Abstract: A DNA sequencing device, and related methods, include a nanopore or nanochannel structure, and a nanoelectrode. The nanoelectrode includes electrode members having free ends exposed within the nanopore or nanochannel structure, an electrode gap defined between of the free ends, and plated portions formed on the free ends to provide a reduced sized for the electrode gap.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods relating to DNA sequencing are provided. In one embodiment, a DNA sequencing device includes a nanochannel having a width that is approximately 0.3 nm to approximately 20 nm. A pair of electrodes having portions exposed to the nanochannel may form a tunneling current electrode (TCE) with an electrode gap of approximately 0.1 nm to approximately 2 nm, and more particularly about 0.3 nm to about 1 nm. In one embodiment, at least one of the pair of electrodes is formed as a suspended electrode. An actuator may be associated with the suspended electrode to displace it relative to the other electrode. In various embodiments, the nanochannel and/or the electrodes may be formed using thermal reflow processes to reduce the size of such features.

Abstract: A DNA sequencing device and related methods, wherein the device includes a substrate, a nanochannel formed in the substrate, a first electrode positioned on a first side of the nanochannel, and a second electrode. The second electrode is positioned on a second side of the nanochannel opposite the first electrode, and is spaced apart from the first electrode to form an electrode gap that is exposed in the nanochannel. At least a portion of first electrode is movable relative to the second electrode to decrease a size of the electrode gap.

Abstract: A DNA sequencing device includes a first layer having a nanochannel formed therein, and a pair of electrodes arranged vertically relative to each other and spaced apart to define an electrode gap. The electrode gap is exposed in the nanochannel, and the electrode gap is in the range of about 0.3 nm to about 2 nm.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods to sequence DNA. A DNA sequencing device includes a passage, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The passage has a width and a length. The first and second electrodes are exposed within the passage and spaced apart from each other to form an electrode gap. The electrode gap is no greater than about 2 nm. The DNA sequencing device is operable to measure with the first and second electrodes a change in electronic signal in response to nucleotides of a DNA strand passing through the electrode gap.

Abstract: A DNA sequencing device, and related methods, include a nanochannel sized to receive a DNA strand, a first electrode member exposed within the nanochannel, and a second electrode member exposed within the nanochannel and spaced apart from the first electrode to form an electrode gap. The second electrode member has a wedge shaped profile, and the first and second electrode members are operable to detect a change in electronic signal as the DNA strand passes through the electrode gap.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media.

Abstract: In the present method for manufacturing a magnetic write head a focused ion beam (FIB) tool is utilized to mill the side edges of a P2pole, in order to provide a narrowed track width. Prior to milling, a thin film layer of material is deposited upon the P2pole tip. The milling boxes of the FIB tool are properly aligned upon the layer with reference to the location of the P2 pole tip. Milling of the lateral edges of the P2pole tip is then conducted to the appropriate depth, and the layer of material is removed. The resulting P2pole tip has sharp lateral edges, rather than the rounded edges that are produced in prior art FIB processing methods that do not utilize the thin film layer. In a preferred implementation, the FIB tool is utilized first to deposit the thin film layer and thereafter to perform the milling operation.

Abstract: Side shield structures magnetically shielding a read sensor to block side reading of tracks on a magnetic media. The read heads include bottom and top magnetic shield layers, a read sensor or magnetically sensitive element between the bottom and top magnetic shield layers, and a side shield assembly formed of magnetically shielding material positioned between the bottom and top magnetic shield layers and adjacent at least a portion of the read sensor. In current-in-plane embodiments, the side shield assembly includes a pair of side shields of magnetically shielding material adjacent a lower portion of the read sensor formed on a lower read gap. In current-perpendicular-to-plane embodiments, the side shield assembly includes a pair of side shields extending from the bottom magnetic shield adjacent lower sides of the read sensor and/or a pair of side shields extending from the top magnetic shield adjacent upper sides of the read sensor.

Abstract: A direct access storage device (DASD) employs head-specific off-track read capability (OTRC) in data access operations. A method of operation of the DASD involves providing within the DASD a rotating data storage medium and one or more read heads positionable for interaction with the data storage medium. The OTRC particular to each read head is determined and then applied in accessing data from the data storage medium. One manner of applying the OTRC to access data is to use the OTRC in scheduling random queued seeks. The OTRC for a head is referenced within buffer memory and applied to determine which target data can be accessed most quickly. The seeks are scheduled accordingly. A single table with a nominal seek time can be used for all heads, with a custom adder being added for each particular head. The OTRC can also be applied to alter the seek algorithm.

Abstract: Side shield structures magnetically shielding a read sensor to block side reading of tracks on a magnetic media. The read heads include bottom and top magnetic shield layers, a read sensor or magnetically sensitive element between the bottom and top magnetic shield layers, and a side shield assembly formed of magnetically shielding material positioned between the bottom and top magnetic shield layers and adjacent at least a portion of the read sensor. In current-in-plane embodiments, the side shield assembly includes a pair of side shields of magnetically shielding material adjacent a lower portion of the read sensor formed on a lower read gap. In current-perpendicular-to-plane embodiments, the side shield assembly includes a pair of side shields extending from the bottom magnetic shield adjacent lower sides of the read sensor and/or a pair of side shields extending from the top magnetic shield adjacent upper sides of the read sensor.

Abstract: A single-sided, notched write head is provided for writing narrow erase band servo tracks as well as a double-notched write head, and for writing data tracks better than a double-notched write head. The single-sided, notched write head writes a narrow erase band on the notched side and a wide erase band on the unnotched side. In one embodiment, only one side of the first pole piece layer is notched, and in another embodiment a first side of the first pole piece layer is notched more than a second side. By writing servo tracks only a fraction of the track width of the write head, a wide erase band region is overwritten so that a narrow erase band is on each side of the servo track. Data tracks are written with a narrow erase band on one side and a wide erase band on the other side. The wide erase band on one side of the data track allows more flexibility in spacing the read head from adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly has an open yoke type write head constructed on top of a read head so that the write head can be constructed with a very narrow track width without restraint by the requirements of the read head. The write head has first and second pole piece portions wherein the second pole piece portion has separate front and back layer portions. A coil layer is wrapped around only the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion so that the front layer portion can be constructed separately to provide a narrow track width. Further, in a preferred embodiment the front layer portion has a reduced thickness and a higher magnetic moment than the thickness and magnetic moment of the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion. Still further, in a preferred embodiment the first pole piece portion and the back layer portion are planar due to polarization of underlying layers.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a combined magnetic head, milling time for notching a first pole piece of the head's write element is reduced by constructing the first pole piece with a notching layer on a first pole piece layer, the notching layer having first and second corners adjacent first and second side walls of the second pole tip. The first pole piece layer has a wide lateral expanse, and the notching layer has a narrow lateral expanse. The width of the notching layer is preferably 0.2 &mgr;m to 2.0 &mgr;m wider than a target track width of the second pole tip. With this arrangement, the notching layer has first and second side walls that project 0.10 &mgr;m to 1.0 &mgr;m. laterally, beyond first and second side walls, respectively, of the second pole tip. The thickness of the notching layer is preferably between 0.1 &mgr;m to 1.0 &mgr;m. Accordingly, full notching of the notching layer can be achieved by milling a small-corner in a range of 0.10 &mgr;m by 0.10 &mgr;m to 1.0 &mgr;m by 1.

Abstract: In the present method for manufacturing a magnetic write head a focused ion beam (FIB) tool is utilized to mill the side edges of a P2 pole, in order to provide a narrowed track width. Prior to milling, a thin film layer of material is deposited upon the P2 pole tip. The milling boxes of the FIB tool are properly aligned upon the layer with reference to the location of the P2 pole tip. Milling of the lateral edges of the P2 pole tip is then conducted to the appropriate depth, and the layer of material is removed. The resulting P2 pole tip has sharp lateral edges, rather than the rounded edges that are produced in prior art FIB processing methods that do not utilize the thin film layer. In a preferred implementation, the FIB tool is utilized first to deposit the thin film layer and thereafter to perform the milling operation.

Abstract: A method for finishing a pole tip trimmed read/write heat that includes a substrate with a pole tip structure having a shield, a shield/pole, and an outer pole. A gap region separates the pole and the shield/pole. First, pole tip trimming is performed to the read/write head to remove matter from the shield/pole, the pole, and the gap region. This defines a bridge composed of inward-facing extensions of the pole and shield/pole interconnected by an intervening region. This bridge separates recessed “trenches,” each formed by removing a contiguous mass from the shield/pole, the gap region, and the pole. Next, an overlayer is applied over the pole tip structure, filling the recessed trenches. The coated structure is then trimmed to remove all coating material overlying the shield/pole and pole. Trimming is continued to additionally remove a top layer of the protrusions of the pole and shield/pole to remove any rounded edges created by pole tip patterning, resulting in a more distinct write head.

Abstract: The magnetic head of the present invention includes a P1 pole having an opening formed therethrough, and a P2 pole that is formed over the opening. A second magnetic pole tip is positioned relative to the first magnetic pole such that the first magnetic pole is symmetrically disposed relative to the second magnetic pole tip. Induction coils may be helically wound around portions of the first and/or second magnetic poles, or, alternatively, a planar, spiral induction coil may be fabricated for use with the first and second magnetic poles. An enhanced embodiment includes a first magnetic pole tip piece having a length that defines the throat length of the magnetic head and a thickness that increases the gap at rearward portions of the second magnetic pole tip of the magnetic head.