Abstract: A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, wr, and a center-to-center separation distance between the two read transducers either greater than 3wr or the distance of two tracks of an associated medium in the cross track direction.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a magnetic recording head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The apparatus includes first coplanar electrical contacts respectively disposed on and in electrical contact with first surfaces of the at least two read transducers and an electrically insulating magnetic material disposed between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a magnetic recording head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The apparatus includes first coplanar electrical contacts respectively disposed on and in electrical contact with first surfaces of the at least two read transducers and an electrically insulating magnetic material disposed between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, wr, and a center-to-center separation distance between the two read transducers either greater than 3wr or the distance of two tracks of an associated medium in the cross track direction.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head having a write pole formed in a point. The narrow width of the write pole can be manufactured using existing equipment, reduces the number of steps required to build the recording head, and results in a recording head that has other advantages. Forming the write pole in a point is done using two masking steps and mill processing. The writer and reader are positioned next to each other so that the second masking step which forms the point of the writer pole also defines the back edge of the stripe.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head having a write pole formed in a point. The narrow width of the write pole can be manufactured using existing equipment, reduces the number of steps required to build the recording head, and results in a recording head that has other advantages. Forming the write pole in a point is done using two masking steps and mill processing. The writer and reader are positioned next to each other so that the second masking step which forms the point of the writer pole also defines the back edge of the stripe.

Abstract: A process of forming a two-piece pole for an inductive write head involves first forming a first pole piece having a width between opposite side surfaces defining a gap width of a transducing gap at an air bearing surface of the head. The process next involves forming a second pole piece having a first region remote from the air bearing surface and a second region extending from the first region toward the air bearing surface. The first region is wider than the width of the first pole piece. The second pole piece is formed so that at least a portion of the second region is contiguous a portion of the first pole piece and so that no sharp external corners exist between the first pole tip piece and the second pole piece within a pole tip region of the head.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head having an air bearing surface comprises a writer having a substantially planar single piece top pole, a shared pole and a conductive coil. The top pole and shared pole are separated by a write gap region. A magnetic stud is positioned adjacent the write gap region near the air bearing surface. The magnetic stud provides a uniform magnetic flux supply to the write gap region. The magnetic stud has a variable height along the air bearing surface. An inner surface of the magnetic stud substantially conforms to an outer surface of the conductive coil. The shared pole includes a recess, and at least a portion of the conductive coil is positioned in the recess. The recess in the shared pole is filled with an insulator that substantially surrounds the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess. A capping layer is formed on the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess.

Abstract: A method of forming a thin film magnetic recording head includes forming a shared pole having a first pole tip, a first top pole segment having a second pole tip, and a write gap layer between the first pole tip and the second pole tip. A write coil can be formed after the first top pole segment and then a second top pole segment can be formed. The second top pole segment includes a connection to the first top pole segment and a connection to the shared pole. A thin film magnetic head includes a shared pole having a first pole tip, a first top pole segment having a second pole tip, a write gap layer positioned between the first pole tip and the second pole tip, a second top pole segment connected to the first top pole segment and to the shared pole, and a write coil positioned between the second top pole segment and the shared pole.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head having an air bearing surface comprises a writer having a substantially planar single piece top pole, a shared pole and a conductive coil. The top pole and shared pole are separated by a write gap region. A magnetic stud is positioned adjacent the write gap region near the air bearing surface. The magnetic stud provides a uniform magnetic flux supply to the write gap region. The magnetic stud has a variable height along the air bearing surface. An inner surface of the magnetic stud substantially conforms to an outer surface of the conductive coil. The shared pole includes a recess, and at least a portion of the conductive coil is positioned in the recess. The recess in the shared pole is filled with an insulator that substantially surrounds the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess. A capping layer is formed on the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess.

Abstract: A process of forming a two-piece pole for an inductive write head involves first forming a first pole piece having a width between opposite side surfaces defining a gap width of a transducing gap at an air bearing surface of the head. The process next involves forming a second pole piece having a first region remote from the air bearing surface and a second region extending from the first region toward the air bearing surface. The first region is wider than the width of the first pole piece. The second pole piece is formed so that at least a portion of the second region is contiguous a portion of the first pole piece and so that no sharp external corners exist between the first pole tip piece and the second pole piece within a pole tip region of the head.

Abstract: A method and system for lapping a magnetic transducer using an electrical lapping guide is presented. This includes rough lapping the transducer based on a first signal and fine lapping the transducer based on a second signal from a dummy transducer. The dummy transducer can have electrical properties substantially similar to electrical properties of the magnetic transducer. The first signal can include a stripe height calculated as a function of a reference resistor element and an analog resistor element. The second signal can include lap to reader resistance from the dummy transducer and a stripe height calculated from a reference resistor element and an analog resistor element. The dummy transducer can also provide process noise monitoring capability during lapping.

Abstract: A two-piece pole for an inductive write head has a first pole piece in the tip region contiguous the gap and confronting the other pole across the gap. The first pole piece has a width defining the gap width of the write head at the air bearing surface. A second pole piece is connected to the first pole piece and extends to the back gap. At least a portion of the second pole piece is connected to the first pole piece and has a width larger than the width of the first pole piece. The second pole piece means has surfaces within the pole tip region that intersect at external corners facing the gap, at least two surfaces of each of these external corners being joined at an obtuse angle so that none of said external corner is a sharp external corner, thereby minimizing fringe fields. In one form, a pole cap between the first and second pole pieces has a trapezoidal configuration forming the obtuse angles.