Abstract: A read/write head is disclosed wherein a non-magnetic layer made of a metal is inserted in the read head on a side opposite to the S1 shield with respect to the sensor. The non-magnetic layer is preferably Cu and is recessed from the ABS to prevent corrosion. A preferred design has a 1 to 5 micron thick non-magnetic insertion layer that extends a distance of 3 to 100 microns along a plane that is perpendicular to the ABS. RG efficiency is enhanced significantly and RG gamma ratio is improved to 1.0 so that a smaller difference in RG, WG, and min-fly point can be achieved at touchdown detection and in normal read/write operations. These results lead to an optimal dynamic performance for a given spacing target and enhanced read gap protrusion at a given heater power. S1/S2A thickness can be independently optimized for magnetic performance consideration only.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having a gap structure that improves write head performance. The write head includes a magnetic write pole and a magnetic shield that is separated from the trailing edge of the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer and is separated from the sides of the write pole by non-magnetic side gap layers. The trailing gap extends laterally beyond the side gap layers, and a convex bump is formed an edge of the magnetic shield at a location near the trailing end of the side gap layers.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a magnetic recording write element including a main pole having a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge and a first side surface and a second side surface separating the leading edge from the trailing edge. A first side shield gap separates a first side shield from the first side of the main pole and a second side shield gap separates the second side shield from the second side of the main pole. A front magnetic shield is separated from the main pole trailing edge by a front shield gap. A recess extends into the front shield adjacent to the trailing edge, and parallel to the trailing edge. The recess extends laterally away from the main pole and into the front shield a distance greater than the first side shield gap or second side shield gap.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed that includes at least one of a recessed center section in the write pole trailing edge and a center recessed trailing shield to improve the field gradient at track edge. In all embodiments, there is a non-uniform write gap between the trailing edge and the trailing shield. The recessed portion of the write pole trailing edge and/or center recess of the trailing shield has a thickness from 10 to 40 nm in a down-track direction and a width in a cross-track direction of 20 to 200 nm. The distance between the center recess and a corner of the trailing edge is from 20 to 80 nm. A sequence of steps is provided to fabricate the two embodiments of the present invention.

Abstract: A method comprising: providing an arm actuation comprises a lightning hole; and attaching an air damper having a channel on the actuator arm and over the lightning hole, the air damper has the channel from a perimeter of the air damper.

Abstract: A magnetic shield may be capable of enhancing magnetic writing, particularly in transducing elements accessing data bits from data tracks. At least one magnetic shield is adjacent a write pole. The shield has a flux concentration feature on an air bearing surface (ABS) capable of enhancing magnetic undershoot between the shield and the write pole.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and first and second yoke layers. The first and second yoke layers are magnetically connected to the write shield and aligned along the direction of travel of a recording medium such that the main pole is interposed therebetween. The coil includes a winding portion of planar spiral shape that is formed in one or more layers. The magnetic head further includes: a first coupling part located away from the medium facing surface and magnetically coupling the main pole and the second yoke layer to each other; and a second coupling part located away from the medium facing surface and magnetically coupling the first yoke layer and the second yoke layer to each other without touching the main pole. The winding portion is wound around the first coupling part, and a part of the winding portion passes between the first and second coupling parts.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, a return path section, a heater that generates heat for making part of a medium facing surface protrude, and a sensor that detects contact of the part of the medium facing surface with a recording medium. The return path section includes: a yoke layer located backward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium; a first coupling part coupling the yoke layer and the write shield to each other; and a second coupling part located away from the medium facing surface and coupling the yoke layer and the main pole to each other. The first coupling part has an end face facing toward the yoke layer. This end face includes a middle portion spaced from the yoke layer and facing the yoke layer, and two side portions located on opposite sides of the middle portion in a track width direction and in contact with the yoke layer. The sensor is located between the middle portion and the yoke layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording includes a read head unit, a write head unit disposed forward of the read head unit along the direction of travel of a recording medium, a heater that generates heat for causing the medium facing surface to protrude in part, an expansion layer that makes part of the medium facing surface protrude, and a sensor that detects contact of the part of the medium facing surface with the recording medium. The write head unit includes a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The return path section includes a yoke layer located backward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium, a first coupling part that couples the yoke layer and the write shield to each other, and a second coupling part that is located away from the medium facing surface and couples the yoke layer and the main pole to each other.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes: a main pole; a coil; a first shield with an end face located in a medium facing surface at a position forward of an end face of the main pole along a direction of travel of a recording medium; a gap part including a portion located between the main pole and the first shield; and a first return path section disposed forward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium. The first return path section connects the first shield and the main pole to each other so that a first space is defined by the main pole, the gap part, the first shield, and the first return path section. The coil includes a plurality of first coil elements extending to pass through the first space and aligned in a row in the direction of travel of the recording medium.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film coil has a coil-layer. The coil-layer has a turn part arranged closer to an ABS than is a rear end part of the main magnetic pole layer farthest from the ABS. Regarding a substrate side coil-layer, arranged between the main magnetic pole layer and the substrate, of the coil-layer, a thickness of a non-corresponding magnetic pole part other than a magnetic pole corresponding part corresponding to an arrangement space of the main magnetic pole layer is larger than a thickness of the magnetic pole corresponding part.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a shield, and first and second return path sections. The shield has an end face that is located in a medium facing surface to wrap around an end face of a main pole. The shield includes a bottom shield, two side shields, and a top shield. The first return path section includes a yoke layer, and first and second coupling layers that magnetically couple the bottom shield and the yoke layer to each other. The first coupling layer is magnetically connected to the bottom shield. The second coupling layer magnetically couples the first coupling layer to the yoke layer. No end faces of the second coupling layer are exposed in the medium facing surface. The second return path section magnetically couples the top shield and the main pole to each other.

Abstract: Methods for fabrication of leading edge shields and tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge are provided. The leading edge shield may be formed by utilizing a CMP stop layer. The CMP stop layer may aid in preventing over polishing of the magnetic material. For the tapered magnetic poles with a tapered leading edge, a magnetic material is deposited on a planarized surface, a patterned resist material is formed, and exposed magnetic material is etched to form at least one tapered surface of the magnetic material.

Abstract: A write element for magnetic recording includes a main pole and a shield. The main pole has first and second sides with respect to a down-track direction. The shield at least partially surrounds the main pole with a continuously concave inner sidewall. The angle between the inner sidewall of the shield and the direction of motion of the write element is greater than the angle between the sides of the main pole and the direction of motion.

Abstract: A current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) or giant magnetoresistance (GMR) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer, shielding and seed layers is proposed for high-resolution magnetic recording. The ferromagnetic buffer layer is preferably formed of an amorphous Co—X (where X is Hf, Y, Zr, etc.) film. It provides the CPP read sensor with microstructural discontinuity from a ferromagnetic lower shield, thus facilitating the CPP read sensor to grow freely with preferred crystalline textures, and with ferromagnetic continuity to the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting as a portion of the ferromagnetic lower shield. The ferromagnetic shielding layer is preferably formed of a polycrystalline Ni—Fe film. It exhibits magnetic properties exactly identical to those of the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting identically as the ferromagnetic lower shield, and a uniform columnar grain morphology, thus initiating a uniform large grain morphology in the CPP read sensor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a tapered write pole as well as a leading edge taper, and independent trailing and side magnetic shields. The method allows the write pole to be constructed by a dry process wherein the write pole material is either deposited by a process such as sputter deposition or electrically plated and the write pole shape is defined by masking and ion milling. The write pole has a stepped feature that can either be used to provide increased magnetic spacing between the trailing shield and the write pole at a location slightly recessed from the ABS or can be magnetic material that increases the effective thickness of the write pole at a location slightly recessed from the ABS. A bump structure can be further built over that stepped feature to enhance field gradient as well as reduce trailing shield saturation. Because the trailing and side shields are formed independently, they can be made of different materials and with different throat heights.

Abstract: In a magnetic head to be used for a shingled recording method, degradation of a signal resolution and a decrease in a signal-to-noise ratio which are caused by an asymmetrical inter-bit transition curvature are prevented, and a low bit error rate is realized. A magnetic head includes a recording head and a reproducing head. The reproducing head includes a pair of magnetic shields and a sensor sandwiched between the pair of magnetic shields. The gap between the magnetic shields is formed so that the longitudinal direction thereof gets inclined by a certain angle with respect to a cross-track direction in line with the shape of a curvature of an inter-bit transition on an effective record track in a record pattern recorded on a recording medium.

Abstract: Improved spatial resolution during TAMR has been achieved by shaping the write pole to have a lower surface that slopes away from the surface of the recording medium, starting at, or near, the pole's leading edge. The approach may be used for simple or compound (stitched) poles.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a pole tip shielded laterally by a pair of symmetrically separated side shields that extend from an edge of a trailing edge shield to form a shield with the shape of a ?. The easy axis direction of the side shields is in the in-track direction. As a result, the side shields effectively shield the fringing fields of the magnetic pole tip from causing adjacent track erasures, while not adding their own fringing fields that could cause erasures even beyond adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic write head is provided with a magnetic pole and a pair of side shields disposed on both sides of the magnetic pole in a cross track direction with side gaps in between. Each of the pair of side shields is configured in such a manner that a saturation magnetic flux density thereof increases as a distance from the magnetic pole in the cross track direction increases. Such a configuration allows unwanted divergence component of magnetic flux in a recording magnetic field to be captured while avoiding any excessive capturing of the recording magnetic field, and while preventing any intensity reduction of the recording magnetic field in its entirety. As a result, the recording magnetic field is maintained to have an adequate intensity and spreading of the recording magnetic field is suppressed, so that the recording capabilities are improved.

Abstract: Approaches for a single part that comprises an upstream spoiler and a crash stop for use within a hard-disk drive (HDD). The integrated upstream spoiler and crash stop has one or more wings which diverts and reduces the flow of air, resulting from the rotation of the magnetic-recording disks within the HDD, from a magnetic-recording head of the HDD. The integrated upstream spoiler and crash stop has a structure that also prevents the actuator from moving beyond a particular location. After the integrated upstream spoiler and crash stop has been affixed within the HDD, the one or more wings may be rotated between the one or more magnetic-recording disks into a desired position.

Abstract: A hard disk drive including a base plate and a drive cover. The hard disk drive also includes a capacitive coupling feature disposed between the base plate and the drive cover. The capacitive coupling feature is configured to provide grounding between the base plate and the drive cover.

Abstract: Methods for fabrication of tapered magnetic poles with a non-magnetic front bump layer. A magnetic pole may have a plurality of tapered surfaces at or near and air bearing surface (ABS), wherein a thickness of the write pole increases in a direction away from the ABS. A non-magnetic front bump layer may be formed on one or more of the tapered surfaces of the magnetic pole at a distance from the ABS. The front bump layer may increase the separation distance between a shield layer and the magnetic pole near the tapered surface, thereby improving the performance of the write head.

Abstract: Methods for fabrication of tapered magnetic poles with a non-magnetic front bump layer. A magnetic pole may have a tapered surface at or near an air bearing surface (ABS), wherein a thickness of the write pole increases in a direction away from the ABS. A non-magnetic front bump layer may be formed on the tapered surface of the magnetic pole and away from the ABS. The front bump layer may increase the separation distance between a shield layer and the magnetic pole near the tapered surface, thereby improving the performance of the write head.

Abstract: Improved writability and a reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved in a PMR writer with a large flare angle of 45 and 90 degrees in the main write pole and a full side shield or partial side shield configuration around the narrow write pole section and write pole tip. A trailing shield is formed above the write pole's top surface and a full or partial side shield section is spaced a certain distance from each side of the write pole. The partial side shield has a thickness less than that of the write pole and a top or bottom surface about coplanar with the pole tip's top or bottom edge, respectively. The partial side shield may include two sections on each side of the write pole wherein the bottom surface of a top section is separated by a certain distance from the top surface of a bottom section.

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes etching an underlayer positioned under a main pole for reducing a thickness thereof and creating an undercut under the main pole; adding a gap material along sides of the main pole and in the undercut; and forming a shield along at least a portion of the gap material. A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a main pole; an underlayer positioned under the main pole and spaced therefrom, thereby defining an undercut therebetween; a first layer of gap material extending along sides of the main pole and in the undercut; a second layer of gap material extending continuously along the underlayer under the main pole; and a shield encircling the main pole, wherein the shield extends between the first and second layers of gap material in the undercut. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes at least two write transducers for writing to a magnetic medium; and a shield structure having at least two magnetically connected shields which at least partially cover two opposite sides of the writer. A magnetic head according to another embodiment includes at least two write transducers for writing to a magnetic medium, the at least two write transducers being positioned adjacent each other and aligned along a line; and a shield structure having shields adjacent at least three sides of each of the at least two write transducers, the shields being formed of a magnetically permeable material. Additional devices, systems, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head for perpendicular recording includes a slider includes a facing surface, and a head section on the slider. The head section includes a main pole, a recording coil configured to excite the main pole, a write/shield pole opposed to a trailing side of the main pole across a write gap, and side shields disposed individually on opposite sides of the main pole transversely relative to a track to face side faces of the main pole and magnetically separated from the main pole. That part of a side face of each of the side shields opposed to each corresponding side face of the main pole which is located at the shortest distance from a leading end of each of the side faces of the main pole, on the facing surface, includes a permeability lower than that of the other part of the side shield.

Abstract: A PMR writer having a trailing shield structure is disclosed in which a flux choking layer (FCL) formed adjacent to the ABS provides a means to limit the amount of flux flowing from the trailing shield to a first write shield (WS1) near the write pole tip thereby significantly reducing adjacent track erasure. The FCL has a substantially smaller thickness than a top section of the trailing shield to which it is attached along a side opposite the ABS. As a result, pole tip protrusion is reduced compared to prior art PMR writers. The FCL contacts a trailing side of WS1 at the ABS and one or both of the trailing sides of the WS1 and FCL may be tapered or perpendicular with respect to the ABS. The top trailing shield section, FCL, and WS1 may be comprised of NiFe, CoFe, CoFeNi, or alloys thereof.

Abstract: In a read-write head, the shields can serve as magnetic flux conductors for external fields, so that they direct a certain amount of flux into the recording medium. This problem has been overcome by the addition to the shields of a pair of tabs located at the edges closest to the ABS. These tabs serve to prevent flux concentrating at the edges so that horizontal fields at these edges are significantly reduced. Said tabs need to have aspect ratios of at least 2 and may be either triangular or rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the tabs may be omitted and, instead, outer portions of the shield's lower edge may be shaped so as to slope upwards away from the ABS.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system includes a writer for shingled recording which includes a write pole having a trailing edge and first and second side edges extending from the trailing edge. The writer further includes a shield extending along and about parallel to only a portion of the trailing edge or only a portion of the first side edge, and the shield does not extend along the second side edge. In addition, an angle formed between the first side edge and the trailing edge along an air bearing surface side of the writer is different than an angle formed between the second side edge and the trailing edge along the air bearing surface side of the writer. Other systems are also presented which include advanced shingled writing head designs.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor or magnetoresistive read head comprises a sensor stack and magnetic bias elements positioned adjacent each side of the sensor stack. The sensor stack and bias elements have non-rectangular shapes, such as substantially trapezoidal or parallelogram shapes having non-perpendicular corners. In some embodiments, the sensor stack and bias elements have a shape that stabilizes a “C” state or “S” state magnetization pattern.

Abstract: In a read-write head, the shields can serve as magnetic flux conductors for external fields, so that they direct a certain amount of flux into the recording medium. This problem has been overcome by the addition to the shields of a pair of tabs located at the edges closest to the ABS. These tabs serve to prevent flux concentrating at the edges so that horizontal fields at these edges are significantly reduced. Said tabs need to have aspect ratios of at least 2 and may be either triangular or rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the tabs may be omitted and, instead, outer portions of the shield's lower edge may be shaped so as to slope upwards away from the ABS.

Abstract: A read/write head is disclosed wherein a non-magnetic layer made of a metal is inserted in the read head on a side opposite to the S1 shield with respect to the sensor. The non-magnetic layer is preferably Cu and is recessed from the ABS to prevent corrosion. A preferred design has a 1 to 5 micron thick non-magnetic insertion layer that extends a distance of 3 to 100 microns along a plane that is perpendicular to the ABS. RG efficiency is enhanced significantly and RG gamma ratio is improved to 1.0 so that a smaller difference in RG, WG, and min-fly point can be achieved at touchdown detection and in normal read/write operations. These results lead to an optimal dynamic performance for a given spacing target and enhanced read gap protrusion at a given heater power. S1/S2A thickness can be independently optimized for magnetic performance consideration only.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording write head has a write pole, a trapezoidal-shaped trailing shield notch, and a gap between the write pole and notch, with the gap being formed of a nonmagnetic mask film, such as alumina, a nonmagnetic metal protective film and a nonmagnetic gap layer. The write pole has a trailing edge that has a width substantially defining the track width and that faces the front edge of the notch but is spaced from it by the gap. The write pole has nonmagnetic filler material, such as alumina, surrounding it except at its trailing edge, where it is in contact with the gap. A reactive ion beam etching (RIBE) process removes the filler material at the side edges of the write pole and thus widens the opening at the side edges. The nonmagnetic metal film protects the underlying mask film and write pole during the widening of the opening.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a disk drive device, a cleaning process and an assembly process are performed in succession in a clean room having a predetermined cleanness level. The cleaning process includes an alkali cleaning process, a first purified water cleaning process, a second purified water cleaning process, a spray cleaning process, a draining process and a drying process. In the first purified water cleaning process, purified water ultrasonic wave cleaning is sequentially performed on the base member of the disk drive device to be cleaned by using ultrasonic waves of frequencies of 40 kHz, 68 kHz and 132 kHz in purified water filled in a first purified water cleaning tank. The cleaned base member and other components having a predetermined cleanness level are assembled in the assembly process continuous from the cleaning process.

Abstract: A hard disk drive, in which a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) bracket is readily assembled and sealed to a base together with a gasket header even though a screw or a sealing tape that involves a screw driver or other assembling tools is not used, or a boss of the base is not tapped.

Abstract: A sleeve supports a shaft. A housing member is arranged so as to surround the sleeve and make the end of the sleeve protrude. A base member holds the housing member and fixes a stator core so as to surround the housing member. A hub drives a recording disk by being rotated integrally with the shaft, with a magnet being fixed to an annular portion concentric with the shaft so as to face the stator core fixed to the base member. A thrust member is rotated integrally with the hub, and a descender portion and a ring portion.

Abstract: A method for forming a magnetic write head having a trailing shield with a tapered and stepped, self aligned trailing magnetic shield. The shield has a tapered portion that tapers away from the write pole as it extends away from the ABS. This tapered portion helps to channel flux to the pole tip portion of the shield, while preventing the loss of write field to the shield. The stepped portion of the shield further helps to prevent the loss of write field and also defines a secondary throat height of the shield that can be accurately located relative to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A planar bidirectional tape head with planar read and write elements for reading and writing data on a magnetic recording tape includes a substrate, a tape bearing surface for engaging the magnetic tape, one or more write element arrays formed on the substrate, and one or more read element arrays formed on the substrate. The one or more write element arrays and the one or more read element arrays comprise plural thin film layers oriented in generally parallel relationship with the tape bearing surface.

Abstract: A planar write module and a hybrid planar write-vertical read bidirectional tape head comprising the write module and one or more vertical read modules. The write module has a write module tape bearing surface for engaging the magnetic recording tape. Plural write elements in the write module each comprise plural thin film layers oriented in generally parallel planar relationship with the write module tape bearing surface. The write elements are arranged so that the transducing gaps of adjacent write elements are generally aligned in a direction that is transverse to a streaming direction of the magnetic recording tape. Each read module has a read module tape bearing surface for engaging the magnetic recording tape. Plural read elements in the one or more read modules each comprise plural thin film layers oriented in generally perpendicular relationship with the read module tape bearing surface.

Abstract: Insertion of a two part trailing shield between the write gap and the upper return pole of a magnetic write head reduces the sensitivity of the latter to increases in the current driving the field coils (beyond the required minimum). A key feature is careful control of the distance between the upper component of the write shield and the main pole. A process for manufacturing the structure is outlined.

Abstract: In a read-write head, the shields can serve as magnetic flux conductors for external fields, so that they direct a certain amount of flux into the recording medium. This problem has been overcome by the addition to the shields of a pair of tabs located at the edges closest to the ABS. These tabs serve to prevent flux concentrating at the edges so that horizontal fields at these edges are significantly reduced. Said tabs need to have aspect ratios of at least 2 and may be either triangular or rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the tabs may be omitted and, instead, outer portions of the shield's lower edge may be shaped so as to slope upwards away from the ABS.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention reduce generation of a magnetic field with a polarity reverse to that of the recording magnetic field, without deteriorating a gradient in the magnetic field. An embodiment of a magnetic disk device according to the present invention suppresses deviation and erase of already recorded data. In an embodiment, the perpendicular magnetic recording head includes the main magnetic pole, an auxiliary magnetic pole, a trailing shield disposed on the trailing side of the main magnetic pole with a non-magnetic film placed in-between, and side shields disposed on both the sides of the main magnetic pole in the direction of the track width with a non-magnetic film placed in-between. The trailing shield has on the trailing side a portion where film thickness is thinner on the trailing side than the thickness of its element in the height direction in its position facing the main magnetic pole.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head that can stably supply a perpendicular magnetic field component while generating high recording field strength from a main pole. According to one embodiment, a magnetic body is deposited in a trailing side of a pole tip of a main pole via a nonmagnetic layer, so that a second flare section is magnetically coupled with each sidewall.