Abstract: An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for performing a UV nano-imprint lithography are provided. The process uses a polymer pad which allows a uniform application of pressure to a patterned template and an easy removal of a residual resin layer. The apparatus includes a tilt and decentering corrector which allows an accurate alignment of layers during the nano-imprint lithography process.

Abstract: A write element including a pole tip shield is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed, for example, the pole tip shield includes side shield portions fabricated of a graded magnetic moment material to form graded side shield portions having a magnetic moment that decreases in the down-track direction along a length of the side shield portions. In another embodiment, the pole tip shield includes side shield portions having a shortened length extending along a partial length of side edges of the pole tip. In illustrated embodiments, the side shield portions are formed of a contoured body having an indented portion forward of the leading edge of the pole tip. The indented portion has a rounded indented surface contour forming a rounded profile for a gap region between a leading edge portion of the pole tip shield forward of the leading edge of the pole tip.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, a hard disk drive includes at least one disk secured to a motor hub with a disk clamp. The disk clamp is positioned radially off-center with respect to the hub to balance a static drive imbalance. In certain embodiments, a method includes radially offsetting a disk clamp to offset a static drive balance.

Abstract: A magnetic junction memory array and methods of using the same are described. The magnetic junction memory array includes a plurality of electrically conductive word lines extending in a first direction, a plurality of electrically conductive bit lines extending in a second direction and forming a cross-point array with the plurality of electrically conductive word lines, and a memory cell proximate to, at least selected, cross-points forming a magnetic junction memory array. Each memory cell includes a magnetic pinned layer electrically between a magnetic bit and an isolation transistor. The isolation transistor has a current source and a gate. The current source is electrically coupled to the cross-point bit line and the gate is electrically coupled to the cross-point word line. An electrically conductive cover layer is disposed on and in electrical communication with the magnetic bits.

Abstract: An apparatus having a first pole with a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, a second pole positioned on the first side of the first pole, and a waveguide positioned on the second side of the first pole wherein the waveguide has an end adjacent to an air bearing surface. The first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: An application running on a portable device detects a firmware update for a peripheral device. The firmware update is available via an external network. The firmware update is downloaded to the portable device from the external network via the application, and the firmware update is uploaded to the peripheral device from the application via a proximity network. The firmware update is uploaded via an application program interface of the peripheral device that facilitates applying the update in response to the uploading of the firmware.

Abstract: Spin torque magnetic memory elements that have a pinned layer, two free layers, and a current-blocking insulating layer proximate to at least one of the free layers. The resistive state (e.g., low resistance or high resistance) of the memory elements is altered by passing electric current through the element in one direction. In other words, to change from a low resistance to a high resistance, the direction of electric current is the same as to change from a high resistance to a low resistance. The elements have a unidirectional write scheme.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) reader is adjacent to at least one shield that extends from an air bearing surface (ABS) a first distance. The shield has a stabilizing feature that is contactingly adjacent the MR reader and extends from the ABS a second distance that is less than the first distance.

Abstract: A cache control method for a hybrid hard disk drive (HDD) comprising a nonvolatile cache (NVC) and a hard disk. When the hybrid HDD is operating in a non-parallel mode of operation, the control method sequentially searches the NVC and then reads the hard disk for requested data, but when the hybrid HDD is operating in a parallel mode of operation, the control method simultaneously searches the NVC and reads hard disk for the data requested.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive read sensor with improved sensitivity and stability is described. The sensor is a trilayer stack positioned between two electrodes. The trilayer stack has two free layers separated by a nonmagnetic layer and a biasing magnet positioned at the rear of the stack and separated from the air bearing surface. Current in the sensor is confined to regions close to the air bearing surface by an insulator layer to enhance reader sensitivity.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of maximizing drive performance under any power constraint. In one embodiment, the method includes actively adjusting a seek power draw based on a comparison of real-time calculations of average seek power to a target power threshold.

Abstract: A storage device has a storage medium and a processor. The processor is disposed within the storage device and is adapted to receive multiple commands as a command block over an interface. The processor is adapted to extract each of the multiple commands from the single block for execution on the storage device.

Abstract: A cylindrical magnetron sputtering apparatus includes a rotating cylindrical sputtering target, a non-rotating magnet structure within the cylindrical sputtering target and at least one non-rotating trim magnet adjacent an end of the magnet structure. The trim magnets are manipulated during operation of the apparatus to alter a magnetic field produced by the magnet structure within the cylindrical sputtering cathode. As a result the shape of a racetrack discharge plasma formed at an end of the sputtering target is altered such that the formation of an erosion groove is avoided.

Abstract: A method of controlling a hybrid hard disk drive. The method includes receiving a read command from a host; searching metadata of a file to be read; determining whether the metadata satisfies a predetermined setup condition; and if the metadata satisfies the setup conditions, copying the file to be read, from a first storage device and storing the file in a second storage device.

Abstract: Apparatus for recording data and method for making the same. In accordance with some embodiments, a recording layer is supported by a substrate. The recording layer has a granular magnetic recording layer with a first oxide content, a continuous magnetic recording layer with nominally no oxide content, and an oxide gradient layer disposed between the respective granular magnetic recording layer and the continuous magnetic recording layer. The oxide gradient layer has a second oxide content less than the first oxide content of the granular layer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a non-metallic interlayer between a magnetic data storage layer and a heat sink layer, wherein interface thermal resistance between the interlayer and the heat sink layer is capable of reducing heat flow between the heat sink layer and the magnetic data storage layer. The apparatus may be configured as a thin film structure arranged for data storage. The apparatus may also include thermal resistor layer positioned between the interlayer and the heat sink layer.

Abstract: The application discloses pole tip shield assemblies for a magnetic write element. The shield assemblies disclosed include side shields to limit adjacent track interference. The side shields are truncated or notched at a midpoint to form an expanded non-magnetic gap along a trailing portion of the pole tip to enhance write field and/or field gradient. The expanded non-magnetic gap region is larger than the non-magnetic gap region along a leading portion of the pole tip.

Abstract: A novel method and apparatus is provided for printing magnetic patterns using heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR). The apparatus includes an array of probes that is arranged in a predetermined pattern, such as a servo pattern. The array of probes is brought into contact, or near-contact, with a magnetic recording medium that has been bulk erased substantially along an initialization direction. Each probe is energized so as to heat its respective contacted (or near-contacted) region of the recording medium above a threshold temperature. An external magnetic field is applied to the heated regions in a direction that is substantially opposite from the initialization direction. The strength of the external magnetic field is chosen to be greater than the coercivity of the recording medium at the threshold temperature, but less than the coercivity of the recording medium at room temperature. As a result, only magnetizations in the heated regions become aligned with the external field.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a non-volatile resistive sense memory on-chip cache. In accordance with some embodiments, a processing circuit is formed on a first semiconductor substrate. A second semiconductor substrate is affixed to the first semiconductor substrate to form an encapsulated integrated chip package, wherein a non-volatile storage array of resistive sense memory (RSM) cells is formed on the second semiconductor substrate to cache data used by the processing circuit.