Abstract: A transducer having an external contact surface includes a writer and a contact member. The writer has a portion extendable relative to an adjacent portion of the external contact surface. The contact member surrounds at least a portion of the extendable writer portion and is spaced from the extendable writer portion. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the contact member is approximately equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the extendable writer portion.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a shape of a portion of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of a head residing on a slider are described. The ABS is configured to fly at a fly height from and with a velocity with respect to a disk during normal operating conditions. The method and system include driving at least one heater residing in the head while the slider is substantially at the normal operating conditions with respect to the disk and the fly height. The shape of the portion of the ABS changes in response to the heater(s) being driven. The method and system also include performing Doppler measurements on the slider while the heater is driven. The shape may then be determined based on the Doppler measurements.

Abstract: A transducer having an external contact surface includes a writer and a contact member. The writer has a portion extendable relative to an adjacent portion of the external contact surface. The contact member surrounds at least a portion of the extendable writer portion and is spaced from the extendable writer portion. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the contact member is approximately equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the extendable writer portion.

Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductive coil for carrying a current to induce a first field from the write element. A conductor proximate the write element tip carries the current to generate a second field that augments the first field. A driver provides the current to the conductive coil and the conductor, and a circuit phase shifts the current through the conductor relative to the current through the conductive coil.

Abstract: A method and system for determining a shape of a portion of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of a head residing on a slider are described. The ABS is configured to fly at a fly height from and with a velocity with respect to a disk during normal operating conditions. The method and system include driving at least one heater residing in the head while the slider is substantially at the normal operating conditions with respect to the disk and the fly height. The shape of the portion of the ABS changes in response to the heater(s) being driven. The method and system also include performing Doppler measurements on the slider while the heater is driven. The shape may then be determined based on the Doppler measurements.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a first return element magnetically coupled to the write element on a trailing side of the write element. A conductor is positioned proximate to an edge of the write element tip and is configured to generate an assist field that augments a write field generated by the write element. A shield that includes at least one gap extends from the first return element toward the write element tip.

Abstract: A transducing device having a storage interface surface includes a writer having a pole tip region, a coil having a width positioned around the writer, and a heating element. The heating element extends to near the storage interface surface. A portion of the heating element is at least as wide as the coil. The heating element heats the writer in response to current flow through the heating element.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductive coil for carrying a current to induce a first field from the write element. A conductor proximate the write element tip carries the current to generate a second field that augments the first field. A driver provides the current to the conductive coil and the conductor, and a circuit phase shifts the current through the conductor relative to the current through the conductive coil.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a first return element magnetically coupled to the write element on a trailing side of the write element. A conductor is positioned proximate to an edge of the write element tip and is configured to generate an assist field that augments a write field generated by the write element. A shield that includes at least one gap extends from the first return element toward the write element tip.

Abstract: A transducer having an external contact surface includes a writer and a contact member. The writer has a portion extendable beyond the external contact surface. The contact member surrounds at least a portion of the extendable writer portion.

Abstract: A transducing device includes a writer having a pole tip region and a heater circuit. The heater circuit has a heating portion and a heater current return path. The heating portion has at least two branches positioned with respect to the writer so that current flowing through the at least two branches heat the writer. The heater current return path is electrically connected to the at least two branches of the heating portion near the pole tip region and includes an electrically conductive portion of the writer.

Abstract: A head for a disc drive and a method of making the head. The head includes a substrate with a trailing side and a first air bearing surface that generates lift. A magnetic transducer is deposited along the trailing side and has a pole tip that is spaced apart from a disc by a pole-to-disc spacing. The head also includes a deposit along the trailing side. The deposit includes a second air bearing surface that changes position relative to the first air bearing surface as temperature increases.

Abstract: A head for a magnetic drive that includes a substrate with a thermal expansion rate CTE1. A transducer in the head has a bond to the substrate and has a transducer thermal expansion rate CTE2 that is greater than CTE1. A restraint layer in the substrate has a bond to one side of the transducer and has a first restraint layer thermal expansion rate CTE3 that is lower than CTE1. The restraint layer restrains protrusion of the transducer beyond the substrate at higher operating temperatures.

Abstract: A magnetic head for reading information from a magnetic medium is provided. The magnetic head includes a substrate, having a substrate thermal coefficient of expansion, and a read element positioned above the substrate. The head also includes a shield, positioned above the substrate and adjacent the read element, which has a shield thermal coefficient of expansion that substantially matches the substrate thermal coefficient of expansion. The shield absorbs stray magnetic fields from the magnetic medium, which emanate from stored data that is adjacent to a data element that is directly beneath and read by the magnetoresistive read element. This shield may also serve to provide electrical contact for the read element. The magnetic thermal coefficient of expansion and electrical properties of the shield may be suitably optimized through appropriate choice of component materials and structure.

Abstract: A magnetic head has an air bearing surface, a substrate, a data transducer and a composite overcoat layer. The data transducer is positioned upon the substrate adjacent the air bearing surface. The data transducer includes a plurality of metallic layers. The composite overcoat layer is positioned upon the data transducer on a side of the data transducer opposite the substrate. An effective coefficient of thermal expansion of the composite overcoat layer is substantially equal to a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material forming the substrate.

Abstract: A read/write head includes a bottom shield and a shared shield. The shared shield includes a first domain and a plurality of closure domains. The read/write head also includes a magnetoresistive sensor deposited adjacent an air bearing surface between the bottom shield and the shared shield. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a magnetoresistor aligned with the first domain. Non-magnetic material separates the magnetoresistive sensor from the bottom shield and the shared shield. The shared shield includes a shaped feature that defines an unambiguous direction of magnetization for the first domain.

Abstract: A magnetic head having an air bearing surface, a substrate, a basecoat, a data transducer and a plurality of insulating layers. The basecoat is positioned upon the substrate. The data transducer, which is positioned upon the basecoat adjacent the air bearing surface of the magnetic head, includes a plurality of metallic layers. The plurality of insulating layers are positioned upon the basecoat adjacent the data transducer opposite the air bearing surface of the data transducer. At least one insulating layer of the plurality of insulating layers is substantially coplanar to at least one of the plurality of metallic layers. A portion of the insulating layer is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than a coefficient of thermal expansion of the material forming the substrate.

Abstract: A disc drive includes a disc and a read/write head accessing the disc. The head includes a thermally conductive substrate and a write coil window surrounded by a shared pole piece thermally coupled to the substrate, a central core, a write pole piece and a write gap. A bottom coil adjacent the shared pole piece has multiple turns that have bottom narrowed regions passing through the window. A top coil adjacent the write pole piece has multiple turns that have top narrowed regions passing through the window. The top turns are fewer in number and flattened relative to the bottom turns.

Abstract: A magnetic head for reading information from a magnetic medium is provided. The magnetic head includes a substrate, having a substrate thermal coefficient of expansion, and a read element positioned above the substrate. The head also includes a shield, positioned above the substrate and adjacent the read element, which has a shield thermal coefficient of expansion that substantially matches the substrate thermal coefficient of expansion. The shield absorbs stray magnetic fields from the magnetic medium, which emanate from stored data that is adjacent to a data element that is directly beneath and read by the magnetoresistive read element. This shield may also serve to provide electrical contact for the reader element. The magnetic thermal coefficient of expansion and electrical properties of the shield may be suitably optimized through appropriate choice of component materials and structure.