Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, and wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, and wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, and wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body having a first air bearing surface and defining an opening, and a transducer portion having a second air bearing surface and positioned within the opening and coupled to the body by a plurality of spring members extending from the transducer portion to the body.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, and wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a ferroelectric storage medium, and a transducer for reading data from the ferroelectric storage medium and for writing data to the ferroelectric storage medium, wherein the transducer includes a substrate and a probe coupled to the substrate, wherein the probe includes a conductive element and a bilayer structure causing the probe to bend toward the ferroelectric storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body having a first air bearing surface and defining an opening, and a transducer portion having a second air bearing surface and positioned within the opening and coupled to the body by a plurality of spring members extending from the transducer portion to the body.

Abstract: A transducer comprises a conductive pin and a waveguide for directing electromagnetic radiation onto the pin, wherein the pin is configured to create a rectangular flat top field distribution at a surface of a storage medium positioned adjacent to an end of the pin, leading to a flat top thermal profile within the storage medium. A second pin can be included in the transducer. Recording heads that include the transducer, disc drives that include the recording head, and a method of heating a portion of a storage medium that is performed by the recording head, are also included.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a pole tip adjacent to an air bearing surface, a return pole, a pedestal for magnetically coupling the write pole to the return pole, a coil for inducing magnetic flux in the write pole, and a shield for coupling magnetic flux from the coil to the return pole. Disc drives that include such recording heads are also provided.

Abstract: A head slider moveable relative to a storage media having a storage layer is disclosed. The disc head slider comprises a read head formed on the head slider, and comprises a first electrical contact layer adapted to carry a sensor current, a second electrical contact layer adapted to carry the sensor current, a read sensor and a bias magnet. The read sensor is configured to carry the sense current perpendicular to plane. The read sensor also has a top sensor edge, and has a bottom sensor edge aligned with the air-bearing surface to access data in the storage disc. The bias magnet magnetically biases the read sensor. Further, the first and second electrical contact layers are made of a material that does not magnetically shield the read sensor.

Abstract: A perpendicular recording head for use with magnetic recording media includes an unusually thin main pole. The main pole is made by depositing magnetically permeable material on a nonmagnetic substrate. The main pole is then magnetically coupled with an opposing pole so that the deposited magnetically permeable material is oriented parallel to the recording head's direction of travel.

Abstract: A ferromagnetic shield material having a minimized anisotropic magneto-resistance effect permits the use of a combined shield/electrical lead for magneto-resistive read elements. The shields/electrical leads may therefore be placed closer together, maximizing the recording density that may be read by a magnetic recording head using a read element having such shields/leads.

Abstract: A head slider moveable relative to a storage media having a storage layer is disclosed. The disc head slider comprises a read head formed on the head slider, and comprises a first electrical contact layer adapted to carry a sensor current, a second electrical contact layer adapted to carry the sensor current, a read sensor and a bias magnet. The read sensor is configured to carry the sense current perpendicular to plane. The read sensor also has a top sensor edge, and has a bottom sensor edge aligned with the air-bearing surface to access data in the storage disc. The bias magnet magnetically biases the read sensor. Further, the first and second electrical contact layers are made of a material that does not magnetically shield the read sensor.

Abstract: A write head comprises a yoke including a top pole and a bottom pole, the top pole including a layer of insulating material, a layer of a first magnetic material positioned on a surface of the layer of insulating material, the first magnetic material having a first end positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface of the write pole, and a layer of a second magnetic material positioned on the surface of the layer of insulating material, the second magnetic material having a lower magnetic moment than the first magnetic material and being positioned to conduct magnetic flux between the return pole and the layer of first magnetic material. The method of constructing the write head and a disc drive including the write head are also included.

Abstract: A method of recording information bits in a magnetic storage medium, the method comprising positioning a first conductor adjacent to a magnetic recording medium, the conductor having a width and a length, wherein a distance between the first conductor and the magnetic recording medium is less than or equal to the width and the length, and passing a first current through the conductor of sufficient magnitude to produce a magnetic field in the magnetic medium greater than one Tesla and having a magnetic field gradient in a cross track direction and a down track direction greater than 100 Oe/nm over a bit dimension. The thickness of the first conductor can be less than or equal to the distance between the first conductor and the magnetic recording medium. The current density in the conductor can be greater than 109 ampere/cm2, and the length of the conductor can be less than 100 nm. The current can be applied as one or more pulses in a predetermined clock cycle time.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a pole tip adjacent to an air bearing surface, a return pole, a pedestal for magnetically coupling the write pole to the return pole, a coil for inducing magnetic flux in the write pole, and a shield for coupling magnetic flux from the coil to the return pole. Disc drives that include such recording heads are also provided.

Abstract: A recording head for use with magnetic recording media includes a structure having a precisely defined throat height. The throat height of a typical recording head is defined by a photoresist structure formed through a hard bake process. It is difficult to control the thickness of the photoresist during the spinning and hard bake process, resulting in magnetically inefficient structure at the tip of the recording head's main write pole. The use of an NiPd plating results in a more accurately defined throat height, and resulting magnetically efficient structure. A method of manufacturing the recording head of the present invention is also provided.

Abstract: A method of recording information bits in a magnetic storage medium, the method comprising positioning a first conductor adjacent to a magnetic recording medium, the conductor having a width and a length, wherein a distance between the first conductor and the magnetic recording medium is less than or equal to the width and the length, and passing a first current through the conductor of sufficient magnitude to produce a magnetic field in the magnetic medium greater than one Tesla and having a magnetic field gradient in a cross track direction and a down track direction greater than 100 Oe/nm over a bit dimension. The thickness of the first conductor can be less than or equal to the distance between the first conductor and the magnetic recording medium. The current density in the conductor can be greater than 109 ampere/cm2, and the length of the conductor can be less than 100 nm. The current can be applied as one or more pulses in a predetermined clock cycle time.

Abstract: A write head comprises a yoke including a top pole and a bottom pole, the top pole including a layer of insulating material, a layer of a first magnetic material positioned on a surface of the layer of insulating material, the first magnetic material having a first end positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface of the write pole, and a layer of a second magnetic material positioned on the surface of the layer of insulating material, the second magnetic material having a lower magnetic moment than the first magnetic material and being positioned to conduct magnetic flux between the return pole and the layer of first magnetic material. The method of constructing the write head and a disc drive including the write head are also included.

Abstract: A process for producing an iron cobalt alloy exhibiting magnetic anisotropy is disclosed. The alloy also exhibits a high magnetic moment, low coercivity and has uniaxial properties, making it suitable for use as the top pole of a magnetic recording head. The change in magnetic properties is brought about through the application of a high bias voltage during the deposition process.