Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein allow a signal detected by a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor to be improved by providing for one or more regions of reduced anisotropy proximal to a sensor stack within a shielding structure.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a base shield and a sensor stack, wherein the base shield is separated from the sensor stack via a first soft magnetic layer that is magnetically decoupled form the base shield.

Abstract: A magnetic element is generally provided that can be implemented as a data reader. Various embodiments may connect a magnetic stack to a top shield and separate the magnetic stack from a bi-layer side shield. The bi-layer side shield may have a fixed magnetization layer and a soft magnetic layer each magnetically isolated from the top shield.

Abstract: Various embodiments may configure a data storage device with at least a magnetic element having a magnetic stack that is configured with an air bearing surface (ABS) and is separated from a side shield. The side shield can be biased by a biasing layer that contacts the side shield and is separated from the ABS.

Abstract: Various embodiments may configure a data storage device with at least a magnetic element having a magnetic stack that is configured with an air bearing surface (ABS) and is separated from a side shield. The side shield can be biased by a biasing layer that contacts the side shield and is separated from the ABS.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a base shield and a sensor stack, wherein the base shield is separated from the sensor stack via a first soft magnetic layer that is magnetically decoupled form the base shield.

Abstract: A stack having a seed layer structure with a first part having a first cross-track width and a free layer deposited over the seed layer structure and with a second cross-track width, wherein the first cross-track width is greater than the second cross-track width. In one implementation, the seed layer structure further comprises an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer. In one alternate implementation, the cross-track width of the seed layer structure is substantially equal to the combined cross-track width of the free layer and cross-track width of two permanent magnets.

Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to a magnetic element capable of reading magnetic data bits. Such a magnetic element may have at least a magnetic stack laterally adjacent a side shield and non-magnetic pedestal on an air bearing surface (ABS). The non-magnetic pedestal can be configured to have a greater stripe height from the ABS than the side shield.

Abstract: A magnetic element is generally provided that can be implemented as a data reader. Various embodiments may connect a magnetic stack to a top shield and separate the magnetic stack from a bi-layer side shield. The bi-layer side shield may have a fixed magnetization layer and a soft magnetic layer each magnetically isolated from the top shield.

Abstract: A magnetic element may be constructed in accordance with various embodiments as a data reader. The magnetic element can have at least a magnetic reader that contacts a top shield and is separated from a side shield on an air bearing surface (ABS). The side shield may be antiferromagnetically coupled to the top shield via a coupling layer disposed between the top and side shields.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide a read sensor structure having a synthetic anti-ferromagnetic (SAF) structure with a pinning that is canted with respect to an air bearing surface (ABS) of the read sensor. In an implementation of the read sensor, the angle between the pinning direction of a reference layer (RL) and the pinning direction of a free layer (FL) is obtuse.

Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to a data storage device with at least a magnetic element having a magnetic stack positioned adjacent to and separated from at least one side shield on an air bearing surface (ABS). The side shield can be configured with a predetermined anisotropy variation along a down-track direction.

Abstract: A magnetic element may be constructed in accordance with various embodiments as a data reader. The magnetic element can have at least a magnetic reader that contacts a top shield and is separated from a side shield on an air bearing surface (ABS). The side shield may be antiferromagnetically coupled to the top shield via a coupling layer disposed between the top and side shields.

Abstract: A method of creating a stack having multiple layers of material deposited onto a substrate. The method includes controlling atom mobility to provide a uniform thickness for the deposited layers and increasing or decreasing a deposition temperature to control the atom mobility and/or roughness for the deposited layers. In an illustrated embodiment, the deposition temperature is increased to increase the atom mobility and the deposition temperature is decreased to decrease the atom mobility to control roughness and provide a uniform layer thickness. In another embodiment, the deposition temperature is increased or decreased for different portions of a layer. As described, a first amount of a material is deposited at a first deposition temperature to provide an optimum surface interface with a prior layer and a second amount of the material is deposited at a second deposition temperature to provide a uniform layer thickness.

Abstract: A magnetic element may be configured with at least a magnetic stack having first and second magnetically free layers that each has a predetermined stripe height from an air bearing surface (ABS). The first and second magnetically free layers can respectively be configured with first and second uniaxial anisotropies that are crossed in relation to the ABS and angled in response to the predetermined stripe height.

Abstract: Various embodiments may configure a data storage device with at least a magnetic element having a magnetic stack that is configured with an air bearing surface (ABS) and is separated from a side shield. The side shield can be biased by a biasing layer that contacts the side shield and is separated from the ABS.

Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to a stack capable of reading magnetic data bits. Such a stack can have a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between a magnetically free layer and a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) where the SAF is configured with an anisotropy tuned to a non-normal direction with respect to an air bearing surface (ABS).

Abstract: Various embodiments may be generally directed to a stack capable of reading magnetic data bits. Such a stack can have a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between a magnetically free layer and a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) where the SAF is configured with an anisotropy tuned to a non-normal direction with respect to an air bearing surface (ABS).

Abstract: An apparatus for two dimensional reading may be constructed, in accordance with some embodiments, with a number of magnetic stacks respectively configured to engage adjacent data tracks of a data storage media. Each magnetic stack can be disposed between top and bottom shields while each shield is segmented into a number of contacts different than the number of magnetic stacks.

Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for a magnetic element capable of detecting changes in magnetic states. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a free layer that has a first areal extent that is sensitive to a magnetic field and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer adjacent to the free layer and has a second areal extent that is greater than the first areal extent.