Abstract: A magnetic head for writing data to and reading data from a magnetic recording medium includes an inductive-type writer, an anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) reader, and a giant magneto-resistive (GMR) reader. The AMR reader is used to read data from “high magnetic flux” recording mediums which have been recorded for use with AMR sensors. The GMR reader is used to read data from “low magnetic flux” recording mediums which have been recorded for use with GMR sensors. As such, the magnetic head provides for backward compatibility between the previously prevalent “high magnetic flux” recording mediums and the expected future prevalent “low magnetic flux” recording mediums. The magnetic head may be configured such that the writer and the AMR and GMR readers share sensor shields in various configurations in order to carry out their writing and reading functions.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a magnetic writer includes depositing a wear-resistant bottom pole tip layer on a bottom pole; depositing a write gap layer on the bottom pole tip layer; and depositing a wear-resistant top pole tip layer on the write gap layer. The layers are patterned such that the write gap layer and the top pole tip layer each have a track width facing a media surface and the write gap layer and the top pole tip layer each have the same length equal to a throat height between the media surface and a zero throat location. The bottom pole tip layer and the bottom pole are patterned such that the bottom pole tip layer has the track width facing the media surface and the bottom pole has a bottom pole tip at the media surface with the bottom pole tip having the track width facing the media surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-film read element for use in reading magnetic signals from a device. The read element includes a first thin-film read sensor and a second thin-film read sensor that are each configured to convert the magnetic signals of the device to electrical signals.

Abstract: A two bump magnetic head for writing and reading information to a tape includes a merged-pole read/write element structure with inverted write elements. Each inverted write element includes top and bottom write poles. The write poles are fabricated such that the longitudinal dimension of the bottom write pole is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the top write pole in a zero throat region. This results in an “inverted” structure. An upper portion of the bottom write pole is milled in at least the zero throat region early in fabrication to produce a precise width adjoining a write gap. The trimmed upper portion of bottom write pole results in an improved write geometry that produces tightly defined tracks.

Abstract: A method of fabrication and a magnetic transducer having an inverted write element with a zero delta in pole tip width to provide improved bi-directional control over write track width and written erase bands on media. The transducer includes a top pole and a bottom pole configured to provide the same write track width and relatively small erase bands when either pole is the trailing pole depending on direction of movement of the media relative to the transducer. The bottom pole has an upper portion and a lower portion. The bottom pole upper portion width is less than the bottom pole lower portion width. The top pole has a main portion formed opposite to the bottom pole upper portion. The top pole main portion has a main portion width which is equal to the bottom pole upper portion width.

Abstract: A method of fabrication and a magnetic transducer having an inverted write element with a zero delta in pole tip width to provide improved bi-directional control over write track width and written erase bands on media. The transducer includes a top pole and a bottom pole configured to provide the same write track width and relatively small erase bands when either pole is the trailing pole depending on direction of movement of the media relative to the transducer. The bottom pole has an upper portion and a lower portion. The bottom pole upper portion width is less than the bottom pole lower portion width. The top pole has a main portion formed opposite to the bottom pole upper portion. The top pole main portion has a main portion width which is equal to the bottom pole upper portion width.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film magnetic transducer and the resulting transducer structure is disclosed. The method starts with the formation of a bottom pole having an upper portion and a lower portion in a zero throat region. The upper portion has an upper portion width and the lower portion had a lower portion width, wherein the lower portion width is greater than the upper portion width. A gap layer is then formed over the bottom pole, and the top pole is formed over the gap layer. The top pole width is greater than the bottom pole's lower portion width. In one embodiment, a planarization layer is deposited overlaying the bottom pole prior to formation of the gap layer. Lapping is then performed to reduce the planarization layer and the bottom pole's upper portion to a flat surface suitable for receiving the gap layer deposition.

Abstract: A two bump magnetic head for writing and reading information to a tape includes a merged-pole read/write element structure with inverted write elements. Each inverted write element includes top and bottom write poles. The write poles are fabricated such that the longitudinal dimension of the bottom write pole is smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the top write pole in a zero throat region. This results in an “inverted” structure. An upper portion of the bottom write pole is milled in at least the zero throat region early in fabrication to produce a precise width adjoining a write gap. The trimmed upper portion of bottom write pole results in an improved write geometry that produces tightly defined tracks.

Abstract: A film transducer head design is formed on a substrate where the first yoke layer and electric terminal strip that connects the coil center pad to the head exterior are formed at the same time followed by successive layers that form the transducer gap, coil insulation, coil, coil insulation and the second yoke layer. This sequence allows the coil to be tested immediately after deposition of the coil material and at a time in the fabrication sequence when it can be reworked or replaced if a discontinuity (open) or shorted turn(s) is (are) identified.

Abstract: Process for lift-off fabrication of sputtered dielectric or nonmagnetic gap materials and thin-film heads for either a single-element thin-film head or side-by-side elements on a thin-film head. The lift-off process utilizes a copper coating that is removed by a twenty percent solution of ammonium persulfate with a pH in the range of seven to nine to assure complete removal of gap material from the back closure of the thin-film head without damage to the underlying permalloy. The process can also be utilized to obtain a multiple layer deposits on a single thin-film had by repeating the steps of the process. The process provides for a clean hole, no dielectric on the surface nor any attacking on the magnetic material.

Abstract: A process for producing a reactive ion-etched structure with height and width dimensions of the order of 25 microns or less on a ferrite substrate surface is disclosed. A mask of positive water saturated photoresist is formed on the substrate. A metal taken from the group consisting of nickel and a nickel-iron alloy is plated through the mask. The photoresist mask is removed to leave a pattern in the plated metal. The ferrite substrate surface that is exposed by the pattern is reactive ion etched with a power density of >1w/cm.sup.2 and a bias voltage <-100 volts.