Abstract: A method of forming a PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording) head that includes a tapered write pole that is fully surrounded by wrapped-around magnetic shields, including laterally disposed side shields, a trailing shield and a leading shield. A layer of high magnetic saturation material (high Bs) is formed on the leading edge of the trailing shield and extends rearward, away from the ABS plane to define a cross-sectional write gap shape that is not conformal with the shape of the tapered write pole. The cross-sectional shape of this shield layer enables it to absorb flux from the write pole so that the flux for writing is enhanced and concentrated at the area of the recording medium being written upon and does not extend to adjacent tracks or to downtrack positions at which such flux is not desired.

Abstract: A method of forming a PMR writer with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of ?0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment (Ms) on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer (Ms of 19-24 kG), and an upper magnetic layer (Ms of 16-24 kG). The hot seed layer and upper TS magnetic layer promote improved area density capability (ADC). A second TS layer with Ms of 16-24 kG and a full width at the ABS may be formed on the upper magnetic layer.

Abstract: A dual perpendicular magnetic recording writer is disclosed wherein the better of two writers on a slider is determined by performance testing, and is then integrated into a head gimbal assembly. Main pole layers in the two writers are separated by a cross-track width <10 microns to minimize read-write offset. Each of the driving coil (DC) and bucking coil (BC) have two outer portions forming a U shape with a front side, and each have a center portion connected to the front side proximate to an air bearing surface and a backend contacting an interconnect. A write current passes from a BC outer portion below the main pole in the selected writer through the BC center portion to the interconnect, and then through the DC center portion to a DC outer portion above the main pole in the selected writer. Area density capability mean and sigma are improved.

Abstract: A dual perpendicular magnetic recording writer is disclosed wherein the better of two writers on a slider is determined by performance testing, and is then integrated into a head gimbal assembly. Main pole layers in the two writers are separated by a cross-track width<10 microns to minimize read-write offset. Each of the driving coil (DC) and bucking coil (BC) have two outer portions forming a U shape with a front side, and each have a center portion connected to the front side proximate to an air bearing surface and a backend contacting an interconnect. A write current passes from a BC outer portion below the main pole in the selected writer through the BC center portion to the interconnect, and then through the DC center portion to a DC outer portion above the main pole in the selected writer. Area density capability mean and sigma are improved.

Abstract: A method of forming a PMR writer with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of >0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment (Ms) on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer (Ms of 19-24 kG), and an upper magnetic layer (Ms of 16-24 kG). The hot seed layer and upper TS magnetic layer promote improved area density capability (ADC). A second TS layer with Ms of 16-24 kG and a full width at the ABS may be formed on the upper magnetic layer.

Abstract: A pad/trace line layout for a PMR writer structure having two or more writers on a slider, and a process for selecting the best of the multiple writers is disclosed. Each writer is individually probed with a spin stand test device to generate performance results including bit error rate (BER), and area density capability (ADC). After the best writer is determined, the slider is integrated in a HGA. Only the best writer is connected through trace lines to a preamp to enable functionality. At least one trace line has a plurality of arms that enable flexibility in connecting the best writer to the preamp while other arms are not connected. In some embodiments, all writers share a common W? pad that is connected to the preamp through one of two trace lines while the other trace line has one of the plurality of arms connected to the best writer.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of ?0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment (Ms) on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer (Ms of 19-24 kG), and an upper magnetic layer (Ms of 16-24 kG). The hot seed layer, and upper TS magnetic layer promote improved area density capability (ADC). A second TS layer with Ms of 16-24 kG and a full width at the ABS may be formed on the upper magnetic layer.

Abstract: A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein the better of the two writers on a slider is integrated into a head gimbal assembly to improve area density capability mean and sigma values, and the other writer is disabled. Each of a driving coil (DC) and bucking coil (BC) have two outer portions that form a U shape with a front side, and have a center portion connected to each of the two outer portions with a narrow arm in which direct current resistance (DCR) is enhanced during a write process. As a result, when writer (coil) induced write gap (WG) protrusion is overlaid on the dynamic fly height (DFH) protrusion profile, the net WG protrusion profile has a maximum value at a cross-track position aligned with a main pole tip in the better writer thereby substantially minimizing magnetic spacing loss compared with conventional dual PMR writers.

Abstract: A method of forming a PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording) head that includes a tapered write pole that is fully surrounded by wrapped-around magnetic shields, including laterally disposed side shields, a trailing shield and a leading shield. A layer of high magnetic saturation material (high Bs) is formed on the leading edge of the trailing shield and extends rearward, away from the ABS plane to define a cross-sectional write gap shape that is not conformal with the shape of the tapered write pole. The cross-sectional shape of this shield layer enables it to absorb flux from the write pole so that the flux for writing is enhanced and concentrated at the area of the recording medium being written upon and does not extend to adjacent tracks or to downtrack positions at which such flux is not desired.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of ?0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment (Ms) on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer (Ms of 19-24 kG), and an upper magnetic layer (Ms of 16-24 kG). The hot seed layer, upper TS magnetic layer and overlying PP3 TS promote improved area density capability (ADC). A second TS layer with Ms of 16-24 kG and a full width at the ABS may be formed on the upper magnetic layer.

Abstract: A PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording) head includes a tapered write pole that is fully surrounded by wrapped-around magnetic shields, including laterally disposed side shields, a trailing shield and a leading shield. A layer of high magnetic saturation material (high Bs) is formed on the leading edge of the trailing shield and extends rearward, away from the ABS plane to define a cross-sectional write gap shape that is not conformal with the shape of the tapered write pole. The cross-sectional shape of this shield layer enables it to absorb flux from the write pole so that the flux for writing is enhanced and concentrated at the area of the recording medium being written upon and does not extend to adjacent tracks or to downtrack positions at which such flux is not desired.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of ?0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer magnetic layers with an 8-16 kiloGauss (kG) saturation magnetic moment on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle hot seed layer having a 19-24 kG saturation magnetic moment, and an upper magnetic layer with a 16-24 kG saturation magnetic moment, and each having a first cross-track width. The hot seed layer, upper TS magnetic layer and an overlying PP3 trailing shield promote improved area density capability (ADC).

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed with an all wrap around (AWA) shield design in which one or more of the leading shield, side shields, and trailing shield (TS) structure (except the hot seed layer) at the air bearing surface (ABS) are comprised of an alloy having a damping parameter ? of ?0.04 to minimize wide area track erasure (WATE). The TS structure comprises two outer 8-16 kG portions on each side of a center stack with a lower write gap, a middle 19-24 kG (hot seed) layer, and an upper 16-24 kG TS layer each having a first cross-track width. The hot seed layer, upper 16-24 kG TS layer and an overlying PP3 trailing shield promote improved area density capability (ADC). A second 16-24 kG TS layer having a full width at the ABS may be formed on the first 16-24 kG TS layer.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed wherein magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to a main pole is substantially greater through a trailing shield structure than through a leading return loop comprised of a leading shield, return path layer (RTP), and back gap connection (BGC). Magnetic impedance is increased between the RTP and main pole in the leading return loop by removing one or more layers in the BGC and replacing with dielectric material and non-magnetic metal to form a dielectric gap between the RTP and main pole. The non-magnetic metal may be Cu that is electrically isolated from coils within the write head. As a result, area density control and bit error rate are improved over a conventional dual write shield (DWS) structure comprising two flux return pathways. Moreover, adjacent track erasure is maintained at a level similar to a DWS design.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed wherein magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to a main pole is substantially greater through a trailing shield structure than through a leading return loop comprised of a leading shield, return path layer (RTP), and back gap connection (BGC). Magnetic impedance is increased between the RTP and main pole in the leading return loop by removing one or more layers in the BGC and replacing with dielectric material and non-magnetic metal to form a dielectric gap between the RTP and main pole. The non-magnetic metal may be Cu that is electrically isolated from coils within the write head. As a result, area density control and bit error rate are improved over a conventional dual write shield (DWS) structure comprising two flux return pathways. Moreover, adjacent track erasure is maintained at a level similar to a DWS design.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed wherein magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to a main pole is substantially greater through a trailing shield structure than through a leading shield and return path layer (RTP). Magnetic impedance is increased between the RTP and main pole in the leading return loop by modifying the size and shape of the back gap connection (BGC), by decreasing Bs in the RTP or reducing its thickness, or by removing one or more layers in the BGC and replacing with dielectric material or non-magnetic metal to form a dielectric gap between the RTP and main pole. As a result, area density control and bit error rate are improved over a conventional dual write shield (DWS) structure comprising two flux return pathways. Moreover, adjacent track erasure is maintained at a level similar to a DWS design.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed wherein magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to a main pole is substantially greater through a trailing shield structure than through a leading shield and return path layer (RTP). Magnetic impedance is increased between the RTP and main pole in the leading return loop by modifying the size and shape of the back gap connection (BGC), by decreasing Bs in the RTP or reducing its thickness, or by removing one or more layers in the BGC and replacing with dielectric material or non-magnetic metal to form a dielectric gap between the RTP and main pole. As a result, area density control and bit error rate are improved over a conventional dual write shield (DWS) structure comprising two flux return pathways. Moreover, adjacent track erasure is maintained at a level similar to a DWS design.

Abstract: A PMR (perpendicular magnetic recording) head includes a tapered write pole that is fully surrounded by wrapped-around magnetic shields, including laterally disposed side shields, a trailing shield and a leading shield. A layer of high magnetic saturation material (high Bs) is formed on the leading edge of the trailing shield and extends rearward, away from the ABS plane to define a cross-sectional write gap shape that is not conformal with the shape of the tapered write pole. The cross-sectional shape of this shield layer enables it to absorb flux from the write pole so that the flux for writing is enhanced and concentrated at the area of the recording medium being written upon and does not extend to adjacent tracks or to downtrack positions at which such flux is not desired.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed wherein a hot seed layer (HS) made of a 19-24 kilogauss (kG) magnetic material is formed between a gap layer and a 10-16 kG magnetic layer in the side shields, and between the leading gap and a 16-19 kG magnetic layer in the leading shield to improve the track field gradient and cross-track field gradient while maintaining write-ability. The HS is from 10 to 100 nm thick and has a first side facing the write pole with a height of ?0.15 micron, and a second side facing a main pole flared side that may extend to a full side shield height of ?0.5 micron. The trailing shield has a second hot seed layer on the write gap and a 16-19 kG magnetic layer that contacts the 10-16 kG side shield magnetic layer thereby forming an all wrap around (AWA) shield configuration.

Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed wherein a hot seed layer (HS) made of a 19-24 kilogauss (kG) magnetic material is formed between a gap layer and a 10-16 kG magnetic layer in the side shields, and between the leading gap and a 16-19 kG magnetic layer in the leading shield to improve Hy_grad and Hy_grad_x while maintaining write-ability. The HS is from 10 to 100 nm thick and has a first side facing the write pole with a height of ?0.15 micron, and a second side facing a main pole flared side that may extend to a full side shield height of ?0.5 micron. First and second sides may form a continuous curve or a double tapered design where first and second sides have different angles with respect to a center plane. The side shield design described herein is especially beneficial for side gaps of 20-60 nm.