Abstract: A magnetic recording write head has an electrically-conductive structure in the write gap between the write pole and the trailing shield and electrical circuitry for directing current through the write gap. The current through the electrically-conductive structure generates a circular Ampere field which, at the disk-facing end of the write pole, is substantially parallel to the disk-facing end of the write pole. The electrically-conductive structure in the write gap may be a STO or an electrically-conductive layer that is not part of a STO. The current direction through the electrically-conductive structure in the write gap is selected so that the generated Ampere field at the write pole end is in substantially the same direction as the magnetization direction of the write head side shields, which has been discovered to result in minimization of cross-track interference.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are magnetic recording devices and methods of using them. A magnetic recording device comprises a main pole extending to an air-bearing surface (ABS), a trailing shield extending to the ABS, a write-field-enhancing structure disposed between and coupled to the main pole and the trailing shield at the ABS, a write coil configured to magnetize the main pole, a write current control circuit coupled to the write coil and configured to apply a write current to the write coil, wherein the write current comprises a write pulse, and a bias current control circuit coupled to the write-field-enhancing structure and configured to apply a bias current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the bias current comprises a driving pulse offset in time from the write pulse by a delay, wherein the delay substantially coincides with an expected magnetization switch-time lag of a free layer of the write-field-enhancing structure.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole configured to serve as a first electrode, an upper pole containing a trailing magnetic shield configured to a serve as a second electrode, and an electrically conductive portion located in a trailing gap between the main pole and the trailing magnetic shield. The electrically conductive portion is not part of a spin torque oscillator stack, and the electrically conductive portion includes at least one electrically conductive, non-magnetic material layer. The main pole and the trailing magnetic shield are electrically shorted by the electrically conductive portion across the trailing gap between the main pole and the trailing magnetic shield such that an electrically conductive path is present between the main pole and the trailing magnetic shield through the electrically conductive portion.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a main pole at a media facing surface (MFS), a trailing shield at the MFS, and a heavy metal layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS. Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is generated from the heavy metal layer and transferred to a surface of the main pole as a current passes through the heavy metal layer in a cross-track direction. The SOT executes a torque on the surface magnetization of the main pole, which reduces the magnetic flux shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield. With the reduced magnetic flux shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield, write-ability is improved.

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 magnetic recording device includes a main pole, a coil around the main pole, a trailing shield, and a spin torque oscillation device between the main pole and the trailing shield. The spin torque oscillation device includes one or more first layers, a spacer layer, and a field generation layer. The one or more first layers are over the main pole. The one or more first layers have a first heat conductance or include a low-heat-conductance material. The spacer layer is over the one or more first layers. The field generation layer is over the spacer layer. A heat sink is in contact with the trailing shield. The heat sink has a second heat conductance or includes a high-heat-conductance material. The second heat conductance of the heat sink is higher than the first heat conductance of the one or more first layers.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head, a second write head, at least one read head, and a thermal fly height control element. The first write head is a wide writing write head comprising a first main pole and a first trailing shield. The second write head a narrow writing write head comprising a second main pole, a trailing gap, a second trailing shield, and one or more side shields. The first main pole has a shorter height and a greater width than the second main pole. The second main pole has a curved or U-shaped surface disposed adjacent to the trailing gap. The thermal fly height control element and the at least one read head are aligned with a center axis of the second main pole of the second write head.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head disposed adjacent to a second write head. The first write head comprises a first main pole coupled to a first yoke having a first length. The second write head comprises a second main pole coupled to a second yoke having a second length that is less than the first length of the first yoke. A first coil is wrapped around the first yoke, and a second coil is wrapped around the second yoke. The first coil is wrapped around the first yoke a greater number of times than the second coil is wrapped around the second yoke. Both the first and second coils comprise first portions comprised of a first material and second portions comprised of a second material different than the first material.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to data storage devices, and more specifically, to storage devices employing an energy-assisted magnetic recording write head. The write head may comprise a main pole, a trailing shield, a conducting gap disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, and one or more current blockers. The conducting gap may be conformal with the main pole. The one or more current blockers may be configured to direct the current from the main pole to the trailing shield through the conducting gap. The one or more current blockers may be further configured to recess the conducting gap away from the media facing surface. The one or more current blockers may be configured to direct the current away from a media facing surface of the write head.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to data storage devices, and more specifically, to storage devices employing an energy-assisted magnetic recording write head. The write head may comprise a main pole, a trailing shield, a conducting gap disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, and one or more current blockers. The conducting gap may be conformal with the main pole. The one or more current blockers may be configured to direct the current from the main pole to the trailing shield through the conducting gap. The one or more current blockers may be further configured to recess the conducting gap away from the media facing surface. The one or more current blockers may be configured to direct the current away from a media facing surface of the write head.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head comprises a first write head and a second write head. The first write head comprises a first main pole, a first yoke having a first length, and a first coil wrapped around the first yoke. The second write head comprises a second main pole, a second yoke having a second length, a second coil wrapped around the second yoke, and a side shield surrounding two or more surfaces of the second main pole. The side shield comprises a heavy metal layer and a magnetic layer. The second write head comprises an energy-assisted magnetic recording element or stack. The second write head comprises a non-magnetic conductive structure to enable maximum current efficiency and uniformity. A write of the first write head is wider than that of the second write head.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a trailing shield, a main pole, side shields surrounding at least a portion of the main pole, and a structure disposed between the trailing shield and the main pole. The structure includes one or more layers and a seed layer. The seed layer is connected to one or more electrical leads to provide an electrical path from the leads to the one or more layers during operation. The seed layer guides the electrical current to the one or more layers and improves heat dissipation of the one or more layers, leading to a reduction in hot spots formed in the one or more layers.

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 magnetic recording devices and methods of using them. A magnetic recording device comprises a main pole extending to an air-bearing surface (ABS), a trailing shield extending to the ABS, a write-field-enhancing structure disposed between and coupled to the main pole and the trailing shield at the ABS, a write coil configured to magnetize the main pole, a write current control circuit coupled to the write coil and configured to apply a write current to the write coil, wherein the write current comprises a write pulse, and a bias current control circuit coupled to the write-field-enhancing structure and configured to apply a bias current to the write-field-enhancing structure, wherein the bias current comprises a driving pulse offset in time from the write pulse by a delay, wherein the delay substantially coincides with an expected magnetization switch-time lag of a free layer of the write-field-enhancing structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a main pole at a media facing surface (MFS), a trailing shield at the MFS, and a MAMR stack disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS. The MAMR stack includes a seed layer and at least one magnetic layer. The seed layer is fabricated from a thermally conductive material having electrical resistivity lower than that of the main pole. The seed layer has a stripe height greater than a stripe height of the at least one magnetic layer. With the extended seed layer, the bias current from the trailing shield to the main pole spreads further away from the MFS along the extended seed layer before flowing into the main pole, reducing temperature rise at or near the MAMR stack, leading to improved write head reliability.

Abstract: A magnetic recording write head has an electrically-conductive structure in the write gap between the write pole and the trailing shield and electrical circuitry for directing current through the write gap. The current through the electrically-conductive structure generates a circular Ampere field which, at the disk-facing end of the write pole, is substantially parallel to the disk-facing end of the write pole. The electrically-conductive structure in the write gap may be a STO or an electrically-conductive layer that is not part of a STO. The current direction through the electrically-conductive structure in the write gap is selected so that the generated Ampere field at the write pole end is in substantially the same direction as the magnetization direction of the write head side shields, which has been discovered to result in minimization of cross-track interference.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to data storage devices, and more specifically, to a magnetic media drive employing a magnetic recording head. The head includes a main pole at a media facing surface (MFS), a trailing shield at the MFS, and a heavy metal layer disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield at the MFS. Spin-orbit torque (SOT) is generated from the heavy metal layer and transferred to a surface of the main pole as a current passes through the heavy metal layer in a cross-track direction. The SOT executes a torque on the surface magnetization of the main pole, which reduces the magnetic flux shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield. With the reduced magnetic flux shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield, write-ability is improved.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording write head includes a heater on one side of the pole tip of the main pole and a heat sink on the opposite side of the pole tip. The heater is formed of high resistivity material and is connected to a power source. During writing, power is applied to the heater, which causes a relatively large temperature gradient across the pole tip from the heater to the heat sink. The temperature gradient increases the damping of the ferromagnetic material of the main pole during writing, which increases the switching speed of the main pole.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording write head includes a heater on one side of the pole tip of the main pole and a heat sink on the opposite side of the pole tip. The heater is formed of high resistivity material and is connected to a power source. During writing, power is applied to the heater, which causes a relatively large temperature gradient across the pole tip from the heater to the heat sink. The temperature gradient increases the damping of the ferromagnetic material of the main pole during writing, which increases the switching speed of the main pole.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to data storage devices, and more specifically, to storage devices employing an energy-assisted magnetic recording write head. The write head may comprise a main pole, a trailing shield, a conducting gap disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield, and one or more current blockers. The conducting gap may be conformal with the main pole. The one or more current blockers may be configured to direct the current from the main pole to the trailing shield through the conducting gap. The one or more current blockers may be further configured to recess the conducting gap away from the media facing surface. The one or more current blockers may be configured to direct the current away from a media facing surface of the write head.