Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated magnetic latch and voice coil motor magnet assembly for use in a disc drive. The lower plate of the voice coil motor defines an elongate slot that is configured for engagement with a latch member. The latch member has a step at one end. The lower plate has a magnet fixed on one surface such that the step is brought into abutment with another surface of the base when the latch member is attracted by the magnet.

Abstract: A system for measuring fly height of a head over a rotatable magnetic disc having a disc surface on which data is digitally stored is provided. Data is digitally stored on the disc surface by selectively polarizing portions of the disc surface into at least a first magnetic state or a second magnetic state. A read back circuit is coupled to the head. The read back circuit generates an electrical read back signal in response to the head encountering a transition between magnetic states. The system for measuring fly height includes a measurement circuit coupled to the head read back circuit to measure pulse width and amplitude of the read back signal. A calculation circuit coupled to the measurement circuit determines the fly height of the head based on the measured pulse width and amplitude of the read back signal. In addition, a method of measuring the fly height of a head by using a read back signal in a disc drive storage system is provided.

Abstract: A process for fabricating piezoelectric elements each having a wrap-around electrode to be used in a differential actuator design where electrical connection is made to the bottom electrode of the element from the top surface of the element. The wrap-around electrode is formed during the creation of the elements instead of on an element by element basis.

Abstract: An adjustable height elevation for an actuator arm of an actuator assembly. The height elevation of the actuator arm is adjustable relative to a disc surface for fly height control. The height elevation of the actuator arm is adjusted based upon read-back test data from the head to provide desired fly height control.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to an improvement in the process for etching of alumina. The novel wet etchant solution combines complexing agents with pH control to achieve improved selectivity for etching of alumina in the presence of transition metals. The novel wet etchant provides improved etching of features in alumina during fabrication of thin film magnetic structures over the non-selective conventional dry etching processes.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider having an air bearing surface is used for reading and writing data from a magnetic medium. The magnetic head includes a substrate having a disc opposing face bounded by a leading face, a trailing face, and first and second sided edges. The slider includes an end layer positioned upon the trailing face of the substrate wherein the basecoat has a disc opposing face and is comprised of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate. An air bearing pad is formed solely on the disc opposing face of the end layer. A transducing head is formed in the air bearing pad and exposed at an air bearing surface.

Abstract: Recording heads are provided that comprise a magnetic write pole, and a planar waveguide positioned adjacent to the magnetic write pole, the planar waveguide including a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first optical layer positioned between the first and second metal layers, and means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle. The means for coupling an electromagnetic wave to the first optical layer at a resonant incident angle can comprise a second optical layer positioned adjacent to a surface of the second metal layer opposite the first optical layer and/or a diffraction grating. Means can also be provided for confining the electromagnetic wave in a direction parallel to the plane of the first optical layer. Disc drives incorporating the recording heads and a method of magnetic recording performed by the recording heads are also disclosed.

Abstract: A perpendicular recording head for use with magnetic storage media includes a flux focusing main pole. The main pole includes a layer of material having a high magnetic moment, and a second layer of material having a low magnetic moment. The low moment material is tapered towards the main pole's tip, so that all magnetic flux is channeled into the high moment material before writing to the magnetic storage medium.

Abstract: A system and method of reducing noise due to thermally activated spin waves in a magnetoresistive (MR) element is disclosed. The MR element includes a free layer, a reference layer, and a spacer layer, the spacer layer being positioned between the free layer and the reference layer. To reduce noise, a magnetization of the reference layer is pinned in a fixed direction. A spin polarized current perpendicular to a plane of the free layer, reference layer, and spacer layer is subsequently produced such that the current exerts a spin momentum transfer torque on localized electron spins to reduce noise due to thermally activated spin waves. The spin momentum transfer torque opposes the intrinsic damping of the free layer, thereby reducing noise in the MR element.

Abstract: A system for soft-decoding of Reed-Muller coded information has one or more rows of decoding blocks, each decoding block having a soft-output device and a Reed-Muller message passing device. A first soft-output device of a first decoding block processes a coded signal and a zero value probability vector. Each subsequent soft-output device processes the coded information and a non-zero value probability vector. The system for soft-decoding Reed-Muller coded information decodes a code-bit reliability vector from a soft-output device to generate an updated codeword reliability vector, which is used by a next decoding block in a sequence of decoding blocks to reprocess the coded information using the updated reliability vector. The reliability vector is updated through processing in each decoding block to optimize the reliability vector for extraction of the transmitted information from the received information.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a suspension assembly that includes a load beam having a bend section with a bending stiffness and an in-plane stiffness. The assembly also includes a constraint or stiffening layer cooperatively attached to the bend section. The constraint layer includes a pattern formed therein, and the constraint layer is arranged and configured to increase the in-plane stiffness of the bend section and to maintain a substantially constant bending stiffness of the bend section. The constraint layer pattern may be preformed or may be formed in the constraint layer after the constraint layer has been mounted to the bend section.

Abstract: The Turbo decoding architecture has a first soft-input soft-output (SISO) device having a complex trellis structure and a Turbo decoder loop with a second SISO device having a simpler trellis structure. Coded information from a channel is processed by the first SISO device to generate a soft-output based on the coded information. The soft-output is then processed in an iterative loop using the second SISO device. The second SISO device interacts with a decoder device to produce a value representative of the transmitted information.

Abstract: A read sensor for use in a magnetic read head includes a magnetoresistive stack having a plurality of layers, and first and second shield regions positioned adjacent to the magnetoresistive stack. Each of the shield regions includes a first soft magnetic layer for shunting flux from an adjacent track to the shield region instead of the magnetoresistive stack.

Abstract: A method for making a magnetic sensor for a disk drive read head, the method comprising the steps of depositing a magnetoresistive stack on a surface of a first layer of material, depositing a resist layer on a first portion of the magnetoresistive stack, removing a second portion of the magnetoresistive stack not covered by the resist layer, depositing a layer of additional material on the magnetoresistive stack, the resist material, and the surface of the first layer, removing the additional material from sidewalls of the resist material, and using a lift-off process to remove the resist material. Magnetic sensors made by the above process are also included.

Abstract: A printed circuit head interconnect of a head gimbal assembly (HGA) has different material thicknesses in different regions of the printed circuit head interconnect. The printed circuit head interconnect includes a lamination sheet of materials having dielectric materials and conductive materials. The regions which need to have a lower stiffness are made thinner than the rest of the regions. The rest of the regions are made thick and robust enough to support the HGA. A method of reducing the thicknesses of the printed circuit head interconnect includes applying a resist mask pattern having a plurality of openings with different sizes so as to obtain different thicknesses of the materials in different regions of the printed circuit head interconnect.

Abstract: A shroud feature and method for incorporating an airflow shroud feature in a disc drive assembly. The airflow shroud feature is connected to the cover of the disc drive rather than the base plate. When the disc drive cover incorporating the shroud feature is placed on the disc drive, the shroud feature surrounds at least a portion of the circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the disc to reduce turbulence when the disc is operated. The shroud is rigidly connected to the top cover by engagement of the shroud with a physical feature of the top cover. The shroud operably directs air-flow along the peripheral edge of the disc during drive operation when the cover is installed on the base plate.

Abstract: A recording head for use in conjunction with a magnetic storage medium, comprises a waveguide for providing a path for transmitting radiant energy, a near-field coupling structure positioned in the waveguide and including a plurality of arms, each having a planar section and a bent section, wherein the planar sections are substantially parallel to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, and the bent sections extend toward the magnetic storage medium and are separated to form a gap adjacent to an air bearing surface, and applying a magnetic write field to sections of the magnetic recording medium heated by the radiant energy. A disc drive including the recording head and a method of recording data using the recording head are also provided.

Abstract: A magnetic disc drive system is disclosed. The disc drive system includes at least one substantially flat magnetic disc, at least one read/write head, at least one head stack assembly, at least one head gimbal assembly, and at least one suspension limiter. The suspension limiter is operatively connected to the head stack assembly. The distal end of the suspension limiter is positioned proximate but normally not in contact with the head gimbal assembly for preventing large head slaps in both operational and nonoperational mode.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a disc stack, a rotary actuator having an arm coupled to a transducer head, and support structure for receiving the arm with a reduced incidence of sliding contact therewith. The arm is separated from the support means, and then moved so that the head is above a disc surface for storing data. After the disc stack reaches its nominal rotation speed, the head is loaded so that it can transfer data. During periods of non-activity, the head is raised (unloaded) again and the arm is placed on the support means. This reduces a risk of damage in the presence of shocks while minimizing particle generation induced by friction.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for testing disc drives. In one embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus includes a microprocessor capable of storing at least one test program. Data transfer between the microprocessor and the disc drive under test is provided for in the form of an interface, such that the interface is compatible for connection to the disc drive under test.