Abstract: A thin film head and a method for fabricating the same comprises depositing a first non-magnetic seedlayer on a substrate, forming a bottom portion of a magnetic core on the first non-magnetic seedlayer, depositing a second non-magnetic seedlayer and forming a top portion of the magnetic core on the second non-magnetic seedlayer. A gap comprised of non-magnetic material is formed between the top and bottom portions of the magnetic core. The stability of the thin film head while in a relaxed state and its read performance are significantly improved.

Abstract: An electrical lap guide (ELG) and a method of using the same to control the machining of a surface of a magnetic transducer to obtain a desired transducer height are disclosed. The transducer and ELG are fabricated in a deposition of layers on a substrate. The ELG includes a first resistor aligned with the transducer such that a machined height of the first resistor is indicative of a machined height of the transducer. Resistances of second and third resistors of the ELG are measured. A sheet resistance of the deposition of layers and a quantity of wafer processing edge movement are determined as functions of the measured resistances of the second and third resistors. An expected non-machined resistance of the first resistor is determined as a function of the determined sheet resistance and as a function of the determined quantity of edge movement. A non-machined resistance of the first resistor is measured.

Abstract: A device for testing smoothness of a rotatable disc is disclosed. A slider body has a trailing edge surface and an air-bearing surface for gliding over a surface of the disc when the disc is rotating. A piezoelectric sensor is formed in the slider body, and a thermal asperity sensor is formed in the slider body and at least partially exposed to the air-bearing surface. A plurality of conductive vias extend from the trailing edge surface of the slider body into the slider body to contact the piezoelectric and thermal asperity sensors. A plurality of conductive bond pads are disposed on the trailing edge surface in contact with respective conductive vias.

Abstract: An electrical lap guide (ELG) system and method are disclosed for use in lapping a bar 10 of magnetic transducer carrying sliders to a desired transducer height. A first ELG ELG1 contained within the bar has at least two first ELG resistive elements R.sub.11 and R.sub.12. A second ELG ELG 2 contained within the bar has at least two second ELG resistive elements R.sub.21 and R.sub.23. A first of the at least two first ELG resistive elements is electrically coupled to a first of the at least two second ELG resistive elements to thereby reduce a total number of leads needed between a data acquisition unit 100 and the bar 10 during lapping. The reduction in required data acquisition unit 100 leads allow more ELGs to be included on each bar 10 in order to more accurately control the lapping process.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a slider having a first air bearing surface and a second surface made of a layer of an insulating material. The second surface has a first aperture formed in the insulating layer to expose a portion of the slider below the second surface layer. A reading/writing transducer is provided in the slider adjacent to the air bearing surface and has a first connecting link extending within the slider so that an end of the first link is exposed within the first aperture of the second surface layer. A first bond pad extends on the second surface of the slider and within the first aperture of the second surface layer. The first bond pad is electrically connected to the exposed end of the first link of the read/write transducer within the first aperture of the second surface layer.

Abstract: An electrical lap guide (ELG) for use in lapping a bar of magnetic transducer carrying sliders to a desired height is disclosed. A first lapped or analog ELG element is positioned in a first dice lane on the bar between first and second sliders. A first electrical connection is positioned on a surface of the first dice lane for coupling the first ELG element to external circuitry. A second reference ELG element is positioned in the first slider at a position recessed from the lapped surface. A second electrical connection is positioned on the first slider for coupling the second ELG element to external circuitry.

Abstract: A lapping guide system, method and article of manufacture is disclosed. A method of fabricating a lapping guide for use in conjunction with the machining of a magnetic recording transducer includes the following steps. A plurality of lap switch fingers of the lapping guide and a bottom pole of the transducer are fabricated at the same time and from the same material. Each lap switch finger has the same topology as the topology of the bottom pole. An insulating layer is fabricated on the plurality of lap switch fingers of the lapping guide and on the bottom pole of the transducer. A top conductor is fabricated on the insulating layer above a plurality of lap switch fingers, while a top pole is fabricated on the insulating layer above the bottom pole. The top conductor and top pole are fabricated at the same time and from the same material.

Abstract: An electrical lap guide (ELG) and a method of using the same to control the machining of a surface of a magnetic transducer to obtain a desired transducer height are disclosed. The transducer and ELG are fabricated in a deposition of layers on a substrate. The ELG includes a first resistor aligned with the transducer such that a machined height of the first resistor is indicative of a machined height of the transducer. Resistances of second and third resistors of the ELG are measured. A sheet resistance of the deposition of layers and a quantity of wafer processing edge movement are determined as functions of the measured resistances of the second and third resistors. An expected non-machined resistance of the first resistor is determined as a function of the determined sheet resistance and as a function of the determined quantity of edge movement. A non-machined resistance of the first resistor is measured.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a slider having a first air bearing surface and a second surface made of a layer of an insulating material. The second surface has a first aperture formed in the insulating layer to expose a portion of the slider below the second surface layer. A reading/writing transducer is provided in the slider adjacent to the air bearing surface and has a first connecting link extending within the slider so that an end of the first link is exposed within the first aperture of the second surface layer. A first bond pad extends on the second surface of the slider and within the first aperture of the second surface layer. The first bond pad is electrically connected to the exposed end of the first link of the read/write transducer within the first aperture of the second surface layer.

Abstract: A thin film transducer having electrical connections for the discharge of electrostatic charges between coil and core is disclosed. The invention provides for conductive surfaces electrically connected to the coil and core, respectively. These surfaces are selectively positioned so as to define an air gap having a breakdown voltage below that of the insulation layer separating coil and core in the transducer.

Abstract: A servo head in a disc file data storage system includes a servo transducer and a coil which are connected so that noise induced by a nearby writing data head cancels. The servo transducer, mounted on a slider, reads information stored on a servo disc. The coil, also mounted on the slider, is connected to the servo transducer to produce an output signal so that noise signals induced in the servo transducer by operation of the data head tend to be canceled by noise signals induced in the coil by operation of the data head.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write head is manufactured using Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 dams. The Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 dams are formed using a sacrificial layer which is deposited upon a bottom pole layer. An Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer. When the sacrificial layer is removed, the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer forms dams between which a top pole piece is deposited. The sacrificial layer is removed using lapping and a selected chemical etch; etch of the sacrificial layer which lifts-off overlying partial lapping or chemical etch followed by chemical Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; depositing photoresist dams and chemically, etching the encapsulation layer and the sacrificial layer; or removal through physical or thermal shock of the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer sputtered at zero bias followed by a selective chemical etch of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus and process for convenient electrical access following application of an overcoat layer to the core of a thin film transducer for measuring core-to-coil impedance and breakdown voltage during manufacture and final testing is disclosed. The invention may employ existing process feedback circuitry at the wafer level typically severed in the machining process or the invention provides for a permanent dedicated terminal on the support structure.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write head deposited upon a non-magnetic substrate reduces leading edge undershoots in readback pulse signal. A magnetic layer is deposited between the thin film magnetic read/write head and the non-magnetic substrate. Undershoots are reduced by making the leading edge of the thin film head less sensitive to the magnetization transitions in a magnetic storage medium.

Abstract: A servo head in a disk file data storage system includes at least one shield which acts to block radiation emanating from a nearby data head and thus reduce noise induced in the servo head. The shield is located on either side of an essentially flat conducting coil in a servo transducer, or a data transducer or both. The shield may be either a single layer of material or multiple layers.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write head deposited upon a non-magnetic substrate reduces leading edge undershoots in readback pulse signal. A magnetic layer is deposited between the thin film magnetic read/write head and the non-magnetic substrate. Undershoots are reduced by making the leading edge of the thin film head less sensitive to the magnetization transitions in a magnetic storage medium.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write head is manufactured using Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 dams. The Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 dams are formed using a sacrificial layer which is deposited upon a bottom pole layer. An Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer. When the sacrificial layer is removed, the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer forms dams between which a top pole piece is deposited. The sacrificial layer is removed using lapping and a selected chemical etch; partial lapping or chemical etch followed by chemical etch of the sacrificial layer which lifts-off overlying Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; depositing photoresist dams and chemically etching the encapsulation layer and the sacrificial layer; or removal through physical or thermal shock of the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer sputtered at zero bias followed by a selective chemical etch of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write head is manufactured using Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 dams. The Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 dams are formed using a sacrificial layer which is deposited upon a bottom pole layer. An Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer is deposited over the sacrificial layer. When the sacrificial layer is removed, the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer forms dams between which a top pole piece is deposited. The sacrificial layer is removed using lapping and a selected chemical etch; partial lapping or chemical etch followed by chemical etch of the sacrificial layer which lifts-off overlying Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; depositing photoresist dams and chemically etching the encapsulation layer and the sacrificial layer; or removal through physical or thermal shock of the Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 layer sputtered at zero bias followed by a selective chemical etch of the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head has a flux path in which during writing magnetic saturation occurs in the throat section of the leading pole rather than in the trailing pole. This keeps the stray magnetic fields generated in the area where the saturation occurs during writing from distorting the just-recorded data pattern in the medium, since the leading pole is spaced sufficiently far from the data pattern as it is created adjacent the trailing pole. Preferably, this is accomplished by making a cross section area of the flux path in the leading pole throat section physically smaller than the minimum cross section area in the remainder of the leading pole or in the trailing pole and is throat section.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic data transducer carried on the end of a conductive flyer has its magnetic pole electrically connected to the flyer to prevent electrostatic discharges between the flyer and the pole tip from eroding the pole tip. The winding of the transducer is also electrically connected to the flyer either through a high resistance, through a diode with high forward and reverse voltage drops, or through a fusible link, so as to bleed off static charges on the winding without their arcing through to the magnetic pole and damaging the insulation between the winding and the magnetic pole. These embodiments avoid any degrading of the data readback signal.