Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium comprises steps of providing a non-magnetic substrate having at least one surface; forming a layer of a sol-gel on the surface, partially drying the sol-gel layer at room temperature to remove a portion of the solvent therein to form a partially dried sol-gel layer of hardness less than that of the substrate; mechanically texturing the surface of the partially dried sol-gel layer; and depositing a layer stack including at least one magnetic layer thereover. Embodiments of the invention include embossing a servo pattern in the as-deposited sol-gel layer prior to partial drying and mechanically texturing, followed by sintering at an elevated temperature to form a substantially fully dried layer having a density and hardness similar to that of glass, and formation of a thin film magnetic media layer stack thereon.

Abstract: A method of performing dip coating of a layer of a resist material on a surface of a substrate, comprising steps of: (a) providing a dip coating vessel having an interior space containing a dip coating liquid comprising a solution of the resist material in a solvent, the dip coating vessel being open at the top thereof; (b) providing a substrate having a surface, immersing the substrate in the dip coating liquid in the vessel via the open top, and withdrawing the substrate from the vessel via the open top thereof, thereby forming a layer of resist material on the surface; and (c) monitoring and maintaining the viscosity of the dip coating liquid supplied to the dip coating vessel at a predetermined value. Also disclosed is an apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: Ultra smooth as-deposited composite nickel coatings for use in an information storage system are provided. The composite nickel coatings include an electrolessly deposited nickel layer formed on a sputter deposited nickel layer. The composite nickel coatings have an as-deposited surface roughness of less than about 10 Å. Embodiments include formation of the composite nickel coating on a disk, followed by deposition of an underlayer and magnetic layer thereon to form a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Defects of a hard disk drive servo pattern stamper are detected by comparing a scattered light beam pattern against the known servo pattern. A magnetic field is applied to stamper and the beam is linearly polarized. Variations in the physical offset of the beam, its scatter, are indicative of physical defects. Variations in the Kerr rotation of scattered beam are indicative of magnetic defects.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning a media is described. More particularly, polarization detector and an atomic force microscope are coupled to a common platform indexed to a spindle. Optionally, an optical microscope may be coupled to the common platform. The polarization detector is used to detect a magnetic image, such as at least a portion of a servo pattern, of the media, and the atomic force microscope, which may be aligned using the magnetic image, is used with a magnetic microscopy module to scan the media. Accordingly, magnetic imagery may be achieved with indexing to a single spindle for positional consistency as between equipment. Moreover, the polarization detector may further be configured to detect scattered light for providing topographic imagery of the media.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a topographic feature on a media is described. More particularly, a light scatter detector is coupled to an atomic force microscope. The detector is used detect scattered optical energy reflected from the surface of the media to identify the topographic feature. The atomic force microscope may then be positioned in response to the topographic feature identified.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for scanning a media is described. More particularly, polarization detector and an atomic force microscope are coupled to a common platform indexed to a spindle. Optionally, an optical microscope may be coupled to the common platform. The polarization detector is used to detect a magnetic image, such as at least a portion of a servo pattern, of the media, and the atomic force microscope, which may be aligned using the magnetic image, is used with a magnetic microscopy module to scan the media. Accordingly, magnetic imagery may be achieved with indexing to a single spindle for positional consistency as between equipment. Moreover, the polarization detector may further be configured to detect scattered light for providing topographic imagery of the media.

Abstract: Ultra smooth as-deposited composite nickel coatings for use in an information storage system are provided. The composite nickel coatings include an electrolessly deposited nickel layer formed on a sputter deposited nickel layer. The composite nickel coatings have an as-deposited surface roughness of less than about 10 Å. Embodiments include formation of the composite nickel coating on a disk, followed by deposition of an underlayer and magnetic layer thereon to form a magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media-are provided having separately textured data and read/write head landing zones. Separating these zones on the recording surface allows independent optimization of the topology to maximize both recording characteristics and mechanical durability. The landing or contact start stop zone has an average surface roughness greater than that of the data zone. Preferably, a transition zone extends between the contact start stop zone and the data zone, the transition zone varying between the two in average surface roughness. Preferably, the contact start stop zone is textured first, followed by the data zone, thereby ensuring uniform stiction performance. Texture machines for producing such zone texturing and texturing methods are also provided.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media are provided having separately textured data and read/write head landing zones. Separating these zones on the recording surface allows independent optimization of the topology to maximize both recording characteristics and mechanical durability. The landing or contact start stop zone has an average surface roughness greater than that of the data zone. Preferably, a transition zone extends between the contact start stop zone and the data zone, the transition zone varying between the two in average surface roughness. Preferably, the contact start stop zone is textured first, followed by the data zone, thereby ensuring uniform stiction performance. Texture machines for producing such zone texturing and texturing methods are also provided.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media are provided having separately textured data and read/write head landing zones. Separating these zones on the recording surface allows independent optimization of the topology to maximize both recording characteristics and mechanical durability. The landing or contact start stop zone has an average surface roughness greater than that of the data zone. Preferably, a transition zone extends between the contact start stop zone and the data zone, the transition zone varying between the two in average surface roughness. Preferably, the contact start stop zone is textured first, followed by the data zone, thereby ensuring uniform stiction performance. Texture machines for producing such zone texturing and texturing methods are also provided.

Abstract: A high speed data communications method and system is provided whereby multiple groups of software interfaces are used to link a Distributed Systems Services Unit to a Network Provider which connects to an Input/Output Interface Module which relates to external interfaces of a Network. The interfaces permit the capability of buffer sharing and lock pool sharing, in addition to improved Connection Library Element Interfaces which reduce the overhead that was previously required and further enables faster data transfer operations with reduced latency.

Abstract: An improved high-speed data communications system is provided having software functions which permit a Network Data Path Interface to work in conjunction with a Distributed System Service application and a Network Provider application for enhancing data transfers to a Input/Output module and Network Processor. The improved Network Data Path Interface functions involve transmitting data outward to Channel Adapters via the use of shared buffers which can be re-used after utilization, and also receiving data by the sharing of buffers between a Distributed System Service application software unit, a Network Provider unit, and the Network Data Path Interface, enabling data to be received by the Network Provider for transferral to the Distributed System Service application unit.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media are provided having separately textured data and read/write head landing zones. Separating these zones on the recording surface allows independent optimization of the topology to maximize both recording characteristics and mechanical durability. The landing or contact start stop zone has an average surface roughness greater than that of the data zone. Preferably, a transition zone extends between the contact start stop zone and the data zone, the transition zone varying between the two in average surface roughness. Preferably, the contact start stop zone is textured first, followed by the data zone, thereby ensuring uniform stiction performance. Texture machines for producing such zone texturing and texturing methods are also provided.

Abstract: An overwidth slitting method slits a metal strip into two lengthwise pieces while trimming the side edges from the strip. The metal strip is placed on parallel spaced apart conveyors adjacent a slitter for conveying the strip to the slitter. The conveyors are raised above a plurality of vacuum cups which are disposed between the conveyors and are spaced along the length of the strip. The raised metal strip is aligned with respect to the slitter and the raised conveyors are lowered to a position where the bottom surface of the aligned strip engages the vacuum cups between the conveyors. A vacuum is applied to the vacuum cups for holding the strip in alignment relative to the slitter and then the metal strip is advanced on the conveyors into the slitter while sequentially releasing the vacuum from each vacuum cup engaged with the bottom surface of the metal strip as it advances. The advancing metal strip is simultaneously slit into two lengthwise pieces while the side edges are trimmed therefrom.