Abstract: An apparatus comprising a phase compensator and an optical condenser in communication with the phase compensator. The phase compensator provides for phase shifting a portion of an electromagnetic wave. The optical condenser is shaped to direct the electromagnetic wave to a focal region of the optical condenser.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a phase compensator and an optical condenser in communication with the phase compensator. The phase compensator provides for phase shifting a portion of an electromagnetic wave. The optical condenser is shaped to direct the electromagnetic wave to a focal region of the optical condenser.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording head with a multilayer electromagnetic (EM) radiation emission structure. The multilayer EM radiation emission structure is in optical communication with a light source for heating a recording medium. Particularly, the multilayer EM radiation emission structure includes a conducting layer for receiving the light source and a protective layer formed adjacent the conducting layer to protect the conducting layer from contact with a recording medium. An aperture extends through the conducting layer in the protective layer to allow the light source to pass therethrough to heat the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) device includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having an Fe/FeSi/Fe construction. A first Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a first direction, while a second Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a second direction that is substantially antiparallel to the first direction. The magnetoresistive device can be a spin valve in which a first surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a pinning layer, and a second surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a spacer layer. Further, the spin valve includes a free layer that overlies the spacer, thereby being separated from the synthetic AFM layer by the spacer. The pinning layer, synthetic AFM layer, spacer, and free layer can be bounded by a first shield and a second shield to provide magnetic shielding of the spin valve sensor.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording head with a multilayer electromagnetic (EM) radiation emission structure. The multilayer EM radiation emission structure is in optical communication with a light source for heating a recording medium. Particularly, the multilayer EM radiation emission structure includes a conducting layer for receiving the light source and a protective layer formed adjacent the conducting layer to protect the conducting layer from contact with a recording medium. An aperture extends through the conducting layer in the protective layer to allow the light source to pass therethrough to heat the recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) device includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having an Fe/FeSi/Fe construction. A first Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a first direction, while a second Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a second direction that is substantially antiparallel to the first direction. The magnetoresistive device can be a spin valve in which a first surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a pinning layer, and a second surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a spacer layer. Further, the spin valve includes a free layer that overlies the spacer, thereby being separated from the synthetic AFM layer by the spacer. The pinning layer, synthetic AFM layer, spacer, and free layer can be bounded by a first shield and a second shield to provide magnetic shielding of the spin valve sensor.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a read head having means for generating a magnetic field which reduces noise from a soft magnetic underlayer of a recording medium during operation of the recording head. The means for generating a magnetic field includes a current perpendicular to the plane read sensor of the read head. The electrical current generates a magnetic field which biases the magnetization of the soft magnetic underlayer. By controlling the amount of current or current density that is passed through the read sensor, the magnitude of the magnetic field for biasing the soft magnetic underlayer may be controlled. A method of using a perpendicular magnetic recording head to magnetically bias a soft magnetic underlayer of a recording medium is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a device for reading data is disclosed. The device includes a magnetoresistive element. The method and system include providing a read gap, providing a plurality of leads, and providing an insulator. The read gap covers at least a portion of the magnetoresistive element. The plurality of leads is electrically coupled with the magnetoresistive element. The insulator electrically isolates a portion of each of the plurality of leads. In one aspect, the read gap is formed in a first process and the insulator is formed in a second process decoupled from the first process.

Abstract: A magnetic head has an exchange isolated poletip located between a shield of an MR sensor and a write pole of an inductive sensor. The poletip is preferably made of high Bs material, allowing the flux that travels through the much larger pole layer to funnel through the poletip without saturation. The poletip is isolated from the shield layer in order to decouple the shield layer from unfavorable domain patterns that may occur in the poletip, which in turn reduces noise in the sensor, while the shield layer serves to complete the inductive circuit. Despite having a poletip isolated by nonmagnetic material, heads built according to this invention have demonstrated high overwrite as well as remarkably low noise.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a read/write head for a disc drive includes an active stack between and in contact with a first shield and a second shield. The active stack includes a plurality of layers and a non-continuous insulating interlayer. According to another embodiment, a sense current is coupled through the active stack that has two larger dimensions and a smaller dimension. The sense current is coupled to flow in a direction that is approximately normal or perpendicular to a plane defined by the two larger dimensions. Changes in the sense current are detected to detect changes in flux fields caused by changes in magnetic flux regions in a magnetizable medium. According to another embodiment, the active stack is fabricated by fabricating the plurality of layers, and fabricating the non-continuous insulating interlayer in contact with one of the layers.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device includes an insulating barrier formed of carbon. In particular, the carbon can be diamond-like carbon, and more particularly, the carbon can be tetrahedral amorphous carbon (t-aC). The insulating barrier can be disposed between the free layer and pinned layer of a spin valve read sensor or otherwise incorporated with other various read sensor configurations. The insulating barrier is configured to increase a resistance of the read sensor with which it is incorporated, and thereby to increase the read signal. Such a barrier can be formed by cathodic arc deposition techniques, with substantially defect-free thicknesses from about 5 Å and above, and band gap values in the range of about 1 eV to about 5.4 eV.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a device for reading data is disclosed. The device includes a magnetoresistive element. The method and system include providing a read gap, providing a plurality of leads, and providing an insulator. The read gap covers at least a portion of the magnetoresistive element. The plurality of leads is electrically coupled with the magnetoresistive element. The insulator electrically isolates a portion of each of the plurality of leads. In one aspect, the read gap is formed in a first process and the insulator is formed in a second process decoupled from the first process.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) device includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having an Fe/FeSi/Fe construction. A first Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a first direction, while a second Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a second direction that is substantially antiparallel to the first direction. The magnetoresistive device can be a spin valve in which a first surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a pinning layer, and a second surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a spacer layer. Further, the spin valve includes a free layer that overlies the spacer, thereby being separated from the synthetic AFM layer by the spacer. The pinning layer, synthetic AFM layer, spacer, and free layer can be bounded by a first shield and a second shield to provide magnetic shielding of the spin valve sensor.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a magnetoresistive head is disclosed. The method and system include providing a spin valve including a synthetic free layer. The synthetic free layer includes a ferromagnetic layer. The method and system also include providing an antiferromagnetic biasing layer exchange coupled to a first portion of the ferromagnetic layer. The antiferromagnetic biasing layer magnetically biases the synthetic free layer to ensure the single domain structure and reduce noise.

Abstract: A read/write head is structurally significantly less complicated than optical reading devices, requires minimal or no optical alignment, capable of writing at higher track densities, and has better control of the data and servo tracks than conventional magnetic heads. The head is also capable of using an available heat source and a relatively weak magnetic field, such as 300 Oersteds, to write data on a data storage medium. The combination of a magnetic read sensor with a near field magneto-optical (MO) write element creates a hybrid read/write head capable of high density recording with a high signal to noise ratio. The integration of the MO write element can be accomplished by various alternative or complementary methods. One method is to mount a heat source, such as a laser or light source on a slider with minimal or no additional optical components.

Abstract: A magnetic head incorporates a giant magnetoresistive sensing element having a magnetic bias field associated therewith. The orientation direction of the magnetic bias field is canted to reduce or cancel the effect on the sensing element of the magnetic field produced by applied sense current.

Abstract: A compact read/write head is provided having a biased GMR element. Biasing of the GMR element provides distinguishable response to the rising and falling edges of a recorded pulse on an adjacent medium. It also improves the linearity of the response and helps to reduce noise.

Abstract: A compact read/write head is provided having a biased GMR element. Biasing of the GMR element provides distinguishable response to the rising and falling edges of a recorded pulse on an adjacent medium. It also improves the linearity of the response and helps to reduce noise.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head incorporates an inductive write portion including two pole/shield layers and a read portion including a giant magnetoresistive (GMR) element. The pole/shield layers are relatively thick and serve as conductive leads which can carry high current with minimal heating and low current density. The GMR element defines data track width and thus minimizes off-track reading of data.