Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor having improved pinning field strength. The sensor includes a pinned layer structure pinned by exchange coupling with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer. The AFM layer is constructed upon an under layer having treated surface with an anisotropic roughness. The anisotropic roughness, produced by an angled ion etch, results in improved pinning strength. The underlayer may include a seed layer and a thin layer of crystalline material such as PtMn formed over the seed layer. The magnetic layer may include a first sub-layer of NiFeCr and a second sub-layer of NiFe formed there over. The present invention also includes a magnetoresistive sensor having a magnetic layer deposited on an underlayer (such as a non-magnetic spacer) having a surface treated with an anisotropic texture. An AFM layer is then deposited over the magnetic layer.

Abstract: An automated data storage library with storage shelves, data storage drive(s), a bus bar; and a robot accessor with a drive system for moving the robot accessor, an accessor communication interface, a bus bar relay configured to engage and disengage the bus bar; and a robot control configured to operate the drive system to move the robot accessor, to operate a picker, and to operate the bus bar relay to engage the bus bar when the robot accessor is stationary, to provide communication capability with a library communication interface via the bus bar relay and the bus bar when the bus bar relay engages the bus bar. Additionally, a second communication system may be provided between the robot accessor and the automated data storage library, which is operable at least when the robot accessor is moving.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a three step air bearing with improved fly height performance is disclosed. The slider includes a funnel structure for directing air flow to a predetermined location toward a trailing edge of the slider and a collection structure for gathering air flow at the predetermined location. The slider is formed using three etch depths. A crossrail and side rails may be provided. The elements of the slider form five negative pressure areas to provide improved air bearing stiffness and minimize fly height sigma performance. The collection structure includes angled sides and the side rails further include trailing ABS side angles, wherein the trailing ABS side angles and the angled sides of the collection structure directing air flow around the collection structure to prevent contamination buildup.

Abstract: An expandable storage library for storing digital storage media, such as storage tapes or disks is provided. The library includes a base unit and robotic system to which additional expansion units may be added. Several expansion units may be installed in the library with the base unit so that the robotic system can access media storage racks in any of the expansion units or in the base unit. Doors on the base unit and expansion unit may be interlocked together to function as a single door. A Z pole guide on the base unit may be extended by adding expansion guide poles that guide the movement of the robotic system through the library.

Abstract: Techniques for reducing adjacent track erasure include: a bucking coil having a lower number of turns than the write coil for bucking out a portion of the field induced by the write coil; a hybrid solenoid coil that includes turns that are in a pancake arrangement and turns that are in a solenoid arrangement; a P2 write pole tip with an increasing amount of flare as the distance from the ABS increases; a notch along an edge of the ABS surface of the P1 write pole adjacent to a tooth that extends closest to the P2 write pole; a back notch adjacent to the tooth on the P1 write pole that has a width generally corresponding to the width of the tooth; and a layered structure on the pole tip of the P1 write pole adjacent to the tooth, the layers having at least one of decreasing amounts of saturation magnetization, decreasing amounts of permeability, or alternating layers of magnetic and nonmagnetic material, where the width of the magnetic and nonmagnetic layers is controlled or the characteristics of the magnetic

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer, a shield layer, a gap layer disposed between the pole layer and the shield layer, and a coil. The shield layer incorporates: a first layer disposed on the gap layer; a second layer disposed on the first layer; and a third layer disposed on the second layer. The first layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface. An end face of each of the second and third layers closer to the medium facing surface is located at a distance from the medium facing surface. A first nonmagnetic layer is disposed around the first layer. A second nonmagnetic layer is disposed between the medium facing surface and the end face of the second layer closer to the medium facing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic data system according to one embodiment includes at least one reader formed above a substrate, the at least one reader further comprising a shield and a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor. A first circuit sets a voltage (Vsub) of the substrate to about a voltage (Vshield) of the shield of the at least one reader.

Abstract: In a disc drive suspension having a load beam and a flexure lapped on the load beam, the load beam and the flexure are fixed to each other by a laser weld. The load beam has an insular region including the laser weld of the load beam and a partially etched portion formed around the insular region. The partially etched portion is thinner than the insular region. The etched portion is formed around the whole circumference of the insular region.

Abstract: A magnetic data system according to one embodiment includes a head having a plurality of readers formed above a common substrate, each reader further comprising a shield and a sensor, a bias circuit associated with each reader for passing a bias current through the sensor thereof, wherein the bias circuits are floating. A charge clamp electrically couples each shield to the associated bias circuit. A shield biasing circuit is operatively coupled to each shield for setting a potential of the shield independently of the bias current.

Abstract: A carriage assembly capable of suppressing flutter of actuator arms and magnetic disk is to be provided. In one embodiment, the carriage assembly comprises a first actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, an outer surface and an inner surface, and a second actuator arm having a windward side face, a leeward side face, a first inner surface opposed to the inner surface of the first actuator arm and a second inner surface positioned on the side opposite to the first inner surface. The first actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the inner surface and the second actuator arm is formed with a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the first inner surface and a slant face extending from the windward side face toward the second inner surface.

Abstract: A picker mechanism and a library device having the picker mechanism are provided in which their miniaturization can be achieved. A drive device mounted on the library device and the picker mechanism to load and unload data cartridges to and from a cell in a magazine include a swivel mechanism made up of a swivel driving motor to rotate the picker mechanism on an elevator that supports the picker mechanism, a feeding section having a picker arm on its side that is connected to a notch to be held in a fixed manner which is formed on a side of the data cartridge and, a feeding section driving mechanism made up of a picker driving motor to move the feeding section in a straight line.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider disposed opposite to a surface of a magnetic disk, includes a slider main body, a magnetic head element that reads and reproduces data from the magnetic disk, and a vibration absorbing unit that absorbs vibrations generated due to contact between any portion of the slider main body and the surface of the magnetic disk, and that is provided on the slider main body at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A head suspension for a head/gimbal assembly comprises a flexure attached to a load beam. The load beam includes a lifter tab configured to engage a lifting surface of a load/unload ramp. The flexure includes a limiter tab, extending from a trailing edge thereof, that is configured to engage with a gimbal-limiting surface of the load/unload ramp. The limiter tab comprises a metallic base layer, a metallic stiffening layer, and a non-metallic intermediate layer disposed between the base and stiffening layers. The stiffening layer can include both conductive traces that terminate with a set of bonding pads and an appendage that extends along a length of the limiter tab. The appendage portion of the stiffening layer serves to increase the thickness of the limiter tab to increase the stiffness of the limiter tab.

Abstract: A perpendicular write head for writing data onto tracks includes a main pole, a trailing shield and bilayer trailing shield gap layer between the main pole and the trailing shield and improving writing and track width control.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive (MR) transducer is capable of reading data signals magnetically recorded on a tape. The transducer includes a head-tape interface (HTI) and a MR sensor adjacent to the HTI. An electro-static discharge (ESD) element is coupled to the MR sensor, which is adapted to provide an electrical path from the MR sensor to a lower potential structure.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistance element having a peak of a thermal fluctuation strength of magnetization under a magnetic field having a certain frequency, a frequency filter connected to the magnetoresistance element and having its transmittance decreased or increased in substantially the frequency of the magnetic field to output a signal corresponding substantially to the peak of the thermal fluctuation strength of magnetization, and a detector connected to the frequency filter to detect the magnetic field based on the signal of the frequency filter.

Abstract: Mounts for securing magnetic disk drive head suspensions to actuator arms. The mounts include structures that snap onto the actuator arm to provide a secure friction fit engagement. The mounts can be efficiently removed to permit rework of the suspension and head components.

Abstract: The present invention provides unamount head/arm subassemblies and read-write head stack assembly for a disk drive, and a servowriter having the head stack assembly. Each head/arm subassembly is assembled and aligned individually so that multiple head/arm subassemblies can be installed on a mounting block to build the head stack assembly with all heads being properly aligned. In addition, each head/arm subassembly can be disassembled independently, facilitating easy rework on individual defect head.

Abstract: A library apparatus comprises a plurality of cartridges each containing a recording medium, a storage rack in which the plurality of cartridges is stored, at least one drive that records or reproduces data in or from the cartridge, and an accessor that holds the cartridge and transports the cartridge between the storage rack and the drive. Herein, a hand mechanism included in the accessor includes a buffer mechanism that, even if the advancement of the hand mechanism is stopped with the hand mechanism abutted against the cartridge within a predetermined range before reaching a normal position, allows the hand mechanism to hold the cartridge. The buffer mechanism is incorporated in a rotary base included in a crank mechanism. When external force is applied to a crank arm, the buffer mechanism moves a rotary shaft of the crank arm.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical device formed by a body of semiconductor material having a thickness and defining a mobile part and a fixed part. The mobile part is formed by a mobile platform, supporting arms extending from the mobile platform to the fixed part, and by mobile electrodes fixed to the mobile platform. The fixed part has fixed electrodes facing the mobile electrodes, a first biasing region fixed to the fixed electrodes, a second biasing region fixed to the supporting arms, and an insulation region of insulating material extending through the entire thickness of the body. The insulation region insulates electrically at least one between the first and the second biasing regions from the rest of the fixed part.