Abstract: An integrated AMR magnetoresistive sensor has a magnetoresistor, a set/reset coil and a shielding region arranged on top of each other. The set/reset coil is positioned between the magnetoresistor and the shielding region. The magnetoresistor is formed by a magnetoresistive strip of an elongated shape having a length in a first direction parallel to the preferential magnetization direction and a width in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The set/reset coil has at least one stretch extending transversely to the magnetoresistive strip. The shielding region is a ferromagnetic material and has a width in the second direction greater than the width of the magnetoresistive strip so as to attenuate the external magnetic field traversing the magnetoresistive strip and increase the sensitivity scale of the magnetoresistive sensor.

Abstract: A slider for magnetic data recording in a thermally assisted recording system. The slider has a slider body and a magnetic recording head formed on a trailing edge of the slider body. A first terminal is formed on a trailing edge surface of the recording head, and a second terminal is formed on a backside surface both the magnetic recording head and the slider body so as to extend across both the magnetic recording head and the slider body. An electrically conductive lead formed within the magnetic recording head connects the first lead with the second lead.

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a resistive link coupled to both an electrically conductive bus and an electrically conductive structure, the electrically conductive structure being positioned proximate to a media bearing surface. An apparatus according to another embodiment includes an array of transducers; an electrically conductive bus; and resistive links electrically coupled between the electrically conductive bus and at least one of: each of a plurality of electrically conductive structures, and at least some of the transducers.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetic core including a main pole, and a return pole opposed to the main pole with a magnetic gap therebetween, and configured to return magnetic flux from the main pole and form a magnetic circuit in conjunction with the main pole, a coil configured to excite magnetic flux in the magnetic circuit, and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer formed by disposing only a nonmagnetic material in the magnetic gap between the return pole and an end portion of the main pole on the recording medium side, and configured to electrically connect the main pole and the return pole. The main pole, the nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer, and the return pole are configured to constitute a series electrical circuit.

Abstract: A driver circuit includes a first current source configured to sink part of the current from a power supply through a load and a second current source configured to sink part of the current from the power supply to a return path, bypassing the load, so that the current through the load is the difference between the current from the power supply and the current through the second current source.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes first and second coils, a main pole, a write shield, a return path section, and a core part. The return path section includes a yoke part magnetically connected to the write shield, and a coupling part located away from a medium facing surface and magnetically coupling the yoke part and the main pole to each other. The first coil is located on the front side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the main pole and wound around the coupling part. The core part is located farther from the medium facing surface than is the coupling part, and is magnetically connected to the main pole. The second coil is located on the front side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to the main pole and wound around the core part.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing stacked writer leads for magnetic transducers used in disk drives are provided. One such system for providing stacked writer leads for a magnetic transducer includes a writer coil for the magnetic transducer, a first pad on the magnetic transducer, a second pad on the magnetic transducer, a first circuit trace coupled to the first pad and a first terminal of the writer coil, and a second circuit trace coupled to the second pad and a second terminal of the writer coil, where a preselected length of the first circuit trace and the second circuit trace is configured in a stacked configuration where each of the preselected lengths of the first circuit trace and the second circuit trace is positioned at about the same location in spaced apart planes.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductive coil for carrying a current to induce a first field from the write element. A conductor proximate the write element tip carries the current to generate a second field that augments the first field. A driver provides the current to the conductive coil and the conductor, and a circuit phase shifts the current through the conductor relative to the current through the conductive coil.

Abstract: A transducer includes a first layer that is selectively deposited in a contact region to form a core, and selectively deposited in a transducer region to form a first element of the transducer. The transducer includes an electrically conductive magnetic deposit. The electrically conductive magnetic deposit forms a sidewall on the core. The electrically conductive magnetic deposit forms a second element of the transducer in the transducer region. The second element of the transducer has a planarized surface that is coplanar with a planarized surface of the sidewall.

Abstract: Write enhancement circuitry on the head carrier of a magnetic recording disk drive provides additional write current overshoot beyond that provided by the write driver circuitry. An enhancement capacitor is formed with a dielectric layer between two layers of electrically-conductive magnetically-permeable shield material that serve as the capacitor plates. The write enhancement circuitry may also include an enhancement resistor. The enhancement capacitor and resistor are connected between the two terminals on the head carrier that connect to the write head coil. The capacitor and resistor are fabricated on the head carrier at the same time and in the same process as the read head. The first and second capacitor plates are generally coplanar with and formed of the same electrically-conductive magnetically-permeable material that forms the first and second magnetic shields for the read head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a compact thin-film magnetic head capable of being increased in the number of terminals, and a magnetic disk drive that uses the thin-film magnetic head. In one embodiment, a thin-film magnetic head is constructed that has a magnetic response element, multiple connection object terminals, multiple lead conductors electrically connected to the magnetic response element, and multiple connection sections each formed between each of the connection object terminals and one of the multiple lead conductors in order to electrically connect each of the connection object terminals and one of the lead conductor. All of the multiple lead conductors are provided in the state where they extend from the magnetic response element to the lower layers of the multiple connection object terminals. A magnetic disk drive using the thin-film magnetic head is constructed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head which can prevent an external magnetic field form erasing a signal on the medium and whose main magnetic pole piece does not corrode during processing of the air bearing surface. In one embodiment, an anti-corrosion electrode is formed to apply a voltage to the main magnetic pole piece during processing of the air bearing surface. This retards corrosion of the main magnetic pole piece. Since a conductor (anti-corrosion wire) connected to this anti-corrosion electrode is made of a nonmagnetic material, concentration of an external magnetic field into the main magnetic pole piece can be suppressed. Consequently, since the magnetic leakage field emitted from the main magnetic pole piece is reduced, erasure of the signal on the medium can be prevented.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head with single or double coil layers has a small write shield stitched onto a main write shield. The stitched shield allows the main write pole to produce a vertical write field with sharp vertical gradients that is reduced on both sides of the write pole so that adjacent track erasures are eliminated. From a fabrication point of view, both the main pole and the stitched shield are defined and formed using a single photolithographic process, a trim mask and CMP lapping process so that the main shield can be stitched onto a self-aligned main pole and stitched shield.

Abstract: First and second magnetic layers of a magnetic head face each other. A toroidal coil layer having upper and lower layer coil pieces (ULCP and LLCP) is wound around one of the magnetic layers. The ULCP extend from a first insulating layer by downward steps to a top of a second insulating layer which is widened at ends of the first insulating layer. Side ends of the first insulating layer extend parallel to a height direction. The ULCP are orthogonal to the side ends. Each of the LLCP is formed on a third insulating layer and has a straight region extending in the same direction as the upper layer coil pieces and a curved region curved toward a facing surface or in a height direction on one end in the track width direction. An end of each of the straight and curved region is connected to an ULCP.

Abstract: An electrically conductive etch stop layer is formed over a first electrically conductive layer. An electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer is then formed over the etch stop layer, followed by the formation of an insulator layer over the diffusion barrier layer. Utilizing an etching process with a patterned photoresist in place, insulator materials in a central region are removed to form a via which exposes electrically conductive materials in the central region. Finally, a second electrically conductive layer is formed within the via over the electrically conductive materials in the central region.

Abstract: A slider for use in a disk drive system with a read/write head that has a write coil as part of a write transducer. The write coil has a center tap thereon for connection to a conductor in addition to the connection of the ends of the write coil to two other conductors. This allows the write coil to be driven from opposite ends with opposite but equal currents in addition to the write currents that are used in write mode or alone in modes other than in write mode, such as just before write mode is entered. The current flowing in or out of the center tap then will be the sum of the currents flowing out or into the opposite ends of the write coil. In this manner, no magnetic fringing field is created since the currents/fields cancel each other out. Also, the power dissipation in the write coil during this time will be approximately the same as in write mode and a similar amount of pole tip protrusion should be produced thereby.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head is provided that has a first coil layer is electrically connected to a second coil layer through contact layers. A laminator has a main magnetic pole layer and a gap layer which are formed between the first and second coil layers and above the contact layers. At both sides of the laminator, first insulating layers are formed. A second insulating layer is formed from a top surface of the laminator to top surfaces of the first insulating layers. An inclined surface is formed in each of the first insulating layers, and in the second insulating layer, the inclined surface is formed on the inclined surface of the first insulating layer.