Abstract: A magnetic head including an induction coil having coil turns that are disposed between two magnetic poles of the magnetic head. The coil turns include a lower coil turn portion and an upper coil turn portion. In fabricating the induction coil, the lower coil turn portion is fabricated first, and the upper coil turn portion is fabricated directly upon the lower coil turn portion. The lower coil turn portion may be fabricated using damascene methods and the upper coil turn portion may be fabricated utilizing photolithographic methods. The lower coil turn portion and the upper coil turn portion of the induction coil turns are electrically connected, such that the thickness of the overall induction coil turns is increased. As a result, the electrical resistance of the coil turns is decreased, and heat generated in the coil is reduced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing improved flux focusing in a write head is disclosed. The present invention uses a diamagnetic material to provide flux focusing in a storage device. An embodiment of the present invention includes diamagnetic material having a magnetic susceptibility substantially equal to or greater than 1×10?5. Another embodiment of the present invention includes diamagnetic material selected from a group comprising graphite and bismuth.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a stair notch and a gap bump at a pole tip in a write head is disclosed. A protective plated layer is formed over the bump to prevent the bump form being damaged during formation of the notch at the pole tip. The flux from the second pole outside of the track will be effectively channeled to the first pole piece under the alumina bump.

Abstract: A magnetic structure for use in a magnetic head for avoiding wide angle track erasure and other forms of adjacent track interference. The magnetic structure includes a trailing shield having a specially configured back edge opposite the air bearing surface ABS. The magnetic shield has a shallow substantially constant throat height at a center portion. Then, the back edge of the shield tapers back away from the ABS in first and second intermediate portion located at either side of the center portion. These intermediate portions lead to first and second outer portions that have substantially constant throat heights that are larger than the throat height at the center region. The throat height at each of the laterally outer portions can be 1.5 to 5 times the throat height of the center portion. This configuration, chokes off stray fields that might be picked up by the outer portions of the shield preventing excessive magnetic flux from reaching the central portion of the shield where it might affect writing.

Abstract: A slider having bonding pads opposite an air bearing surface and a method for producing the same is disclosed. Bonding pads are formed on the side of a slider assembly opposite the air bearing surface (ABS) to allow electrical probing devices on the slider while applying pressure to the slider during the lapping process and to allow a flip chip bonding process of the slider to the suspension thereby reducing or eliminating the need to bend wires and attach to the end of the slider body.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a write gap structure for a magnetic recording head. In one embodiment, the write gap structure comprises at least one layer of inert material is disposed proximate to the P2 pole of a magnetic recording head. A layer of magnetic material is disposed between the layer of inert material and the P1 pedestal (P1P) of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, the write gap structure further comprises a second layer of inert material is disposed between the layer of magnetic material and the P1P of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, the write gap structure only overlies a portion of the write gap of the magnetic recording head with reference to the throat height dimension of the write gap.

Abstract: For non-bursty data writes, data is written to flash memory of a hard disk drive for subsequent de-staging to disk, whereas for bursty writes data is written directly to disk.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a limiter mechanism that permits the gimbal to be designed more freely than before. The head gimbal assembly (HGA) according to one embodiment of the present invention has a limiter mechanism within the silhouette of the head slider. The limiter mechanism has a limiter tab formed in the gimbal tongue and projection of the load beam. Upon receipt of an external impact, the projection locks the limiter tab, thereby limiting the deformation of the gimbal. The limiter tab is formed by fabricating a part within the silhouette of the head slider. This structure allows for freer design of the gimbal and the load beam.

Abstract: Methods of performing self-servo write using a helium environment are provided. In one embodiment, a recording disk is placed in an enclosure. The enclosure is filled with a gas that is substantially helium. Self-servo write is used to write circular track positioning information on the recording disk.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to a disk drive coupling apparatus for rigidly coupling a disk drive to a chassis of a computer. In one embodiment, the disk drive coupling apparatus includes a disk drive to chassis coupler and a disk drive to chassis coupler engaging mechanism. One end of the disk drive to chassis coupler can be coupled to the chassis of the computer. The disk drive to chassis coupler engaging mechanism is capable of causing the other end of the disk drive to chassis coupler to apply pressure to the disk drive, thus, the disk drive can be rigidly coupled to the chassis.

Abstract: A method for detecting an external acceleration applied to a hard disk drive is described. The method includes obtaining a running current value for a spindle motor operating a hard disk drive. The running current is provided from a controller coupled with the hard disk drive. The method further includes compensating the running current value for positional orientation of a data transducer and for torque disturbance. The method also includes filtering the running current value for removal of motor noise and direct current offset which, subsequent thereto, provides an estimated external acceleration amplitude. The method also includes invoking a defensive action for preventing damage to the data transducer and the data storage disk and loss of data disposed on the data storage disk. The defensive action is triggered when the estimated external acceleration amplitude exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: An active noise reduction system for reducing the acoustic noise generated by a hard disk drive or generated external of a hard disk drive. The active noise reduction system is integrated into the hard disk drive and produces an acoustic waveform that is 180 degrees out-of-phase with the acoustic noise being generated, for example, by the spindle motor and VCM. The acoustic noise is received directly through a microphone or indirectly through the read/write head, spindle motor driver, or VCM driver. The acoustic noise is processed by electronics and the noise canceling waveform is either retrieved from the hard disk drive's memory, disk, or generated by the electronics. The noise canceling waveform is then broadcasted through one or more transducers that are integrated in the hard disk drive.

Abstract: Digital watermark data is embedded into compressed media content that is transmarked when the compressed media content is converted to an analog format or into an uncompressed digital format. The watermark data uniquely identifies the converter/player device/user that converted the watermark-protected digital media content into the analog format or the uncompressed digital format. The presented media content in the analog format or the uncompressed digital format is modified as a function of the watermark data and the digital signature obtained from the converter/player device/user. The modifications are visible and essentially produce a correspondingly different media presentation for each converter/player device/user. The modifications, however, are selected so that they are nonessential to the storyline and, consequently, not noticed by a casual user.

Abstract: The periodic component of a timing mark position error of a self-servo write pattern on a disk of a disk drive is determined based on measurements that are made of the timing mark position error at selected radial track locations. The determined periodic component of the timing mark position error is then removed based on the radial location on the disk.

Abstract: A method of thermally bonding lubricant over a surface of a magnetic disk in a disk drive involves providing a heat source at an air bearing surface (ABS) of a magnetic head; causing the heat source to be energized to produce heat; and causing the magnetic head to be moved across a surface portion of a magnetic disk so that lubricant is thermally bonded over the surface portion from the heat produced by the heat source. Preferably, this lubricant bonding mode of operation is performed on a regular or periodic basis. Alternatively, the mode is activated based on a predetermined environmental condition (e.g. temperature or humidity) or from an external signal. In one example, the heat source is comprised of first and/or second pole pieces of the magnetic head through which an electrical current is passed.

Abstract: The spacing decrease between pole tips of a write element and a magnetic medium that is associated with the write element is linearly proportional to an input signal, such as an input voltage or current, to a slider flying height controller for a hard disk drive. The flying height controller includes a heater current controller and a multiplexer. The heater current controller receives the input signal and outputs a control current proportional to the input signal. The multiplexer couples the control current to a heating element associated with the write element on a selected slider body during a read operation. The heating element dissipates a power that is proportional to the control current and causes a decrease in the spacing between the pole tips of the write element and the magnetic medium that is linearly proportional to the control current and to the input signal.

Abstract: A three-dimensional solid-state memory is formed from a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of layers, a plurality of tree structures and a plurality of plate lines. Bit lines extend in a first direction in a first plane. Each layer includes an array of memory cells, such as ferroelectric or hysteretic-resistor memory cells. Each tree structure corresponds to a bit line, has a trunk portion and at least one branch portion. The trunk portion of each tree structure extends from a corresponding bit line, and each tree structure corresponds to a plurality of layers. Each branch portion corresponds to at least one layer and extends from the trunk portion of a tree structure. Plate lines correspond to at least one layer and overlap the branch portion of each tree structure in at least one row of tree structures at a plurality of intersection regions.