Patents Examined by Kevin Bernatz
  • Method of manufacturing magnetic dots
    Patent number: 8790526
    Abstract: A method of producing bit-patterned media is provided whereby a shell structure is added on a bit-patterned media dot. The shell may be an antiferromagnetic material that will help stabilize the magnetization configuration at the remanent state due to exchange coupling between the dot and its shell. Therefore, this approach also improves the thermal stability of the media dot and helps each individual media dot maintain a single domain state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kaizhong Gao, Haiwen Xi, Song Xue
  • Glass for use as substrate for information recording medium, substrate for information recording medium and information recording medium, and their production methods
    Patent number: 8785011
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, provided is glass for use in substrate for information recording medium, which comprises, denoted as molar percentages, a total of 70 to 85 percent of SiO2 and Al2O3, where SiO2 content is equal to or greater than 50 percent and Al2O3 content is equal to or greater than 3 percent; a total of equal to or greater than 10 percent of Li2O, Na2O and K2O; a total of 1 to 6 percent of CaO and MgO, where CaO content is greater than MgO content; a total of greater than 0 percent but equal to or lower than 4 percent of ZrO2, HfO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, La2O3 Y2O3 and TiO2; with the molar ratio of the total content of Li2O, Na2O and K2O to the total content of SiO2, Al2O3, ZrO2, HfO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5, La2O3, Y2O3 and TiO2 ((Li2O+Na2O+K2O)/(SiO2+Al2O3+ZrO2+HfO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5+La2O3+Y2O3+TiO2)) being equal to or less than 0.28.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Tachiwana, Yoichi Hachitani, Xuelu Zou, Mikio Ikenishi, Kinobu Osakabe
  • Magnetic recording medium having space dots and recording dots alternatively formed in the recording track and method of making the same
    Patent number: 8785009
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a plurality of recording tracks magnetically continuous with respect to a recording direction and arranged intermittently in a track width direction, a plurality of recording dots intermittently formed in the recording tracks in the recording direction and a plurality of space dots alternately formed in the recording track with the recording dots in the recording direction and having a magnetic moment per unit area smaller than a magnetic moment per unit area of the recording dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Hiroto Takeshita
  • Magneto-resistive effect element, magnetic head, and magnetic recording/reading apparatus
    Patent number: 8778515
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a practical magneto-resistive effect element for CPP-GMR, which exhibits appropriate resistance-area-product and high magnetoresistance change ratio, and meets the demand for a narrow read gap. Certain embodiments of a magneto-resistive effect element in accordance with the present invention include a pinned ferromagnetic layer containing a first ferromagnetic film having a magnetization direction fixed in one direction, a free ferromagnetic layer containing a second ferromagnetic film having a magnetization direction varying in response to an external magnetic field, an intermediate layer provided between the pinned ferromagnetic layer and the free ferromagnetic layer, and a current confinement layer for confining a current. At least one of the pinned ferromagnetic layer or the free ferromagnetic layer includes a highly spin polarized layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yo Sato, Katsumi Hoshino, Hiroyuki Hoshiya
  • Production method of base plate for disk drive, base plate for disk drive, and drive therewith
    Patent number: 8778516
    Abstract: A production method of a base plate for a disk drive made by aluminum die casting which can reduce scattering of particles and minimizes particle contamination is provided. The production method of a base plate for a disk drive includes a forming step for forming a base member by aluminum die casting, a coating step for coating the base member with a resin film, a machining step for removing a part of the resin film and a surface layer of the base member in order to expose the aluminum surface, a pretreatment step for immersing the base member with the exposed aluminum surface in a pretreatment solution containing no fluoride, and a metal film forming step for coating the exposed aluminum surface with a metal film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Kobayashi, Akihiko Suzuki, Osamu Takahashi
  • Reader stop-layers
    Patent number: 8771847
    Abstract: Tolerances for manufacturing reader structures for transducer heads continue to grow smaller and storage density in corresponding storage media increases. Reader stop layers may be utilized during manufacturing of reader structures to protect various layers of the reader structure from recession and/or scratches while processing other non-protected layers of the reader structure. For example, the stop layer may have a very low polish rate during mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing. Surrounding areas may be significantly polished while a structure protected by a stop layer with a very low polish rate is substantially unaffected. The stop layer may then be removed via etching, for example, after the mechanical or chemical-mechanical polishing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology
    Inventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay
  • Substrate for suspension, and production process thereof
    Patent number: 8758910
    Abstract: The present invention provides a substrate for suspension that includes a first structural part including a metal supporting substrate, an insulating layer, a wiring layer, and a cover layer, and a second structural part formed so as to extend continuously from the first structural part and has no metal supporting substrate. A position of an edge of an upper surface of the insulating layer coincides with a position of an edge of the lower surface of the cover layer or the position of the edge of the upper surface of the insulating layer is positioned on a side closer to the wiring layer than to the position of the edge of the lower surface of the cover layer at a boundary region between the first structural part and the second structural part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichi Miura, Tsuyoshi Yamazaki
  • Perpendicular magnetic recording medium and perpendicular magnetic recording medium manufacturing method
    Patent number: 8758911
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed that includes a substrate, a main recording layer, a reinforcing layer, and a continuous layer which are overlaid in this order on the substrate. The reinforcing layer is provided between the main recording layer and the continuous layer so as to improve the S/N ratio of the magnetic recording medium and reduce the write fringing effect. The reinforcing layer has a granular structure. The saturation magnetization Ms of the reinforcing layer is higher than the saturation magnetization of the main recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: WD Media (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Sonobe, Kong Kim
  • Method and system for providing an improved sensor stack for a recording head
    Patent number: 8755152
    Abstract: A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a magnetic shield, an insertion layer on the magnetic shield, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a pinned layer magnetically coupled with the AFM layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The magnetic shield has a texture and a grain size. The insertion layer has a thickness that is sufficiently large that the AFM layer is magnetically decoupled from the magnetic shield and sufficiently small that the AFM layer is structurally coupled with the magnetic shield. The pinned layer resides between the AFM layer and the nonmagnetic spacer layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer resides between the free layer and the pinned layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Chando Park, Qunwen Leng, Min Zhou, Sangmun Oh, Mahendra Pakala
  • Method and structure for ultra-high density, high data rate ferroelectric storage disk technology using stabilization by a surface conducting layer
    Patent number: 8743586
    Abstract: A electrometric access head includes a supporting substrate and a plurality of read elements mounted on the supporting substrate. Each read element includes an electrometric sensor for detection of a sign of polarization of domains within a ferroelectric data layer of a ferroelectric storage medium. The ferroelectric data layer serves as a layer for storing information as bits defined by the signs of polarization of domains within the ferroelectric data layer, each polarized domain including a volume dipole polarization within the ferroelectric data layer and including an area of bound charge on and adjacent to a surface of the ferroelectric data layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Dennis M. Newns
  • Method of making a thin seeded Co/Ni multilayer film with perpendicular anisotropy for read head sensor stabilization
    Patent number: 8734620
    Abstract: A method for producing a hard bias (HB) structure that stabilizes a free layer in an adjacent spin valve is disclosed. The HB structure includes a composite seed layer and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying (Co/Ni)x laminate. (Co/Ni)x deposition involves low power and high Ar pressure to avoid damaging Co/Ni interfaces and thereby preserves PMA. A capping layer is formed on the HB layer to protect against etchants in subsequent processing. After initialization, HB magnetization direction is perpendicular to the sidewalls of the spin valve and generates an Mrt value that is greater than from an equivalent thickness of CoPt. A non-magnetic metal separation layer may be formed on the capping layer and spin valve to provide an electrical connection between top and bottom shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhang Kunliang, Li Min, Zhou Yuchen, Zheng Min
  • Corrosion resistant granular magnetic stack
    Patent number: 8728637
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant granular magnetic recording medium with improved recording performance comprises a non-magnetic substrate having a surface; and a layer stack on the substrate surface, including, in order from the surface: a granular magnetic recording layer; an intermediate magnetic de-coupling layer; and a corrosion preventing magnetic cap layer. The intermediate magnetic de-coupling layer has an optimal thickness and/or composition for: (1) promoting magnetic exchange de-coupling between the granular magnetic recording layer and the magnetic cap layer; and (2) reducing the dynamic closure field (Hcl) for determining writeability and eraseability of the medium. Grain boundaries of the magnetic cap layer are substantially oxide-free, and have a greater density and lower average porosity and surface roughness than those of the granular magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Zyee-Shan Wu, Mason Lu, Kueir W. Chour, Connie C. Liu, Edward T. Yen, Lynn Li, Steve Hwang
  • Thin film magnetic head, magnetic head slider, head gimbal assembly, head arm assembly, magnetic disk device and method of manufacturing thin film magnetic head
    Patent number: 8724264
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head including a magnetoresistive element (MR) having higher reading performance. In manufacturing the thin film magnetic head, after forming an MR element, a pair of magnetic domain controlling layers are formed by stacking a buffer layer, a magnetic bias layer and a first cap layer in this order on both sides, in a track-width direction, of the MR element via an insulating layer, respectively. Then, a second cap layer is formed to cover the upper surface of the MR element and connect the pair of cap-layers. Then, a gap adjustment layer and a top shielding layer are formed to cover the pair of first cap layers and the second cap layer, completing a read head section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Hirata, Takayasu Kanaya, Kosuke Tanaka, Shinji Hara
  • Magnetic memory devices and methods of manufacturing such magnetic memory devices
    Patent number: 8722211
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device may include a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and a tunnel barrier layer arranged on a substrate. The tunnel barrier layer may include a crystal structure and may be arranged between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. At least the first ferromagnetic layer may include a first layer in contact with the tunnel barrier layer and a second layer in contact with the first layer, and an orientation of the first layer with respect to the tunnel barrier layer may be greater than an orientation of the second layer with respect to the tunnel barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woojin Kim, Jangeun Lee, Sechung Oh, KyungTae Nam, Dae Kyom Kim, Junho Jeong
  • Magnetic recording medium with a non-magnetic granular layer under a plurality of granular magnetic layers and storage apparatus
    Patent number: 8722212
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a non-magnetic granular layer, and a recording layer provided on the non-magnetic granular layer, wherein the recording layer includes a first granular magnetic layer provided on the non-magnetic granular layer, and a second granular magnetic layer provided on the first granular magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic material magnetically separating metal grains of the non-magnetic granular layer is different from a non-magnetic material magnetically separating magnetic grains of the first granular magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Showa Denko K.K.
    Inventors: Ryo Kurita, Satoshi Igarashi, Isatake Kaitsu, Akira Kikuchi
  • Reduced spacing recording apparatus
    Patent number: 8715840
    Abstract: Aspects include recording media with enhanced areal density through reduction of head media spacing, head keeper spacing, or head to soft underlayer spacing. Such aspects comprise replacing currently non-magnetic components of devices, such as interlayers and overcoats with components and compositions comprising magnetic materials. Other aspects relate to magnetic seed layers deposited within a recording medium. Preferably, these aspects, embodied as methods, systems and/or components thereof reduce effective magnetic spacing without sacrificing physical spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kaizhong Gao, Bin Lu, Bogdan Florin Valcu, Xiaoding Ma
  • Magnetic memory element, driving method for same, and nonvolatile storage device
    Patent number: 8709617
    Abstract: In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a magnetic memory element records information in a spin valve structure having a free layer, a pinning layer, and a nonmagnetic layer sandwiched therebetween. The magnetic memory element further has, on the free layer, a separate nonmagnetic layer and a magnetic change layer having magnetic characteristics which change according to temperature. Multiple cutouts, including one cutout with a different shape, are provided in a peripheral portion of the spin valve structure. A method of driving the magnetic memory element is characterized in that information is recorded by applying unipolar electric pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Ogimoto, Haruo Kawakami
  • Near-field transducers for focusing light
    Patent number: 8711662
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a dielectric component and a metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the dielectric component. An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a first metallic component, a first dielectric layer positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first metallic component, and a second metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first dielectric component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lien Lee, Xuhui Jin, Kaizhong Gao, Amit Itagi, William A. Challener
  • Magnetic recording medium, method of manufacturing the same, and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus
    Patent number: 8703308
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a soft magnetic layer, a multilayered underlayer formed on the soft magnetic layer, and a continuous film type magnetic recording layer formed on the multilayered underlayer. The multilayered underlayer includes a first underlayer made of copper and containing crystal grains having a (100)-oriented, face-centered cubic lattice structure, a second underlayer formed on the first underlayer and made of copper and nitrogen, and a third underlayer formed into islands on the second underlayer. The continuous film type magnetic recording layer contains at least one element selected from Fe and Co and at least one element selected from Pt and Pd, has the L10 structure, and mainly contains (001)-oriented magnetic crystal grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Maeda
  • Magnetic recording media with enhanced writability and thermal stability
    Patent number: 8685547
    Abstract: Aspects are directed to recording media with enhanced magnetic properties for improved writability. Examples can be included or related to methods, systems and components that allow for improved writability while reducing defects so as to obtain uniform magnetic properties such as uniformly high anisotropy and narrow switching field distribution. Some examples include a recording medium with an exchange tuning layer inserted between the hard layer and the soft, semi-soft or thin semi-hard layer so as to maximize the writability improvement of the media. Preferably, the exchange tuning layer is granular and reduces or optimizes the vertical coupling between the hard layer and the soft, semi-soft or semi-hard layer of a magnetic recording or storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Bo Bian, Shoutao Wang, Weilu Xu, Abebe Hailu, Miaogen Lu, Charles C. Chen, Thomas Patrick Nolan, Alexander Yulievich Dobin