Abstract: A method for enhancing thermal stability, improving biasing and reducing damage from electrical surges in self-pinned abutted junction heads. The method includes forming a free layer, forming first hard bias layers abutting the free layer and forming second hard bias layers over the first hard bias layers discontiguous from the free layer, the second hard bias layers being anti-parallel to the first hard bias layers, the first and second hard bias layers providing a net longitudinal bias on the free layer.

Abstract: A current to perpendicular to plane (CPP) magnetoresistance (MR) read head using current confinement proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) is disclosed. A CPP MR read head includes a first shield, an MR sensor formed on the first shield, and a second shield contacting the MR sensor proximal to an ABS. The CPP MR read head further includes insulating material between the MR sensor and the second shield, where the insulating material is distal to the ABS to electrically isolate the MR sensor from the second shield distal to the ABS. Sense current injected from the second shield through the MR sensor and into the first shield is confined proximal to the ABS at a location where the second shield contacts the MR sensor.

Abstract: A current to perpendicular to plane (CPP) magnetoresistance (MR) read head using current confinement proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) is disclosed. A CPP MR read head includes a first shield, an MR sensor formed on the first shield, and a second shield contacting the MR sensor proximal to an ABS. The CPP MR read head further includes insulating material between the MR sensor and the second shield, where the insulating material is distal to the ABS to electrically isolate the MR sensor from the second shield distal to the ABS. Sense current injected from the second shield through the MR sensor and into the first shield is confined proximal to the ABS at a location where the second shield contacts the MR sensor.

Abstract: A current to perpendicular to plane (CPP) magnetoresistance (MR) read head using current confinement proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) is disclosed. A CPP MR read head includes a first shield, an MR sensor formed on the first shield, and a second shield contacting the MR sensor proximal to an ABS. The CPP MR read head further includes insulating material between the MR sensor and the second shield, where the insulating material is distal to the ABS to electrically isolate the MR sensor from the second shield distal to the ABS. Sense current injected from the second shield through the MR sensor and into the first shield is confined proximal to the ABS at a location where the second shield contacts the MR sensor.

Abstract: A current to perpendicular to plane (CPP) differential magnetoresistance (DMR) read head using current confinement proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) is disclosed. The CPP DMR read head includes a first electrically conductive lead, a first MR sensor formed on the first lead, and a non-magnetic electrically conductive spacer formed on the first MR sensor proximate to the ABS. The CPP DMR read head further includes insulating material on the first MR sensor distal to the ABS. A second MR sensor is formed in contact with the conductive spacer such that the second MR sensor is in electrical contact with the first MR sensor proximate to the ABS and is electrically isolated from the first MR sensor distal to the ABS. A second electrically conductive lead is in contact with the second MR sensor. Sense current injected into the first and the second MR sensor is confined proximate to the ABS.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a write head with a self aligned wrap around shield and a self aligned flared region of a write pole. A flare point and a track width of a write pole may be fabricated using multiple processes. The multiple processes utilize several masking structures to define the track width and the flare point of the write pole. A mask structure is formed to cover a first portion of the write pole. An edge of the mask structure adjacent to an exposed second portion of the write pole defines a flare point of the write pole. Various structures of the write head, including shield gap layers, a wrap around shield and a flared region (e.g., the yoke) of the write pole may be fabricated from the flare point defined by the mask structure.

Abstract: Write elements are discussed having a write pole and an associated trailing shield. A leading side of the trailing shield faces a trailing side of the write pole. The leading side of the trailing shield has a shape such that a center portion of the leading side has less of a separation from the trailing side of the write pole than track edge portions of the leading side of the trailing shield. An exemplary shape the leading side of the trailing shield may be a convex shape when viewed from the ABS. The shape of the leading side of the trailing shield causes the trailing shield to shunt less of the magnetic field from the trailing side of the write pole at the track edges so that the written transition at the track edge will not lag behind the written transition at the track center allowing for a straighter transition.

Abstract: A current to perpendicular to plane (CPP) differential magnetoresistance (DMR) read head using current confinement proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) is disclosed. The CPP DMR read head includes a first electrically conductive lead, a first MR sensor formed on the first lead, and a non-magnetic electrically conductive spacer formed on the first MR sensor proximate to the ABS. The CPP DMR read head further includes insulating material on the first MR sensor distal to the ABS. A second MR sensor is formed in contact with the conductive spacer such that the second MR sensor is in electrical contact with the first MR sensor proximate to the ABS and is electrically isolated from the first MR sensor distal to the ABS. A second electrically conductive lead is in contact with the second MR sensor. Sense current injected into the first and the second MR sensor is confined proximate to the ABS.

Abstract: A current to perpendicular to plane (CPP) magnetoresistance (MR) read head using current confinement proximal to an air bearing surface (ABS) is disclosed. A CPP MR read head includes a first shield, an MR sensor formed on the first shield, and a second shield contacting the MR sensor proximal to an ABS. The CPP MR read head further includes insulating material between the MR sensor and the second shield, where the insulating material is distal to the ABS to electrically isolate the MR sensor from the second shield distal to the ABS. Sense current injected from the second shield through the MR sensor and into the first shield is confined proximal to the ABS at a location where the second shield contacts the MR sensor.

Abstract: A magnetic write head and method of manufacture thereof that has a first pole structure having a step notched first pole structure. The step notched structure includes a bottom notched portion that is wider than the second notched portion formed thereover. The upper, or narrower, notched portion has a width that is substantially equal to and self aligned with a second pole structure (P2) formed thereover. The invention may also include first and second wing portions formed in the first pole that are recessed from the ABS and that extend laterally from the first notched portions of the first pole. The formation of the winged portions is assisted by an ion mill resistant bump (alumina bump) formed thereover, which acts as a mask during the ion milling operations that are used to form the first and second notches.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a write gap structure for a magnetic recording head. In one embodiment, the write gap structure comprises at least one layer of inert material is disposed proximate to the P2 pole of a magnetic recording head. A layer of magnetic material is disposed between the layer of inert material and the P1 pedestal (P1P) of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, the write gap structure further comprises a second layer of inert material is disposed between the layer of magnetic material and the P1P of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, the write gap structure only overlies a portion of the write gap of the magnetic recording head with reference to the throat height dimension of the write gap.

Abstract: A magnetic structure for use in a magnetic recording head, the structure having improved resistance to stray field writing. The magnetic structure can be for example a magnetic shield or a return pole of a perpendicular write element. The structure includes a main body portion which may have a generally rectangular configuration, and first and second wing portions extending laterally from the sides of the body at or near the ABS. The wing portions have a depth measured perpendicular to the ABS that is significantly less than the depth of the body portion (preferably less than 25 percent of the body portion). The wing portions may also have notches formed in their ABS edges. The wings conduct flux from the ABS edge of the body portion and create a flux choking effect for magnetic flux flowing into the wings.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a process for fabricating a write gap structure for a magnetic recording head. In one embodiment, at least one layer of inert material is deposited which is disposed proximate to the P2 pole of a magnetic recording head. A layer of magnetic material is deposited which is disposed between the layer of inert material and the P1 pedestal (P1P) of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, a second layer of inert material is deposited which is disposed between the layer of magnetic material and the P1P of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, the throat height of the write gap structure is defined wherein the layer of magnetic material and the inert layer only overlie a portion of the P1 pedestal of the magnetic recording head.

Abstract: Methods are provided for fabricating a write head with a self aligned wrap around shield and a self aligned flared region of a write pole. A flare point and a track width of a write pole may be fabricated using multiple processes. The multiple processes utilize several masking structures to define the track width and the flare point of the write pole. A mask structure is formed to cover a first portion of the write pole. An edge of the mask structure adjacent to an exposed second portion of the write pole defines a flare point of the write pole. Various structures of the write head, including shield gap layers, a wrap around shield and a flared region (e.g., the yoke) of the write pole may be fabricated from the flare point defined by the mask structure.

Abstract: A write head tester is disclosed. The write head tester includes a rotatably coupled magnetic media having a stand-off thereover. In addition, a write head holder is fixedly coupled with the tester. The write head holder receives and electrically couples a removably coupleable write head such that the removably coupleable write head is capable of performing a write on the magnetic media. A read head is also fixedly coupled with the tester. The read head is utilized for performing a read on the magnetic media. Furthermore, an evaluator is provided for accessing a result of the read on the magnetic media and evaluating the removably coupleable write head based on the read.

Abstract: The invention is a perpendicular magnetic recording write head with a write pole, a trapezoidal-shaped trailing shield notch, and a metal gap layer between the write pole and notch. The write pole has a trailing edge that has a width substantially defining the track width and that faces the front edge of the notch but is spaced from it by the gap layer. The write head is fabricated by a process than includes reactive ion beam etching of a thin mask film above the write pole to remove the mask film and widen the opening at the edges of the write pole. The gap layer and notch are deposited into the widened opening above the write pole. The write pole has nonmagnetic filler material, such as alumina, surrounding it except at its trailing edge, where it is in contact with the gap layer, which is formed of a different material than the surrounding filler material.

Abstract: A magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording having a write pole with a concave trailing edge. The magnetic write pole can have a trapezoidal shape with first and second laterally opposed sides that are further apart at the trailing edge than at the leading edge. The write head may or may not include a magnetic trailing shield, and if a trailing shield is included it is separated from the trailing edge by a non-magnetic write gap layer. The concave trailing edge improves magnetic performance such as by improving the transition curvature. A method for constructing the write head includes forming a magnetic write pole by forming a mask structure over a deposited write pole material, the mask structure having an alumina hard mask and an image transfer layer such as DURAMIDE®. An alumina fill layer is then deposited and a chemical mechanical polish is performed to open up the image transfer layer.

Abstract: A magnetic structure for use in a magnetic head for avoiding wide angle track erasure and other forms of adjacent track interference. The magnetic structure includes a trailing shield having a specially configured back edge opposite the air bearing surface ABS. The magnetic shield has a shallow substantially constant throat height at a center portion. Then, the back edge of the shield tapers back away from the ABS in first and second intermediate portion located at either side of the center portion. These intermediate portions lead to first and second outer portions that have substantially constant throat heights that are larger than the throat height at the center region. The throat height at each of the laterally outer portions can be 1.5 to 5 times the throat height of the center portion. This configuration, chokes off stray fields that might be picked up by the outer portions of the shield preventing excessive magnetic flux from reaching the central portion of the shield where it might affect writing.

Abstract: A magnetic write pole having a structure that prevents thermally induced pole tip protrusion. The write head has a return pole with a magnetic pedestal formed at the air bearing surface (ABS) and a back gap at an end opposite the ABS. An electrically conductive write coil having a plurality of turns passes over the return pole. A fill layer of a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion, such as alumina is disposed between the coil and the pedestal, and may extend over the top of the coil to the back gap. A photoresist coil insulation layer may be provided between the turns of the coil to insulate the turns of the coil from one another. The photoresist coil insulation layer can also extend to the back gap. A write pole, formed above the return pole and coil is magnetically connected with the back gap layer and return pole by a magnetic shaping layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for integrating a stair notch and a gap bump at a pole tip in a write head is disclosed. A protective plated layer is formed over the bump to prevent the bump form being damaged during formation of the notch at the pole tip. The flux from the second pole outside of the track will be effectively channeled to the first pole piece under the alumina bump.