Xiaokun Chew - San Jose CA, US
Gang Herbert Lin - San Jose CA, US
Jack Tsai - Milpitas CA, US
Bruce Schardt - Tracy CA, US
Steven Marshall - Northboro MA, US

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G11B 21/02

US Classification:

360 75, 360 7807

Abstract:

A disk drive includes a slider assembly and a controller that directs current to the slider assembly to dynamically adjust the head-to-disk spacing. In one embodiment, the slider assembly includes a write element having a first end, a second end and an intermediate section, a conductor that is connected to the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the controller directs electrical current through the conductor to heat the write element without writing data to a storage disk. The electrical current can be directed through the conductor at any time prior to data transfer or during data transfer. Heating the write element causes a deformation of the slider assembly to decrease the head-to-disk spacing. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a separate slider deformer. Electrical current is selectively directed to the slider deformer to cause a deformation of the slider assembly to obtain a desired head-to-disk spacing.

US Patent:

7092193, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Aug 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/211671

Inventors:

Robert McKenzie - Longmont CO, US
Thao Nguyen - San Jose CA, US
Xiaokun Chew - San Jose CA, US
Gang Herbert Lin - San Jose CA, US
Jack Tsai - Milpitas CA, US
Bruce Schardt - Tracy CA, US
Steven Marshall - Northboro MA, US

Assignee:

Maxtor Corporation - Longmont CO

International Classification:

G11B 21/02

US Classification:

360 75

Abstract:

A disk drive includes a slider assembly and a controller that directs current to the slider assembly to dynamically adjust the head-to-disk spacing. In one embodiment, the slider assembly includes a write element having a first end, a second end and an intermediate section, a conductor that is connected to the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the controller directs electrical current through the conductor to heat the write element without writing data to a storage disk. The electrical current can be directed through the conductor at any time prior to data transfer or during data transfer. Heating the write element causes a deformation of the slider assembly to decrease the head-to-disk spacing. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a separate slider deformer. Electrical current is selectively directed to the slider deformer to cause a deformation of the slider assembly to obtain a desired head-to-disk spacing.