Abstract: An assembly for lapping multiple row bars, the assembly including a carrier having at least one carrier bond pad, multiple row bars adjacent to each other in a stack, wherein a first row bar of the stack is positioned closer to the carrier than any of the other multiple row bars of the stack and comprises at least one row bar bond pad, an electrical connection between at least one of the carrier bond pads and at least one of the row bar bond pads of the first row bar, and at least one electrical trace extending through at least two of the multiple row bars and electrically connected to at least the first row bar and one additional row bar of the stack. An outermost row bar of the stack includes an outer surface and at least one electronic lapping guide.

Abstract: A method of lapping multiple row bars provided in a stack, including the steps of electrically connecting at least one row bar bond pad of a first row bar to at least one carrier bond pad of a carrier, electrically connecting an outermost row bar of the stack to the first row bar of the stack by at least one electrical trace, wherein the outermost row bar comprises at least one electronic lapping guide, lapping an outer surface of the outermost row bar until a signal provided by the at least one electronic lapping guide of the outermost row bar reaches a predetermined value, terminating the lapping of the outermost row bar, and removing the outermost row bar from the stack to expose a second row bar, wherein the second row bar is electrically connected to the first row bar with the at least one electrical trace.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods and systems of lapping a row bar of sliders, where the systems and methods use externally mounted laser components to focus laser energy on an area of an individual slider that can absorb the laser energy in a manner to cause at least the write pole and/or reader to protrude more relative to one or more other slider components (e.g., a reader) during lapping.

Abstract: A method includes receiving an image of a surface of a slider bar from an interferometer, where the slider bar includes at least two sliders, and where the image includes image data according to at least two image data channels for a slider bar surface and the at least two sliders. The method also includes generating a slider bar map of the surface of the slider bar based upon the image data of the image, where the slider bar map includes at least two data channels and ascertaining a plurality of individual slider surface maps based on a number of sliders included on the slider bar, where the ascertaining is also based upon the slider bar map having the at least two data channels. The method also includes segmenting the slider bar map according to the plurality of individual slider surface maps.

Abstract: A method of lapping multiple row bars provided in a stack, including the steps of electrically connecting at least one row bar bond pad of a first row bar to at least one carrier bond pad of a carrier, electrically connecting an outermost row bar of the stack to the first row bar of the stack by the at least one electrical trace, wherein the outermost row bar comprises at least one electronic lapping guide, lapping an outer surface of the outermost row bar until a signal provided by the at least one electronic lapping guide of the outermost row bar reaches a predetermined value, terminating the lapping of the outermost row bar, and removing the outermost row bar from the stack to expose a second row bar, wherein the second row bar is electrically connected to the first row bar with the at least one electrical trace.

Abstract: Sliders that include a slider body having an outer side edge, an inner side edge, a trailing edge and a leading edge, and a base; a trailing edge set of features positioned towards the trailing edge of the slider body, the trailing edge set of features having air bearing surfaces, the air bearing surfaces being above the base of the slider body; a leading edge set of features positioned towards the leading edge of the slider body; a gap positioned between the trailing edge set of features and the leading edge set of features, the gap having a gap surface, the gap surface substantially coplanar with the base of the slider body; and a first gap feature and a second gap feature distributed evenly within the gap from the inner side edge to the outer side edge, the first and second gap features each having upper surfaces, the upper surfaces of the first and second gap features being above the base of the slider body but below the air bearing surface of the trailing edge features.

Abstract: A magnetic device including: a magnetic reader; a magnetic writer; and a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer.

Abstract: A magnetic device including: a magnetic reader; a magnetic writer; and a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer.

Abstract: Sliders that include a slider body having an outer side edge, an inner side edge, a trailing edge and a leading edge, and a base; a trailing edge set of features positioned towards the trailing edge of the slider body, the trailing edge set of features having air bearing surfaces, the air bearing surfaces being above the base of the slider body; a leading edge set of features positioned towards the leading edge of the slider body; a gap positioned between the trailing edge set of features and the leading edge set of features, the gap having a gap surface, the gap surface substantially coplanar with the base of the slider body; and a first gap feature and a second gap feature distributed evenly within the gap from the inner side edge to the outer side edge, the first and second gap features each having upper surfaces, the upper surfaces of the first and second gap features being above the base of the slider body but below the air bearing surface of the trailing edge features.

Abstract: A data writer may suspend a transducing head from an actuator. The transducing head can consist of a writer coil positioned proximal a write pole. A protruding signal may be passed through the write coil to contact a data storage medium with the transducing head. A write signal can be passed through the write coil to write a data bit on the data storage medium.

Abstract: A data writer may suspend a transducing head from an actuator. The transducing head can consist of a writer coil positioned proximal a write pole. A protruding signal may be passed through the write coil to contact a data storage medium with the transducing head. A write signal can be passed through the write coil to write a data bit on the data storage medium.

Abstract: A slider that includes a leading edge surface; a trailing edge surface; and an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface, wherein the trailing edge surface includes a read-write element, at least one low surface energy region and at least one high surface energy region.

Abstract: A slider that includes a leading edge surface; a trailing edge surface; and an air bearing surface (ABS) positioned between the leading edge surface and the trailing edge surface, wherein the trailing edge surface includes a read-write element, at least one low surface energy region and at least one high surface energy region.

Abstract: A slider, such as for a data storage system, the slider having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an air-bearing surface, and a transducer proximate the trailing edge. The slider has a low surface energy coating on the air-bearing surface and a high surface energy coating on the transducer. In some embodiments, the high surface energy coating is present on a contact sensor.

Abstract: A slider that includes a slider body, the slider body having a trailing edge surface and an opposing leading edge surface; an air bearing surface (ABS) between the trailing edge surface and the leading edge surface; a read/write head located on the trailing edge surface of the slider body; an electrode array located on the trailing edge surface of the slider body, the electrode array including at least a first electrode and at least a second electrode; and first and second bias circuits, wherein the first bias circuit is electrically coupled to the at least first electrode and the second bias circuit is electrically coupled to the at least second electrode.

Abstract: A sensor supported by a head transducer has a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and a sensor resistance. The sensor operates at a temperature above ambient and is responsive to changes in sensor-medium spacing. Conductive contacts connected to the sensor have a contact resistance and a cross-sectional area adjacent to the sensor larger than that of the sensor, such that the contact resistance is small relative to the sensor resistance and negligibly contributes to a signal generated by the sensor. A multiplicity of head transducers each support a TCR sensor and a power source can supply bias power to each sensor of each head to maintain each sensor at a fixed temperature above an ambient temperature in the presence of heat transfer changes impacting the sensors. A TCR sensor of a head transducer can include a track-oriented TCR sensor wire for sensing one or both of asperities of the medium.

Abstract: A slider that includes a slider body, the slider body having a trailing edge surface and an opposing leading edge surface; an air bearing surface (ABS) between the trailing edge surface and the leading edge surface; a read/write head located on the trailing edge surface of the slider body; an electrode array located on the trailing edge surface of the slider body, the electrode array including at least a first electrode and at least a second electrode; and first and second bias circuits, wherein the first bias circuit is electrically coupled to the at least first electrode and the second bias circuit is electrically coupled to the at least second electrode.

Abstract: A slider, such as for a data storage system, the slider having a leading edge, a trailing edge, an air-bearing surface, and a transducer proximate the trailing edge. The slider has a low surface energy coating on the air-bearing surface and a high surface energy coating on the transducer. In some embodiments, the high surface energy coating is present on a contact sensor.

Abstract: A slider that minimizes lubricant accumulation includes bearing surfaces that provide above ambient fluid pressure, a cavity located between two bearing surfaces and at least one step feature that is spaced apart from the bearing surfaces and is located in and protrudes from a floor of the cavity at a height that is less than a height of the bearing surfaces. The at least one step feature includes surfaces configured to diverge and converge airflow in the cavity.

Abstract: A magnetic device including: a magnetic reader; a magnetic writer; and a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer.