Abstract: Methods comprising providing a pre-patterned substrate having an array of thick walls, depositing a conforming layer on the pre-patterned substrate, etching the conforming layer from the top of the thick walls and the space between the walls, and etching the thick walls while leaving thin walls of conforming layer.

Abstract: A method of making a disc for a computer disc drive and a disc made in accordance with the same. The disc includes a deposited magnetic layer of a thin film medium over a disc-shaped substrate. A master pattern having a plurality of tracks is recorded on the disc. Each track on the disc includes a plurality of magnetic islands, each having a size and magnetic properties. The size and/or magnetic properties of one or more of the magnetic islands of each track are modulated such that each track has a modulation frequency, so as to imprint a magnetic topology on the disc. The modulation frequency of each track is either a fundamental frequency or an overtone of the fundamental frequency.

Abstract: A recording system for magnetic storage devices, including a beam column for generating a beam, a platform for moving a magnetic storage medium relative to the beam, and a signal generator for sequentially, or in a continuously alternating manner, deflecting the beam. In turn, the beam is directed according to displacement of dots on the extent of the magnetic storage medium such that dots of a plurality of dot groupings can be written to on the extent during a single pass of the beam column above the extent.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting write synchronization of a magnetic storage device with respect to magnetic storage media and its corresponding writable magnetic bits, or dots. In particular, these systems and methods involve using time-shifting principles to calibrate the magnetic storage devices to correct slow drifts of reader-writer timing. It is to be appreciated that time-shifting techniques can be applied in a variety of manners. For example, the very dots on the media can be positioned in time-shifted fashion. In another example, the writing to the dots can be time-shifted.

Abstract: Processes include aligning a disc with a template at a location so that the pattern from the template is transferred to the disc in a relative orientation. The relative orientation provides that when the disc with the transferred pattern is finally assembled into a hard disc drive, an inner diameter of the spindle hole of the disc may be abutted against an outer diameter of the disc drive spindle, and the data-containing patterns on the discs will be aligned concentrically with a center of the disc drive spindle. While the data-containing patterns are aligned concentrically with the disc drive spindle, the substrate itself is allowed to be non-concentric.

Abstract: A method of performing writable optical recording of a medium to form multilevel oriented nano-structures therein, comprises steps of providing a disc-shaped, writable recording medium having a planar surface; and encoding data/information in the medium by forming a plurality of multilevel nano-structured pits in the surface by scanning with a focused spot of optical energy to form at least one data track therein, including scanning the optical spot in a cross-track direction while rotating the disc about a central axis.

Abstract: A magnetic device having a magnetic feature, the magnetic feature including magnetic portions, a stop layer portion on each magnetic portion, and a region of non-magnetic material adjacent to the magnetic portions and the stop layer portions, where the stop layer portions define planar upper boundaries for the magnetic portions and an endpoint in planarization of the magnetic feature.

Abstract: A polarization detection system structured for optical read-out of disc-shaped optical data/information storage and retrieval media with surfaces comprised of pits or marks configured as multilevel oriented nano-structures (ONS) with varying pit or mark orientations and widths. The polarization detection system comprises: an optical beam source; a stage for mounting and rotating an optical disc medium about a central axis; at least one photodetector; a beam splitter positioned in an optical path between the source and stage, for directing an incident beam from the source onto an optical disc mounted on the stage and a return beam from the disc onto the photodetector; and an optical polarizer positioned in an optical path between the beam splitter and the at least one photodetector, for detection and analysis of changes in polarization of the return beam effected by variation of the orientation of the walls and/or widths of the pits or marks of the disc.

Abstract: An imprint template is provided with a shallower field bordering the patterned region. The shallower field can be formed with additional lithography/etch steps after (or before) the formation of the features in the patterned region. The template is used to establish a thin film pattern with a field thickness that is shallower than the pattern. A shallower field bordering the patterned region alleviates sidewall re-deposition during ion mill. In a planarization/etch-back process, a thinner field helps to achieve a flat top surface by compensating for the thickness variation caused by different filling ratios. Fabrication of the recessed field template comprises a multi-step patterning process. The initial patterns are formed using a convention fabrication process.

Abstract: A method of performing writable optical recording of a medium to form multilevel oriented nano-structures therein, comprises steps of providing a disc-shaped, writable recording medium having a planar surface; and encoding data/information in the medium by forming a plurality of multilevel nano-structured pits in the surface by scanning with a focused spot of optical energy to form at least one data track therein, including scanning the optical spot in a cross-track direction while rotating the disc about a central axis.

Abstract: An electrodeposited magnetic recording medium having multiple coercivity values is disclosed. In some embodiments, layers having different coercivity levels may be separated by exchange coupled composites and in other embodiments a range of coercivity levels are deposited in a gradient fashion. In some embodiments, the layers with multiple coercivity values comprise bit patterned media islands formed from a photoresist.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a patterned magnetic recording medium, comprises steps of: (a) providing a layer stack including an uppermost non-magnetic interlayer; (b) forming a resist layer on the interlayer; (c) forming a first pattern comprising a first group of recesses extending through the resist layer and exposing a first group of spaced apart surface portions of the interlayer; (d) filling the first group of recesses with a layer of a hard mask material; (e) selectively removing the resist layer to form a second pattern comprising a second group of recesses extending through the hard mask layer and exposing a second group of spaced apart surface portions of the interlayer; and (f) filling the second group of recesses with a layer of a magnetically hard material forming a magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: Methods comprising providing a pre-patterned substrate having an array of thick walls, depositing a conforming layer on the pre-patterned substrate, etching the conforming layer from the top of the thick walls and the space between the walls, and etching the thick walls while leaving thin walls of conforming layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a patterned magnetic recording medium, comprises steps of: (a) providing a layer stack including an uppermost non-magnetic interlayer; (b) forming a resist layer on the interlayer; (c) forming a first pattern comprising a first group of recesses extending through the resist layer and exposing a first group of spaced apart surface portions of the interlayer; (d) filling the first group of recesses with a layer of a hard mask material; (e) selectively removing the resist layer to form a second pattern comprising a second group of recesses extending through the hard mask layer and exposing a second group of spaced apart surface portions of the interlayer; and (f) filling the second group of recesses with a layer of a magnetically hard material forming a magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to bit patterned recording media having a stop layer for chemical mechanical polishing. One embodiment of the present invention is a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprising the step of planarizing by chemical mechanical polishing until the stop layer is reached. The present invention also provides a magnetic recording medium having a stop layer.

Abstract: A method of making a disc for a computer disc drive and a disc made in accordance with the same. The disc includes a deposited magnetic layer of a thin film medium over a disc-shaped substrate. A master pattern having a plurality of tracks is recorded on the disc. Each track on the disc includes a plurality of magnetic islands, each having a size and magnetic properties. The size and/or magnetic properties of one or more of the magnetic islands of each track are modulated such that each track has a modulation frequency, so as to imprint a magnetic topology on the disc. The modulation frequency of each track is either a fundamental frequency or an overtone of the fundamental frequency.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for correcting write synchronization of a magnetic storage device with respect to magnetic storage media and its corresponding writable magnetic bits, or dots. In particular, these systems and methods involve using time-shifting principles to calibrate the magnetic storage devices to correct slow drifts of reader-writer timing. It is to be appreciated that time-shifting techniques can be applied in a variety of manners. For example, the very dots on the media can be positioned in time-shifted fashion. In another example, the writing to the dots can be time-shifted.

Abstract: A recording system for magnetic storage devices, including a beam column for generating a beam, a platform for moving a magnetic storage medium relative to the beam, and a signal generator for sequentially, or in a continuously alternating manner, deflecting the beam. In turn, the beam is directed according to displacement of dots on the extent of the magnetic storage medium such that dots of a plurality of dot groupings can be written to on the extent during a single pass of the beam column above the extent.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a stamper/imprinter for patterning of a recording medium via thermally assisted nano-imprint lithography, comprising steps of: providing a first stamper/imprinter comprising a topographically patterned surface having a correspondence to a selected pattern to be formed in a surface of the medium; injection molding a layer of a polymeric material in conformal contact with the topographically patterned surface of the first stamper/imprinter; and separating the layer of polymeric material from the topographically patterned surface of the first stamper/imprinter to form a second stamper/imprinter comprising a topographically patterned stamping/imprinting surface including a plurality of projections and depressions with dimensions and spacings having a correspondence to the selected pattern to be formed in a surface of the medium.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a master stamper/imprinter for manufacturing a patterned recording medium by nano-imprint lithography comprises steps of: (a) providing a substrate having a surface; (b) forming a layer of a hybrid resist material on the surface, the resist layer having an exposed upper surface; (c) subjecting selected areas of the exposed upper surface of the resist layer to an energy beam to form therein a latent image of a topographical pattern to be formed in the resist layer and having a correspondence to a pattern to be formed in a patterned recording medium; and (d) developing the latent image into the topographical pattern in the resist layer, wherein only those areas of the resist layer which have received an energy beam exposure dose between a positive-tone threshold dose D0p and a negative-tone threshold dose D0n are developed.