Abstract: An apparatus such as a device having a writer for magnetic media has a trailing pole piece having a portion adjacent a write gap, the portion having a throat height (h1) of between about 100 and about 800 nm, and an aspect ratio of thickness/throat height (t1/h1) in a range of 0.5 and 2.

Abstract: A magnetic recording tape comprises a tape substrate, a perpendicular magnetic recording layer disposed over the tape substrate, and a soft-magnetic underlayer disposed between the recording layer and the tape substrate. The perpendicular magnetic recording layer comprises magnetic particles suspended in a binder material, and the soft-magnetic underlayer comprises a continuous film of soft-magnetic material. The magnetic particles in the recording layer comprise one of barium ferrite, strontium ferrite, epsilon iron oxide and chromium dioxide. Tape storage apparatus employing such tape is also provided. The apparatus comprises a read/write head having at least one probe write-head for writing data by perpendicular recording on magnetic tape, at least one reel of magnetic tape as defined above, and a tape transport mechanism for transporting the magnetic tape past the read/write head.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a device having a writer for magnetic media has a trailing pole piece having a portion adjacent a write gap, the portion having a throat height (h1) of between about 100 and about 800 nm, and an aspect ratio of thickness/throat height (t1/h1) in a range of 0.5 and 2.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an array of write transducers. Each write transducer includes a lower yoke, a lower write pole piece comprising a lower base layer in magnetic communication with the lower yoke and a lower high moment layer above the lower base layer. Each write transducer includes a write gap above the lower write pole piece and an upper write pole piece above the write gap. The upper write pole piece includes an upper high moment layer above the write gap and an upper base layer above the upper high moment layer. Each write transducer includes an upper yoke above the upper base layer. A media facing side of the lower pole piece and at least a portion of a media facing side of the upper pole piece extend along a plane and the remainder of the media facing side of the upper pole piece is recessed from the plane.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

Abstract: An approach to forming a tape head with a first soft bias pinning layer in a tape head structure. The tape head structure includes an antiferromagnetic material forming the first soft bias pinning layer over a sensor and stitching into a soft bias layer surrounding the sensor where the antiferromagnetic material of the first soft bias pinning layer has a lower magnetic reluctance than a material forming a freelayer in the sensor. Furthermore, the tape head structure includes a first spacer separated from the first soft bias pinning layer by the sensor in the tape head structure and a second spacer layer over the first soft bias pinning layer where a thickness of the first spacer and the second spacer is determined by an optimum shield to shield distance in the tape head structure.

Abstract: An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a write transducer having: a bottom yoke, a top yoke, a nonmagnetic write gap positioned between the top and bottom yokes, a bottom pole extending from the bottom yoke toward the write gap, and a top pole extending from the top yoke toward the write gap. A width of a media facing side of the bottom pole is about the same as a width of a media facing side of the top pole. The media facing side of the bottom pole is aligned with the media facing side of the top pole along a thickness direction. A method, according to one embodiment, includes performing bidirectional writing to a magnetic recording tape using a write transducer as described above.

Abstract: A method for accounting for individuals in an emergency at industrial facilities utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transmitters associated with individuals or objects and UWB monitoring stations. Identification information received from the UWB transmitters by UWB monitoring stations are communicated along with time of arrival information to a computer which calculates the location of the UWB transmitter. The system can be used despite severe multi-path effects and can provide location information in 3 dimensions. The system can optionally include proximity-based RF equipment for access control or otherwise for identification in specific locations. Information from the proximity-based RF equipment is also sent to the computer which also receives information from the UWB monitoring stations.

Abstract: A method for accounting for individuals in an emergency at industrial facilities utilizing Ultra-Wideband (UWB) transmitters associated with individuals or objects and UWB monitoring stations. Identification information received from the UWB transmitters by UWB monitoring stations are communicated along with time of arrival information to a computer which calculates the location of the UWB transmitter. The system can be used despite severe multi-path effects and can provide location information in 3 dimensions. The system can optionally include proximity-based RF equipment for access control or otherwise for identification in specific locations. Information from the proximity-based RF equipment is also sent to the computer which also receives information from the UWB monitoring stations.

Abstract: A method is presented for fabricating a CPP read head having a CPP read head sensor and a hard bias layer which includes forming a strip of sensor material in a sensor material region, and depositing strips of fast-milling dielectric material in first and second fast-milling dielectric material regions adjacent to the sensor material region. A protective layer and a layer of masking material are deposited on the strip of sensor material and the strips of fast-milling dielectric material to provide masked areas and exposed areas. A shaping source, such as an ion milling source, is provided which shapes the exposed areas. Hard bias material is then deposited on the regions of sensor material and fast-milling dielectric material to form caps on each of these regions. The caps of hard bias material and the masking material are then removed from each of these regions.

Abstract: Solid-state memories are disclosed that are comprised of cross-point memory arrays. The cross-point memory arrays include a first plurality of electrically conductive lines and a second plurality of electrically conductive lines that cross over the first plurality of electrically conductive lines. The memory arrays also include a plurality of memory cells located between the first and second conductive lines. The memory cells are formed from a metallic material, such as FeRh, having the characteristic of a first order phase transition due to a change in temperature. The first order phase transition causes a corresponding change in resistivity of the metallic material.

Abstract: Three terminal magnetic sensing devices (TTMs) having base lead layers in-plane with collector substrate materials, and methods of making the same, are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a collector substrate having an elevated region and a recessed region adjacent the elevated region is provided. An insulator layer is formed in full-film over the collector substrate, and a base lead layer is formed in full-film over the insulator layer and in-plane with semiconductor materials of the elevated region. The insulator materials and the base lead materials that are formed over the elevated region are removed. A sensor stack structure having an emitter region and a base region is then formed over the elevated region such that part of the base region is formed over an end of the base lead layer. A base conductive via may be formed to contact base lead materials of the base lead layer at a suitable distance away from the sensor stack structure.

Abstract: Formation of the magnetic sensor layers of a magnetic sensor are separated into at least two depositions to reduce the dimension of the sensor. The free layer portion of the sensor is deposited at a different process step than the pinned layer portion. The top of the free layer stack can be a tunnel barrier, the free layer, or part of the free layer. The free layer stack also may contain an in-stack bias layer. The longitudinal bias layer may be patterned in a separate processing step, which allows the stack containing the free layer to be effectively thinner and allow smaller track width dimensions.

Abstract: EMR elements and methods of fabricating the EMR elements are disclosed. The EMR structure includes one or more layers that form an active region, such as a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG). The EMR structure has a first side surface, having a plurality of lead protrusions that extend outwardly from the main body of the EMR structure, and an opposing second side surface. The lead protrusions are used to form the current and voltage leads for the EMR element. The active region extends through each lead protrusion and is accessible along a perimeter of each of the lead protrusions. Conductive material is formed along the perimeter of each lead protrusion and contacts the active region of the EMR structure along the perimeter. The lead protrusion and the corresponding conductive material contacting the active region of each lead protrusion form leads for the EMR element, such as current leads and voltage leads.

Abstract: A continuous-media or patterned-media disk drive with a low ratio of linear bit density in bits per inch (BPI) in the along-the-track direction to track density in tracks per inch (TPI) in the cross-track direction has a magnetoresistive read head with high cross-track spatial resolution. The read head is located between two magnetic shields, with the shields and read head formed on a side surface of the head carrier perpendicular to the carrier's disk-facing surface. The carrier is supported by the disk drive actuator with the side surface of the carrier oriented generally parallel to the data tracks. In this arrangement the high-spatial-resolution direction of the read head (the transverse direction perpendicular to the side surface on which the head is formed) is in the radial or cross-track direction.

Abstract: A three terminal magnetic sensor (TTM) suitable for use in a magnetic head has a base region, a collector region, and an emitter region. A first barrier layer is located between the emitter region and the base region, and a second barrier layer is located between the collector region and the base region. An air bearing surface (ABS) sensing plane of the TTM is defined along sides of the base region, the collector region, and the emitter region. The base region includes a free layer structure, a pinned layer structure, a first non-magnetic spacer layer formed between the free layer structure and the pinned layer structure, an in-stack longitudinal biasing layer (LBL) structure which magnetically biases the free layer structure, and a second non-magnetic spacer layer formed between the free layer structure and the in-stack longitudinal biasing layer structure. In one variation, the layers in the base region are inverted.

Abstract: A method and structure for a spin valve transistor (SVT) comprises a magnetic field sensor, an insulating layer adjacent the magnetic field sensor, a bias layer adjacent the insulating layer, a non-magnetic layer adjacent the bias layer, and a ferromagnetic layer over the non-magnetic layer, wherein the insulating layer and the non-magnetic layer comprise antiferromagnetic materials. The magnetic field sensor comprises a base region, a collector region adjacent the base region, an emitter region adjacent the base region, and a barrier region located between the base region and the emitter region. The bias layer is between the insulating layer and the non-magnetic layer. The bias layer is magnetic and is at least three times the thickness of the magnetic materials in the base region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for lapping and fabricating a read/write head is described. The lapping method includes performing a first lapping process on a structure having the read/write head fabricated therein. The first lapping process is for reducing a first resistive region. The first resistive region is located proximal to a surface of the structure. The first lapping process is for achieving a first lapping benchmark. The lapping method further includes performing a second lapping process on a second resistive region. The second lapping process laps at a rate lesser than the first lapping process. The second lapping process is for achieving a second lapping benchmark. The second resistive region is interposed between the first resistive region and the read/write head. The second resistive region has a different resistive value than the second resistive region.

Abstract: Current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP), current-in-to-the-plane (CIP), and tunnel valve type sensors are provided having an antiparallel (AP) coupled free layer structure, an in-stack biasing structure which stabilizes the AP coupled free layer structure and a nonmagnetic spacer layer formed between the in-stack biasing layer and the AP coupled free layer structure. The AP coupled free layer structure has a first AP coupled free layer adjacent to the nonmagnetic spacer layer, a second AP coupled free layer, and an antiparallel coupling (APC) layer formed between the first and the second AP coupled free layers. The net moment of the AP coupled free layer structure has an antiparallel edge magnetostatic coupling with the in-stack biasing structure. At the same time, the first AP coupled free layer has an antiparallel exchange coupling with the second AP coupled free layer.

Abstract: A waveform-adaptive ultra-wideband (UWB) transmitter and noise-tracking UWB receiver for use in communications, object detection and radar applications. In one embodiment, the output of an oscillator is gated by a low-level impulse generator either directly or through an optional filter. In a special case of that embodiment wherein the oscillator is zero frequency and outputs a DC bias, a low-level impulse generator impulse-excites a bandpass filter to produce an UWB signal having an adjustable center frequency and desired bandwidth based on a characteristic of the filter. In another embodiment, the low-level impulse signal is approximated by a time-gated continuous-wave oscillator to produce an extremely wide bandwidth pulse with deterministic center frequency and bandwidth characteristics. The low-level impulse signal can be generated digitally. The UWB signal may be modulated to carry data, or may be used in object detection or ranging applications.