Abstract: A device for rotating a substrate in a complex motion within a chamber which during a sputtering process. The device includes a first support element positioned within the chamber. The first support element includes a first rotating structure which is affixed between a platform for supporting the substrate and a first magnet positioned adjacent to the inner wall surface. Further, the first rotating structure is adapted to rotate about a first axis. The device further includes a second support element positioned outside of the chamber. The second support element includes a second rotating structure affixed between a planet gear adapted for engagement with a sun gear outside of the chamber and a second magnet positioned adjacent the outer wall surface and spaced apart from the first magnet. This causes the formation of a magnetic bond between the first and second magnets.

Abstract: A wear-resistant end cap is provided for an air bearing slider of a thin film magnetic recording head useful in a disk drive. The slider has an air bearing surface that is positioned adjacent to a rotating surface of a magnetic disk during data recording or readout. A thin film transducer is deposited on the trailing end of the slider perpendicular to the air bearing surface. A laminated end cap is deposited on the trailing end surface disposed normal to the disk recording surface to protect the transducer. The end cap includes a first lamination disposed with an edge in a plane parallel to the air bearing surface of the slider and a second contiguous lamination of a different material having an edge in the plane whereby the edge areas of the contiguous laminations have relatively more wear resistance than the wear resistance of an equivalent edge area of either material taken alone.

Abstract: A thin film read-write magnetic head includes a write inductive section having a magnetic circuit consisting of thin film magnetic layers and a read flux sensing element, such as a magnetoresistive device or Hall effect device, located in a gap in the magnetic circuit. During the write mode, a magnetic valve including an electrical conductor provides a shunt path to bypass the flux sensing element. During the read mode, a saturation current is directed to the valve conductor so that the shunt path is open, thereby allowing the flux sensing element to sense the readout signal.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head is fabricated with a yoke structure, including P1 and P2 magnetic layers, having a width in the range of about 5 to 58 microns, preferably about 30 microns. The very narrow width minimizes popcorn noise, improves high frequency response and affords increased head circuit efficiency.

Abstract: The second pole layer P2 of a thin film transducer structure is fabricated by using two levels of photoresist to define the pattern of the P2 pole layer. The first photoresist layer is deposited as a thin film and is used to focus an optical projection device that projects the mask pattern onto the photoresist. After etching and curing of the first photoresist, which is disposed above a portion of the first pole piece at the apex of the transducer, a second photoresist layer is deposited over the first photoresist layer and above the insulation deposited over the electrical coil structure. The second photoresist layer is relatively thick and serves to define the frame for printing the P2 pole piece pattern a second time. The data track width defined by the P2 pole piece is more uniform as a result of the improved definition of the frame used for registering the P2 pattern.

Abstract: A thin film tape head assembly is formed by depositing a multiplicity of thin film transducers on a ceramic wafer or substrate. The wafer is divided into head bars, each of which has one or more thin film transducers on its face. End sections and a cover bar are joined to the head bar to form a head bar subassembly. A flexible cable or electrical pins are provided between the end sections to enable electrical connection between the head circuit and external circuitry. By joining a number of head bar subassemblies, a multigap thin film tape head assembly is produced to serve as a read/write device.

Abstract: During a lapping operation to obtain an optimum throat height for a thin film magnetic head, an M-H looper circuit is coupled directly to the head coil for measuring the magnetization and saturation current of the head in response to a given drive current. An amplitude modulated analog output signal is digitized and the resultant digital number is compared to stored data signals which are representative of optimum throat heights for the design of the head being lapped. The lapping operation is controlled in response to the difference signals obtained by the comparison.

Abstract: A thin film head assembly includes a coil structure having a thin coil layer that extends within and beyond the magnetic yoke area delineated between opposing magnetic pole pieces, and an additional coil layer formed as a step segment adjacent to the thin layer. The additional layer is spaced away from the pole pieces and the magnetic yoke area and provides a thickened coil area which affords a significant reduction in coil resistance.

Abstract: A process for making thin film magnetic heads includes forming a precisely defined back gap opening used for magnetic closure of the P1 and P1 pole pieces. A mushroom-like photoresist structure having a cap layer supported by a stem layer is formed over the P1 pole piece by a double resist spin and double exposure method with a critical baking step to harden previously deposited photoresist layers between the first exposure and the second photoresist spin. The cap layer defines the back gap opening. When the mushroom-like photoresist structure is removed by a single step lift-off with a solvent, the back gap opening is formed.