Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a trailing shield, a main pole, an STO disposed between the trailing shield and the main pole, and a non-magnetic conductive structure adjacent to the main pole and in contact with the STO. The STO includes an FGL and an SPL, and the FGL is disposed between the main pole and the SPL. The FGL includes a side extending over the main pole and at least a portion of the non-magnetic conductive structure. With the FGL disposed proximate to the main pole and over at least a portion of the non-magnetic conductive structure, current crowding and disturbance from the trailing shield are minimized.

Abstract: A microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head includes a main pole and a trailing shield. A spin torque oscillator device is disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield. The spin torque oscillator device includes a free layer. A trailing shield hot seed layer is disposed between the spin torque oscillator device and the trailing shield. The trailing shield hot seed layer includes a magnetic material doped with a rare earth element. In certain embodiments, the trailing shield hot seed layer includes the rare earth element in an atomic percent content from about 2% to about 10% atomic percent. In certain embodiments, the trailing shield hot seed layer has an intrinsic damping from about 0.02 to about 0.2.

Abstract: A current-assisted magnetic recording write head has an electrically conductive layer in the write gap between the write pole and the trailing shield. Electrical circuitry directs current between the write pole and the trailing shield, through the conductive layer in the write gap. The current through the conductive layer generates an Ampere field substantially orthogonal to the magnetization in the write pole to assist magnetization switching of the write pole. The conductive layer is wider in the cross-track direction than the trailing edge of the write pole and may extend beyond the write pole side gaps so as to be in contact with both the side shields and the trailing shield. The conductive layer may have substantially the same along-the-track thickness across its width or it may have a thicker central region at the write pole trailing edge and thinner side regions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic recording devices and methods of using them. A magnetic recording device comprises a main pole extending to an air-bearing surface (ABS), a trailing shield extending to the ABS, a write-field-enhancing structure disposed between and coupled to the main pole and the trailing shield at the ABS, a write coil configured to magnetize the main pole, a write current control circuit coupled to the write coil and configured to apply a write current to the write coil, wherein the write current comprises a write pulse, and a bias current control circuit coupled to the write-field-enhancing structure and configured to apply a bias current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the bias current comprises a driving pulse offset in time from the write pulse by a delay, wherein the delay substantially coincides with an expected magnetization switch-time lag of a free layer of the write-field-enhancing 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: Disclosed herein are perpendicular magnetic recording writers for providing spin-torque-assisted write field enhancement, and hard disk drives comprising such magnetic write heads. A spin-torque-assisting element is disposed in the write gap and extends to the air-bearing surface (ABS). The spin-torque-assisting element comprises a non-magnetic layer in contact with a main pole, a DC-field generation (DFG) layer with a first side in contact with the non-magnetic layer, and a spacer layer in contact with a second side of the DFG layer. A magnetization of the DFG layer is configured to be aligned substantially parallel to a write gap magnetic field generated by the main pole during a write process, and the magnetization of the DFG layer is configured to flip its direction in response to application of a bias current exceeding a specified magnitude.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head is disclosed having a main pole, a shield hot seed layer positioned at a first side of the main pole, a first material positioned at both a second side and a third side of the main pole, the first material connected to the main pole, a second material positioned adjacent to the first material on the second side and the third side of the main pole, the second material comprised of a spin torque layer, a third material positioned adjacent to the second material on the second side and the third side of the main pole, a fourth material positioned adjacent to the third material on the second side and the third side of the main pole and a side shield connected on an exterior side of the fourth material.

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: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a trailing shield, a main pole, an STO disposed between the trailing shield and the main pole, and a non-magnetic conductive structure adjacent to the main pole and in contact with the STO. The STO includes an FGL and an SPL, and the FGL is disposed between the main pole and the SPL. The FGL includes a side extending over the main pole and at least a portion of the non-magnetic conductive structure. With the FGL disposed proximate to the main pole and over at least a portion of the non-magnetic conductive structure, current crowding and disturbance from the trailing shield are minimized.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic write heads for providing spin-torque-assisted write field enhancement, and hard disk drives comprising such magnetic write heads. Within the write gap, each magnetic write head comprises a main pole, a trailing shield, a spacer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, a non-magnetic layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, and a magnetic DC-field-generation (DFG) layer adjacent to the spacer and disposed between the spacer and the non-magnetic layer. In some embodiments, the DFG layer is the only magnetic layer within the write gap that is not adjacent to the main pole or the trailing shield.

Abstract: A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head has a spin-torque oscillator (STO) and a ferromagnetic compensation layer between the write pole and trailing shield. The compensation layer is separated from the free layer by a nonmagnetic barrier layer that prevents spin-polarized electrons from the free layer from reaching the compensation layer. The compensation layer may be located between the write pole and the free layer. Electrons become spin-polarized by the compensation layer and are reflected back from the write pole across a nonmagnetic spacer layer. This causes the magnetization of the compensation layer to flip and become antiparallel to the magnetization of the free layer. The compensation layer thus generates a DC offset field that compensates for the negative effect of the DC shunting field from the free layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic write heads and data storage devices comprising such write heads. A magnetic write head comprises a leading side, a trailing side, an air-bearing surface (ABS), a main pole disposed between the leading side and the trailing side and extending to the ABS, a first return pole disposed between the main pole and the leading side, and a second return pole disposed between the main pole and the trailing side. One or both of the main pole and the second return pole may be tapered.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head is disclosed having a main pole, a shield hot seed layer positioned at a first side of the main pole, a first material positioned at both a second side and a third side of the main pole, the first material connected to the main pole, a second material positioned adjacent to the first material on the second side and the third side of the main pole, the second material comprised of a spin torque layer, a third material positioned adjacent to the second material on the second side and the third side of the main pole, a fourth material positioned adjacent to the third material on the second side and the third side of the main pole and a side shield connected on an exterior side of the fourth material.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a main pole, a trailing shield, a write-field-enhancing structure, a write coil, a write current control circuit configured to supply a write current to the write coil to record a bit to a magnetic medium, and a driving current control circuit configured to supply a driving current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the driving current comprises a driving pulse, and wherein the driving current comprises an AC component with a duty cycle selected based at least in part on a power constraint. A method of writing to a magnetic medium comprises supplying a write current to a write coil of a magnetic write head, and supplying a driving current to a free layer disposed in a write gap between a main pole and a trailing shield, wherein the driving current comprises an AC component with a duty cycle based at least in part on a power constraint.

Abstract: A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head has a spin-torque oscillator (STO) and a ferromagnetic compensation layer between the write pole and trailing shield. The compensation layer is separated from the free layer by a nonmagnetic barrier layer that prevents spin-polarized electrons from the free layer from reaching the compensation layer. The compensation layer may be located between the write pole and the free layer. Electrons become spin-polarized by the compensation layer and are reflected back from the write pole across a nonmagnetic spacer layer. This causes the magnetization of the compensation layer to flip and become antiparallel to the magnetization of the free layer. The compensation layer thus generates a DC offset field that compensates for the negative effect of the DC shunting field from the free layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic write heads and data storage devices comprising such write heads. A magnetic write head comprises a leading side, a trailing side, an air-bearing surface (ABS), a main pole disposed between the leading side and the trailing side and extending to the ABS, a first return pole disposed between the main pole and the leading side, and a second return pole disposed between the main pole and the trailing side. One or both of the main pole and the second return pole may be tapered.

Abstract: A portrait lens configuration for meeting handheld device form factor constraints. First and second meniscus lenses each have a reflective surface to provide internal reflections for transmitting light toward a focal plane. A third lens is positioned between the meniscus lenses and the focal plane. The first lens includes an anterior concave surface having a reflective material extending over a portion thereof. Light received by the first meniscus lens can be transmitted therethrough. The reflective material is positioned along the anterior concave surface to receive light transmitted therethrough and reflected back from the second lens. In an associated method the first meniscus lens is positioned to receive light through a first of two opposing refractive surfaces. After each lens provides an internal reflection, reflected light is transmitted through the second of the two opposing surfaces and then through a bore positioned within the second lens to the third lens.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic write heads and hard disk drives comprising such magnetic write heads. A magnetic head comprises a magnetic pole, a first shield separated from the magnetic pole at an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head, a magnetic layer disposed between the magnetic pole and the first shield, wherein the magnetic layer comprises at least of iron, cobalt, or nickel, a first non-magnetic layer disposed between the magnetic pole and the magnetic layer, and a second non-magnetic layer disposed between the magnetic layer and the first shield, wherein the magnetic layer is the only magnetic layer at the ABS that is between the main pole and the first shield that is not adjacent to the main pole or the first shield.

Abstract: A portrait lens configuration for meeting handheld device form factor constraints. First and second meniscus lenses each have a reflective surface to provide internal reflections for transmitting light toward a focal plane. A third lens is positioned between the meniscus lenses and the focal plane. The first lens includes an anterior concave surface having a reflective material extending over a portion thereof. Light received by the first meniscus lens can be transmitted therethrough. The reflective material is positioned along the anterior concave surface to receive light transmitted therethrough and reflected back from the second lens. In an associated method the first meniscus lens is positioned to receive light through a first of two opposing refractive surfaces. After each lens provides an internal reflection, reflected light is transmitted through the second of the two opposing surfaces and then through a bore positioned within the second lens to the third lens.

Abstract: An optical system for an image acquisition device comprises an image sensor comprising an array of pixels including pixels sensitive to IR wavelengths for acquiring an image. A lens assembly includes a collecting lens surface with an optical axis, the lens assembly being arranged to focus IR light received from a given object distance on the sensor surface. The lens assembly includes at least a first reflective surface for reflecting collected light along an axis transverse to the optical axis so that a length of the optical system along the optical axis is reduced by comparison to a focal length of the lens assembly.