Abstract: A current perpendicular to plane (CPP) sensor having a heat sink structure disposed beneath the strip height of the sensor. The heat sink is preferably in thermal contact with one of the shields/leads of the sensor while being electrically insulated from the other shield/lead.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a write head with an improved pole tip to improve overwrite and/or adjacent track interference. A cross pole tip writer is provided with a shape that is designed to reduce the saturation on the pole tip and aid in the concentration of flux to the down track.

Abstract: A new structure for adjusting flying height using a magnetomechanical effect. A head includes a magnetomechanically active structure and a coil coupled to the magnetomechanically active structure, the magnetomechanically active structure responding to a magnetic field generated by the coil to expand and/or contract.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing improved flux focusing in a write head is disclosed. The present invention uses a diamagnetic material to provide flux focusing in a storage device. An embodiment of the present invention includes diamagnetic material having a magnetic susceptibility substantially equal to or greater than 1×10?5. Another embodiment of the present invention includes diamagnetic material selected from a group comprising graphite and bismuth.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive read/write head having a first layer of alumina and a second layer of silicon dioxide overlaying a P3 layer of the head. In a preferred embodiment, the silicon dioxide layer is recessed away from an Air Bearing Surface (ABS) to reduce protrusion of a P2 layer and the P3 layer in the head, and to reduce degradation in the magnetic properties of the pole tips of the P2 and P3 layer ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing thermal stability, improving biasing and reducing damage from electrical surges in self-pinned abutted junction heads. A first self-pinned layer having a first magnetic orientation is provided, wherein the first self-pinned layer has a first end, a second end and central portion. A second self-pinned layer is formed over only the central portion of the first self-pinned layer and an interlayer is disposed between the first and second self-pinned layers. A free layer is formed in a central region over the second self-pinned layer. First and second hard bias layers are formed over the first and second ends of the first self-pinned layer respectively, the first and second hard bias layer abutting the free layer, the first and second end of the first self-pinned layer extending under the hard bias layers at the first and second ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing thermal stability, improving biasing and reducing damage from electrical surges in self-pinned abutted junction heads. The head includes a sandwiched hard bias layer having a first hard bias layer coupled to a free layer and a second, anti-parallel hard bias layer disposed away form the free layer to provide a net longitudinal bias on the free layer.

Abstract: Magnetic heads having write coil structures with reduced electrical resistances for reducing thermal protrusion are disclosed. In one illustrative example, a magnetic head includes a magnetic yoke; a write gap layer formed between upper and lower poles of the magnetic yoke; and a write coil having a plurality of coil layers. Each coil layer of the write coil extends continuously between the upper and the lower poles through a plane defined by the write gap layer. Preferably, the write coil is formed using a damascene process, such that each coil layer is wider than each coil separating layer. Such a structure provides for a relatively large amount of coil materials to be used, which reduces the coil's electrical resistance. This, in turn, reduces the heat generated by the write coils during operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing thermal stability, improving biasing and reducing damage from electrical surges in self-pinned abutted junction heads. The head includes a self-pinned layer, the self-pinned layer having a first end, a second end and central portion, a free layer disposed over the central portion of the self-pinned layer in a central region and a first and second hard bias layers formed over the first and second ends of the self-pinned layer respectively, the first and second hard bias layer abutting the free layer, the first and second end of the self-pinned layer extending under the hard bias layers at the first and second ends.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enhancing thermal stability, improving biasing and reducing damage from electrical surges in self-pinned abutted junction heads. The head includes a free layer having a first end and a second end defining a width selected to form a desired trackwidth and an extended self-pinned bias layer extending beyond the ends of the free layer, the self-pinned bias layer extending beyond the free layer increasing the volume of the extended self-pinned bias layer to provide greater thermal stability and stronger pinning of the free layer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic head using a modified P1 cap process. A first pole is formed. A cap is formed above the first pole. A gap layer is formed above the cap. A second pole is formed above the gap layer. Exposed portions of the gap layer are removed. The cap and first pole are milled for creating a shoulder of the first pole tapered upwardly towards the cap. Another method for fabricating a magnetic head includes forming a first pole, forming a gap layer above the first pole, forming a second pole above the gap layer, forming a layer of photoresist above the second pole, patterning the photoresist such that the photoresist covers areas of the gap layer positioned towards the second pole, removing exposed portions of the gap layer, removing part of exposed portions of the first pole for forming steps in the first pole on opposite sides of the photoresist, removing the photoresist, and milling for creating a shoulder of the first pole tapering upwardly towards the cap.

Abstract: A magnetic head for reading information from and writing information to a hard magnetic disk having reduced thermal protrusion at the air bearing surface. In some embodiments, a read-head portion of the magnetic head includes one or more read insulation layers, and a write-head portion of the magnetic head includes one or more write insulation layers. The magnetic head may optionally further include one or more insulation layers between the read-head portion and the write-head portion. One or more of these insulation layers includes a material with a negative thermal expansion characteristic, including but not limited to, carbon fiber, zirconium tungstate (Zr W2 O8), or hafnium tungstate (Hf W2 O8).

Abstract: The magnetic head is formed with a narrow pole tip, and a pole tip heating element is fabricated to reduce the pole tip stress and increase its permeability, such that the magnetization switching speed of the pole tip is increased. The heating element is preferably electrically interconnected within the induction coil circuit of the magnetic head, such that the electrical current flowing through the induction coil also flows through the heating element. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is fabricated above the second magnetic pole. The heating element is preferably formed with a resistance of approximately 0.2 to 1.0 ohms, such that the approximately 40 mA current that flows through the induction coil and the heating element creates a heating energy of the heating element of approximately 0.3 to 1.6 mW. The heating element can be comprised of a variety of materials such as Cu, W, NiFe, NiCr and IrRh.

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.