Abstract: A method for defining a perpendicular magnetic head is provided. The method includes forming a portion of the read and write head including depositing a sensor film on a surface only over a region of the read head to form a sensor; depositing a full-film shaping pole layer over the write head; defining a track width of the sensor; patterning a photoresist to define a pole tip of the write head including write track width and flare position, and at the same time to define a back edge of the sensor; removing material of the sensor and pole tip from the areas not covered by the photoresist; completing the fabrication of the write and read head layers; and lapping the write pole concurrently with the sensor to define the flare position of the pole tip and to define a sensor height with accurate positioning of write head flare.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing sub-micron write head flare definition is provided. The method for processing a perpendicular magnetic head forms a portion of a perpendicular write head, where the portion of the write head includes a first pole layer, a coil layer, a second pole layer and a write pole, the method forms a portion of a magnetic read head adjacent to the portion of the perpendicular write head, where the portion of the read head includes a shield layer and a sensor, the method also laps the write pole concurrently with the sensor to define a flare position of the pole tip and to define a sensor height, where the flare position of the pole tip is defined in the same photo-lithography step as the back edge of the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing sub-micron write head flare definition is provided. The method for processing a perpendicular magnetic head forms a portion of a perpendicular write head, where the portion of the write head includes a first pole layer, a coil layer, a second pole layer and a write pole, the method forms a portion of a magnetic read head adjacent to the portion of the perpendicular write head, where the portion of the read head includes a shield layer and a sensor, the method also laps the write pole concurrently with the sensor to define a flare position of the pole tip and to define a sensor height, where the flare position of the pole tip is defined in the same photo-lithography step as the back edge of the sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head having a heating element to induce a desired amount of thermal protrusion in the read and write elements to control the fly height of the read and write elements over a magnetic medium. The heating element is connected with circuitry that provides an electrical bias (voltage or current) that switches polarity in order to prevent electromigration, thereby greatly increasing the life of the heating element. The polarity of the heating element can be switched upon the occurrence of a predetermined event such as between read or write events or upon activating deactivating the disk drive device or could be performed at regular, predetermined time intervals. The dual polarity bias could also be provided by applying an AC bias to the heating element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing data record quality on a disk for a pair of read and write heads, in which the write head is bigger, by adaptively varying linear and track density of overlapping recorded tracks to achieve a target storage capacity. In the method, target storage capacity and radial writing direction are selected. Read and write widths of heads are determined. A linear density and offset distance pairing for optimizing record quality at target storage capacity is determined, wherein offset distance is less than write width but greater than read width. The write head writes a track at the linear density, is offset in the radial direction by the offset distance, and the offset distance is stored. The write head writes a new track at the linear density. Offsetting, storing offset, and writing a new track are repeated until desired data is written into a cluster.

Abstract: A magnetic head having improved overwrite capabilities and reduced fringing fields are described along with methods of making the same. The magnetic head has a first pole piece and a second pole piece. The first pole piece includes a first bottom pole piece layer, a pedestal portion formed over the first bottom pole piece layer, and a notched top pole portion formed over the pedestal portion. A gap layer separates the second pole piece from the notched top pole portion. The pedestal portion has a first saturation magnetization MS1 and the top pole portion has a second saturation magnetization MS2 that is greater than the first saturation magnetization MS1. The top pole portion has a substantially planar top surface over which a portion of the gap layer and the second pole piece are formed.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic transducer with an inductive write head having a multilayer coil with a high aspect ratio and a short yoke is disclosed. A damascene process is used for two coil layers and a conventional process for the third coil layer. The process of the invention allows a seed layer for the coil to be deposited on the side walls of the trenches for the first and second coil layers. In one embodiment the seed layer for the coil is preceded by an adhesion layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head having read and write elements is provided according to one embodiment. The head includes a substrate. An undercoating is coupled to the substrate. The undercoating has a preferred thickness of between about 1.5 and 0.5 microns or less in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the substrate engaging the undercoating. Preferably, the undercoating is reduced to a desired thickness during fabrication using chemical mechanical polishing. The undercoating is constructed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of amorphous Al2O3. An electric contact pad is operatively coupled to a layer positioned between the pad and the undercoating. Electric contact pads of read and write elements are preferably separated from the undercoating by insulation planarization layers. A write element is coupled to the undercoating. The write element has an electrically conductive coil.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer including an electrically conductive shield (ECS) which is disposed between the substrate and first magnetic shield is described. The ECS is preferably embedded in an insulating undercoat layer. The ECS is preferably electrically isolated from the magnetic sensor element and is externally connected to a ground available in the disk drive through the arm electronics. Two alternative ways for connecting the ECS to a ground are described. In one embodiment which is only effective with single-ended input type arm electronics, the ECS is connected to a ground through a via to a lead pad for the read head which is connected to the ground of the arm electronics. In a second and more preferred embodiment a separate lead pad is included on the head to allow the ECS to be connected to electronic or case ground when the head is installed in the arm. The extent of the ECS should be sufficiently large to cover the read head portion of the transducer, i.e.

Abstract: A method for producing a magnetic transducer with a inductive write head having a multilayer coil with a high aspect ratio and a short yoke is provided. A damascene process is used for two coil layers and a conventional process for the third coil layer. The process of the invention allows a seed layer for the coil to be deposited on the side walls of the trenches for the first and second coil layers. In one embodiment the seed layer for the coil is preceded by an adhesion layer.

Abstract: Applicants disclose a method for producing a magnetic transducer with a inductive write head having a multilayer coil with a high aspect ratio and a short yoke. A damascene process is used for two coil layers and a conventional process for the third coil layer. The process of the invention allows a seed layer for the coil to be deposited on the side walls of the trenches for the first and second coil layers. In one embodiment the seed layer for the coil is preceded by an adhesion layer.

Abstract: Applicants disclose a method for producing a magnetic transducer with a inductive write head having a multilayer coil with a high aspect ratio and a short yoke. A damascene process is used for two coil layers and a conventional process for the third coil layer. The process of the invention allows a seed layer for the coil to be deposited on the side walls of the trenches for the first and second coil layers. In one embodiment the seed layer for the coil is preceded by an adhesion layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head having read and write elements is provided according to one embodiment. The head includes a substrate. An undercoating is coupled to the substrate. The undercoating has a preferred thickness of between about 1.5 and 0.5 microns or less in a direction perpendicular to the planar surface of the substrate engaging the undercoating. Preferably, the undercoating is reduced to a desired thickness during fabrication using chemical mechanical polishing. The undercoating is constructed of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than that of amorphous Al2O3. An electric contact pad is operatively coupled to a layer positioned between the pad and the undercoating. Electric contact pads of read and write elements are preferably separated from the undercoating by insulation planarization layers. A write element is coupled to the undercoating. The write element has an electrically conductive coil.

Abstract: An low profile inductive write head is provided to improve track definition and head efficiency and to reduce overcoat and pole tip protrusion and cracking caused by thermal expansion. A first insulation layer of an insulation stack enclosing the coil layer is formed of an non-magnetic inorganic insulator material such as aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide or titanium dioxide having a thickness of in the range of 0.2-0.3 microns. The thinner first insulation layer results in a significantly reduced slope of the insulation stack which decreases reflective notching during processing of the second pole tip to improve track definition. Improved thermal conduction properties of the inorganic insulator material improves heat sinking of the write coil reducing overcoat and pole tip protrusion and cracking at the pole tip/write gap layer interface.

Abstract: A magnetic head having improved overwrite capabilities and reduced fringing fields are described along with methods of making the same. The magnetic head has a first pole piece and a second pole piece. The first pole piece includes a first bottom pole piece layer, a pedestal portion formed over the first bottom pole piece layer, and a notched top pole portion formed over the pedestal portion. A gap layer separates the second pole piece from the notched top pole portion. The pedestal portion has a first saturation magnetization MS1 and the top pole portion has a second saturation magnetization MS2 that is greater than the first saturation magnetization MS1. The top pole portion has a substantially planar top surface over which a portion of the gap layer and the second pole piece are formed.

Abstract: An low profile inductive write head is provided to improve track definition and head efficiency and to reduce overcoat and pole tip protrusion and cracking caused by thermal expansion. A first insulation layer of an insulation stack enclosing the coil layer is formed of an non-magnetic inorganic insulator material such as aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide or titanium dioxide having a thickness of in the range of 0.2-0.3 microns. The thinner first insulation layer results in a significantly reduced slope of the insulation stack which decreases reflective notching during processing of the second pole tip to improve track definition. Improved thermal conduction properties of the inorganic insulator material improves heat sinking of the write coil reducing overcoat and pole tip protrusion and cracking at the pole tip/write gap layer interface.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer including an electrically conductive shield (ECS) which is disposed between the substrate and first magnetic shield is described. The ECS is preferably embedded in an insulating undercoat layer. The ECS is preferably electrically isolated from the magnetic sensor element and is externally connected to a ground available in the disk drive through the arm electronics. Two alternative ways for connecting the ECS to a ground are described. In one embodiment which is only effective with single-ended input type arm electronics, the ECS is connected to a ground through a via to a lead pad for the read head which is connected to the ground of the arm electronics. In a second and more preferred embodiment a separate lead pad is included on the head to allow the ECS to be connected to electronic or case ground when the head is installed in the arm. The extent of the ECS should be sufficiently large to cover the read head portion of the transducer, i.e.