Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a slider body, a laser, a submount, and a laser heater. The slider body is configured to contain components of the heat-assisted magnetic recording head. The laser is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation. The submount is configured to couple the laser to the slider body. The laser heater is configured to apply heat to the laser. The laser heater disposed on a surface of the slider body.

Abstract: A recording head includes one or more transducer elements, and an electrically insulative layer encasing the one or more transducer elements. The recording head also includes a substrate below the electrically insulative layer. The recording head further includes a heat sinking layer between the electrically insulative layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a near-field transducer, a heat sink, a diffuser, and a diffusion barrier. The near-field transducer is configured to produce a hot spot on a proximate magnetic disk. The heat sink is configured to draw heat away from the near-field transducer. The heat sink is disposed in a down-track direction relative to and coupled to the near-field transducer. The diffuser is configured to draw heat away from the heat sink. The diffuser is disposed in a down-track direction relative to the heat sink. The diffusion barrier includes a metal. The diffusion barrier is disposed between and coupled to the heat sink and the diffuser.

Abstract: A recording head includes one or more transducer elements, and an electrically insulative layer encasing the one or more transducer elements. The recording head also includes a substrate below the electrically insulative layer. The recording head further includes a heat sinking layer between the electrically insulative layer and the substrate.

Abstract: A head slider for use in a disk drive is movably positionable relative to a magnetic recording disk and includes at least one write element for writing data to the magnetic recording disk. The write element includes a writer coil electrically connected between a first bond pad and a second bond pad, where the connection between the first bond pad and the second bond pad includes a center tap located proximate to a voltage null point. The head slider also includes at least one read element for reading data from the magnetic recording disk, the read element electrically connected between the center tap and a third bond pad, where the write element and the read element are configured to be selectively activated based on biased inputs to the first bond pad, the second bond pad, and the third bond pad.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide and a near-field transducer adjacent the waveguide. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged region and a peg region extending from the enlarged region towards an air bearing surface. A write pole is adjacent the near-field transducer and include a first portion having an edge extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface. A second portion of the write pole extends orthogonally to the air bearing surface and is in contact with the first portion. The apparatus includes an insulator-filled gap at the air bearing surface between the second portion of the write pole and the peg region of the near-field transducer. The gap is bounded away from the air bearing surface by the enlarged region of the near-field transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide and a near-field transducer adjacent the waveguide. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged region and a peg region extending from the enlarged region towards an air bearing surface. A write pole is adjacent the near-field transducer and include a first portion having an edge extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface. A second portion of the write pole extends orthogonally to the air bearing surface and is in contact with the first portion. The apparatus includes an insulator-filled gap at the air bearing surface between the second portion of the write pole and the peg region of the near-field transducer. The gap is bounded away from the air bearing surface by the enlarged region of the near-field transducer.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a waveguide adjacent an air bearing surface, a near-field transducer comprising a peg having a side orthogonal to the air bearing surface and a write pole adjacent to the waveguide. The write pole includes a first portion extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface, and a second portion in contact with the first portion comprising a side that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. The second portion or the write pole defines a gap between the side of the peg orthogonal to the air bearing surface and the side of the second portion of the write pole that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. A method of making a magnetic recording head that includes the provided apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided that includes a waveguide adjacent an air bearing surface, a near-field transducer comprising a peg having a side orthogonal to the air bearing surface and a write pole adjacent to the waveguide. The write pole includes a first portion extending towards the air bearing surface at a non-orthogonal angle with respect to the air bearing surface, and a second portion in contact with the first portion comprising a side that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. The second portion or the write pole defines a gap between the side of the peg orthogonal to the air bearing surface and the side of the second portion of the write pole that extends towards and orthogonally contacts the air bearing surface. A method of making a magnetic recording head that includes the provided apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a write pole, the write pole including a magnetic material; a near field transducer-heat sink (NFT-HS), the NFT-HS including a noble metal; and a power source configured to electrically bias the write pole with respect to a second structure.

Abstract: A head transducer, configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium, includes a first sensor having a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and configured to produce a first sensor signal, and a second sensor having a TCR and configured to produce a second sensor signal. One of the first and second sensors is situated at or near a close point of the head transducer in relation to the magnetic recording medium, and the other of the first and second sensors spaced away from the close point. Circuitry is configured to combine the first and second sensor signals and produce a combined sensor signal indicative of one or both of a change in head-medium spacing and head-medium contact. Each of the sensors may have a TCR with the same sign (positive or negative) or each sensor may have a TCR with a different sign.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are generally directed to a magnetic sensor constructed with an anisotropic liner capable of screening magnetic flux. Various embodiments can have a data read element positioned on an air bearing surface adjacent a magnetic shield which is at least partially lined with an in-plane anisotropy layer.

Abstract: An apparatus that includes a write pole, the write pole including a magnetic material; a near field transducer-heat sink (NFT-HS), the NFT-HS including a noble metal; and a power source configured to electrically bias the write pole with respect to a second structure.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method are generally directed to a magnetic senor constructed with an anisotropic liner capable of screening magnetic flux. Various embodiments can have a data read element positioned on an air bearing surface adjacent a magnetic shield which is at least partially lined with an in-plane anisotropy layer.

Abstract: A head transducer, configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium, includes a first sensor having a temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and configured to produce a first sensor signal, and a second sensor having a TCR and configured to produce a second sensor signal. One of the first and second sensors is situated at or near a close point of the head transducer in relation to the magnetic recording medium, and the other of the first and second sensors spaced away from the close point. Circuitry is configured to combine the first and second sensor signals and produce a combined sensor signal indicative of one or both of a change in head-medium spacing and head-medium contact. Each of the sensors may have a TCR with the same sign (positive or negative) or each sensor may have a TCR with a different sign.

Abstract: A transducing head includes a sensor element having a plurality of terminal pads and a shunt electrically connected with the sensor element in parallel for protecting the sensor element from electrical damage during fabrication of the transducing head. The shunt includes one or more fuses, where the shunt configured to be repeatedly tested around during fabrication to allow testing of the sensor element. The shunt is structured to be permanently electrically removable prior to operation of the transducing head by directing a shunt removal current through the shunt which effectively creates an open circuit in the shunt without causing a damaging current to flow in the sensor element. In another embodiment, the transducing head includes a shunt electrically connected with the sensor element in parallel.