Patent ID: 7171845

Claim:
An apparatus for testing the interface of a slider and the surface of a disk, the apparatus comprising: a motor for rotating the disk about an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the disk; a slider support, the position of the slider support relative to the rotational axis of the disk along a line substantially parallel to the surface of the disk being adjustable; a slider having a leading portion, a trailing portion and a disk-facing surface between the leading and trailing portions, the slider being maintained by the support with its leading portion closer to the surface of the disk than its trailing portion when a disk is being rotated in a direction toward the leading portion of the slider; and a sensor for detecting the friction force between the slider and the disk when a disk is being rotated and the leading portion of the slider is in contact with the surface of the disk and the trailing portion is not in contact with the surface of the disk.