Abstract: A magnetic head structure for perpendicular recording and reading. The head structure includes a write head portion for writing data to magnetic media via lines of flux oriented substantially perpendicular to a surface of the media facing the write head portion. The write head portion includes a first pole piece having a first pole tip, a probe pole piece with a probe pole tip for emitting magnetic flux, an insulation stack positioned between the pole pieces, and one or more write coils embedded in the insulation stack. A read head portion that has been fabricated after the write head portion is coupled to the write head portion.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head according to one embodiment comprises forming a shield layer having first and second recesses in first and second end regions which surround a central region; depositing first and second lead layers in the first and the second recesses; and forming a read sensor in the central region such that a first edge of the read sensor is positioned above an edge of the first lead layer and a second edge of the read sensor is positioned above an edge of the second lead layer.

Abstract: A method comprises depositing first and second lead layers in end regions which surround a central region; and forming a read sensor in the central region such that a first edge of the read sensor is disposed above an edge of the first lead layer and a second edge of the read sensor is disposed above an edge of the second lead layer. In one approach, first and second bias layers are deposited in end regions over the first and the second lead layers. The read sensor is formed in the central region such that the first edge of the read sensor is disposed above an edge of the first bias layer and the second edge of the read sensor is disposed above an edge of the second bias layer. Third and fourth bias layers are deposited adjacent the read sensor. Methods taking different approaches are also presented.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head comprises depositing first and second lead layers in first and second end regions which surround a central region; and forming a read sensor in the central region such that a first edge of the read sensor is disposed above an upper edge of the first lead layer and a second edge of the read sensor is disposed above an upper edge of the second lead layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head includes forming a first pole and a flux shaping layer in spaced relation to the first pole. A nonmagnetic layer is formed adjacent the flux shaping layer and positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) side of the flux shaping layer. A tapered recess is created in the nonmagnetic layer, the taper of the recess increasing (i.e., becoming deeper) towards the flux forming layer. The recess is filled with a magnetic material. A probe layer is formed such that it is in electrical communication with the magnetic material filling the recess.

Abstract: A method for milling a structure. A single- or multi-layer resist having no undercut is added to a surface of a structure to be milled, the surface to be milled defining a plane. A milling process, such as ion milling, is performed. The milling process includes milling the structure at high incidence and milling the structure at razing incidence. The milling process can be performed only once, or repeated multiple times. High incidence can be defined as about 65 to about 90 degrees from the plane of the surface being milled. Razing incidence can be defined as about 0 to about 30 degrees from the plane of the surface being milled.

Abstract: A a method for fabricating a structure, such as a magnetic head, having two coplanar metallic features of different compositions, both deposited on their own seed layers. The features may be made tall relative to their widths (ie. have a high aspect ratio), and are also very closely spaced. Only a single high-definition, critically aligned photolithographic procedure is used to create the critical structures, avoiding any problem with aligning features produced by multiple procedures. The method is applied to the production of the write structure of a magnetic read/write head, where a portion of the pole structure and the inductive coils are fabricated in the same plane with a close spacing and both having a vertical aspect ratio of more than about 2:1.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic head including a media heating element that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure. The heating element is preferably fabricated above the first magnetic pole layer close to the ABS surface of the head. In one embodiment, following the fabrication of the heating element, a second magnetic pole probe layer that includes the second magnetic pole tip is fabricated. In an alternative head embodiment, a second magnetic pole shaping layer is fabricated upon the heating element, followed by the fabrication of the probe layer that includes the second magnetic pole tip. The heating element is an electrically resistive heating element that is preferably comprised of NiCr or NiFe.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pole tip structure for a magnetic head is provided. An etch stop layer is initially deposited after which a transfer layer is deposited. Further deposited is at least one masking layer. Reactive ion etching is then performed to define a trench in at least the transfer layer. A pole tip layer is then deposited in the trench to define a pole tip structure flanked at least in part by the transfer layer. A surface of the transfer layer or etch stop layer then remains in co-planar relationship with a surface of the pole tip structure.

Abstract: The present invention is a side-by-side inductive head structure having a considerably reduced separation between the read and write elements of the head structure for parallel as well as longitudinal recording.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a media heating device that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure. The media heating device includes an electrically resistive element that is fabricated above the first magnetic pole layer close to the ABS surface of the head. A P1 pole pedestal is fabricated above the heating element. Electrical insulation layers are fabricated beneath and above the heating element to prevent electrical shorting to the P1 pole layer and the P1 pole pedestal that are disposed beneath and above the heating element, respectively.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head includes forming a first pole and a flux shaping layer in spaced relation to the first pole. A nonmagnetic layer is formed adjacent the flux shaping layer and positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) side of the flux shaping layer. A tapered recess is created in the nonmagnetic layer, the taper of the recess increasing (i.e., becoming deeper) towards the flux forming layer. The recess is filled with a magnetic material. A probe layer is formed such that it is in electrical communication with the magnetic material filling the recess.

Abstract: A method and apparatus using a pre-patterned seed layer for providing an aligned coil for an inductive head structure. The method uses an aligned process where the base plate imprint is fabricated on an electrically insulating layer and the reversed image is fabricated and etched into the coil insulation material, e.g., hard bake photoresist to alleviate the problems associated with complete ion removal of the seed layer between high aspect ratio coils. The method would also not be prone to plating non-uniformities (voids), and would not be subject to seed layer undercutting in a wet etch step process.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic head having a helical induction coil and includes hard disk drive devices that utilize the magnetic head. The helical coil is fabricated around a magnetic pole yoke in a series of process steps that include a reactive ion etch (RIE) process step which is utilized to simultaneously form vertical interconnect vias and upper helical coil member trenches. Thereafter, in a single fabrication step, such as by electroplating, the vertical interconnect lines and the upper helical coil traces are created in a single fabrication step, such that they are integrally formed. The vertical interconnect lines provide an electrical connection between outer ends of previously formed lower helical coil traces and outer ends of the integrally formed upper helical coil traces, such that a helical coil is fabricated. In the preferred embodiment, the helical coil is composed of copper.

Abstract: A magnetic head having improved overwrite capabilities and reduced fringing fields are described along with methods of making the same. The magnetic head has a first pole piece and a second pole piece. The first pole piece includes a first bottom pole piece layer, a pedestal portion formed over the first bottom pole piece layer, and a notched top pole portion formed over the pedestal portion. A gap layer separates the second pole piece from the notched top pole portion. The pedestal portion has a first saturation magnetization MS1 and the top pole portion has a second saturation magnetization MS2 that is greater than the first saturation magnetization MS1. The top pole portion has a substantially planar top surface over which a portion of the gap layer and the second pole piece are formed.

Abstract: Following the deposition of an insulation layer, a patterned P2 pole tip seed layer is deposited. Significantly, the pole tip seed layer is not deposited beneath the induction coil area of the magnetic head. A dielectric layer is next deposited and a patterned RIE etching mask that includes both a P2 pole tip trench opening and an induction coil trench opening is fabricated upon the dielectric layer. Thereafter, in a single RIE etching step, the P2 pole tip trench is etched through the dielectric material down to the seed layer, and the induction coil trench is etched through the dielectric material down to the insulation layer. The P2 pole tip is first electroplated up into its trench, an induction coil seed layer is next deposited, and the induction coil is then electroplated up into the induction coil trench.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly includes first and second pole pieces and first and second coil layers wherein the second pole piece has a ferromagnetic pole tip which forms a portion of an air bearing surface and defines a track width of a write head. A write gap layer is located between the first pole piece and the pole tip. A dielectric first insulation layer interfaces first and second side surfaces of the pole tip and is located between the first and second coil layers. The second pole piece has a ferromagnetic second pole piece structure which is magnetically connected to each of the pole tip and the first pole piece and extends across the second coil layer. In a first embodiment the second pole piece structure is a single layer and in a second embodiment the second pole piece structure has front and back components with a flat laminated second pole piece yoke layer located therebetween.

Abstract: An embodiment of a magnetic head of the present invention includes a media heating device that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure following the fabrication of the read head element of the magnetic head. The media heating device is preferably fabricated between the first and second magnetic pole layers and close to the ABS surface of the head. The heating device includes electrical leads and an electrically resistive heating element that is preferably comprised of TaSiN, NiCr or NiFe, and in the present invention one or both of the magnetic poles are utilized as an electrical lead of the heating device. The heating device serves to heat the magnetic media immediately prior to the passage of the magnetic media beneath the pole tip, which lowers the localized coercivity of the media and facilitates the writing of data to the media by the write head element of the magnetic head.

Abstract: A magnetic head is made of a shield layer having first and second recesses defined in first and second end regions which surround a central region. Bias and lead layers are formed in the first and the second recesses, and a read sensor is formed in the central region. Advantageously, edges of the bias and lead layers are formed below edges of the read sensor to thereby define a magnetic track width of the read sensor. Also, the sensor profile is substantially flat so that a gap layer over the read sensor can provide for adequate insulation.

Abstract: The present invention is a magnetic head having a helical induction coil and includes hard disk drive devices that utilize the magnetic head. The helical coil is fabricated around a magnetic pole yoke in a series of process steps that include a reactive ion etch (RIE) process step which is utilized to simultaneously form vertical interconnect vias and upper helical coil member trenches. Thereafter, in a single fabrication step, such as by electroplating, the vertical interconnect lines and the upper helical coil traces are created in a single fabrication step, such that they are integrally formed. The vertical interconnect lines provide an electrical connection between outer ends of previously formed lower helical coil traces and outer ends of the integrally formed upper helical coil traces, such that a helical coil is fabricated. In the preferred embodiment, the helical coil is composed of copper.