Head slider and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A head slider having an air inlet end and an air outlet end includes a rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating floating force when the disk rotates, the rail being disposed on a disk-facing surface, and an electromagnetic transducer disposed near the air outlet end where the rail is positioned. The head slider has a cavity on the air outlet end near the electromagnetic transducer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A head slider having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, comprising: 
 a rail having a flat air bearing surface for generating a floating force when the disk rotates, said rail being disposed on a disk-facing surface; and    an electromagnetic transducer disposed near said air outlet end where said rail is positioned;    said head slider having a cavity on the air outlet end near said electromagnetic transducer.    
     
     
         2 . A head slider according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity is approximated by a curved surface that is represented by:  
         z=f ( x )· g ( y )  
       where z represents the depth of the cavity, x the position thereof in the longitudinal direction of the head slider, y the position thereof in the transverse direction of the head slider, f(x)=a m x m +a m−1 x m-1 +. . . +a 1 x+a 0 , g(y)=b n y n +b n-1 y n-1 +. . . +b 1 y+b 0 , and m and n are an integer of 2 or greater.  
     
     
         3 . A head slider according to  claim 2 , wherein said cavity is approximated by a curved surface which is represented by an equation which is similar to said equation except that at least one of f(x) and g(y) is replaced with a sine function.  
     
     
         4 . A head slider according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity is formed by removing a portion of the head slider which projects from the disk-facing surface when a predetermined voltage is applied to said electromagnetic transducer.  
     
     
         5 . A head slider according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity is formed by removing a portion of the head slider which floats less than said electromagnetic transducer when a predetermined voltage is applied to said electromagnetic transducer while said head slider is normally floating.  
     
     
         6 . A head slider having an air inlet end and an air outlet end, comprising: 
 a front rail disposed on a disk-facing surface adjacent to the air inlet end and having a flat air bearing surface for generating a floating force when the disk rotates;    a pair of rear rails disposed on the disk-facing surface adjacent to the air outlet end and each having respective flat air bearing surfaces for generating a floating force when the disk rotates;    a groove defined downstream of said front rail for expanding air once compressed by said front rail to develop a negative pressure; and    a plurality of pads disposed on said front rail and at least one of said pair of rear rails;    said head slider having a cavity on the air outlet end near said electromagnetic transducer.    
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing a head slider having an electromagnetic transducer near an air outlet end, comprising the steps of: 
 applying a predetermined voltage to said electromagnetic transducer; and    polishing off a portion of the head slider which projects from a disk-facing surface when a predetermined voltage is applied to said electromagnetic transducer.    
     
     
         8 . A method of manufacturing a head slider having an electromagnetic transducer near an air outlet end, comprising the steps of: 
 rotating a polishing member at a predetermined rotational speed;    causing the head slider to flow with an airflow which is generated when the polishing member is rotated;    applying a predetermined voltage to said electromagnetic transducer; and    polishing off a portion of the head slider which projects from a disk-facing surface and a portion of the head slider which floats less than said electromagnetic transducer when said predetermined voltage is applied to said electromagnetic transducer.