Abstract: A magnetic read head including a first read element magnetically coupled to a bottom shield; a second read element magnetically coupled to a top shield; a magnetic shielding structure that magnetically shields the first read element from the second read element; and a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the bottom shield, a second electrical contact electrically coupled to the top shield and a third electrical contact electrically coupled to the magnetic shielding structure.

Abstract: When opaque films are deposited on semi-conductor wafers, underlying features may be concealed. In accordance with one implementation, such concealed features may be re-exposed via an ablation recovery process. One ablation recovery process entails aligning an energy source with a target position on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer based on position information retrieved from a second opposite surface of the semiconductor wafer, and firing a beam of the energy source to ablate opaque material at the target position and to expose a recovery feature underlying the opaque material.

Abstract: A magnetic read head including a first read element magnetically coupled to a bottom shield; a second read element magnetically coupled to a top shield; a magnetic shielding structure that magnetically shields the first read element from the second read element; and a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the bottom shield, a second electrical contact electrically coupled to the top shield and a third electrical contact electrically coupled to the magnetic shielding structure.

Abstract: A magnetic read head including a first read element magnetically coupled to a bottom shield; a second read element magnetically coupled to a top shield; a magnetic shielding structure that magnetically shields the first read element from the second read element; and a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the bottom shield, a second electrical contact electrically coupled to the top shield and a third electrical contact electrically coupled to the magnetic shielding structure.

Abstract: A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, wr, and a center-to-center separation distance between the two read transducers either greater than 3wr or the distance of two tracks of an associated medium in the cross track direction.

Abstract: When opaque films are deposited on semi-conductor wafers, underlying features may be concealed. In accordance with one implementation, such concealed features may be re-exposed via an ablation recovery process. One ablation recovery process entails aligning an energy source with a target position on a first surface of a semiconductor wafer based on position information retrieved from a second opposite surface of the semiconductor wafer, and firing a beam of the energy source to ablate opaque material at the target position and to expose a recovery feature underlying the opaque material.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a magnetic recording head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The apparatus includes first coplanar electrical contacts respectively disposed on and in electrical contact with first surfaces of the at least two read transducers and an electrically insulating magnetic material disposed between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A magnetic read head including a first read element magnetically coupled to a bottom shield; a second read element magnetically coupled to a top shield; a magnetic shielding structure that magnetically shields the first read element from the second read element; and a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the bottom shield, a second electrical contact electrically coupled to the top shield and a third electrical contact electrically coupled to the magnetic shielding structure.

Abstract: An apparatus such as a magnetic recording head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The apparatus includes first coplanar electrical contacts respectively disposed on and in electrical contact with first surfaces of the at least two read transducers and an electrically insulating magnetic material disposed between the electrical contacts.

Abstract: A read head with at least two separately addressable read transducers that are coplanar in a cross track direction. The read transducers have a cross track width, wr, and a center-to-center separation distance between the two read transducers either greater than 3wr or the distance of two tracks of an associated medium in the cross track direction.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head having an air bearing surface comprises a writer having a substantially planar single piece top pole, a shared pole and a conductive coil. The top pole and shared pole are separated by a write gap region. A magnetic stud is positioned adjacent the write gap region near the air bearing surface. The magnetic stud provides a uniform magnetic flux supply to the write gap region. The magnetic stud has a variable height along the air bearing surface. An inner surface of the magnetic stud substantially conforms to an outer surface of the conductive coil. The shared pole includes a recess, and at least a portion of the conductive coil is positioned in the recess. The recess in the shared pole is filled with an insulator that substantially surrounds the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess. A capping layer is formed on the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head having an air bearing surface comprises a writer having a substantially planar single piece top pole, a shared pole and a conductive coil. The top pole and shared pole are separated by a write gap region. A magnetic stud is positioned adjacent the write gap region near the air bearing surface. The magnetic stud provides a uniform magnetic flux supply to the write gap region. The magnetic stud has a variable height along the air bearing surface. An inner surface of the magnetic stud substantially conforms to an outer surface of the conductive coil. The shared pole includes a recess, and at least a portion of the conductive coil is positioned in the recess. The recess in the shared pole is filled with an insulator that substantially surrounds the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess. A capping layer is formed on the portion of the conductive coil positioned in the recess.

Abstract: A method for forming a top magnetic pole of an inductive magnetic head being begins with the step of forming a photolithographic material over a layer of insulating material at a hill region and gap region of the inductive magnetic head formed on a wafer and over a waste region of the wafer. Second, a mask is patterned on the photolithographic material defining a paddle region over the hill region, a feeder region over the waste region, and a trench region between the feeder region and the paddle region. The trench region extends over the gap region. Third solvent is admitted into the feeder region to flow in a laminar flow through the trench region to the paddle region to form the mask and expose a surface of the layer of insulating material in the paddle and trench regions of the mask.

Abstract: A mask forms a top magnetic pole piece of an inductive magnetic head having a layer of insulating material over a hill region and a gap region on a wafer. The mask comprises a layer of photolithographic material on the insulating material and a waste region of the wafer and includes a first aperture exposing the insulating material to define a paddle region of the pole piece over the hill region and a trench over the gap region. A second aperture is connected to the first aperture to define a feeder region over the waste region that funnels solvent to and through the trench and establishes laminar flow of solvent through the trench. Solvent is admitted into the feeder region for laminar flow through the trench region to form the mask and expose a surface of the layer of insulating material in the paddle and trench regions of the mask. The top pole piece defines a gap at an air bearing surface of the head having an average gap width not greater than 1.