Abstract: An optical mask for providing a pattern for portion of an electronic device, such as a magnetic recording transducer, is disclosed. The optical mask includes a device feature and at least one detached correction feature. The device feature includes a corner corresponding to a device corner of the pattern. The device corner has an angle of greater than zero degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees. The at least one detached correction feature resides in proximity to but is physically separated from the corner. Each of the at least one detached correction feature is sub-resolution.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a microelectric device, such as a magnetoresistive read sensor are described. The method and system include providing a mask layer on the microelectric device. The method and system further include exposing the mask layer to provide a mask. A portion of the mask covers a portion of the microelectric device. The step of exposing the mask layer further includes utilizing a chromeless alt-phase shift mask for providing the portion of the mask.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head is provided. The magnetic recording head comprises a write pole and a write coil structure configured to generate a magnetic field in the write pole. The write coil structure comprises a substrate layer and a coil material disposed within the substrate layer. The write coil structure is substantially free of photoresist. A method for forming a write coil structure is also provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate layer, forming a photoresist pattern mask over the substrate layer, opening a damascene trench in the substrate layer by reactive ion etching, and disposing a coil material into the damascene trench in the substrate layer.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a microelectric device are described. The method and system include providing a photoresist layer having a surface. The method and system also include setting a focus range and exposing the photoresist layer over the focus range to form a photoresist mask having a trench therein. The focus range corresponding to a plurality of focus distances. The focus range also corresponds to a nonzero angle to be formed in the photoresist layer and to the structure. The trench has at least one sidewall that forms the angle with a normal to the surface. The method and system also include providing the structure utilizing the trench.

Abstract: A method and system for fabricating a magnetic recording device are described. The method and system include providing a mask layer on the magnetic recording device and imprinting a pattern in the mask layer to form a mask. The method and system also include transferring the pattern from the mask to the magnetic recording device. In another aspect, the method and system include providing a malleable mask layer on the magnetic recording device. In this aspect, the method and system also include depressing an imprint mask into the mask layer and curing the mask layer while the imprint mask is depressed into the mask layer to provide a mask having a pattern. The pattern may correspond to a read sensor and/or a perpendicular magnetic recording pole. The method and system also include transferring the pattern from the mask to the magnetic recording device.

Abstract: A mask for transferring a pattern for portion of a magnetic recording transducer is disclosed. The masks includes one corner corresponding to an angle of more than ninety degrees and less than one hundred eighty degrees. The mask also includes at least one rectangular serif residing at the corner.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a write head for perpendicular recording includes forming a pole layer on an undercoat layer, forming a mask over at least a portion of the pole layer, and forming the pole by removing material from the pole layer. The method further includes forming a first gap portion of a gap along a first side and a second side of the pole, forming a protective layer over at least a portion of the first gap portion, removing the mask, and removing the protective layer. The method further includes forming a second gap portion of the gap over at least a top surface of the pole and forming a shield over at least the second gap portion.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a PMR pole in a magnetic recording transducer including an intermediate layer are disclosed. The method and system include providing a mask on the intermediate layer. The mask includes a line having at least one side. A hard mask layer is provided on the mask. At least a portion of the hard mask layer resides on the side(s) of the line. At least part of the hard mask layer on the side(s) of the line is removed. Thus, at least a portion of the line is exposed. The line is then removed, providing an aperture in the hard mask corresponding to the line. The method also includes forming a trench in the intermediate layer under the aperture. The trench top is wider than its bottom. The method further includes providing a PMR pole, at least a portion of which resides in the trench.

Abstract: The method and system for providing a magnetic element are disclosed. The method and system include providing a magnetic element stack that includes a plurality of layers and depositing a stop layer on the magnetic element stack. The method and system also include providing a dielectric antireflective coating (DARC) layer on the stop layer, forming a single layer mask for defining the magnetic element on a portion of the DARC layer, and removing a remaining portion of the DARC layer not covered by the single layer mask. The portion of the DARC layer covers a portion of the stop layer. The method further includes removing a remaining portion of the stop layer and defining the magnetic element using at least the portion of stop layer as a mask.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a write head for perpendicular recording is provided. The write head has a pole, a shield in proximity to the pole, and a gap between the pole and the shield. The method includes forming a pole layer on an undercoat layer, forming a mask over at least a portion of the pole layer, and forming the pole by removing material from the pole layer. The pole has a top surface, a first side, and a second side. The method further includes forming a first gap portion of the gap along the first side and along the second side of the pole, forming a protective layer over at least a portion of the first gap portion, removing the mask, and removing the protective layer. The method further includes forming a second gap portion of the gap over at least the top surface of the pole and forming the shield over at least the second gap portion.

Abstract: A system and method for performing non-intrusive loopback testing in a communication device. When a loopback mode of testing is requested for the communication device (e.g., from a diagnostic application), and one or more communication streams are active or bound to the device, the streams are suspended instead of terminated. In a list of the active streams, maintained in the device's information data structure, a device driver or the application modifies each of the streams (e.g., by setting a flag). While a stream is suspended, any traffic for the stream is dropped. After the loopback testing is completed, the streams are reactivated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a communication device's loopback capabilities by querying a device driver of the device. The device's loopback capabilities identify locations (e.g., internal modules, protocol layers) in the device, and/or data rates, at which loopback testing may be performed. Instead of embedding those capabilities in a diagnostic application and modifying the application every time a device changes or is upgraded, the application queries the device driver. The device driver sends the application a data structure or message identifying the capabilities, including identifiers. The application specifies a loopback capability to be exercised by returning a corresponding identifier to the driver.