Patents by Inventor Neil L. Robertson
Neil L. Robertson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20230243778Abstract: Disclosed herein are detection devices and methods of making them. A detection device comprises a fluid region, a magnetochemical sensor for detecting magnetic particles, and an electrode coupled to the magnetochemical sensor, the electrode for reading the magnetochemical sensor. A surface of a reactive layer situated on the electrode is functionalized to attract the magnetic particles within the fluid region, and/or an area of the fluid region that is not situated over the electrode is functionalized to repel the magnetic particles. The same mask used to pattern the electrode can be used to pattern the reactive layer to ensure alignment with the electrode. Another detection device embeds the reactive layer in the sensor stack and exposes a surface of it via a trench. The exposed surface can be functionalized to attract magnetic particles toward the magnetochemical sensor.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2022Publication date: August 3, 2023Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Daniel BEDAU, Neil L. ROBERTSON
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Patent number: 10534579Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a pinned layer; a spacer layer above the pinned layer; a free layer above the spacer layer; a heating device, for heating the free layer to induce a paramagnetic thermal instability in the free layer whereby a magnetization of the free layer randomly switches between different detectable magnetic states upon heating thereof; and a magnetoresistance detection circuit for detecting an instantaneous magnetic state of the free layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2018Date of Patent: January 14, 2020Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, Neil L. Robertson, Qingbo Wang, Haiwen Xi
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Publication number: 20190034167Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a pinned layer; a spacer layer above the pinned layer; a free layer above the spacer layer; a heating device, for heating the free layer to induce a paramagnetic thermal instability in the free layer whereby a magnetization of the free layer randomly switches between different detectable magnetic states upon heating thereof; and a magnetoresistance detection circuit for detecting an instantaneous magnetic state of the free layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2018Publication date: January 31, 2019Applicant: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, Neil L. Robertson, Qingbo Wang, Haiwen Xi
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Patent number: 10175948Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a pinned layer; a spacer layer above the pinned layer; a free layer above the spacer layer; a heating device, for heating the free layer to induce a paramagnetic thermal instability in the free layer whereby a magnetization of the free layer randomly switches between different detectable magnetic states upon heating thereof; and a magnetoresistance detection circuit for detecting an instantaneous magnetic state of the free layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2016Date of Patent: January 8, 2019Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, Neil L. Robertson, Qingbo Wang, Haiwen Xi
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Publication number: 20160378433Abstract: A system according to one embodiment includes a pinned layer; a spacer layer above the pinned layer; a free layer above the spacer layer; a heating device, for heating the free layer to induce a paramagnetic thermal instability in the free layer whereby a magnetization of the free layer randomly switches between different detectable magnetic states upon heating thereof; and a magnetoresistance detection circuit for detecting an instantaneous magnetic state of the free layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2016Publication date: December 29, 2016Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, Neil L. Robertson, Qingbo Wang, Haiwen Xi
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Patent number: 9459835Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system includes at least one magnetic nanoparticle; a heating device for heating the at least one magnetic nanoparticle to induce a paramagnetic thermal instability in the at least one magnetic nanoparticle whereby a magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticle randomly switches between different detectable magnetic states upon heating thereof; and a magnetoresistance reading device for detecting an instantaneous magnetic state of the magnetic nanoparticle.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, Neil L. Robertson, Qingbo Wang, Haiwen Xi
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Patent number: 9373344Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a read head in a magnetic recording head. The read head has side-by-side sensors that are formed of the same width by initially forming a single sensor and then removing selected portions of either the pinned or free magnetic layer of the sensor. Then, insulating material is filled into the area from where the selected portions have been removed. A hardmask may be necessary to properly define the side-by-side sensors to ensure that the selected portions of either the pinned or free magnetic layer are removed. The hardmask may be formed by blanket depositing hardmask material and then selectively removing the hardmask material such that the remaining hardmask material is equal to the width of the side-by-side sensors.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2014Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Neil L. Robertson, Howard G. Zolla
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Publication number: 20150302873Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a read head in a magnetic recording head. The read head has side-by-side sensors that are formed of the same width by initially forming a single sensor and then removing selected portions of either the pinned or free magnetic layer of the sensor. Then, insulating material is filled into the area from where the selected portions have been removed. A hardmask may be necessary to properly define the side-by-side sensors to ensure that the selected portions of either the pinned or free magnetic layer are removed. The hardmask may be formed by blanket depositing hardmask material and then selectively removing the hardmask material such that the remaining hardmask material is equal to the width of the side-by-side sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 16, 2014Publication date: October 22, 2015Applicant: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. BRAGANCA, Jordan A. KATINE, Neil L. ROBERTSON, Howard G. ZOLLA
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Patent number: 9130055Abstract: In one embodiment, a device includes a reference layer, a free layer positioned above the reference layer, and a spacer layer positioned between the reference layer and the free layer, the spacer layer providing a gap between the reference layer and the free layer, wherein the reference layer extends beyond a rear extent of the free layer in an element height direction perpendicular to a media-facing surface of the device, and wherein a rear portion of the spacer layer that extends beyond the rear extent of the free layer has an increased resistivity in comparison with a resistivity of a rest of the spacer layer. In other embodiments, a method for forming the device is presented, along with other device structures having an extended pinned layer (EPL).Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Matthew J. Carey, Jeffrey R. Childress, Young-suk Choi, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, John C. Read, Neil L. Robertson
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Publication number: 20150221324Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a write pole, and a near field transducer adjacent the write pole. The near field transducer includes a conductive metal film having a main body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body. The notch diffusion barrier layer includes a metal selected from a group consisting of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and alloys thereof. Additional systems and methods are also presented.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2014Publication date: August 6, 2015Applicant: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.Inventors: Hamid Balamane, Joseph A. Bonetti, Jordan A. Katine, Vijay P.S. Rawat, Neil L. Robertson, Erhard Schreck, Matteo Staffaroni, Barry C. Stipe
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Patent number: 9099112Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes a write pole, and a near field transducer adjacent the write pole. The near field transducer includes a conductive metal film having a main body, a notch extending from the main body, and a notch diffusion barrier layer interposed between the notch and the main body. The notch diffusion barrier layer includes a metal selected from a group consisting of Rh, W, Mo, Ru, Ir, Co, Ni, Pt, B, and alloys thereof. Additional systems and methods are also presented.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2014Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Hamid Balamane, Joseph A. Bonetti, Jordan A. Katine, Vijay P. S. Rawat, Neil L. Robertson, Erhard Schreck, Matteo Staffaroni, Barry C. Stipe
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Publication number: 20150199177Abstract: In one general embodiment, a system includes at least one magnetic nanoparticle; a heating device for heating the at least one magnetic nanoparticle to induce a paramagnetic thermal instability in the at least one magnetic nanoparticle whereby a magnetization of the magnetic nanoparticle randomly switches between different detectable magnetic states upon heating thereof; and a magnetoresistance reading device for detecting an instantaneous magnetic state of the magnetic nanoparticle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Yang Li, Neil L. Robertson, Qingbo Wang, Haiwen Xi
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Publication number: 20150199990Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for forming a magnetic read head having one or more sensors disposed over one or more sensors. The method includes forming one or more first sensors on a shield, forming a spacer layer over the one or more first sensors and forming one or more second sensors over the spacer layer. A single photolithography process is performed on a resist that is disposed over a portion of the one or more second sensors, the spacer layer and the one or more first sensors, and portions of the one or more second sensors, the spacer layer and the one or more first sensors not covered by the resist are removed by multiple removal processes. The stripe heights of the free layers and the pinned layers of the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors are defined as a result of the multiple removal processes.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2014Publication date: July 16, 2015Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. BRAGANCA, Yang LI, Jordan A. KATINE, Neil L. ROBERTSON
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Patent number: 9082435Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention relate to a method for forming a magnetic read head having one or more sensors disposed over one or more sensors. The method includes forming one or more first sensors on a shield, forming a spacer layer over the one or more first sensors and forming one or more second sensors over the spacer layer. A single photolithography process is performed on a resist that is disposed over a portion of the one or more second sensors, the spacer layer and the one or more first sensors, and portions of the one or more second sensors, the spacer layer and the one or more first sensors not covered by the resist are removed by multiple removal processes. The stripe heights of the free layers and the pinned layers of the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors are defined as a result of the multiple removal processes.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2014Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS, B.V.Inventors: Patrick M. Braganca, Yang Li, Jordan A. Katine, Neil L. Robertson
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Publication number: 20140293472Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes masking a sensor stack with a first mask, milling exposed regions of the sensor stack for defining a back edge of the sensor stack, forming a tantalum oxide layer along the back edge, removing the first mask, masking the sensor stack with a second mask, and milling exposed regions of the sensor stack for defining side edges of the sensor stack, a width of the sensor stack in a track width direction being defined between the side edges. In another embodiment a system includes a sensor stack of thin films having a back edge, and a tantalum oxide layer extending along the back edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2013Publication date: October 2, 2014Applicant: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Hamid Balamane, Jordan A. Katine, Jui-Lung Li, Neil L. Robertson
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Patent number: 8617408Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic read sensor at very narrow track widths. The method uses an amorphous carbon mask layer to pattern the sensor by ion milling, rather than a mask constructed of a material such as photoresist or DURIMIDE® which can bend over during ion milling at very narrow track widths. By using the amorphous carbon layer as the masking layer, the trackwidth can be very small, while avoiding this bending over of the mask that has been experienced with prior art methods. In addition, the track-width can be further reduced by using a reactive ion etching to further reduce the width of the amorphous carbon mask prior to patterning the sensor. The method also allows extraneous portions of the side insulation layer and hard bias layer to be removed above the sensor by a light CMP process.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Hamid Balamane, Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Jui-Lung Li, Yang Li, Kanaiyalal C. Patel, Neil L. Robertson, Samuel W. Yuan
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Patent number: 8498182Abstract: The presented embodiments generally relate to designing an antenna of an optical transducer (e.g., a near-field transducer or near-field optical source) that focuses the optical energy of a radiation source (e.g., a laser) onto a magnetic media, thereby heating the media. Specifically, the antenna is designed to wrap-around an aperture of the optical transducer such that at least a portion of the antenna is between a main pole of a write head and a surface of the aperture that faces the main pole. Moreover, the antenna may wrap-around the aperture such that it directly contacts the main pole.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2012Date of Patent: July 30, 2013Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Hamid Balamane, Jordan A. Katine, Neil L. Robertson, Matteo Staffaroni, Barry C. Stipe
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Publication number: 20130092654Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic read sensor at very narrow track widths. The method uses an amorphous carbon mask layer to pattern the sensor by ion milling, rather than a mask constructed of a material such as photoresist or DURIMIDE® which can bend over during ion milling at very narrow track widths. By using the amorphous carbon layer as the masking layer, the trackwidth can be very small, while avoiding this bending over of the mask that has been experienced with prior art methods. In addition, the track-width can be further reduced by using a reactive ion etching to further reduce the width of the amorphous carbon mask prior to patterning the sensor. The method also allows extraneous portions of the side insulation layer and hard bias layer to be removed above the sensor by a light CMP process.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2011Publication date: April 18, 2013Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Hamid Balamane, Patrick M. Braganca, Jordan A. Katine, Jui-Lung Li, Yang Li, Kanaiyalal C. Patel, Neil L. Robertson, Samuel W. Yuan
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Patent number: 8351151Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic write head having a near-field transducer, a magnetic lip and a diffusion barrier layer between the near-field transducer and the magnetic lip. The near-field transducer includes a transparent aperture constructed of a material such as SiO2 and an opaque metallic antenna constructed of a metal such as Au formed at a first edge of the aperture. A magnetic lip, connected with the write pole is formed near a second edge of the aperture with a diffusion barrier layer being disposed between the magnetic lip and the aperture. The diffusion barrier layer prevents migration of atomic between the aperture and the magnetic lip, thereby ensuring robust performance at localized high temperatures generated by the near-field transducer.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2010Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Jordan A. Katine, Vijay P. S. Rawat, Neil L. Robertson, Barry C. Stipe
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Publication number: 20120105996Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic write head having a near-field transducer, a magnetic lip and a diffusion barrier layer between the near-field tranducer and the magnetic lip. The near-field transducer includes a transparent aperture constructed of a material such as SiO2 and an opaque metallic antenna constructed of a metal such as Au formed at a first edge of the aperture. A magnetic lip, connected with the write pole is formed near a second edge of the aperture with a diffusion barrier layer being disposed between the magnetic lip and the aperture. The diffusion barrier layer prevents migration of atomic between the aperture and the magnetic lip, thereby ensuring robust performance at localized high temperatures generated by the near-field transducer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2010Publication date: May 3, 2012Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.Inventors: Jordan A. Katine, Vijay P. S. Rawat, Neil L. Robertson, Barry C. Stipe