Patent ID: 7233459

Claim:
A slider-mounted transducer having an integral wear pad for detecting interference between said slider-mounted transducer and a disk surface comprising: a slider-mounted transducer, said slider being bounded by two parallel lateral edges and a transverse trailing edge that is perpendicular to said lateral edges and said slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) further comprising: a planar portion and a substantially rectangular recessed portion that is recessed relative to said planar portion, said recessed portion being bounded by said lateral edges and by first and second separated parallel transverse edges, the second transverse edge being the trailing edge of the slider and the first transverse edge being between the transducer and said second edge; and a wear pad formed as a longitudinal strip on said recessed surface, said strip extending perpendicularly from said first edge to said second edge and bisecting said rectangular recessed region, said strip having a transverse width and an upper surface that is substantially coplanar with said ABS.