Patents by Inventor Eric Walter Singleton
Eric Walter Singleton has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10147447Abstract: A magnetic stack is disclosed. The magnetic stack includes a magnetically responsive lamination that includes a ferromagnetic free layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure, and a spacer layer positioned between the ferromagnetic free layer and the SAF structure. The magnetically responsive lamination is separated from a sensed data bit stored in an adjacent medium by an air bearing surface (ABS). The stack also includes a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure coupled to the SAF structure a predetermined offset distance from the ABS, and a second AFM structure that is separated from the first AFM structure by a first shield layer.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge, Shaun Eric McKinlay, Jae-Young Yi
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Patent number: 9928857Abstract: A data reader generally capable of sensing data bits may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has free and fixed magnetization structures atop a magnetic seed layer. A bottom shield may be positioned contactingly adjacent the magnetic stack opposite a top shield with the bottom shield having a fixed pinning magnetization set to a predetermined magnetic orientation.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2015Date of Patent: March 27, 2018Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Liwen Tan, Jae-Young Yi
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Patent number: 9664572Abstract: An apparatus comprises a head transducer and a resistive temperature sensor provided on the head transducer. The resistive temperature sensor comprises a first layer comprising a conductive material and having a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and a second layer comprising at least one of a specular layer and a seed layer. A method is disclosed to fabricate such sensor with a laminated thin film structure to achieve a large TCR. The thicknesses of various layers in the laminated thin film are in the range of few to a few tens of nanometers. The combinations of the deliberately optimized multilayer thin film structures and the fabrication of such films at the elevated temperatures are disclosed to obtain the large TCR.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Wei Tian, Declan Macken, Huaqing Yin, Venkateswara Rao Inturi, Eric Walter Singleton
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Patent number: 9659585Abstract: A magnetic sensor has a bottom shield layer, an upper shield layer, and a sensor stack adjacent the upper shield layer. The sensor includes a seed layer between the bottom shield layer and an antiferromagnetic layer of the sensor stack. The seed layer has a magnetic layer adjacent the sensor stack and a nonmagnetic layer adjacent the bottom shield layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: May 23, 2017Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Antonia Tsoukatos, Liwen Tan, Jae-Young Yi
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Patent number: 9632149Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetic layer comprising magnetic material and a grain refining agent. The magnetic layer having a grain-refined magnetic layer surface. A layer adjacent the magnetic layer has a layer surface that conforms to the grain-refined magnetic layer surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Brian William Karr, Eric Walter Singleton, Qing He
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Patent number: 9542961Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 19, 2014Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay
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Publication number: 20160293186Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2014Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Carolyn Pitcher Van Dorn, Thomas Roy Boonstra, Eric Walter Singleton, Shaun Eric McKinlay
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Patent number: 9437224Abstract: A stack having a seed layer structure with a first part having a first cross-track width and a free layer deposited over the seed layer structure and with a second cross-track width, wherein the first cross-track width is greater than the second cross-track width. In one implementation, the seed layer structure further comprises an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer. In one alternate implementation, the cross-track width of the seed layer structure is substantially equal to the combined cross-track width of the free layer and cross-track width of two permanent magnets.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2014Date of Patent: September 6, 2016Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Jae-Young Yi, Konstantin Nikolaev, Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Stacey Christine Wakeham, Shaun Eric McKinlay
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Patent number: 9401163Abstract: A reader includes top and bottom reader stacks disposed between a top and bottom shield. The top and bottom reader stacks are offset relative to each other in a downtrack direction. Top side shields surround the top reader stack in a crosstrack direction, and bottom side shields surround the bottom reader stack in the crosstrack direction. A split middle shield is between the top and bottom reader stacks and the top and bottom side shields. The split middle shield includes top and bottom portions separated by an isolation layer, the top and bottom portions respectively coupled to the top and bottom reader stacks.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: July 26, 2016Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Shaun Eric McKinlay, Eric Walter Singleton, Samuel Martin Barthell
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Publication number: 20160196840Abstract: A magnetic stack is disclosed. The magnetic stack includes a magnetically responsive lamination that includes a ferromagnetic free layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure, and a spacer layer positioned between the ferromagnetic free layer and the SAF structure. The magnetically responsive lamination is separated from a sensed data bit stored in an adjacent medium by an air bearing surface (ABS). The stack also includes a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure coupled to the SAF structure a predetermined offset distance from the ABS, and a second AFM structure that is separated from the first AFM structure by a first shield layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2016Publication date: July 7, 2016Inventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge, Shaun Eric McKinlay, Jae-Young Yi
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Patent number: 9384762Abstract: The implementations disclosed herein provide for a spin transport sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) adjacent a shield element. The SAF extends to an air-bearing surface (ABS) and provides a current path from a current source to an ABS-region of a spin conductor layer. Spin current diffuses from the spin conductor layer to an adjacent free layer, which generates a measurable electrical voltage in a free layer of the spin transport sensor. The SAF serves as both a magnetic shield and a spin injector to the spin conductor layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2015Date of Patent: July 5, 2016Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge
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Patent number: 9361910Abstract: A reader includes top and bottom reader stacks that are offset relative to each other in a downtrack direction and disposed between a top shield and a bottom shield. Top side shields surround the top reader stack in a crosstrack direction, and bottom side shields surround the bottom reader stack in the crosstrack direction. A middle shield is between the top and bottom reader stacks and the top and bottom side shields. The middle shield includes a common electrical conductive path coupled to the top and bottom reader stacks. A middle lead is coupled to an edge of the middle shield.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2014Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Shaun Eric McKinlay, Eric Walter Singleton, Samuel Martin Barthell
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Patent number: 9305578Abstract: A magnetic stack is disclosed. The magnetic stack includes a magnetically responsive lamination that includes a ferromagnetic free layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure, and a spacer layer positioned between the ferromagnetic free layer and the SAF structure. The magnetically responsive lamination is separated from a sensed data bit stored in an adjacent medium by an air bearing surface (ABS). The stack also includes a first antiferromagnetic (AFM) structure coupled to the SAF structure a predetermined offset distance from the ABS, and a second AFM structure that is separated from the first AFM structure by a first shield layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: April 5, 2016Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge, Shaun Eric McKinlay, Jae-Young Yi
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Publication number: 20160005425Abstract: A reader includes top and bottom reader stacks that are offset relative to each other in a downtrack direction and disposed between a top shield and a bottom shield. Top side shields surround the top reader stack in a crosstrack direction, and bottom side shields surround the bottom reader stack in the crosstrack direction. A middle shield is between the top and bottom reader stacks and the top and bottom side shields. The middle shield includes a common electrical conductive path coupled to the top and bottom reader stacks. A middle lead is coupled to an edge of the middle shield.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Shaun Eric McKinlay, Eric Walter Singleton, Samuel Martin Barthell
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Publication number: 20160005424Abstract: A reader includes top and bottom reader stacks disposed between a top and bottom shield. The top and bottom reader stacks are offset relative to each other in a downtrack direction. Top side shields surround the top reader stack in a crosstrack direction, and bottom side shields surround the bottom reader stack in the crosstrack direction. A split middle shield is between the top and bottom reader stacks and the top and bottom side shields. The split middle shield includes top and bottom portions separated by an isolation layer, the top and bottom portions respectively coupled to the top and bottom reader stacks.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2014Publication date: January 7, 2016Inventors: Shaun Eric McKinlay, Eric Walter Singleton, Samuel Martin Barthell
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Publication number: 20150318004Abstract: A data reader generally capable of sensing data bits may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has free and fixed magnetization structures atop a magnetic seed layer. A bottom shield may be positioned contactingly adjacent the magnetic stack opposite a top shield with the bottom shield having a fixed pinning magnetization set to a predetermined magnetic orientation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2015Publication date: November 5, 2015Inventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Liwen Tan, Jae-Young Yi
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Publication number: 20150302872Abstract: The implementations disclosed herein provide for a spin transport sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) adjacent a shield element. The SAF extends to an air-bearing surface (ABS) and provides a current path from a current source to an ABS-region of a spin conductor layer. Spin current diffuses from the spin conductor layer to an adjacent free layer, which generates a measurable electrical voltage in a free layer of the spin transport sensor. The SAF serves as both a magnetic shield and a spin injector to the spin conductor layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 29, 2015Publication date: October 22, 2015Inventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge
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Patent number: 9087535Abstract: The implementations disclosed herein provide for a spin transport sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) adjacent a shield element. The SAF extends to an air-bearing surface (ABS) and provides a current path from a current source to an ABS-region of a spin conductor layer. Spin current diffuses from the spin conductor layer to an adjacent free layer, which generates a measurable electrical voltage in a free layer of the spin transport sensor. The SAF serves as both a magnetic shield and a spin injector to the spin conductor layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge
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Patent number: 9070382Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to a magnetic element capable of reading magnetic data bits. Such a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack laterally adjacent a side shield and non-magnetic pedestal on an air bearing surface (ABS). The non-magnetic pedestal can be configured to have a greater stripe height from the ABS than the side shield.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2013Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Victor Boris Sapozhnikov, Mohammed Shariat Ullah Patwari, Shaun Eric McKinlay, Eric Walter Singleton
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Publication number: 20150116870Abstract: The implementations disclosed herein provide for a spin transport sensor including a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) adjacent a shield element. The SAF extends to an air-bearing surface (ABS) and provides a current path from a current source to an ABS-region of a spin conductor layer. Spin current diffuses from the spin conductor layer to an adjacent free layer, which generates a measurable electrical voltage in a free layer of the spin transport sensor. The SAF serves as both a magnetic shield and a spin injector to the spin conductor layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2013Publication date: April 30, 2015Applicant: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Eric Walter Singleton, Zhiguo Ge