Abstract: A method and system for providing transducer(s) including a disk structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The disk structure resides a distance from the ABS and has a disk dimension substantially perpendicular to the ABS. Lapping control and disk windage ELGs are provided. The lapping control ELG has first and second edges first and second distances from the ABS. The disk windage ELG has edges different distances from the ABS. A difference between these edges corresponds to the disk dimension. A windage resistance of the disk windage ELG is measured and a disk windage determined. The disk windage corresponds to a difference between designed and actual disk dimensions perpendicular to the ABS. A lapping ELG target resistance is determined based on the disk windage. The transducer is lapped. Lapping is terminated based on a resistance of the lapping control ELG and the lapping ELG target resistance.

Abstract: A method for modeling devices in a wafer comprises the step of providing the wafer comprising a first plurality of devices having a track width and a first stripe height, a second plurality of devices having the track width and a second stripe height, and a third plurality of devices having the track width and a third stripe height. The method further comprises the steps of measuring resistance values for the first, second and third plurality of devices to obtain a data set correlating a stripe height and a resistance value for each of the first, second and third plurality of devices, and estimating a linear relationship between resistance and inverse stripe height for the first, second and third plurality of devices based on the data set.

Abstract: Lapping guides for use in fabrication of a magnetic recording head are provided. The lapping guides comprise a first differential electronic lapping guide (ELG) disposed in a first layer of the magnetic recording head. The first differential ELG has a first resistive element and a second resistive element between which is disposed a first common electrical lead. The lapping guides further comprise a second differential ELG disposed in a second layer of the magnetic recording head. The second differential ELG has a third resistive element and a fourth resistive element between which is disposed a second common electrical lead. The first and second differential ELGs share a common ground and a common current injection source. Remaining lapping distances at the first and second layers of the magnetic recording head are determined by measuring changing voltages across the first, second, third and fourth resistive elements, respectively.

Abstract: A method for providing an electronic lapping guide (ELG) for a structure in a magnetic transducer are described. The structure has a front edge and a back edge. The ELG includes a stripe having a top edge and a bottom edge. The method includes calibrating a sheet resistance of the stripe and calibrating an offset of the top edge of the stripe from the back edge of the structure. The method further includes terminating the lapping based at least on the sheet resistance and offset of the ELG.

Abstract: A method for providing a perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is disclosed. The method comprises: providing a stop layer; providing an insulating layer over the stop layer; forming a pole trench in the insulating layer by performing a reactive ion etching (RIE) process in the insulating layer over the stop layer; forming an electronic lapping guide (ELG) in the insulating layer by performing the RIE process in the insulating layer over the stop layer; and providing a PMR pole in which at least a portion of the PMR pole resides in the pole trench.

Abstract: A thin film head apparatus and method for forming such a thin film head. In one approach, the present invention recites forming a cavity in a dielectric layer. Next, a layer of high magnetic field saturation (HBsat) material is sputter-deposited over the dielectric layer such that the HBsat material is deposited into the cavity formed in the dielectric layer. The cavity in the dielectric layer functions as a mold or “stencil” for the HBsat material. The HBsat material deposited into the cavity is used to form the first core of a thin film head. After the formation of the first core of the thin film head, a gap layer of material is deposited above the dielectric layer and above the first core. Next, a layer of HBsat material is sputter-deposited above the gap layer of material and above the first core of the thin film head. The layer of HBsat material disposed above the gap layer of material and above the first core is used to form the second core of the thin film head.

Abstract: A lapping guide for use in fabrication of a device includes a first resistive element and a second resistive element. The two resistive elements can provide different changing resistances throughout the lapping of the device. These two resistances can be used throughout the lapping of the device to facilitate determination of when a predetermined desired height of the device has been achieved, and therefore stop the lapping of the device. The resistive elements can be physically adjacent to each other or separate from each other. Further, a common lead can be electrically connected to both resistive elements for measuring their respective resistances. In addition, the resistive elements can be separated from each other by the device.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly includes a magnetoresistive (MR) read sensor dielectrically disposed between a magnetic shield layer and a first pole layer. A write transducer comprises an inductive coil having a plurality of windings dielectrically disposed between the first pole layer and a second pole layer. The magnetic shield layer partially overlaps portions of the coil windings. A nonmagnetic layer is coplanar with the magnetic shield layer. A reduced coupling area between the magnetic shield layer and the coil decreases the mutual inductance applied to the magnetic coil by the magnetic layer, resulting in the coil having better response to write current and being capable of operating at wider frequency ranges. The first pole layer includes a unique shape having a narrow mid-section integrally formed between the wider end sections.