Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a trailing shield, a spin torque oscillator, first and second side shields, first and second gap films, and first and second guard films. The first gap film and the first guard film are interposed between the trailing shield and the first side shield. The second gap film and the second guard film are interposed between the trailing shield and the second side shield.

Abstract: A read head includes a permanent magnet (PM) layer formed up to 100 nm behind a free layer where PM layer magnetization may be initialized in a direction that adjusts free layer (FL) bias point, and shifts sensor asymmetry (Asym) closer to 0% for individual heads at slider or Head Gimbal Assembly level to provide a significant improvement in device yield. Asym is adjusted using different initialization schemes and initialization directions. With individual heads, initialization direction is selected based on a prior measurement of asymmetry. The PM layer is CoPt or CoCrPt and has coercivity from 500 Oersted to 1000 Oersted. The PM layer may have a width equal to the FL, or a width equal to the cross-track distance between outer sides of the longitudinal bias layers. In another embodiment, the PM layer adjoins a backside of the top shield.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of write transducers. Each write transducer includes a lower yoke, a lower write pole piece comprising a lower base layer in magnetic communication with the lower yoke and a lower high moment layer above the lower base layer. Each write transducer includes a write gap above the lower write pole piece and an upper write pole piece above the write gap. The upper write pole piece includes an upper high moment layer above the write gap and an upper base layer above the upper high moment layer. Each write transducer includes an upper yoke above the upper base layer. A media facing side of the lower pole piece and at least a portion of a media facing side of the upper pole piece extend along a plane and the remainder of the media facing side of the upper pole piece is recessed from the plane.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a voice coil motor (VCM) yoke for a data storage device. The VCM yoke has a unitary body turned back on itself at opposite ends to form a “C” shape. The unitary body is electrically conductive. The body has a substantially flat inner surface upon which the coil is disposed. The unitary body also has a substantially flat top and a substantially flat bottom surface. A coil is disposed within the turns of the unitary body. The VCM yoke can be coupled to an actuator block using one or more fastening mechanisms that extend through openings in the VCM yoke.

Abstract: A slider comprises an air bearing surface having a leading edge at a first end of the air bearing surface; a trailing edge at a second end of the air bearing surface, wherein the first end is opposite to the second end; a first region adjacent to the trailing edge, wherein the first region comprises one or more transducer elements; and a second region adjacent to the first region and the leading edge. The air bearing surface has a protective overcoat layer as an outermost layer, wherein the protective overcoat layer extends across the entire air bearing surface. The air bearing surface comprises a lapped surface and a plurality of milled surfaces, wherein a surface potential difference between the lapped surface and a milled surface is 0+/?50 milliVolts or less as measured according to Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM).

Abstract: A load/unload ramp includes a body with ramps, load/unload surfaces, and a vertical wall. The ramps include outer grooves positioned between the ramps. The load/unload surfaces extend from the respective ramps. The vertical wall includes channels extending through the vertical wall. In embodiments, the channels are positioned between the load/unload surfaces.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a slider comprising an air bearing surface (ABS). The slider comprises a reader, a writer, and a reader heater. The reader heater is configured to cause a protrusion of the ABS proximate the reader, and the reader heater comprises a first planar loop and a second planar loop, wherein the first and second loops are in the same plane.

Abstract: A data storage device includes a ramp that supports at least one head, and a retraction mechanism that moves the ramp from a non-retracted position to a retracted position. The movement of the ramp is enabled by at least one of expansion or contraction of at least a portion of the retraction mechanism. The data storage device further includes a ramp retraction control module operably coupled to the retraction mechanism. The ramp retraction control module provides the retraction mechanism with a first control signal that causes the retraction mechanism to move the ramp from the non-retracted position to the retracted position.

Abstract: The present disclosure is generally related to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a main pole and a wrap-around shield surrounding at least two sides of the main pole at a media facing surface. The wrap-around shield comprises an electroplated, laminated NiFeX film, where X is one of Re, Cr, or Ir. The NiFeX film comprises about 1 atomic percent to about 12 atomic percent of X, about 30 atomic percent to about 50 atomic percent of Ni, and balance of Fe. The NiFeX film comprises a plurality of layers, each layer comprising a first sublayer having a Re content of about 1 atomic percent to about 43 atomic percent and a second sublayer having a Re content of about 0 atomic percent to about 12 atomic percent. The NiFeX film increases the damping constant of the magnetic recording head.

Abstract: An apparatus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes an inner array of data transducers on a module, the data transducers of the inner array being aligned along a common axis that extends between distal ends of the module. Two outer arrays of data transducers are positioned to sandwich the inner array therebetween. Inner servo readers are positioned between the inner array and the outer arrays. Outer servo readers are positioned toward outer ends of the outer arrays. Widths of at least some of the outermost data transducers in the inner array are less than widths of at least some of the innermost data transducers in the inner array.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to pretreating a magnetic recording head for magnetic media drive. For a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head, a light source provides the necessary heat for the drive to operation. A vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) is mounted to a top surface of a slider. A plurality of laser beams are emitted from the bottom surface of the VCSEL and directed to a corresponding number of waveguide structures within the HAMR head. The waveguide structures feed into a multimode interference (MMI) device that then directs the laser into a single waveguide for focusing on a near field transducer (NFT). The VCSEL lasers are phase coherent and have no mode hopping.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording device includes a magnetic head, a first electrical circuit, and a second electrical circuit. The magnetic head includes a magnetic pole, a first shield, a conductive member electrically connecting the magnetic pole and the first shield and being provided between the magnetic pole and the first shield, and a coil. The first electrical circuit is configured to supply a first current to the magnetic pole, the conductive member, and the first shield. The second electrical circuit is configured to supply a recording current to the coil. A recording magnetic field is generated from the magnetic pole. The recording magnetic field corresponds to the recording current. A rise time of the recording current is not less than 65% of a shortest bit length.

Abstract: A spin transfer torque reversal assisted magnetic recording (STRAMR) writer is disclosed wherein a spin torque oscillator has a flux guiding layer (FGL) wherein magnetization flips to a direction substantially opposing the write gap (WG) field when sufficient current (IB) density is applied across the STO between a trailing shield and main pole (MP) thereby enhancing the MP write field. A key feature is that the FGL has a center portion with a larger magnetization saturation×thickness (MsT) than in FGL outer portions proximate to STO sidewalls. Accordingly, lower IB density is necessary to provide a given amount of FGL magnetization flipping and there is reduced write bubble fringing compared with writers having a FGL with uniform MsT. Lower MsT is achieved by partially oxidizing FGL outer portions. In some embodiments, there is a gradient in outer FGL portions where MsT increases with increasing distance from FGL sidewalls.

Abstract: A tape cartridge includes a reel; a cartridge case; a reel lock member; and a reel lock release member. The reel includes a reel hub including a cylindrical bottom portion. The reel lock member includes a projecting portion projecting to engage with the reel hub. The reel lock release member includes a main body and leg portions, the main body disposed between the reel lock member and cylindrical bottom portion, the leg portions extending from the main body and being inserted into through holes, the reel lock release member releasing engagement of the reel lock member and reel hub. The main body includes central portion and extension portions, the central portion in contact with the projecting portion, the extension portions extending radially to end portions connected to the leg portions, thicknesses of the extension portions along a uniaxial direction gradually decreasing from the central portion toward the end portions.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a disk device includes a magnetic disk, a load beam, a flexure, a head unit, and a first restrictor. The load beam has a first face facing the magnetic disk. The flexure is attached to the first face. The head unit includes: a magnetic head attached to the flexure, configured to read and write information from and to the magnetic disk; and a heat-assister attached to the magnetic head, configured to heat the magnetic disk. The first restrictor is included in the head unit, configured to come in contact with at least one of the load beam and the flexure along with movement of the magnetic head away from the first face by a first distance.

Abstract: In the probability distribution calculated from TDSage, TDSenv, and TC, the magnetic tape has the probability Pfail of equal to or less than 0.2%, in which the absolute value of ?SB exceeds 0.3 ?m. TDSage is a maximum absolute value of a difference between the servo band interval obtained before a predetermined storage and the servo band interval obtained after the storage, TDSenv is a value calculated by multiplying a difference between a maximum value and a minimum value of the servo band interval respectively obtained under five predetermined environments by ½, TC is a value calculated by multiplying TDStens by 0.5 N, and TDStens is a ratio of a change in the servo band interval to a change in tension calculated from the servo band interval respectively obtained under five predetermined environments by applying a plurality of different tensions in the longitudinal direction of the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape, in accordance with one approach, includes a substrate comprising a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK). An underlayer is positioned above the substrate. A recording layer is positioned above the underlayer. A tape cartridge, in accordance with one approach, includes a housing and a magnetic recording tape at least partially stored in the housing. The magnetic recording tape includes a substrate comprising a poly ether ether ketone (PEEK), an underlayer above the substrate, and a recording layer above the underlayer.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide for mitigating a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch between glass components and adjacent metal components in a disk storage device to improve thermal and shock performance. The methods and apparatus provide a hub, provide a first recording disk comprising a glass material and a center hole on the hub such that the hub extends through the center hole of the first recording disk, provide a first spacer on the first recording disk, the first spacer comprising a nickel-iron alloy, and provide a second recording disk comprising a glass material and a center hole on the first spacer such that the hub extends through the center hole of the second recording disk, wherein the first recording disk and the second recording disk each comprise a magnetic recording layer configured to store information.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a main pole, an EAMR stack disposed on the main pole, and a trailing shield disposed on the EAMR stack. The EAMR stack comprises a seed layer disposed on the main pole, a spin torque layer disposed on the seed layer, and a spacer layer disposed on the spin torque layer. At least one surface of the spacer layer in contact with the spin torque layer has a smaller or reduced area than the spin torque layer. The at least one surface of the spacer layer in contact with the spin torque layer is recessed from a media facing surface and has a smaller cross-track width than the spin torque layer and a smaller width in the stripe height direction than the spin torque layer.

Abstract: A data storage device includes at least one data storage medium having a plurality of tracks. The data storage device also includes at least one actuator that supports at least one head that is configured to interact with different tracks of the plurality of tracks on the at least one data storage medium to service commands from a host. The data storage device further includes a seek control circuit communicatively coupled to the at least one actuator. The seek control circuit is configured to store the commands from the host in at least one queue for execution by the at least one actuator. The seek control module is also configured to adjust power provided to the at least one actuator for seek operations to the different tracks of the plurality of tracks based on command age-related measurements of the commands from the host.