Abstract: An electrostatic chuck having reduced erosion in erosive process environments is described. The electrostatic chuck comprises an insulator with (i) an electrode therein, (ii) a central portion overlying the electrode, and adapted to support a substrate thereon, and (iii) a peripheral portion extending beyond the electrode. In one version of the invention, the central portion of the insulator is raised relative to the lower peripheral portion of the insulator, thereby defining a step having a height H, which is maintained at less than about 10 microns, to reduce erosion of the insulator. In another version of the chuck, the peripheral portion of the insulator extends beyond the electrode and has a width W, which is maintained at at least about 2 mm to reduce erosion of the insulator.

Abstract: The present invention mounts a contact recording transducer/suspension assembly over a magnetic recording disk such that the rotation of the disk creates an additional dynamic loading to counteract the lift-off forces generated by rotation of the disk. As the rotation rate of the disk is increased and lift-off forces grow, so do the offsetting dynamic loads created by the transducer/suspension assembly. Optionally, the cross section of the transducer/suspension assembly is modified to further improve this dynamic loading effect.The present invention mounts the transducer/suspension assembly in a contact recoding disk file so as to place the assembly in compression once disk rotation is initiated. The assembly is mounted so that the frictional force between the assembly and the disk "pushes" the assembly against its mounting instead of applying a "pulling" force on the assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for bonding a lubricant onto the surface of rotating storage media. In particular, the method bonds reactive and non-reactive lubricants onto the carbon based protective coating of a magnetic storage disk. The lubricant is first applied onto the disk surface through conventional coating techniques, such as dipping, spinning, spraying, or vapor deposition. The thickness of the applied coating is thicker than the final bonded thickness of the lubricant. Typically, the applied thickness of the film is approximately 30 Angstroms. The lubricant coated disk surface is then exposed to low energy electron irradiation. The energy level of the accelerated electrons is below 100 eV. The lubricated film is exposed to a dosage level of approximately 1000 microcoulombs per square centimeter. This dosage level bonds approximately 15 Angstroms of lubricant to the disk surface. The non-bonded or excess lubricant is then rinsed off in a liquid freon or other suitable rinse.

Abstract: A high-density longitudinal recording medium comprising a CoPtCrB alloy with a chromium content in excess of 17 atomic percent exhibits high coercivity, low noise, and high Curie temperatures. Films are prepared by sputter depositing a chromium or chromium alloy underlayer on a non-magnetic substrate. A strong [100] crystallographic orientation of the underlayer is required to achieve a low noise, high coercivity medium. This orientation is achieved by depositing the underlayer on a negatively biased substrate under high temperature, low pressure conditions. The oriented underlayer prevents the subsequently deposited CoPtCrB alloy from orienting itself in its preferred, c axis vertical orientation. The CoPtCrB alloy comprises 4 to 12 percent platinum, 18 to 23 percent chromium and 2 to 10 percent boron.

Abstract: A high-density recording media comprising longitudinally oriented polycrystalline barium ferrite exhibits large coercivity, corrosion resistance, high hardness and durability. Films are prepared by on-axis sputtering at ambient temperatures from stoichiometric targets followed by a post-deposition anneal at approximately 850.degree.C. to induce crystallization. Crystallization yields a magnetic film with large in-plane remanence and a fine scale texturing that greatly improves the tribological performance of barium ferrite disks. Exceptional durability can be achieved on disks without overcoats. Grain sizes as small as 200 .ANG. are produced by doping with small amounts of Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3 or other additives. Coercivities greater than 4000 Oe are achieved even in small grain films.

Abstract: A method for creating scribe lines on a wafer having an electronic device constructed therein. A plurality of boundary segments is formed on the wafer to define a region on the wafer. This region encompasses the electronic device. An insulating layer is formed over the boundary segments, wherein the insulating layer covers the electronic device. A portion of the insulating layer is removed such that each of the segments is exposed. The boundary segments are then etched away to expose the wafer and form a plurality of scribe lines, wherein the wafer may be cut at the scribe lines to separate the electronic device from the wafer while minimizing damage to the electronic device.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a slider for mounting a magnetic transducer within a magnetic disk storage system. The process includes identifying one side of the slider, selecting at least one section on the selected side of the slider, and impinging the identified section with a stream of particles, wherein the curvature of the slider may be selectively altered.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk has an improved surface film formed on the disk blank. A sputter-deposited surface coating containing nickel, chromium and oxygen (Ni--Cr--O) is formed on a AlMg disk blank, after which a cobalt alloy magnetic layer is formed over the Ni--Cr--O coating and a protective overcoat is formed over magnetic layer. The use of the Ni--Cr--O coating on the disk blank eliminates the need for a wet electroless deposition process for creation of a surface coating and results in an inherent texturing of the subsequently deposited magnetic film and protective overcoat which conform to the surface texture of the sputter-deposited Ni--Cr--O. The disks made with the Ni--Cr--O surface film exhibit a very low static friction force between the air-bearing slider and the disk surface when the disks are used in contact start/stop (CSS) disk files.

Abstract: A magnetic storage medium is composed of a non-wettable substrate upon which a transient liquid metal layer is deposited and maintained as a distribution of discontinuous liquid features. An intermediate metal layer is subsequently deposited in-situ in an atmosphere comprising oxygen and at least one inert gas. A magnetic layer is then deposited on the intermediate metal layer. The surface topology and magnetic characteristics of the medium are controlled by adjusting the thickness of the TLM layer and the conditions under which the TLM layer, intermediate metal layer, and magnetic layer are deposited.

Abstract: An air bearing slider for use in carrying a transducer adjacent a recording medium exhibits reduced sensitivity to variations in roll, crown, and skew. In one embodiment, the slider comprises an air bearing slider having a pair of substantially coplanar side rails disposed along the sides of the air bearing surface so as to form a recessed section between the side rails. The recessed section is open at both the leading and trailing ends of the slider while each side rail has a tapered section or etched step at the leading edge of the slider. One rail carries the transducer and extends for the entire length of the slider body. The rail without a transducer extends from the leading edge toward the trailing edge, but does not extend all the way to the trailing edge. Under some skew, accessing, and crash stop impact conditions, the resulting slider roll causes the flying height of the inactive rail to drop.

Abstract: An integrated bearing and pump assembly is formed by positioning a hydrodynamic pump coaxially with respect to a hydrodynamic bearing. The integrated assembly provides pressurized fluid for use within the device incorporating the bearing. The hydrodynamic pump comprises a secondary hydrodynamic bearing incorporated into the primary bearing assembly. The secondary bearing is optimized for high flow pumping applications rather than the high pressure, zero flow requirements of the primary bearing. When the bearing assembly is rotated, fluid flow is provided.

Abstract: A method for making a magnetic head slider having a protective coating on the rails thereof, the protective coating containing a thin adhesion layer, a thin layer of amorphous hydrogenated carbon, and a thin masking layer. The protective coating is deposited on the air bearing surface of the slider after the thin film magnetic heads are lapped to a chosen dimension, but before the pattern of rails is produced on the air bearing surface. The protective coating protects the magnetic head during the rail fabrication process and in usage in a magnetic recording system protects the magnetic head from wear and corrosion damage.

Abstract: A multilayer circuit board having a conformal layer of an insulating material separating a circuit core from an adjacent insulating layer is disclosed. The conformal layer encapsulates the substrate and conductive pattern of circuit lines in the circuit core, thereby reducing failures caused by impurities trapped during lamination. The multilayer circuit board is manufactured by coating at least one circuit core with the conformal layer of insulating material before final lamination of the circuit cores into a multilayer circuit board.