Patent ID: 6014288
Filing Date: 2000-01-11
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A disk drive, comprising:a storage disk having data tracks for storing data;a spindle motor mounting the storage disk for rotation;an interactive element for reading information from and writing information on the data tracks of the storage disk;the interactive element comprising a slider having a bottom air bearing surface, a leading edge and a trailing edge, and a magnetic transducer mounted by the slider at the trailing edge of the slider, the air bearing surface being arranged and configured to cause the interactive element to fly above the storage disk at a pitch angle .theta.;an actuator responsive to control signals, mounting the interactive element for motion to selectively position the interactive element relative to preselected data tracks of the storage disk; anda protective overcoat adhered to the air bearing surface of the slider and having a leading edge and a trailing edge;the trailing edge of the protective overcoat being spaced from the trailing edge of the slider by a distance x measured along said bottom air bearing surface; andwherein the protective overcoat flies above the storage disk at a minimum distance d, according to the formula:d=hg+x.theta.+((4.delta.*x*(x-L))/L.sup.2)-twhere:d is the minimum distance between the protective overcoat and the disk surface;hg is the distance between the trailing edge of the slider and the disk;x is the spacing between the trailing edge of the protective overcoat and the trailing edge of the slider;.theta. is the pitch angle of the slider;.delta. is the slider crown;L is the length of the slider; andt is the thickness of the protective overcoat;wherein x is selected so that the distance hg is less than the distance d for the value of .theta..