Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including a first shield, a plurality of read sensors, and a second shield. The read sensors are between the first shield and the second shield. The read sensors have a plurality of widths in a track width direction and are separated by at least one distance in a down track direction. The down track direction is perpendicular to the track width direction.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head includes a write pole tip, a trailing shield, and a spin torque oscillator between the write pole tip and the trailing shield. The spin torque oscillator may have a field generating layer and a damping layer which is exchanged coupled to the field generating layer.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: System and methods are illustrated for customizing the HGA bonding skew angle of a TDMR slider including a plurality of readers to adjust reader alignment relative to a track location on disk media. Overlay error caused by manufacturing variations is compensated for by adjusting the skew angle of the slider when it is bonded to the suspension to form the HGA. Process operations for manufacturing a TMDR HDD include manufacturing a multiple reader, multiple layer TDMR slider, determining an overlay error in the slider, determining a slider bonding skew angle based on the determined overlay error and other parameters, and bonding the slider to a HDD suspension at the determined bonding skew angle.

Abstract: A disk drive read circuit is disclosed comprising a read element for generating a read signal, and a sense amplifier comprising an input terminal coupled through a first capacitor to the read element and an output terminal coupled through a second capacitor to a transmission line, wherein the sense amplifier is for amplifying the read signal.

Abstract: A recording medium having improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) capabilities includes a cap layer over the recording layer, where the cap layer has a magnetic damping constant greater than 0.03, such as by using a FeHo cap layer. One mechanism for increasing the SNR is by reducing the switching field distribution. Such a medium is particularly useful in the context of heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR).

Abstract: System and methods are illustrated for customizing the HGA bonding skew angle of a TDMR slider including a plurality of readers to adjust reader alignment relative to a track location on disk media. Overlay error caused by manufacturing variations is compensated for by adjusting the skew angle of the slider when it is bonded to the suspension to form the HGA. Process operations for manufacturing a TMDR HDD include manufacturing a multiple reader, multiple layer TDMR slider, determining an overlay error in the slider, determining a slider bonding skew angle based on the determined overlay error and other parameters, and bonding the slider to a HDD suspension at the determined bonding skew angle.

Abstract: A disc drive system provides increased reliability by detecting and correcting errors associated with bit-patterned media. Write synchronization errors associated with bit-patterned media are addressed by including data storage for temporarily storing data that is being written to the disc drive. The data is read from both the disc drive and the storage medium and compared to detect write synchronization errors. A disc drive system for correcting write synchronization errors includes an encoder, non-volatile storage, and decoder device for implementing a parity-based scheme for increased reliability. Data strings being written to the disc drive are combined in an encoder to generate a parity string. The address of the data being written to the disc drive, along with the updated parity string is stored to the non-volatile storage. The data strings are read from the disc drive by the decoder.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The method provides a first read sensor stack and defines a first read sensor in a stripe height direction from the first read sensor stack. The stripe height direction is perpendicular to the ABS. A shield is provided on the first read sensor stack and in a down track direction from the first read sensor stack. A second read sensor stack is provided. The shield is between the first read sensor and the second read sensor stack in the down track direction. Both the first read sensor and the second read sensor are defined from the first read sensor stack and from the second read sensor stack, respectively, in a cross-track direction. The cross-track direction is substantially perpendicular to the down track direction and substantially perpendicular to the stripe height direction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling the damping of magnetic media for heat assisted magnetic recording are provided. One such system includes a heat sink layer, a growth layer on the heat sink layer, a magnetic recording layer on the growth layer, where the growth layer is configured to facilitate a growth of a preselected crystalline structure of the magnetic recording layer, and a capping magnetic recording layer on the magnetic recording layer, the capping recording layer including a first material configured to increase a damping constant of the capping recording layer to a first preselected level.

Abstract: A patterned magnetic media is disclosed. The patterned media includes etched recording portions including etched portions of a soft magnetic underlayer. In illustrated embodiments, the soft magnetic layer is etched to form recording bits or etched soft magnetic segments to enhance magnetic field strength in the magnetic recording portions. In other embodiments, soft magnetic layers are deposited in etched regions or areas of the media.

Abstract: A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a write head that includes a slider, a write transducer disposed on the slider, and a laser device affixed to the slider. The write transducer is driven by a first electrical signal that is carried on at least one of a plurality of conductive traces of a laminated flexure to which the write head is attached. The laser device is driven by a second electrical signal that is also carried by the same at least one of the plurality of conductive traces. The first signal is characterized by a first frequency, and the second electrical signal is characterized by a second frequency that is different from the first frequency.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer is coupled with a laser for providing energy and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The HAMR transducer includes a write pole, at least one coil, a waveguide optically coupled with the laser and a grating. The write pole is configured to write to a region of the media. The coil(s) energize the write pole. The waveguide includes arms that have an optical path difference. The grating is optically coupled with the laser. The waveguide is optically coupled with the grating and receives light from the grating.

Abstract: Articles of manufacture and methods of manufacturing such articles of manufacture are disclosed. The articles of manufacture may include a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer having a near field transducer (NFT) and a chimney thermally coupled to the NFT. The articles of manufacture may also include an electrical conductor having section with a reduced width that is thermally coupled to the chimney. The methods include applying an electrical current to the electrical conductor to generate heat in the section and annealing the chimney and the NFT from the heat generated.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and including first and second read sensors and a shield. The shield is in a down track direction from the first read sensor and between the first and second read sensors. The shield includes a first shield layer, a second shield layer and an insulating layer between the first and second shield layers. The first shield layer is between the first read sensor and the second shield layer. The second shield layer is between the first shield layer and the second read sensor. The first shield layer has a first footprint. The second shield layer has a second footprint. The second shield layer overlaps the first shield layer in the down track direction. The overlap is not more than fifty percent of the first footprint and not more than fifty percent of the second footprint.

Abstract: A microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head includes a write pole tip, a trailing shield, and a spin torque oscillator between the write pole tip and the trailing shield. The spin torque oscillator may have a substantially cylindrical member and a non-cylindrical member extending from the substantially cylindrical member toward an air bearing surface (ABS). The non-cylindrical member may have a substantially rectangular and/or flat surface facing the ABS. Alternatively, the spin torque oscillator may include a substantially cylindrical member with a rectangular and/or flat surface facing the ABS that is lapped into the substantially cylindrical member.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including first and second read sensors, a shield and a conductive via. The shield is between the first and second read sensors. In one aspect, the magnetic transducer also includes first and second read shields. In this aspect, the first read shield has a read shield aperture. The conductive via extends through the read shield aperture, provides electrical contact to the shield and is insulated from the first read shield. In another aspect, the shield has first and second shield layers separated by an insulating layer. In this aspect, the second shield layer has an aperture therein. The conductive via extends through this aperture, provides electrical contact to the first shield layer and is insulated from the second shield layer.