Abstract: A planarization process may planarize a media disk that has data trenches between data features and larger servo trenches between servo features. A filler material layer is deposited on the media disk and provides step coverage of the trenches. The filler material has data recesses over the data trenches and servo recesses over the servo trenches that must be removed to produce a planar media surface. A first planarization process is used to remove the data recesses and a second planarization process is used to remove the servo recesses.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a method of protecting patterned magnetic materials of a stack, including depositing a thin continuous film of an inert material that is inert to the magnetic materials of a patterned stack upon which the thin continuous film is being deposited and forming a thin interim interface layer from the thin continuous film to protect top and sidewall areas of non-etched higher relief magnetic islands and magnetic film etched surfaces of the patterned stack from air exposure damage and damage from contact with backfilled materials.

Abstract: A planarization process may planarize a media disk that has data trenches between data features and larger servo trenches between servo features. A filler material layer is deposited on the media disk and provides step coverage of the trenches. The filler material has data recesses over the data trenches and servo recesses over the servo trenches that must be removed to produce a planar media surface. A first planarization process is used to remove the data recesses and a second planarization process is used to remove the servo recesses.

Abstract: The embodiments disclose a method of protecting patterned magnetic materials of a stack, including depositing a thin continuous film of an inert material that is inert to the magnetic materials of a patterned stack upon which the thin continuous film is being deposited and forming a thin interim interface layer from the thin continuous film to protect top and sidewall areas of non-etched higher relief magnetic islands and magnetic film etched surfaces of the patterned stack from air exposure damage and damage from contact with backfilled materials.

Abstract: A planarization process may planarize a media disk that has data trenches between data features and larger servo trenches between servo features. A filler material layer is deposited on the media disk and provides step coverage of the trenches. The filler material has data recesses over the data trenches and servo recesses over the servo trenches that must be removed to produce a planar media surface. A first planarization process is used to remove the data recesses and a second planarization process is used to remove the servo recesses.

Abstract: A method for nano-patterning includes imprinting features in a resist with an imprint mold to form one or more topographic surface patterns on the imprinted resist. A a block copolymer (“BCP”) material is deposited on the imprinted resist, wherein a molecular dimension L0 of the BCP material correlates by an integer multiple to a spacing dimension of the one or more topographic surface patterns on the imprinted resist. The deposited BCP is annealed and at least a portion of the annealed BCP is removed, forming a template having discrete domains.

Abstract: A planarization process may planarize a media disk that has data trenches between data features and larger servo trenches between servo features. A filler material layer is deposited on the media disk and provides step coverage of the trenches. The filler material has data recesses over the data trenches and servo recesses over the servo trenches that must be removed to produce a planar media surface. A first planarization process is used to remove the data recesses and a second planarization process is used to remove the servo recesses.

Abstract: A recordable magnetic media includes a servo pattern having a plurality of adjacent alternating magnetic and nonmagnetic material stripes. At least some of the magnetic material stripes have magnetic transitions that define encoded data.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic layer is formed by bombardment of a masked high Mrt magnetic layer with a combination of both heavy ion species and light ion species. The method can be implemented as sequential process steps or in a single process step with the proper heavy/light ion species mixture. Advantageously, the combined heavy/light ion species bombardment method results in a patterned magnetic layer having high topographical uniformity across its surface.

Abstract: A rotating recording device, such as an electron beam recorder, is provided with a dual encoder arrangement. A first encoder is employed as a spindle motor controller and located at a first end of a spindle. A second encoder is mounted at a turntable adjacent to a recording surface and used as a position, velocity or clock source for recording the pattern on the substrate. Eccentricity of the mounting of the second encoder is measured against the more accurately mounted spindle control encoder and compensated by a digital clock generating system using a digital phase locked loop.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide an electron beam substrate processing system. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an electron beam substrate processing system where a spindle shaft used to rotate substrates during processing includes two encoder wheels. One encoder wheel is configured to provide a rotational speed data signal to a rotational speed control system. Another encoder wheel is configured to provide a pattern generator clock signal at a higher frequency than the rotational speed data signal to a pattern generator. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the encoder wheels is positioned adjacent the substrate to minimize torsional and differential movements between the at least one encoder wheel and the substrate.

Abstract: A device for use in performing simultaneous contact printing of magnetic patterns in opposing surfaces of a dual-sided magnetic or magneto-optical (MO) recording medium, comprising: (a) a fixedly mounted first magnetic pole having a first end surface; (b) an axially movable second magnetic pole in axial alignment with the first magnetic pole, the second magnetic pole having a second end surface opposite to and facing the first end surface of the first magnetic pole; (c) a first portion of a centering insert fixture mounted on the first end surface of the first magnetic pole; and (d) a second portion of a centering insert fixture mounted on the second end surface of the second magnetic pole.

Abstract: A method of performing thermal imprint lithography of a surface of a thermoplastic layer-coated workpiece for forming a pattern therein comprises pre-heating the workpiece to a pre-selected high temperature prior to inserting the workpiece in a stamping/imprinting tool maintained at a predetermined lower temperature, whereby the interval for thermal cycling of the stamping/imprinting tool between higher and lower temperatures is eliminated or at least reduced. Applications of the method include forming servo patterns in disk-shaped substrates for hard disk recording media.

Abstract: A method for measuring servo pattern irregularity and other servo information of pre-patterned servo media mounted on a spindle with the center of the pre-pattern tracks off center from the axis rotation of the spindle. An actuator is stepped radially while measuring the PES signals from the servo sectors of at least one highly eccentric track to form a cross track profile of the PES signals for each sector. A mathematical algorithm removes step measurement error from the data. A second mathematical algorithm removes non-repeatable random noise from the data. The amount of phase-in that radially aligns the respective cross track profiles is computed. Servo pattern written-in repeatable runout is determined by unwrapping the phase-in values to form a periodic curve.

Abstract: A method for patterning a carbon-containing substrate utilizing a patterned layer of a resist material as a mask and then safely removing the mask from the substrate without adversely affecting the substrate, comprising sequential steps of: (a) providing a substrate including a surface comprising carbon; (b) forming a thin metal layer on the substrate surface; (c) forming a layer of a resist material on the thin metal layer; (d) patterning the layer of resist material; (e) patterning the substrate utilizing the patterned layer of resist material as a pattern-defining mask; and (f) removing the mask utilizing the thin metal layer as a wet strippable layer or a plasma etch/ash stop layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing interferometric measurement/testing of flying heights of read-write head sliders utilizing an improved rotating disk, the disk having a central opening for use with a spindle for rotation about a central axis, the disk comprising: a substrate comprised of a light transmissive material and including a pair of opposed, smooth, major surfaces; and a wear-resistant, protective overcoat layer on one of the major surfaces for improving the tribological properties thereof; wherein the optical properties of the one surface of the disk are optimized for enhancing the sensitivity of the interferometric measurement/testing by increasing the intensity of reflected light received by a detector of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for measuring servo pattern irregularity and other servo information of pre-patterned servo media mounted on a spindle with the center of the pre-pattern tracks off center from the axis rotation of the spindle. An actuator is stepped radially while measuring the PES signals from the servo sectors of at least one highly eccentric track to form a cross track profile of the PES signals for each sector. A mathematical algorithm removes step measurement error from the data. A second mathematical algorithm removes non-repeatable random noise from the data. The amount of phase-in that radially aligns the respective cross track profiles is computed. Servo pattern written-in repeatable runout is determined by unwrapping the phase-in values to form a periodic curve.

Abstract: A combination glide test/burnishing head can be utilized in a glide test/burnishing system. The combination glide test/burnishing head includes two piezo-electric elements, which can be utilized in a passive mode as sensors for detecting contacts between the glide test/burnishing head and asperities on the surface of a magnetic recording disc. Contact between the glide test/burnishing head and disc asperities results in generation of a defect detection signal, which can be utilized by associated test logic to define the location of the detected asperities on the disc surface. The piezo-electric elements of the glide test/burnishing head can also be utilized in an active mode to cause yaw variation in the flight attitude of the glide test/burnishing head, in turn causing a burnishing pad on the glide test/burnishing head to be moved radially into contact with a detected disc asperity.

Abstract: A storage medium is provided that includes a texture zone having a plurality of protrusions. Each of the protrusions is separated by a short circumferential pitch. Alternatively, the texture zone includes a plurality of protrusions with a circumferential pitch less than the diameter of any protrusion. The resonance excitation between the magnetic head and the storage medium in the data storage system is reduced by forming the texture zone with the protrusions that cause the excitation frequencies of the data storage system to shift away from its resonance frequencies.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for data disks adapted to compensate for effects of shock loads imparted to a disk drive which are of sufficient magnitude to cause disk shifts. A series of topographical features are formed on the disk surface or edge to cause signal fluctuation in a sensor during read-back mode operation. An initial signal profile is stored as a map indicative of track or disk alignment with respect to the actuator assembly. Selectively, such as after a known shock event, the topographical features are re-profiled. A comparison of the profiles provides a measure of any track distortion which must be compensated for in future read-write operations by adjustments to data track servo follower algorithms.