Abstract: A magnetic recording disk has surface features of elevated lands and recessed grooves, and a planarized upper surface. A chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) stop layer is deposited over the lands and into the recesses. An adhesion film, like silicon, is deposited over the CMP stop layer, and fill material containing a silicon oxide (SiOx) is deposited over and in contact with the adhesion film. The adhesion film improves the adhesion of the SiOx fill material and prevents delamination during a subsequent two-step CMP planarizing process.

Abstract: A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a pre-patterned disk substrate with pillars and trenches arranged in data regions and servo regions. In the data regions, the height of the data pillars is equal to or greater than the spacing between the data pillars, while in the servo regions the height of the servo pillars is less than the spacing between the servo pillars. A magnetic recording material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is deposited over the entire disk substrate, which results in magnetic material on the tops of the data pillars and servo pillars and in the servo trenches. The material in the data trenches is either nonmagnetic or discontinuous. After the application of a high DC magnetic field in one perpendicular direction and a low DC magnetic field in the opposite direction, the resulting disk has patterned servo sectors with servo pillars all magnetized in the same perpendicular direction and servo trenches magnetized in the opposite perpendicular direction.

Abstract: As recording density of sensors is increased, it is desired to lower the areal resistivity (RA) of TMR sensors. Decreasing RA to 1.0 ??m2 or below badly influences the read signal since the interlayer coupling magnetic field (Hint) between the pinned layer and the free layer increases sharply and impedes the free rotation of magnetization of the free layer. According to one embodiment, a tunnel junction type magneto-resistive head solves this problem by having a layered film comprising an underlying layer, a crystalline orientation control layer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, an antiparallel coupling layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, an insulation barrier layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer between a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer, wherein a crystallographic plane of the antiferromagnetic layer is directed parallel to a film surface by growing the antiferromagnetic layer substantially conformably on the crystalline orientation control layer.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a trailing shield, and a multilayered side/leading shield disposed on a leading side of the main magnetic pole in a down-track direction and on either side of the main magnetic pole in a cross-track direction. The side/leading shield includes an inner layer nearer to the main magnetic pole which surrounds the main magnetic pole on three sides and an outer layer farther from the main magnetic pole than the inner layer which surrounds the main magnetic pole and inner layer on three sides. The inner layer has a saturation magnetization (Ms) that is greater than a Ms of the outer layer, and the trailing shield has a relative permeability of greater than about 50. Other magnetic heads and methods of producing magnetic heads are also presented according to various embodiments.

Abstract: A head-slider. The head-slider includes a slider and a magnetic-recording head formed on the slider. The magnetic-recording head includes a main pole, a return pole to which a recording magnetic field from the main pole returns, a sensor element, a shield provided between the sensor element and the main pole, and a heater element for adjusting a shape of a flying surface of the magnetic-recording head. The magnetic-recording head further includes a first recess provided at a tip end face of at least one element selected from the group consisting of the return pole and the shield, and a second recess provided on an exposed flying surface and corresponding to the first recess.

Abstract: A disk drive. The disk drive includes a disk, a head, a head-slider, a moving mechanism, and a controller. The head is configured to access the disk. The head-slider includes the head, and is configured to fly in proximity to a recording surface of the disk. The moving mechanism is configured to move the head-slider over the disk, and to support the head-slider. The controller is configured to read out at least one from a plurality of clearance-measurement data strings from the recording surface of the disk using the head, and to calculate a clearance between the head and the disk from clearance-measurement results obtained from a plurality of resolutions with different frequency components.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a read element, a write element, a write upper shield positioned in a downtrack direction from the write element, a first resistance detecting element positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) side in a first cross-track direction from the read element, a second resistance detecting element positioned on the ABS side in a second cross-track direction from the write element, a third resistance detecting element positioned on the ABS side in a third cross-track direction from the write upper shield, a protective film positioned near the read and write elements, first, second, and third resistance detecting elements, and the write upper shield, and terminals positioned on an end surface side of the magnetic head, the terminals being coupled to the write element, the read element, the first resistance detecting element, the second resistance detecting element, and the third resistance detecting element.

Abstract: Soft magnetic film fabricated with preferred uniaxial anisotropy for perpendicular recording. One type of cathode design has a field direction that is parallel to the direction of the Hex of the second SUL with a magnetically-pinned first SUL. In addition, SUL structures having low AP exchange energy also are disclosed. The SUL structure combines the cathode field direction of the SUL2 with the pinned SUL1. The SUL1 is magnetically pinned to the pinning layer and the pinning direction is parallel to the direction of the cathode field applied during deposition of the SUL1. High Hc ferro-magnetic materials may be deposited onto a heated substrate that is magnetized along the radial direction by the cathode field. The pinning field may be higher than the cathode field, indicating that the cathode field during deposition of the SUL2 cannot disturb the magnetic state of the SUL1 pinned to pinning layer.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a write pole with a tapered trailing edge step. The resulting tapered trailing edge step maximizes write field at very small bit sizes by preventing the magnetic saturation of the write pole at the pole tip. The method includes depositing a magnetic write pole material and then depositing a magnetic material over the magnetic write pole material. A RIE mask and hard mask are deposited over the magnetic bump material. A resist mask is formed over the RIE mask and hard mask, and a reactive ion etching is performed to transfer the pattern of the resist mask onto the underlying hard mask. Then an ion milling is performed to form a the magnetic step layer with a tapered edge that defines a tapered trailing edge step structure of the write pole.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic disk drive that reliably prevents entry of water or other form of liquid through a breathing hole for the enhanced performance, reliability, and the like. In one embodiment, a box body forming part of a hard disk drive (HDD) has a top cover. The top cover includes a breathing hole drilled therein. The breathing hole serves to eliminate any pressure difference between an inside and an outside of the HDD. A fiber waterproof body, which includes a waterproof fiber material or the like, is fitted in a large-diameter hole of the breathing hole. A pore waterproof body, formed by bundling up a large number of slender pores, is mounted in a small-diameter hole of the breathing hole.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for controlling out-gassing and humidity in a closed space-constrained environment. In particular, an environment control device is disclosed which is made using thermoforming techniques such that the walls of the device are much thinner than other conventional devices. This allows for the device to be used in space-constrained environment while still providing a sufficient amount of absorber material such as a desiccant. The apparatus includes a base made up of a thin flexible plastic film thermoformed to create a cavity having at least one wall, the cavity having an opening on one side. An absorber material, such as a desiccant, is placed inside the cavity, and a cover made up of a permeable layer sealed to the base opening to complete an enclosure for holding the absorber material.

Abstract: A method for determining a magnetic anisotropy of a free layer of a magnetoresistive sensor. The method includes forming a functional magnetoresistive sensor and also a test sensor on a wafer. The test sensor has a sensor stack that is identical to that of the functional sensor, however the test head does not have a magnetic bias structure for biasing the free layer. A series of tests can be performed to construct a transfer curve for the test sensor. This can then be used to determine a magnetic anisotropy of the test head, which also corresponds to a magnetic anisotropy of the functional head.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a head-gimbal assembly. The head-gimbal assembly includes a head-slider bonded to a suspension. The method includes placing the head-slider and the suspension in a superposed manner with a photo-thermosetting adhesive applied between the head-slider and the suspension. The method also includes heating the suspension from a side of the suspension opposite to a side of the suspension in contact with the photo-thermosetting adhesive with a heated gas-stream. In addition, the method includes irradiating the photo-thermosetting adhesive with light at least partly in a time period during which the suspension is heated by the gas-stream.

Abstract: A head-gimbal assembly. The head-gimbal assembly includes a suspension, a head-slider coupled to the suspension, a magnetic-recording assistance element on the head-slider for applying an electromagnetic wave to a magnetic-recording disk, and a transmission line on the suspension for transmitting signals to the magnetic-recording assistance element. The transmission line includes an electrically conductive line for transmitting the signals, an upper shield placed above the electrically conductive line along the electrically conductive line, a lower shield placed below the electrically conductive line along the electrically conductive line, and a plurality of columns arranged at each of a right side and a left side of the electrically conductive line along the electrically conductive line for connecting the upper shield and the lower shield. The plurality of columns arranged at the right and left sides includes, respectively, a right linear array of columns and a left linear array of columns.

Abstract: A method for re-injecting low density gas into a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. The method includes providing a disk drive including a hermetically sealed disk enclosure. In addition, the method includes re-injecting low density gas from a hole penetrating the hermetically sealed disk enclosure from an exterior of the disk drive to an interior of the disk drive. Moreover, the method includes covering the hole with a sealing label including a metal layer and an adhesive layer.

Abstract: A spindle motor assembly that utilizes a fluid dynamic bearing electrically grounded to provide a conductive path through the spindle motor assembly. In one embodiment, the fluid dynamic bearing includes a liquid metal that is conductive and of low electrical resistance that provides the conductive path between the spindle and the spindle housing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention pertain to reducing the probability of a slider contacting a surface of a disk. According to one embodiment, a first etch is performed on the slider. Air compression mechanisms are created near each corner associated with a trailing edge of the slider so that the probability that the corners will contact the surface of the disk is reduced.

Abstract: A flex circuit comprises a base film, a first adhesive layer coupled with the base film, at least two signal traces coupled with the first adhesive layer, and at least one dummy trace positioned between the two signal traces and coupled with the first adhesive layer. The flex circuit comprises a second adhesive layer coupled with the signal traces, the dummy trace, and the first adhesive layer, and a cover film coupled with the second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for implementing secure erase for solid state drives (SSDs). An encryption key is used to encrypt data being written to SSD. A controller identifies a key storage option, and responsive to the identified key storage option, stores a key for data encryption and decryption. The controller deletes the key within the SSD responsive to the identified key storage option, ensuring that once the key is deleted, the key is not recoverable and data is effectively erased.

Abstract: An end user system comprises a communication interface configured to receive content in a protected state and transfer the content in the protected state, a processing system coupled to the communication interface and configured to receive the content in the protected state, process the content with a key hard coded internally to the processing system to modify the content to an unprotected state, and transfer the content in the unprotected state, and a user interface coupled to the processing system and configured to receive the content in the unprotected state and output the content.