Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a storage medium and a head configured to access the storage medium, wherein the head comprises a first write assist element (WA1) comprising a first terminal and a second terminal and a second write assist element (WA2) comprising a first terminal and a second terminal. The second terminal of the WA1 and the second terminal of the WA2 are coupled together to form a common node. A first bias signal is applied to the first terminal of the WA1, a second bias signal is applied to the first terminal of the WA2, and a common mode voltage is applied to the common node.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a slider comprising an embedded contact sensor, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both (a) couple a slider bias voltage to a body of the slider to control a potential of the slider, and (b) provide a signal to the embedded contact sensor. The slider may also include a shunt circuit for mitigating radio-frequency interference by shunting it to ground. The slider may include a write element, which may include a write-field enhancement structure. The slider may include a read element for reading from a recording media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a slider comprising an embedded contact sensor, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both (a) couple a slider bias voltage to a body of the slider to control a potential of the slider, and (b) provide a signal to the embedded contact sensor. The slider may also include a shunt circuit for mitigating radio-frequency interference by shunting it to ground. The slider may include a write element, which may include a write-field enhancement structure. The slider may include a read element for reading from a recording media.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a recording media, a slider comprising a write head having a write-field enhancement structure for recording data to the recording media, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both couple a bias voltage to a body of the slider, and carry a bias current for the write-field enhancement structure. Also disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a slider with an embedded contact sensor, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both couple a bias voltage to a body of the slider, and provide a signal to the embedded contact sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits, architectures, and methods that provide for the control of a data storage device write head's trailing shield and main pole potential with respect to the disk using circuitry that is integrated with circuitry used to bias a spin torque oscillator (STO) apparatus. Various embodiments include slider connections with STO bias circuitry that resides in a read/write integrated circuit, which has a programmable circuit that generates a bias current with overshoot (bias kicks). Also disclosed are circuits that may be incorporated into a slider to mitigate radio-frequency interference.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a recording media, a slider comprising a write head having a write-field enhancement structure for recording data to the recording media, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both couple a bias voltage to a body of the slider, and carry a bias current for the write-field enhancement structure. Also disclosed herein is a data storage device comprising a slider with an embedded contact sensor, an electronics module, and a plurality of lines disposed between and coupled to the slider and the electronics module, wherein at least one line of the plurality of lines is configured to both couple a bias voltage to a body of the slider, and provide a signal to the embedded contact sensor.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface, the first head comprising a plurality of elements including a first element. During a first write operation of the first head, a first bias signal having a first polarity is applied to the first element, and a write interval of the first write operation is measured. During a non-write mode of the first head, a second bias signal having a second polarity opposite the first polarity is applied to the first element during a reverse bias interval that is based on the write interval of the first write operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits, architectures, and methods that provide for the control of a data storage device write head's trailing shield and main pole potential with respect to the disk using circuitry that is integrated with circuitry used to bias a spin torque oscillator (STO) apparatus. Various embodiments include slider connections with STO bias circuitry that resides in a read/write integrated circuit, which has a programmable circuit that generates a bias current with overshoot (bias kicks). Also disclosed are circuits that may be incorporated into a slider to mitigate radio-frequency interference.

Abstract: A data storage device is disclosed comprising a first head actuated over a first disk surface, the first head comprising a plurality of elements including a first element. During a first write operation of the first head, a first bias signal having a first polarity is applied to the first element, and a write interval of the first write operation is measured. During a non-write mode of the first head, a second bias signal having a second polarity opposite the first polarity is applied to the first element during a reverse bias interval that is based on the write interval of the first write operation.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits, architectures, and methods that provide for the control of a data storage device write head's trailing shield and main pole potential with respect to the disk using circuitry that is integrated with circuitry used to bias a spin torque oscillator (STO) apparatus. Various embodiments include slider connections with STO bias circuitry that resides in a read/write integrated circuit, which has a programmable circuit that generates a bias current with overshoot (bias kicks). Also disclosed are circuits that may be incorporated into a slider to mitigate radio-frequency interference.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits, architectures, and methods that provide for the control of a data storage device write head's trailing shield and main pole potential with respect to the disk using circuitry that is integrated with circuitry used to bias a spin torque oscillator (STO) apparatus. Various embodiments include slider connections with STO bias circuitry that resides in a read/write integrated circuit, which has a programmable circuit that generates a bias current with overshoot (bias kicks). Also disclosed are circuits that may be incorporated into a slider to mitigate radio-frequency interference.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are circuits, architectures, and methods that provide for the control of a data storage device write head's trailing shield and main pole potential with respect to the disk using circuitry that is integrated with circuitry used to bias a spin torque oscillator (STO) apparatus. Various embodiments include slider connections with STO bias circuitry that resides in a read/write integrated circuit, which has a programmable circuit that generates a bias current with overshoot (bias kicks). Also disclosed are circuits that may be incorporated into a slider to mitigate radio-frequency interference.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing dual partially independent flyheight control (TFC) for hard disk drives (HDDs). A dual thermal flyheight control (TFC) includes a series connected first heater resistor and a second heater resistor connected between a pair of wires. A capacitor is connected in parallel with the first heater resistor providing a frequency dependent shunt to the parallel connected first heater resistor. TFC electrical bias signals are applied to the first heater resistor and second heater resistor carried by the pair of wires. For example, the TFC electrical bias signals include high frequency electrical signals including a frequency range between 1 MHz and 100 MHz having a set amplitude in a voltage range between 0 and 7 Volts, and/or DC current signal.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing dual partially independent flyheight control (TFC) for hard disk drives (HDDs). A dual thermal flyheight control (TFC) includes a series connected first heater resistor and a second heater resistor connected between a pair of wires. A capacitor is connected in parallel with the first heater resistor providing a frequency dependent shunt to the parallel connected first heater resistor. TFC electrical bias signals are applied to the first heater resistor and second heater resistor carried by the pair of wires. For example, the TFC electrical bias signals include high frequency electrical signals including a frequency range between 1 MHz and 100 MHz having a set amplitude in a voltage range between 0 and 7 Volts, and/or DC current signal.

Abstract: A magnetic write pole structure that is configured to greatly simplify the manufacture of a perpendicular magnetic write head. The write head has a magnetic yoke that is oriented along a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of the data track. This allows the entire yoke to be formed in a single electroplating step, rather than being built up in several plated layers. The yoke can also be formed with magnetic side shields, or with a trailing or wrap around shield, which can be integral with the rest of the yoke and can be advantageously formed in the same, single electroplating step.

Abstract: A magnetic write pole structure that is configured to greatly simplify the manufacture of a perpendicular magnetic write head. The write head has a magnetic yoke that is oriented along a plane that is perpendicular to the direction of the data track. This allows the entire yoke to be formed in a single electroplating step, rather than being built up in several plated layers. The yoke can also be formed with magnetic side shields, or with a trailing or wrap around shield, which can be integral with the rest of the yoke and can be advantageously formed in the same, single electroplating step.

Abstract: A method is presented for fabrication of a tape medium read head having a unitary formation of multiple elements for reading multi-track data from a magnetic tape. The method includes providing a continuous substrate layer, and forming a sensor material layer on the continuous substrate layer. Photoresist material is deposited on the sensor material layer, and is patterned to form masks which provide protected areas and exposed areas of the sensor material layer. Exposed areas of the sensor material layer are shaped to form sensors from the protected areas of the sensor material layer. Electrical lead materials are deposited between and adjacent to the sensors, and the masks are removed.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive sensor having a self biased free layer. The free layer is constructed upon an underlayer that has been treated by a surface texturing process that configures the underlayer with an anisotropic roughness that induces a magnetic anisotropy in the free layer. The treated layer underlying the free layer can be a spacer layer sandwiched between the free layer and pinned layer or can be a separate underlayer formed opposite the spacer layer. Alternatively, the texturing of an underlayer can be used to induce a magnetic anisotropy in a bias layer that is separated from the free layer by an orthogonal coupling layer. This self biasing of the free layer induced by texturing can also be used in conjunction with biasing from a hard-bias structure.

Abstract: A write head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a write pole and first and second return poles. The write head can include a first magnetomotive force source for delivering a magnetomotive force to the first return pole and the write pole and a second magnetomotive force source for delivering magnetomotive force to the second return pole and the write pole. The first and second magnetomotive force sources can be operated independently of one another so that different relative amounts of magnetomotive force can be applied to the first and second return poles.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk drive has a bilayer recording medium of a high-anisotropy recording layer and an exchange-coupled antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic (AF-F) transition layer. The transition layer has an AF-F transition temperature (TAF-F) that decreases relatively rapidly with increasing applied magnetic field. Thus the transition layer has a transition field HAF-F(T), which is the applied magnetic field required to transition the material from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic at temperature T without the need to heat the layer. At ambient temperature and in the absence of HW, the transition layer is antiferromagnetic and the switching field H0 of the bilayer is just the H0 of the high-anisotropy recording layer, which is typically much higher than HW.