Abstract: This invention presents a method and system for fabricating a dual GMR read head, which possess a pseudo spin valve structure. The spin valve structure includes a first thick Co-alloy based reference layer with first and second surfaces. The structure includes a first spacer layer including a first surface contacting the first surface of the first thick Co-alloy layer and a second surface contacting a first surface of a first free layer. The structure also includes a second spacer layer including a first surface separated from the second surface of the first free layer and a second surface contacting a first surface of a second thick Co-alloy layer. The thickness of the first and second thick Co-based alloy can be approximately between 30 and 55 Å.

Abstract: A disc presentation apparatus executing a method of presenting the disc by using a caddy gripper is disclosed. The disc presentation apparatus includes; a frame supporting an in-feed conveyor advancing a disc caddy with a disc, a caddy escapement securing the disc caddy from the in-feed conveyor and transporting the disc caddy to a caddy feed. The caddy feed includes the caddy gripper secured to a feed elevator, which indexes the disc to a predetermined substantially fixed location and transfers the disc caddy to an out-feed conveyor. The caddy gripper extracts the disc caddy from the caddy escapement and includes; a gripper slide assembly advancing a gripper plate into mating contact with the disc caddy, a caddy locating assembly aligning the disc caddy relative to the gripper plate, and an active jaw assembly engaging a first side of the disc caddy thereby gripping the disc caddy adjacent the gripper plate.

Abstract: The present invention offers an apparatus and associated method to detect a skip write error occurring during a data storage device write process. The capacitance between the read/write head and the disc surface, called the “parasitic capacitance,” is used to determine whether a skip write error has occurred. The amount of parasitic capacitance is determined by monitoring the frequency change at the input of an oscillator of test circuit. A change in the read/write head fly height causes a change in the parasitic capacitance and a corresponding change in the frequency. The parasitic capacitance is compared to a threshold limit to determine whether a skip write error has occurred. The write operation is suspended when a skip write error is detected and a rewrite procedure is instituted.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive transducer includes a substrate and a magnetoresistive assembly. At least one bleed resistor couples the magnetoresistive assembly to the substrate. The bleed resistor has a relative large electrical resistance and provides a discharge path for accumulated charge. The arrangement effectively prevents electrostatic discharge damage to the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing retry redundancy during disc read operations in a disc drive system are provided in which a number of physical sectors to be read from the disc during read operations is first determined. An attempt is then made to read all sectors of the number of sectors during a first disc revolution. Failed sectors of the number of sectors during the first disc revolution are also identified. A retry cycle is then performed on the failed sectors during a second disc revolution following the completion of the attempt to read all sectors of the number of sectors during the first revolution.

Abstract: A flex circuit for use in a head gimbal assembly having additional polyamide features which improve the damping properties of the flex circuit. An elbow or damping strips with or without metal traces can be added to the flex circuit to dampen the first torsion gain. The elbow or damping strips with or without metal traces do not act as a substrate for electrical circuitry, but rather provide damping properties to the head gimbal assembly.

Abstract: A system and method of verifying data transferred along a data path from one buffer, such as a user buffer in the host system to a second buffer, such as a disc drive buffer on a disc drive system by using the receiving device to test the information and provide a confirmation or error signal to the sending device. The system and method appends non-abstract identification tags to the abstract data in the first buffer, i.e., the data to be stored to and/or read from the storage device. The tags are transmitted along with the abstract data and provide unique information that is used by either the disc drive device or the host system to validate data received from the other. The validation is based on a comparison of the tag values to a predetermined control value that may be received prior to receiving the abstract data.

Abstract: An extraction tip having first and second extraction segments. The first extraction segment is positioned at a distal end of the extraction tip and the second extraction segment is spaced therefrom. The first extraction segment includes an axial slot for transverse insertion of a stem portion of a pin and the second extraction segment is recessed from the first extraction segment to form a stepped surface between the first and second extraction segments. The second extraction segment is non-expandable to hold a head portion of the pin in abutment with the stepped surface so that the stepped surface pushes against the head portion to eject the pin.

Abstract: A flexible circuit for use in a head gimbal assembly having low stiffness and high robustness. The flexible interconnect circuit has interconnecting leads which connect the flexible interconnect circuit to a transduction head. To ensure the transducing head is able to follow the surface of the disc and properly read from and write to the disc, the interconnect leads are constructed with a varying width. The leads are widened at the points where breakage usually occurs and are narrowed at a middle portion to ensure the leads maintain the desired flexibility.

Abstract: A suspension-level piezoelectric microactuator for the fine positioning of a head-arm assembly of a disk drive. The microactuator is manufactured from a generally flat metal sheet structure having a central beam and two tabs extending from opposite sides of the beam. At least one layer of piezoelectric material is bonded onto each of the two tabs. Each of the two tabs is bent, with the piezoelectric layers bonded thereto, to a position substantially normal to the central beam. The structure is then joined to the distal end of a suspension member of the head-arm assembly. A recording head is connected to the central beam of the microactuator. When a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric materials, deflection of the microactuator occurs, thereby positioning the recording head.

Abstract: A single pole magnetic recording head is provided according to the present invention for perpendicular magnetic recording on a recording medium. The magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole having a first end positionable adjacent the recording medium and a second end spaced from the first end. A coil is magnetically coupled to the main magnetic pole for producing a write flux. The magnetic recording head further includes a magnetic return pole forming first and second return paths for the magnetic flux. The magnetic return pole includes first and second return poles disposed on opposite sides of, and spaced from, the main magnetic pole, and a magnetic via connecting the first and second poles and extending over the main magnetic pole forming a back shield.

Abstract: A system for adapting head switching sequence in a disc drive includes a method of measuring the time duration for a head switch operation and the time duration of a track switch operation. The system compares the two time durations to determine whether head switching or track switching should be utilized within a zone of tracks on the surface of the data disc. Track switch time durations and head switch time durations may be averaged within a zone and the averages compared to determine whether to use head switching or track switching.

Abstract: A disc drive storage system and device is provided in which distortion in a drive signal due to a mismatch between a signal source impedance and a write head impedance is minimized. A write head that writes on a disc surface and a signal source that provides a drive signal to the write head are coupled by an electrical interconnect path. A connection device that minimizes the mismatch between the signal source impedance and the write head impedance is introduced in the electrical interconnect path. In addition, a method of coupling a signal source to a write head in a disc drive storage system is provided.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a base and a disc rotatably attached to the base. The disc drive also includes a defect management system for managing defective sectors located on the disc surface of a disc within the disc drive. The defect management system includes a controller, and a memory associated with said controller. The controller skips at least a first defective sector and a second defective sector. The first defective sector may be contiguous with the second defective sector or at least one writable sector is located between the first defective sector and the second defective sector. The controller also controls the head to write at least the last two sectors of the plurality of sectors to be written to at least two contiguous sectors located in a pool of spare sectors.

Abstract: A method of writing to a disc in a disc drive includes receiving data to be written to a designated area of the disc wherein the designated area has a beginning, an end, and contains a defective portion. The data is written to the disc starting from the beginning of the designated area and proceeding toward the end of the designated area. The data is written to a temporary buffer, external to the disc, upon reaching the defective portion of the designated area. Writing is then resumed, writing data to the designated area of the disc, upon passing the defective portion of the designated area.

Abstract: According to the invention, conventional ultrasonic treatment apparatus employing relatively large tanks with bottom-mounted ultrasonic transducers for simultaneously processing a large plurality of disc-shaped workpieces are replaced with at least one ultrasonic treating apparatus adapted for treating a single workpiece and comprised of a relatively small tank with a sidewall-mounted ultrasonic transducer. The tank may be provided with a movable partition for adjustably partitioning the tank or vessel into two sub-chambers, the partition being comprised of a material which is partially reflective and partially transmissive of ultrasonic (i.e., acoustic) energy supplied to a liquid within the tank via the ultrasonic transducer. A reflector is provided within the tank for reflecting the acoustic energy either back to the movable partition or to a material which acts as an absorber of acoustic energy.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head apparatus includes first and second readers. The first reader is a magnetoresistive reader. The second reader provides electrostatic discharge protection for the first magnetoresistive reader. The second reader can be a second magnetoresistive reader having substantially the same film structure as the first reader. The second reader can also include a phase change thin film, which has high and low resistance states that are changeable using a laser.

Abstract: A slider having a magnetic read/write head and including, a base coat, a reader element having a transducer, a writer element, the writer element including at least one conductive coil, the coil being electrically insulated by a composition which has a negative coefficient of thermal expansion, and an overcoat.

Abstract: A read head, particularly suitable for a magnetic disc storage system, includes a read sensor having an air-bearing surface and an opposing top surface. The read head also includes a permanent magnet positioned adjacent the top surface of the read sensor for generating a magnetic bias field in the read sensor. The permanent magnet has a magnetization in a direction other than normal to the air-bearing surface of the read sensor.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating spin valve sensors in accordance with the invention include forming a pinning layer from an antiferromagnetic material and forming a synthetic antiferromagnet adjacent the pinning layer. A free ferromagnetic layer is formed, and exchange tabs are formed adjacent outer portions of the free ferromagnetic layer for biasing the free layer. The exchange tabs are formed from the same antiferromagnetic material as the first pinning layer. Then, the magnetic moments of the synthetic antiferromagnet are set, and the magnetic moment of the free ferromagnetic layer is biased, during a single anneal in the presence of a single magnetic field.