Abstract: A tape embedded drive can include tape media for storing data, a first tape reel and a second tape reel, each coupled to one end of the tape media, and a head stack assembly (HSA). The HSA can include a first head assembly having at least one read head and one write head and a second head assembly having a non-operable head incapable of reading or writing. In an embodiment, the first head assembly is configured to be placed along a first side of the tape media and the second head assembly with the non-operable head is configured to be placed along a second side of the tape media opposite the first side of the tape media.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a magnetic pole, a first shield, a first magnetic layer provided between the magnetic pole and the first shield, a second magnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the first shield, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The intermediate layer is nonmagnetic. A first distance between the magnetic pole and the first magnetic layer along a first direction is not less than 1% and not more than 10% of a second distance between the magnetic pole and the first shield along the first direction. The first direction is from the first magnetic layer toward the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: A hard disk drive includes an enclosure housing a first set of magnetic recording media coupled to a first spindle motor, a second set of magnetic recording media coupled to a second spindle motor, and a third set of magnetic recording media coupled to a third spindle motor. The first set of magnetic recording media at least partially overlaps with the second set of magnetic recording media and the third set of magnetic recording media.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a substrate and a closure, an array of transducers in a thin film structure on the substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, and a heating element positioned in the thin film structure and recessed from the tape bearing surface, and a controller electrically coupled to the heating element. The controller is configured to apply a current pulse of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.

Abstract: An approach to a head gimbal assembly (HAG), such as for a hard disk drive, includes a load beam formed with a deck portion and side rail portions extending from each lateral edge of the deck portion, where each side rail portion includes a crash stop structure extending away from and in the thickness direction of the side rail portion. In a configuration in which the side rails extend at an obtuse angle, z-shaped and reverse z-shaped crash stop structures, opposing angled c-shaped notch structures pairs, or opposing half dome shaped dimple pairs, on back-to-back load beams of a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head gimbal assembly can elicit mechanical contact between the crash stops in the event of an operational shock event, thereby avoiding mechanical contact between HAMR chip-on-submount assembly (CoSA) laser modules.

Abstract: A spin transfer torque reversal assisted magnetic recording (STRAMR) device is disclosed wherein a flux change layer (FCL) is formed between a main pole (MP) trailing side and a trailing shield (TS). The FCL has a magnetization that flips to a direction substantially opposing the write gap magnetic field when a direct current (DC) of sufficient current density is applied across the STRAMR device thereby increasing reluctance in the WG and producing a larger write field output at the air bearing surface. Heat transfer in the STRAMR device is enhanced and production cost is reduced by enlarging the STRAMR width to be essentially equal to that of the TS, and where the TS and STRAMR widths are formed using the same process steps. Bias voltage is used to control the extent of FCL flipping to a center portion to optimize the gain in area density capability in the recording system.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic write heads and methods of designing them, and data storage devices comprising such write heads. A magnetic write head having leading and trailing sides comprises an air-bearing surface (ABS), a main pole between the leading and trailing sides, a first return pole between the main pole and the leading side, at least one optical near-field generator between the first return pole and the main pole, and a second return pole between the main pole and the trailing side. The main pole comprises a first tapered portion comprising a leading-side edge perpendicular to the ABS, a first trailing-side edge at a first angle to the ABS, and a second trailing-side edge recessed from the ABS and at a second angle to the ABS. The second return pole comprises a second tapered portion adjacent to the ABS and extending toward the main pole.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield on an opposite side of the active region as the magnetic shield, and a second spacer between the active region and the second magnetic shield. Both spacers include an electrically conductive ceramic layer. The sensor is an electronic lapping guide.

Abstract: The size and cost of a magnetic sensor suitable for closed loop control is reduced. A magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistive effect element that is electrically connected between terminals and extends in the x-direction and a magnetic member that is electrically connected between the terminals and extends in the x-direction along the magnetoresistive effect element. The magnetoresistive effect element is disposed offset with respect to the center position of the magnetic member in the y-direction. Magnetic flux to be detected is collected by a magnetic member and current is made to flow in the magnetic member in accordance with the resistance value of the magnetoresistive effect element, achieving closed loop control. The magnetic member functions both as a magnetism collection function and as a cancel coil, which reduces the number of elements required, and which also achieves a reduction in size and cost.

Abstract: A spin transfer torque reversal assisted magnetic recording (STRAMR) structure is disclosed wherein two flux change layers (FCL1 and FCL2) are formed within a write gap (WG) and between a main pole (MP) trailing side and trailing shield (TS). Each FCL has a magnetization that flips to a direction substantially opposing a WG field when a direct current of sufficient current density is applied across the STRAMR device thereby increasing reluctance in the WG and producing a larger write field output at the air bearing surface. A reference layer (RL1) is used to reflect spin polarized electrons that exert spin torque on FCL1 and cause FCL1 magnetization to flip. A second reference layer (or the MP or TS) is employed to reflect spin polarize electrons that generate spin torque on FCL2 and flip FCL2 magnetization. Non-spin polarization preserving layers and spin polarization preserving layers are also in the STRAMR structure.

Abstract: A write head for a data storage device comprises a main pole, a trailing shield, and a write-field enhancement structure disposed in a write gap between the main pole and the trailing shield. The write-field enhancement structure comprises a non-magnetic spacer, a non-magnetic layer, and a magnetic DC-field-generation (DFG) layer. The DFG layer is sandwiched between the non-magnetic layer and the non-magnetic spacer. The write head also includes at least one magnetic notch adjacent to at least one of the main pole or the trailing shield. The non-magnetic spacer is adjacent to a magnetic notch. Some embodiments include multiple magnetic notches. Also disclosed are data storage devices comprising such write heads.

Abstract: A spin transfer torque (STT) device is formed on an electrically conductive substrate and includes a ferromagnetic free layer near the substrate, a ferromagnetic polarizing layer and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the free layer and the polarizing layer. A multilayer structure is located between the substrate and the free layer. The multilayer structure includes a metal or metal alloy seed layer for the free layer and an intermediate oxide layer below and in contact with the seed layer. The intermediate oxide layer reflects spin current from the free layer and thus reduces undesirable damping of the oscillation of the free layer's magnetization by the seed layer.

Abstract: A magnetic recording write head and system has a spin-torque oscillator (STO) located between the write head's write pole and trailing shield. The STO's ferromagnetic free layer is located near the write pole with a multilayer seed layer between the write pole and the free layer. The STO's nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the free layer and the STO's ferromagnetic polarizer. The polarizer may be the trailing shield of the write head, one or more separate polarizer layers, or combinations thereof. The STO electrical circuitry causes electron flow from the write pole to the trailing shield. The multilayer seed layer removes the spin polarization of electrons from the write pole, which enables electrons reflected from the polarizer layer to become spin polarized, which creates the spin transfer torque on the magnetization of the free layer. The multilayer seed layer includes a Mn or a Mn-alloy layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. A magnetic recording head comprises a main pole disposed between a leading shield and a trailing shield. A spin torque oscillator is disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at a media facing surface. A hot seed bilayer is disposed between the spin torque oscillator and the trailing shield, where the hot seed bilayer is conformal with the spin torque oscillator. The hot seed bilayer comprises a first layer comprised of a high magnetic moment material disposed at the media facing surface and a second layer comprised of a low magnetic material recessed from the media facing surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of sliders in which the length of the slider is less than or equal to its width. Also disclosed are data storage devices (e.g., hard disk drives) comprising such sliders. The sliders may include one or more air-bearing surface features to compensate for the lower aspect ratio and to meet performance targets (fly height, roll stiffness, etc.). Such features may include, for example, a trailing-edge pad (which may include an efficiency-flattening hole), a first cavity between a first side of the trailing-edge pad and a first side edge, and a non-intersecting second cavity between a second side of the trailing-edge pad and a second side edge. A slider may also or alternatively include a leading pad and, in some embodiments, a particle trapping structure between the leading pad and the slider's leading edge.

Abstract: Embodiments for predetermining optimal demount position for demounting data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library by a processor. A selected demount position may be predetermined, while performing one of a plurality of robotic movements by an accessor, for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting data storage cartridges in the automated data storage library. The selected demount position is recalculated for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting the data storage cartridges while performing a subsequent demount operation, where the selected demount position is determined according to the recalculation prior to a demount command being issued. Accordingly, the idle time of the accessor during a demount operation may be reduced.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head including a main magnetic pole layer having a magnetic pole end face arranged in a medium-opposing surface, a near-field transducer which generates a near-field light for heating the magnetic recording medium, a waveguide guiding light to the near-field transducer; and an optical side shield being arranged in the medium-opposing surface side of the waveguide and being formed so as to sandwich a part of the near-field transducer, in the medium-opposing surface side, from both sides of a direction along the medium-opposing surface. The near-field transducer includes a protruding end-part (PEG). Then the protruding end-part is arranged to have a PEG end-surface at a position receded from the medium-opposing surface.

Abstract: A base plate is a portion of a housing of a hard disk drive, and includes a cast base body. The base body includes an inner surface including an inside machined surface that is machined and an inside non-machined surface that is not machined. The base body includes an outer surface including an outside machined surface that is machined and an outside non-machined surface that is not machined. The outside machined surface and the inside non-machined surface overlap in an axial direction that is a direction parallel or substantially parallel to a rotation axis of a disk of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: Implementation of a non-interfering micro-positioning device, for a tape drive write/read head module assembly utilizing piezoelectric elements, by generating at least two flexure brackets. The at least two flexure brackets may include the piezoelectric elements. Affixing at least one flexure bracket to a first side of the write/read head module assembly. Affixing at least one other flexure bracket to a second side of the write/read head module assembly.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic recording medium for a magnetic media drive. Absorbing smears can develop on magnetic recording heads during operation. The absorbing smears lead to shortened drive lifetime. Transparent smears, on the other hand, do not have as deleterious of an impact on drive lifetime as compared to absorbing smears. By doping the medium with a dopant that can lead to development of transparent smears, the formation of absorbing smears can be reduced or even eliminated, which leads to a longer drive lifetime. The dopant can be disposed in the capping layer of the medium or in the absorbing overcoat layer. The dopant will migrate through the medium to the top surface of the medium during operation. From the top surface of the medium, the dopant will deposit on the magnetic head and form a transparent smear.