Abstract: A base plate comprising a hub, a flange having an outer flange region at an outer periphery of the flange and a clamping region that surrounds and is contiguous with the hub. A strain isolation region of the flange surrounds and is contiguous with the clamping region. The strain isolation region has a stress-reducing configuration that provides alternately patterned continuity areas and discontinuity areas between the modified region and adjacent areas of the outer flange region and the clamping region. The strain isolation region may be either a series of holes in the flange surrounding the clamping region, or a number of arcuate slots cut completely through the flange surrounding the clamping region.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head having improved thermal characteristics. The read/write head includes a read element and a write element formed there over. The read element includes a read sensor embedded within a dielectric material and sandwiched between first and second shields. The write element includes first and second poles joined to form a yoke. The yoke is closed at one end and defines a write gap at the other. A coil having windings which extend through the yoke generates a magnetic flux within the yoke. This magnetic flux causes a magnetic fringe field at the location of the write gap, the fringe field being capable of imparting a magnetic signal onto a passing magnetic medium. The coil sits atop a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material which electrically isolates the coil from surrounding structure. When a current flows through the coil, heat will be generated.

Abstract: Magnetic transducers are formed with common magnetic exchange layers capable of providing assertive and complementary signals. The transducers include an assertive transducer portion and a complementary transducer portion. Between the two transducer portions is a common bias portion which comprises an antiferromagnetic layer providing bias fields in different directions to the respective transducer portions. During normal operations, a current is directed into each of the transducer portions. The assertive transducer portion, being magnetically biased in one direction, generates a varying voltage as an assertive version of the electrical signal. The complementary transducer, being magnetically biased in another direction, generates another varying voltage as a complementary version of the electrical signal. In one embodiment, the transducer portions are implemented to operate as an anisotropic MR(AMR) sensor. In a second embodiment, the transducer portions operate as a giant MR(GMR) or spin valve sensor.

Abstract: A high performance magnetic write element incorporated in a read/write head having a lower pole including high Bsat back gap and write gap pedestals. The write element further including an upper pole connected with the lower pole to form a yoke and a coil disposed within the yoke and enclosed covered with a write gap material and surrounded by insulating material. The write gap material provides separation between the first and second poles at one end of the yoke to form a write gap therebetween. A method of forming the write element of the present invention includes forming the first pole and building thereupon a back gap pedestal and a write gap pedestal at back and front ends of the first pole respectively. A dielectric layer is deposited on top of the first pole and planarized to have an upper surface coplanar with the top of the first and second pedestals. Upon the dielectric layer the coil is formed on which is deposited the write gap material.

Abstract: A hybrid dual spin valve sensor includes a standard spin valve sharing a common free layer with a synthetic spin valve. The standard spin valve consists of a first antiferromagnetic layer having a first blocking temperature, a first soft ferromagnetic layer, a first spacer layer, and the common free layer. The synthetic spin valve consists of the common free layer, a second spacer, a second soft ferromagnetic layer, a third spacer layer, a third soft ferromagnetic layer, and a second antiferromagnetic layer having a second blocking temperature. Each of the two antiferromagnetic layers has a fixed magnetization orientation antiparallel to the other. A lead set configured to pass a sensing current from a current source through the hybrid dual spin valve, and a sensing circuit configured to measure changes in resistance within the hybrid dual spin valve, complete the sensor.

Abstract: A fixture for assembling and testing a read/write head comprised of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) that allows gimbaling along pitch and roll axes and that utilizes an inexpensive spherical gimbal ball pressed into an etched hole in the load beam for providing a highly accurate and measurable pivot location of a slider. The head gimbal assembly includes a suspension of the type supporting a slider, and comprising the suspension. A gimbal opening is formed in the load beam, and extends therethrough so that it receives the spherical gimbal ball for attachment to the load beam. A resilient flexure is secured to the load beam and supports the slider. The backside of the gimbal ball remains visible for the option of optical bonding of the slider to the suspension and for measurement of the slider position relative to the gimbal ball subsequent to the assembly of the HGA. The fixture is comprised of a top plate for holding the suspension assembly and a bottom plate for holding the slider.

Abstract: An optical focusing device for focusing an incident optical beam onto a focal plane, as a focal spot. The optical focusing device includes an incident central refractive facet upon which an optical beam impinges, and a high-index glass body through which the incident optical beam passes toward a bottom reflective surface. The bottom reflective surface reflects the optical beam through the body, toward a peripheral reflector. The peripheral reflector focuses the optical beam toward a focal plane on which the focal spot is formed. The focal plane is defined within a pedestal that forms part of the optical focusing device, and that extends from the bottom reflective surface. The central facet is conically shaped for refracting the incident optical beam away from the pedestal, onto the bottom reflective surface.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly (10) for a disk drive (1), having a flexure (30) with a stationary portion (40) and at least one movable portion (42), a portion of the flexure (30) being attached to a load beam (28). A slider (20) containing a read/write head (22) is attached to one of the movable portions (40) of the flexure (30). The load beam (28) provides a center of rotation (54) for the slider (20) and one or more microactuators (24) connect between the stationary portion (40) of the flexure (30) and one of the movable portions (42, 44) for applying a moment which causes pure or nearly pure rotation of the slider (20) about the center of rotation (54). A disk drive (1) and an actuator arm (2) including the head gimbal assembly (10) are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for protecting a magnetoresistive (MR) head from electrostatic discharge damage is disclosed. The MR head includes an MR sensor having a first end and a second end. The MR head is coupled with a suspension assembly including a first lead coupled with the first end of the MR sensor, a second lead coupled with the second end of the MR sensor, and an insulating film supporting first and second portions of the first and second leads. In one aspect, the method and system include providing first and second test pads coupled with the first and second leads, respectively. The first and second test pads are for testing the MR head. The method and system also include providing a permanent resistor coupled to the first and second test pads. The permanent resistor has a resistance of less than approximately ten thousand ohms. In another aspect, the suspension assembly includes first and second head gimbal assembly pads coupled to the first and second leads, respectively.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a write head is disclosed. The write head includes at least one pole and an insulating layer. The at least one pole is for writing magnetic data. The method and system include providing an intermediate layer and providing at least one conductive coil. The intermediate layer is disposed between the insulating layer and the at least one conductive coil. The intermediate layer is composed of at least one material capable of being dry etched. The at least one conductive coil is in proximity to the at least one pole and is for carrying a current to energize the at least one pole during writing.

Abstract: An air bearing surface for use on a magnetic read/write head. The air bearing surface provides a stable flight profile while exhibiting exception load/unload characteristics through the use of a plurality of pads providing high pressure areas as well as a central cavity providing a sub-ambient pressure to counter the high pressure areas. The channel is set a predetermined distance from the leading edge of the air bearing, the predetermined distance being greater than with prior art designs. A channel extends from the leading edge to the cavity to allow airflow into the cavity. The channel and the set back of the cavity both act in conjunction to facilitate unloading of the air bearing by preventing excessive sub ambient pressures.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment provides a thin film write head having upper and lower pole structures each having pedestal pole tips formed with CoNiFe. The pedestal pole tips may have from about 60% to about 70% Co and from about 10% to about 15% Ni. The upper pole structure of the preferred embodiment has a laminated yoke portion having upper and lower layers. The lower layer is stitched to the pedestal pole tip of the upper pole structure and comprises FeXN, where X is selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ta, Hf, Al, Zr, Ti, Ru, Si, Cr, V, Si, Sr, Nb, Mo, Ru, and Pd. The upper layer comprises NiFe preferably having from about 15% to about 55% of Fe. It is preferred to define the lower layer of the yoke by etching FeXN material using the upper layer as a hard mask.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is embodied in a magnetic field sensor having a magnetoresistive element, a magnetic bias layer for biasing the magnetoresistive element with a magnetic field, and an electrical insulator positioned between the magnetic bias layer and the magnetoresistive element. The insulator prevents the flow of electrical current between the magnetoresistive element and the magnetic bias layer and at least a portion of the insulator allows passage of the magnetic field from the magnetic bias layer to the magnetoresistive element such that the magnetoresistive element is biased.

Abstract: The present invention provides spin valve with a magnetic compensation field which couples to the pinned layer and counteracts sensing current induced magnetic field. The spin valve sensor of the present invention may be formed having a structure comprising: a free layer, a first spacer layer, a pinned layer, a pinning layer, a second spacer layer, and a compensation layer. The compensation layer may be formed of ferromagnetic material with its magnetization set so that the compensation field oriented in a reinforcing relationship with the magnetization of the pinned layer. Current through the compensation layer and the spacer layer may add to the compensation field. The spacer layer may be formed of a nonmagnetic material of sufficient thickness to prevent interaction between the pinning layer and the compensation layer while providing a sufficiently small distance to allow sufficient magnetic coupling to the pinned layer.

Abstract: A write element for recording data on a magnetic medium includes a first pole and a second pole separated by a non-magnetic, electrically insulating write gap layer. In addition, a coil layer is recessed into the first pole and is electrically insulated from the first pole by a coil insulation layer, and form the second pole by a coil separation layer. The coil layer includes at least one coil turn, each of which are transversely separated from an adjacent coil turn by a coil turn divider. In some embodiments, the coil turn dividers are integral with and therefore formed of the same material as the first pole. The coil layer, first pole, and coil turn dividers are planarized before formation of the coil separation layer. Also, a second pole pedestal can be connected to the second pole at the air bearing surface, and separated from the first pole by the write gap layer. A highly heat conductive material can be disposed below the first pole as an undercoat.

Abstract: A magnetic head suspension assembly includes a load beam, a flexible member or flexure, and an air bearing slider. Disposed on the flexible member is a plurality of bonding pads. Bonding pads are also formed on the edge surfaces of the slider. The bonding pads of the slider and the corresponding bonding pads on the flexible member are attached to each other via bonding joints. One of the bonding pads is electrically linked to an electrostatic discharge (ESD) path and the other bonding pads are connected to electrical signal traces which convey electrical signals to and from magnetic transducers. The undesirable steps of epoxy application for adhering a slider to a flexure can be eliminated, thus resulting in a more reliable and accurately oriented slider in a magnetic head suspension assembly.

Abstract: A synthetic-type spin-valve MR sensor having a pinned magnetic layer with a multi-layer film structure. In one embodiment, on a substrate are formed by layering a free magnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer including first and second ferromagnetic films, which are mutually coupled antiferromagnetically and which enclose a nonmagnetic coupling film. A nonmagnetic conductive layer is enclosed between these two magnetic layers. An antiferromagnetic layer neighbors the pinned magnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic film neighboring the antiferromagnetic layer is formed from a high-resistivity Co-base material. By making the products of the saturation magnetization and the film thickness of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer substantially equal, the apparent magnetic moment of the pinned magnetic layer as a whole is zero, and the magnetostatic action on the free magnetic layer is eliminated or reduced.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for a magnetic head reduces isolation forces caused by swaging the suspension to an actuator arm of a disk drive. The suspension is formed with a first end, and a second end having an inner periphery which defines an opening. Tabs extend from the inner periphery into the opening. A base plate with a cylindrical hub is welded to the tabs and the hub extends through the inner periphery. The tabs isolate forces caused when the hub is swaged to the actuator arm.

Abstract: An air bearing slider used with a thin film magnetic head is formed with a corner recess and a taper at the leading edge. The taper is disposed between the corner recess and one side of the slider. A central polygon-shaped recess is bounded by pads which are joined by a connecting section. In an alternative embodiment, a recess at the leading edge separates the taper into sections. In another embodiment, a second corner recess is provided at the leading edge and the taper is disposed between the first and second corner recesses. The shaped recesses and tapers improve the flying characteristics of the slider and enhance air bearing stiffness. A single etch process is used to form the recesses and side reliefs of the slider.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film write head having an upper and lower pole structures and conductor turns forming a winding for generating magnetic flux. The conductor is formed with a non-planar top surface. The winding of the present invention may be formed of lower and upper turns. The upper turns may be formed with a non-planar top surface, a non-planar bottom surface, or both. It is preferred that the bottom surface of the upper conductor turns be coherent with the non-planar top surface of the lower conductor turns. The non-planar top surface may be formed by removing corners formed during deposition between a generally planar top surface and abutting side walls. The corners may be removed by ion milling to form the non-planar top surface. The conductor may be copper with the non-planar top surface having sloping facets. The thin film write head of the present invention may be utilized to provide an improved data storage and retrieval apparatus.