Abstract: A transducer for a hard disk drive system has a planar magnetic core and a pair of poletips that project transversely from the core for sliding contact with the disk during reading and writing. The transducer is formed entirely of thin films in the shape of a low profile table having three legs that slide on the disk, the poletips being exposed at a bottom of one of the legs for high resolution communication with the disk, the throat height of the poletips affording sufficient tolerance to allow for wear. The legs elevate the transducer from the disk sufficiently to minimize lifting by a thin air layer that moves with the spinning disk which, in combination with the small size of the thin film head allows a low load and a flexible beam and gimbal to hold the transducer to the disk.

Abstract: A thin film metal alloy magnetic recording disk has an improved protective overcoat which is both wear resistant and which creates a low level of stiction in a rigid disk file. In a preferred embodiment the overcoat is a film of essentially amorphous carbon or hydrogen-containing carbon with relatively small amounts of additives of iron (Fe), tungsten (W) or tungsten-carbide (WC). The structure of the overcoat is a relatively smooth planar carbon surface with discrete clusters of the additives which project slightly above the smooth carbon surface. The specific additives to the carbon overcoat improve the wear resistance of the disk and permit the sliders to contact the disks in contact start/stop (CSS) operation without damage to any of the disk file components.

Abstract: A minimal corrosion resistor structure and deposition technique for superconductive circuits, with mutually protective niobium oxide passivation ring, gold corrosion barrier film and titanium resistive layer. Niobium has an intrinsic oxide of Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, which must be removed from a contact area designated by an opening in photoresist; the development process leaves a photoresist overhang. The corrosion barrier film is deposited through the opening. The resistive metal layer is deposited over the corrosion barrier film through the same opening. The gold corrosion barrier film prevents the titanium resistive metal layer from making corrosive contact with the niobium. The titanium resistive metal layer encapsulates the gold corrosion barrier film to prevent diffusion between the gold and further layers to be deposited subsequently. It would normally be possible for the titanium to spill over the gold and make corrosive intimate contact with the niobium; a self-alignment technique prevents such contact.

Abstract: A minimal corrosion resistor structure and deposition technique for superconductive circuits, with mutually protective niobium oxide passivation ring, gold corrosion barrier film and titanium resistive layer. Niobium has an intrinsic oxide of Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, which must be removed from a contact area designated by an opening in photoresist; the development process leaves a photoresist overhang. The corrosion barrier film is deposited through the opening. The resistive metal layer is deposited over the corrosion barrier film through the same opening. The gold corrosion barrier film prevents the titanium resistive metal layer from making corrosive contact with the niobium. The titanium resistive metal layer encapsulates the gold corrosion barrier film to prevent diffusion between the gold and further layers to be deposited subsequently. It would normally be possible for the titanium to spill over the gold and make corrosive intimate contact with the niobium; a self-alignment technique prevents such contact.