Abstract:
A system and method are disclosed for preventing computer storage media surface contaminant accumulation and for preventing impact-related head/slider damage.

Description:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to magnetic hard disk drives. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for preventing disk surface particulate contamination and for preventing impact-related head/slider damage.  
           [0002]    In the art today, different methods are utilized to improve recording density of hard disk drives. FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a typical drive arm configured to read from and write to a magnetic hard disk. Typically, a voice-coil motor (VCM)  102  is used for controlling the motion, across a magnetic hard disk  106 , of an arm  104  of a hard drive. Because of the inherent tolerance (dynamic play) that exists in the placement of a recording head  108  by a VCM  102  alone, micro-actuators  110  are now being utilized to ‘fine-tune’ head  108  placement, as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,606. A VCM  102  is utilized for course adjustment and the micro-actuator  110  then corrects the placement on a much smaller scale to compensate for the tolerance of the VCM  102  (with the arm  104 ). This enables a smaller recordable track width, increasing the ‘tracks per inch’ (TPI) value of the hard drive (to provide an increased drive density).  
           [0003]    [0003]FIG. 2 provides an illustration of a micro-actuator as used in the art. Typically, a slider  202  (containing a read/write magnetic head; not shown) is utilized for maintaining a prescribed flying height above the disk surface  106  (see FIG. 1). Micro-actuators may have flexible beams  204  connecting a support device  206  to a slider containment unit (such as a frame)  208  enabling slider  202  motion independent of the drive arm  104  (see FIG. 1). An electromagnetic assembly or an electromagnetic/ferromagnetic assembly (not shown) may be utilized to provide minute adjustments in orientation/location of the slider/head  202  with respect to the arm  104  (see FIG. 1).  
           [0004]    As the scale of computer storage devices such as hard disk drives reduces, the importance of media surface contaminant removal increases. Particulate accumulation can adversely affect a hard drive&#39;s performance. It can cause problems such as disk surface abrasion, leading to data transfer (i.e., read/write) errors. Another problem facing storage devices such as hard disk drives is damage caused by impact between the head (slider) and disk. Such impact can cause damage to the head/slider, the disk, or both, which can also affect hard drive performance.  
           [0005]    It is therefore desirable to have a system for preventing media surface contaminant accumulation and for preventing impact-related head/slider damage, as well as having additional benefits. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 provides an illustration of a typical drive arm configured to read from and write to a magnetic hard disk.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 provides an illustration of a micro-actuator as used in the art.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 provides illustrations of a hard disk drive head-gimbal assembly (HGA) with a micro-actuator.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 4 provides illustrations of an HGA with a particle catcher/impact shield (component) according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 5 further illustrates aspects of the component according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 6 provides illustrations of another pad shape according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 7 provides illustrations of an integrated component according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 provides illustrations of a hard disk drive head-gimbal assembly (HGA) with a micro-actuator. As shown in FIG. 3 a , a slider (with read/write head)  302  may be bonded at two points  304  to a micro-actuator frame  308 . As shown in FIGS. 3 b  and  3   c , the micro-actuator may have a piezoelectric PZT (Piezoelectric Transducer) beam  307  on each side of the frame  308 , providing micro-actuation of the slider  302  by electrically-induced flexure of the beams  307 .  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 provides illustrations of an HGA with a particle catcher/impact shield (component) according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b , in one embodiment, a particle catcher/impact shield (component)  401  may be coupled to a micro-actuator frame  408 . In this embodiment, the component  401  may be made of a material such as ceramic, Aluminum-Titanium-Carbon (AlTiC), or Aluminum (Al). It may be coupled to the frame  408  by a substance such as resin, epoxy, or adhesive film. As shown in FIG. 4 c , in an embodiment, the component  401  has one or more pads  403  to collect contaminants and prevent slider/media impact (explained below). In this embodiment, the component  401  is located in front of the magnetic head  402  (on the leading edge of the micro-actuator) with respect to airflow  410  created by disk motion. This allows for contaminants to be removed before the head/slider  402  passes over them (explained further below).  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 further illustrates aspects of the component according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , in one embodiment, as the disk  502  moves with respect to the HGA  504 , low-pressure areas  508  are created behind the pads  510  due to the airflow  506 . In this embodiment, the low-pressure areas  508  create a pressure differential  512  between the regions of pre-existing contaminants (surface and/or airborne)  514  and the low-pressure areas  508 , causing the contaminants to be drawn to the low-pressure areas  508 . In one embodiment, the contaminants remain in the low-pressure areas  508  until the head/slider  505  is moved beyond the perimeter of the moving disk (e.g., upon spin down), whereupon the airflow ceases and the vacuum is lost, causing the contaminants to fall (away from the disk).  
         [0016]    In this embodiment, the existence and location of the component  520  prevents damage to the head/slider  505  upon impact with the disk surface  502 . The component shields the slider  505  from impact as well as reinforcing the structure. As shown in FIG. 5 c , in one embodiment, the edges (side walls)  522  of the pads may be inclined to improve the flow characteristics of the component  520  and thus, flying stability. Also to improve flying stability, as shown in FIG. 5 d , a number of linear indentions  524  may be provided in the pathways  507  between the pads  510  parallel to the airflow. Further, the indentions  524  provide additional surface area (recessed) for the collection of contaminants.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 provides illustrations of another pad shape according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, a number of the pads  602  are a six-sided shapes, similar to the silhouette of a Manta Ray fish (‘manta ray’-shaped). As shown above, pads may be of other shapes, such as rectangular or triangular.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 provides illustrations of an integrated component according to an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the component and the slider are one integrated structure  702 . This embodiment may be useful for structure simplification in hard drive systems not utilizing micro-actuation.  
         [0019]    Although several embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that modifications and variations of the present invention are covered by the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.