Luis Manuel Franco

US Patent:

7233456, Jun 19, 2007

Filed:

Nov 5, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/982488

Inventors:

Luis Franco - Gilroy CA, US
Oscar Ruiz - San Jose CA, US

Assignee:

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. - Amsterdam

International Classification:

G11B 21/02

US Classification:

360 75

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a method for loading a slider that eliminates the need for a dedicated landing zone at the outer diameter of a platter. In one embodiment, a slider is lowered from a ramp, which is positioned in close proximity to the outer diameter of a platter, and positioned at an initial fly height above the platter without requiring the dedicated landing zone at the outer diameter. The slider is moved towards an inner diameter of the platter. The slider is positioned at an operating fly height above the platter when the slider reaches a certain position relative to the inner diameter.

US Patent:

53880170, Feb 7, 1995

Filed:

Aug 3, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/285608

Inventors:

Luis P. Franco - Gilroy CA
Andrew M. Homola - Morgan Hill CA
Leela Viswanathan - San Jose CA

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G11B 2121
G11B 1732

US Classification:

360103

Abstract:

A contact start/stop (CSS) disk file has an improved head-disk interface which has significantly reduced static friction between the head-supporting slider and the disk. The slider has a plurality of narrow skids which project from the air-bearing surface of the slider and support the air-bearing surface off the disk when the disk file is not operating. The skids are designed to not affect the flyability of the slider and contain a protective overcoat to minimize wear at the head-disk interface.

US Patent:

62625721, Jul 17, 2001

Filed:

May 13, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/855142

Inventors:

Luis Padilla Franco - Gilroy CA
Erich Sawatzky - San Jose CA
Roland Eugene Imboden - Milpitas CA

Assignee:

Seagate Technology LLC - Scotts Valley CA

International Classification:

G01N 2782
G01N 2572
G01B 528
G11B 2736

US Classification:

324212

Abstract:

An improved media defect glide test head assembly which incorporates a wide thermo-resistive (TR) element suitable for detection of thermal asperities on the surfaces of magnetic recording discs. The TR element of the inventive glide test head assembly is very wide when compared to magneto-resistive (MR) elements in normal MR read/write heads. In the currently preferred embodiment, the TR element is envisioned to be as wide as is possible to fabricate on the trailing edge of an air bearing element of the glide test head assembly, to enable detection of thermal asperities across a relatively wide band of disc surface during each disc rotation, thus enabling rapid testing of the media surface. In a second aspect of the invention, the wide TR element is envisioned to be formed of nickel or other material having a large thermal resistance coefficient. In a third aspect of the invention, the wide TR element is envisioned to include intermediary taps which permit more precise mapping of the location of thermal asperities.