Abstract: A slider of the type for use with a rotatable magnetic disk is disclosed. The slider has two ends and a bottom surface which includes an air bearing surface. An adhesive layer and continuous coating of carbon is located on the air bearing surface. A method of sputter depositing this continuous layer of carbon upon the air bearing surface of the slider is also provided. The continuous layer of carbon is crown-shaped and deposited using the sputtering technique. The carbon is directed from a source at the air bearing surface of a slider. A mask is placed between the source and slider so that the carbon is deposited in a crown shape. When the slider is viewed from front to rear the maximum depth of the coating is less than about 6 to 10 nm, while at the ends of the slider the coating depth is near 0 nm. The resistivity of the protective carbon layer is controlled for the additional benefit of protection from damages by electrostatic discharge.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) transducer is disclosed in which an exchange coupled anisotropy field is provided by an antiferromagnetic NiMn alloy in contact with the MR alloy. Improved exchange coupling is achieved using an MR layer and adjacent NiMn exchange coupling layer which have substantially fcc structure and a preferred {111} crystalline orientation. The exchange bias field is observed to correlate strongly with the structural order of the films. A preferred method of fabricating the MR transducer enhances the structural order of the layers during growth, thereby reducing a post-deposition anneal typically required in such processes. The preferred fabrication process further provides greater predictability and control over the resulting exchange coupling.

Abstract: An SAL-type magnetoresistive playback head that is highly sensitive and that limits Barkhausen noise is provided by optimizing the magnetic properties of the permanent magnet film. On top of a lower insulating layer are stacked a soft magnetic bias film (SAL film), a magnetic separating film (shunt film), a magnetoresistive film (MR film), and an upper insulating layer, in that order. The outer sides of the track of the MR film are in direct contact with the permanent magnet film or in indirect contact via a base film. Alternatively, the present invention relates to a spin-valve magnetoresistive playback head. On top of a lower insulating layer are stacked an anti-ferromagnetic film, a fixed magnetizing film, a magnetic separating film, a movable magnetizing film (MR film), and an upper insulating layer, in that order. The outer sides of the track of the movable magnetizing film are in direct contact with the permanent magnet film or in indirect contact via a base film.

Abstract: An improved thin film magnetic recording head includes a pole tip assembly which has a precisely formed physical geometry. The physical geometry of the pole tip assembly minimizes deleterious effects due to undershoots, while the method of manufacturing the pole tip assembly allows for precise control of feature tolerances (up to 0.2 micrometer accuracy) of the pole tip assembly. In one embodiment, the pole tip assembly has a generally hexagonal configuration with a raised hexagonal center portion comprising leading and trailing pole tips and a raised gap portion, and a surrounding hexagonal trench which surrounds the raised center portion. The raised center portion is substantially flush with the surrounding face of the recording head. Alternative embodiments contemplate elliptical or circular raised center portions, and variously shaped trenches to facilitate the evacuation of debris.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly for suspending a magnetic head over a spinning disk in a magnetic disk drive having head suspension positioning apparatus includes a base plate fastenable to the positioning apparatus in the magnetic disk drive. a load beam coupled at one end thereof to the base plate and a first dimple in the load beam at another end thereof, a flexible gimbal coupled to the load beam near the other end thereof and a second dimple in the gimbal having a concave surface facing a convex surface of the first dimple and a convex surface to which the magnetic head is attachable. Preferably, the convex surface of the first dimple has a radius smaller than a radius of the concave surface of the second dimple. The head is attached to the gimbal by an adhesive material attached to the convex surface of the second dimple and a top surface of the magnetic head. The adhesive material is hardened while a bottom surface of the head and the base plate are held in a predetermined attitude relative to one another (e.g.

Abstract: An improved thin film magnetic recording head includes a pole tip assembly which has a precisely formed physical geometry. The physical geometry of the pole tip assembly minimizes deleterious effects due roundershoots, while the method of manufacturing the pole tip assembly allows for precise control of feature tolerances (up to 0.2 micrometer accuracy) of the pole tip assembly. In one embodiment, the pole tip assembly has a generally hexagonal configuration with a raised hexagonal center portion comprising leading and trailing pole tips and a raised gap portion, and a surrounding hexagonal trench which surrounds the raised center portion. The raised center portion is substantially flush with the surrounding face of the recording head. Alternative embodiments contemplate elliptical or circular raised center portions, and variously shaped trenches to facilitate the evacuation of debris.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly for suspending a magnetic head over a spinning disk in a magnetic disk drive having head suspension positioning apparatus includes a base plate fastenable to the positioning apparatus in the magnetic disk drive, a load beam coupled at one end thereof to the base plate and a first dimple in the load beam at another end thereof, a flexible gimbal coupled to the load beam near the other end thereof and a second dimple in the gimbal having a concave surface facing a convex surface of the first dimple and a convex surface to which the magnetic head is attachable. Preferably, the convex surface of the first dimple has a radius smaller than a radius of the concave surface of the second dimple. The head is attached to the gimbal by an adhesive material attached to the convex surface of the second dimple and a top surface of the magnetic head. The adhesive material is hardened while a bottom surface of the head and the base plate are held in a predetermined attitude relative to one another (e.g.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing erase bands of varying width between tracks of information on a recording medium. In accordance with the method, a magnetic head having a write gap and trailing pole with non-parallel portions is produced. In the preferred embodiment, the magnetic head combines an inductive write head with a magneto-resistive read head in a single head structure. The inductive head includes a leading write pole and a trailing write pole which are separated by a recording gap. The write gap is formed with a central portion writing data in a desired orientation, positioned between two non-parallel side portions having divergent angles with respect to the central portion. In the recording process, the side portions write transitions on the recording medium which are oblique or angled with respect to the data transitions written on the medium by the central portion.

Abstract: A gimbal embodying the present invention couples the magnetic head to the load beam through torsion fingers which twist to permit rotational motion of the head in one degree of freedom (e.g., pitch or roll) and bending arms which bend to permit rotational motion of the head in the other degree of freedom. Lateral separation of localized bending regions of the arms, and a dimple, serve to prevent motion of the head in other rotational and translational degrees of freedom.

Abstract: An improved thin film magnetic recording head includes a pole tip assembly which has a precisely formed physical geometry. The physical geometry of the pole tip assembly minimizes deleterious effects due to undershoots, while the method of manufacturing the pole tip assembly allows for precise control of feature tolerances (up to 0.2 micrometer accuracy) of the pole tip assembly. In one embodiment, the pole tip assembly has a generally hexagonal configuration with a raised hexagonal center portion comprising leading and trailing pole tips and a raised gap portion, and a surrounding hexagonal trench which surrounds the raised center portion. The raised center portion is substantially flush with the surrounding face of the recording head. Alternative embodiments contemplate elliptical or circular raised center portions, and variously shaped trenches to facilitate the evacuation of debris.

Abstract: A suspension for a rigid disk drive suspends a magnetic head over a recording disk in a cantilever fashion. The suspension includes a load beam and a spring assembly which are integrally formed together. The spring assembly includes a bonding tab suspended within the plane of the load beam by two flexible longitudinal arms connected to two flexible transverse arms. The flexible arms permit the bonding tab to roll about the longitudinal axis and pitch about the transverse axis, while preventing the bonding tab from sticking in an off-axis position. The suspension design also minimizes the effect of suspension torsional resonance on the magnetic head by positioning the bonding tab within the plane of the load beam. In addition, the bonding tab defines an aperture which receives a protuberance of the magnetic head to precisely index the magnetic head with the bonding tab, and thus center the magnetic head about a load support point.

Abstract: A composite magnetic head slider is shown. The magnetic head slider includes a slider body having a leading edge, a trailing edge and a side surface extending therebetween. The slider body includes an hydrodynamic surface which co-acts with an air cushion on a moving magnetic media and the hydrodynamic surface includes an air bearing surface which extends between the leading edge and trailing edge of the slider body. The air bearing surface is substantially perpendicular to the side surface. A magnetic transducing element formed of a polycrystaline ferrite material and having a transducing gap located adjacent the trailing edge and air bearing surface is rigidly joined to the side surface of the slider with a bonding layer comprising a material by weight approximately 80% gold and approximately 20% tin.

Abstract: A focus sensing apparatus for determining the focus of an illuminating beam relative to an optical disk is disclosed herein. In one preferred embodiment, a light source generates a linearly polarized beam which is collimated by a collimating lens. The collimated beam is then converged by an objective lens onto the surface of the optical disk. The disk reflects the illuminating beam focused thereon back through the objective lens to a polarization beam splitter. A portion of the optical energy incident on the beam splitter is then redirected to form a servo beam, wherein the degree of collimation of the servo beam is indicative of the focus position of the illuminating beam. A beam separation module having a reflectivity which varies in response to the angle of incidence of optical energy thereon is positioned to intercept the servo beam. The beam separation module is operative to separate the servo beam into two beams which could be transmitted and reflected beams of substantially similar shape and intensity.

Abstract: A slider of the type for use with a rotatable magnetic disk is disclosed. The slider has two ends and a bottom surface which includes an air bearing surface. An adhesive layer and continuous coating of carbon is located on the air bearing surface. A method of sputter depositing this continuous layer of carbon upon the air bearing surface of the slider is also provided. The continuous layer of carbon is crown-shaped and deposited using the sputtering technique. The carbon is directed from a source at the air bearing surface of a slider. A mask is placed between the source and slider so that the carbon is deposited in a crown shape. When the slider is viewed from front to rear the maximum depth of the coating is less than about 6 to 10 nm, while at the ends of the slider the coating depth is near 0 nm.

Abstract: A compact optical head for reading or writing data on an optical disc is disclosed wherein the optical head comprises an integrated laser diode/photodetector package, a half-cube beamsplitter, and an objective lens. Light emitted from a diode laser is in transmitted to the beamsplitter and deflected towards the objective lens. The objective lens focuses the incident light on a focal point on the surface of the disc. A reflected beam travels along the same path as the incident light and is deflected by the beamsplitter toward a photodetector contained in the integrated package, wherein the photodetector is displaced from the laser diode. Other embodiments of the beamsplitter are disclosed which include a wedged plate for transmitting collimated light emitted from the laser diode, and a cylindrical lens for introducing astigmatism into the reflected beam.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing erase bands of varying width between tracks of information on a recording medium. In accordance with the invention, a magnetic head having a write gap and trailing pole with non-parallel portions is produced. In the preferred embodiment, the magnetic head combines an inductive write head with a magneto-resistive read head in a single head structure. The inductive head includes a leading write pole and a trailing write pole which are separated by a recording gap. The write gap is formed with a central portion writing data in a desired orientation, positioned between two non-parallel side portions having divergent angles with respect to the central portion. In the recording process, the side portions write transitions on the recording medium which are oblique or angled with respect to the data transitions written on the medium by the central portion.

Abstract: A device for reading information from or writing information to an optical disc memory system using light from a laser diode includes an upper and lower flexure suspension. Both flexure suspensions are mounted on both an objective lens holder and its base. Each of these flexures is U-shaped and the central part of each leg of the U is a stiff beam. At each end of the control beam is provided a tracking hinge. Outward from the tracking hinges are a pair of focusing hinges which are separated from the tracking hinges by means of spacing beam sections. The unique configuration of the system allows these parallel mounted flexures to move in only two rigid modes namely, displacement along the x-axis (tracking) and displacement along the z-axis (focusing). These two rigid modes allow the objective lens to be re-positioned so that light beams may strike the information medium correctly.

Abstract: A permanent magnet motor or actuator, such as the voice coil motors used in disk drives to position read/write heads, with an armature to magnet interface or junction modified to expand the magnetic material into regions of the armature that carry less than the maximum possible magnetic flux so as to have increased flux strength without inducing leakage of the flux out of the armature. Reduced flux regions include outside corners of the armature, places where the flux divides into two paths, and parts of the armature that have comparatively longer flux lines.

Abstract: The readback oscillations from a ceramic-ferrite composite head are substantially reduced by applying a dampening material, such as an epoxy coating, to the surface of the slider body--preferably to one or both side edges or to the trailing edge of the slider body.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus for optical reading or recording information on an optical information medium, wherein as a result of the relative position of the components of the apparatus and the magnitude and application points of the forces exerted to track and focus, the objective lens through which information is read from the information medium, prevents the objective lens from being affected by most resonances, motor forces and reaction forces. This is critical in that in optical recording, displacements of 0.02 micrometers can easily be picked up. Specifically, one aspect of the invention is an apparatus for optically reading or recording information on an optical disk which is rotatable about an axis of rotation, wherein the apparatus includes a frame, a carriage, a carriage drive, an objective lens, an objective lens holder and a focus drive. The carriage drive (i.e.