Abstract: A system and method for providing virtual items to users of an online game operated in a virtual space. Multiple users may participate in affiliations or alliances of discrete groups of users in an online game and may access the online game through client computing platforms associated with the users. The affiliations may have affiliation game units associated with affiliations which provide a benefit to the members of the online game. Affiliation members may cumulatively obtain affiliation game units and/or upgrade affiliation game units by providing one or more virtual items. Upgrading affiliation game units may require the cooperation of multiple members of the affiliation.

Abstract: A security container device includes a body with a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body is hollow and includes a cavity extending through the body from the first end to the second end. The security container device further includes openings at the first and second end that are connected with the cavity. A plate is coupled to the body at the first end and extends across at least a portion of the first opening. A rod is coupled to the body and positioned inside the cavity and internal to the body. The security container device is structured to be coupled to an exterior support and the cavity and the rod are structured to receive a lock box with the body of the container extending around a majority of the lock box to protect the body of the lock box and the shackle of the lock box from tampering.

Abstract: A read sensor having a bearing surface and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer recessed from the bearing surface. The read sensor includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) structure over the AFM layer. The SAF structure includes a recessed lower pinned layer, an upper pinned layer, a reference layer and a stabilization feature. The stabilization feature may include deliberate reduction of the antiferromagnetic coupling energy density between the upper pinned layer and the reference layer, so that it becomes lower than the first energy density of antiferromagnetic coupling between the upper pinned layer and the lower pinned layer. The stabilization feature may alternatively include an intermediate pinned layer between the lower pinned layer and the upper pinned layer. The intermediate pinned layer is antiferromagnetically coupled to both the lower pinned layer and the upper pinned layer, and at least a portion of the intermediate pinned layer is recessed behind the bearing surface.

Abstract: A data reader may have a magnetoresistive stack consisting of at least magnetically free and magnetically fixed structures. The magnetically fixed structure can be set to a first magnetization direction by a first pinning structure separated from an air bearing surface by a front shield portion of a magnetic shield. The front shield portion may be set to a different second magnetization direction by a second pinning structure.

Abstract: A read sensor and fabrication method thereof. The method includes forming a bottom stack that includes an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a lower ferromagnetic stitch layer above the AFM layer and a sacrificial cap layer on the lower ferromagnetic stitch layer. The sacrificial cap layer is formed of a material that alloys magnetically with the lower ferromagnetic stitch layer. The method further includes substantially removing the sacrificial cap layer. After substantially removing the sacrificial layer, an upper ferromagnetic stitch layer is deposited on the lower ferromagnetic stitch layer of the bottom stack to form a stitch interface that provides relatively strong magnetic coupling between the lower ferromagnetic stitch layer of the bottom stack and the upper ferromagnetic stitch layer.

Abstract: A data reader may have a magnetoresistive stack consisting of at least magnetically free and magnetically fixed structures. The magnetically fixed structure can be set to a first magnetization direction by a first pinning structure separated from an air bearing surface by a front shield portion of a magnetic shield. The front shield portion may be set to a different second magnetization direction by a second pinning structure.

Abstract: A data reader can be configured with at least a magnetoresistive stack contacting one or more magnetic shields. The magnetoresistive stack can be separated from a magnetic shield by a seed lamination on an air bearing surface with the seed lamination consisting of at least three sub-layers that are constructed with different material compositions.

Abstract: A data reader may have a magnetoresistive stack consisting of at least magnetically free and magnetically fixed structures. The magnetically fixed structure can be set to a first magnetization direction by a first pinning structure separated from an air bearing surface by a front shield portion of a magnetic shield. The front shield portion may be set to a different second magnetization direction by a second pinning structure.

Abstract: A data storage device may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that contacts a magnetic shield. The magnetic stack can be disposed between first and second side shields and having at least one layer constructed of a CoFeNiB material. The magnetic shield may have a synthetic antiferromagnet with a non-magnetic layer disposed between first and second ferromagnetic layers.

Abstract: A data reader may have a magnetoresistive stack positioned on an air bearing surface and consisting of at least a magnetically free structure that continuously extends from the air bearing surface with a first stripe height. A side shield can be separated from the magnetoresistive stack on the ABS and configured with a first magnetic layer having the first stripe height and a second magnetic layer having a third stripe height from the air bearing surface with the third stripe height being greater than the first stripe height. The side shield can be anti-ferromagnetically biased by a synthetic antiferromagnetic top shield structure that contacts the side shield through a transition metal material layer. The first stripe height can be configured to match a magnetically free layer of the magnetoresistive stack and the second stripe height can be configured to match a magnetically fixed layer of the magnetoresistive stack.

Abstract: A reader sensor having a composite shield and a sensor stack. The composite shield includes a high magnetic moment layer having a magnetic moment greater than 1.0 T, a low magnetic moment layer, and a spacer therebetween. The high magnetic moment layer is closer to the stack than the low magnetic moment layer. The high magnetic moment layer may be a single layer or have a plurality of layers.

Abstract: A reader sensor having a composite shield and a sensor stack. The composite shield includes a high magnetic moment layer having a magnetic moment greater than 1.0 T, a low magnetic moment layer, and a spacer therebetween. The high magnetic moment layer is closer to the stack than the low magnetic moment layer. The high magnetic moment layer may be a single layer or have a plurality of layers.

Abstract: A reader sensor having a composite shield and a sensor stack. The composite shield includes a high magnetic moment layer having a magnetic moment greater than 1.0 T, a low magnetic moment layer, and a spacer therebetween. The high magnetic moment layer is closer to the stack than the low magnetic moment layer. The high magnetic moment layer may be a single layer or have a plurality of layers.

Abstract: A reader sensor having a composite shield and a sensor stack. The composite shield includes a high magnetic moment layer having a magnetic moment greater than 1.0 T, a low magnetic moment layer, and a spacer therebetween. The high magnetic moment layer is closer to the stack than the low magnetic moment layer. The high magnetic moment layer may be a single layer or have a plurality of layers.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor may generally be configured as a data reader capable of sensing data bits from an adjacent data storage medium. Various embodiments of a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack that contacts at least a first shield. The first shield can have at least one synthetic antiferromagnetic structure (SAFS) that is pinned by a high-coercivity ferromagnetic (HCFM) layer.

Abstract: A data storage device may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that contacts a magnetic shield. The magnetic stack can be disposed between first and second side shields and having at least one layer constructed of a CoFeNiB material. The magnetic shield may have a synthetic antiferromagnet with a non-magnetic layer disposed between first and second ferromagnetic layers.

Abstract: A data storage system may be configured at least with a seed lamination that is disposed between a magnetic stack and a magnetic shield. The seed lamination may be constructed and operated with a coupling buffer layer and a seed layer with the coupling buffer layer fabricated of an alloy of cobalt and a transition metal.

Abstract: A data storage device may be constructed to sense data bits with at least a magnetic stack contacting a shield that has a horizontal lamination of magnetic and non-magnetic layers. The magnetic layer may be configured with a first width at an air bearing surface (ABS) that defines a first aspect ratio and a different second width that defines a different second aspect ratio distal the ABS.

Abstract: A data storage system may be configured at least with a seed lamination that is disposed between a magnetic stack and a magnetic shield. The seed lamination may be constructed and operated with a coupling buffer layer and a seed layer with the coupling buffer layer fabricated of an alloy of cobalt and a transition metal.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor may generally be configured as a data reader capable of sensing data bits from an adjacent data storage medium. Various embodiments of a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack that contacts at least a first shield. The first shield can have at least one synthetic antiferromagnetic structure (SAFS) that is pinned by a high-coercivity ferromagnetic (HCFM) layer.