Abstract
A brief description of the current technology (contact-start-stop) employed in most of today's hard disk drive is presented. The dynamics and head/disk interactions during a start/stop process are very complicated and no one has been able to accurately model the interactions. Thus, the head/disk interface that meets the start/stop durability and stiction requirements are always developed statistically. In arriving at a solution. many sets of statistical tests are run by varying several parameters. such as, the carbon overcoat thickness. lubricant thickness. disk surface roughness, etc. Consequently, the cost associated III developing an interface could be significant since the outcome is difficult to predict. An alternative method known as Load/Unload technology alters the problem set. such that. the start/stop performance can be designed in a predictable manner. Although this techno¬logy offers superior performance and significantly reduces statistical testing time, it also has some potential problems. However. contrary to the CSS technology. most of the problems can be solved by design and not by trial and error. One critical problem is that of head/disk contacts during the loading and unloading processes. These contact can cause disk and slider damage because the contacts are likely to occur at high disk speeds resulting in large friction forces. Use of glass substrate disks also may present problems if not managed correctly. Due to the low thermal conductivity of glass substrates. any head/disk contacts may result in erasure due to frictional heating of the head/disk interface. In spite of these and other potential problems. the advantage with L/UL system is that these events can be understood. analyzed. and solved in a deterministic manner.