Abstract: Side shield structures magnetically shielding a read sensor to block side reading of tracks on a magnetic media. The read heads include bottom and top magnetic shield layers, a read sensor or magnetically sensitive element between the bottom and top magnetic shield layers, and a side shield assembly formed of magnetically shielding material positioned between the bottom and top magnetic shield layers and adjacent at least a portion of the read sensor. In current-in-plane embodiments, the side shield assembly includes a pair of side shields of magnetically shielding material adjacent a lower portion of the read sensor formed on a lower read gap. In current-perpendicular-to-plane embodiments, the side shield assembly includes a pair of side shields extending from the bottom magnetic shield adjacent lower sides of the read sensor and/or a pair of side shields extending from the top magnetic shield adjacent upper sides of the read sensor.

Abstract: A method of making an inductive transducer having inorganic nonferromagnetic material disposed in an apex region adjacent to a submicron nonferromagnetic gap in a magnetic core. The inorganic nonferromagnetic apex region can be made by chemical etching of a layer of inorganic nonferromagnetic material, deposition of inorganic nonferromagnetic material through a mask that is then lifted-off, or anisotropic etching of a layer of inorganic nonferromagnetic material that is covered by a hardbaked photoriesist mask.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a thin film recording head are disclosed. The method and system include providing a first pole, providing a second pole and providing a write gap separating the first pole from the second pole. The method and system further include providing at least one coil having a plurality of turns. A portion of each of the plurality of turns is between the first and the second pole. The plurality of turns wind around the second pole.

Abstract: In one aspect, an inductive transducer is disclosed having a leading pole layer and a leading pole tip, with the pole layer being further removed than the pole tip from a media-facing surface. In another aspect, an inductive transducer is disclosed having a magnetic pedestal disposed between a leading pole layer and a leading pole tip, with at least one of the pedestal and pole layer being further removed than the pole tip from a media-facing surface. In another aspect, a leading pole layer or pedestal may have a surface that slopes away from the media-facing surface with increasing distance forward from the leading pole tip.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the thin film write head of the present invention have a lower pole structure, an upper pole structure, and a multilayer write gap extending from an air bearing surface between the upper and lower pole structures. In preferred embodiments, the write gap comprises at least two of: (a) a first layer covering a lower pole tip portion of the lower pole structure, (b) a second layer covering turns of a semiconductor winding, or (c) a third layer covering a winding insulation stack. In more preferred embodiments, the write gap is formed of the first, the second, and the third write gap layers. An advantage of a write head with a multilayer write gap is that it allows better control of write gap thickness. As such, loss of write gap thickness can be compensated for by deposition of the second write gap layers, or by deposition of the third write gap layer.

Abstract: An inductive transducer having first and second magnetic pedestals disposed between first and second magnetic pole layers and adjacent to a media-facing surface, the pedestals separated by a submicron, nonmagnetic gap. The first pedestal extends less than the second pedestal from the media-facing surface, defining a short throat height. The second pedestal extends further to provide sufficient area for stitching to the second pole layer. The stitching and the thickness provided by the pedestals allow plural coil layers to be disposed between the pole layers, and the second pedestal, as well as other features, can be defined by high-resolution photolithography. The two coil layers have lower resistance, lower inductance and allow the pole layers to be shorter, improving performance. All or part of either or both of the pedestals may be formed of high magnetic saturation material, further enhancing performance.

Abstract: A thin film read/write head with a high performance inductive write section that incorporates a single layer coil with an improved fabrication method of a center tab of the single layer coil. The center tab is formed before the main body of the single layer coil is formed. Several advantages can thus be achieved. The coil resistance and inductance can be monitored for all the devices immediately after the coil fabrication to improve yield by identifying additional processing or rework before final production. Several conventional wafer processing steps can be eliminated, thereby shortening the cycle time of wafer processing. The chance of corrosion or delamination of the second pole P2 is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A writer for high frequency, data storage heads. The writer includes a first magnetic pole upon which a write gap pedestal is formed with an upper pedestal layer of high moment material with a planar upper surface. An electrical coil is formed on the first magnetic pole. A write gap layer is deposited on the upper surface of the upper pedestal layer. The writer includes a second magnetic pole disposed above the first magnetic pole with a magnetic, flat, top pole layer. The second magnetic pole includes a bottom shaper fabricated from high moment material positioned between the coil and the top pole layer. An insulation insert separates the bottom shaper from the upper pedestal layer. The second magnetic pole includes a thin dielectric lamination layer that separates the top pole layer from the bottom shaper to disrupt the path of eddy current in the second magnetic pole.

Abstract: An inductive write element for use with a magnetic data recording and retrieval system is provided. The write element includes a magnetic yoke having an electrically conductive coil passing there through. The yoke is constructed of first and second magnetic poles, and performance of the write element is improved by the inclusion of a very thin pedestal of a high magnetic moment material on the first pole in the pole tip region. Further performance gains are realized by providing a tapered edge on the pedestal to facilitate magnetic flux flow through the pedestal.

Abstract: An inductive write head structure incorporating a high moment film in conjunction with at least one pole (e.g., the bottom pole) for use with magnetic storage media and a process for producing the same in which a lift-off photoresist mask is used prior to the deposition of the high moment sputtered film. Following the lift-off process, the high moment film remains on the bottom pole (“P1”) pedestal (in the case of a PDZT type write head) or on the P1 itself (in the case of a Stitched Pole write head). The edge of the lift-off sputtered film is then covered by cured photoresist insulation which is placed at a distance away from the air bearing surface (“ABS”). The coverage of insulation at the edge of the sputtered film is desirable in order to avoid forming a topographic step which may have undesired consequences in the subsequent top pole formation processes.

Abstract: An inductive write element is disclosed for use in a magnetic data recording system. The write element provides increased data rate and data density capabilities through improved magnetic flux flow through the element. The write element includes a magnetic yoke constructed of first and second magnetic poles. The first pole includes a pedestal constructed of a high magnetic moment (high Bsat) material, which is preferably FeRhN nanocrystalline films with lamination layers of CoZrCr. The second pole includes a thin inner layer of high Bsat material (also preferably FeRhN nanocrystalline films with lamination layers of CoZrCr), the remainder being constructed of a magnetic material capable of being electroplated, such as a Ni—Fe alloy. An electrically conductive coil passes through the yoke between the first and second poles to induce a magnetic flux in the yoke when an electrical current is caused to flow through the coil.

Abstract: A disk drive write head (10) having a bottom pole (60), a first insulation layer (64) formed on the bottom pole (60), a coil (38) formed on the first insulation layer (64), a second insulation layer (66) formed on the coil (38), a write gap layer (76) formed on the second insulation layer (66), and a top pole (12) formed on the write gap layer (76), where the top pole (12) is substantially flat.

Abstract: An inductive write element for use with a magnetic data recording and retrieval system is provided. The write element includes a magnetic yoke having an electrically conductive coil passing there through. The yoke is constructed of first and second magnetic poles, and performance of the write element is improved by the inclusion of a very thin pedestal of a high magnetic moment material on the first pole in the pole tip region. Further performance gains are realized by providing a tapered edge on the pedestal to facilitate magnetic flux flow through the pedestal.

Abstract: A preferred method of the present invention provides an improved thin film for carrying magnetic flux. With the preferred method, the magnetic thin film may be formed by depositing Fe by reactive sputtering using N2 to form a thin film comprising &agr;-Fe and &ggr;-Fe4N. With this method, the relative percentage of &ggr;-Fe4N in the deposited film is increased to provide expanding lattice constants for both the &agr;-Fe and the &ggr;-Fe4N. Increasing &ggr;-Fe4N increases resistivity while expanding lattice constants to provide improved coercivity at higher resistivity. Increasing the percentage of &ggr;-Fe4N to provide expanding lattice constants for both the &agr;-Fe and the &ggr;-Fe4N may be accomplished by adjusting sputtering power, N2 gas percentage, a flow rate of N2, and substrate bias.

Abstract: The apparatus of the present invention is embodied in a magnetic field sensor having a magnetoresistive element, a magnetic bias layer for biasing the magnetoresistive element with a magnetic field, and an electrical insulator positioned between the magnetic bias layer and the magnetoresistive element. The insulator prevents the flow of electrical current between the magnetoresistive element and the magnetic bias layer and at least a portion of the insulator allows passage of the magnetic field from the magnetic bias layer to the magnetoresistive element such that the magnetoresistive element is biased.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment provides a thin film write head having upper and lower pole structures each having pedestal pole tips formed with CoNiFe. The pedestal pole tips may have from about 60% to about 70% Co and from about 10% to about 15% Ni. The upper pole structure of the preferred embodiment has a laminated yoke portion having upper and lower layers. The lower layer is stitched to the pedestal pole tip of the upper pole structure and comprises FeXN, where X is selected from the group consisting of Rh, Ta, Hf, Al, Zr, Ti, Ru, Si, Cr, V, Si, Sr, Nb, Mo, Ru, and Pd. The upper layer comprises NiFe preferably having from about 15% to about 55% of Fe. It is preferred to define the lower layer of the yoke by etching FeXN material using the upper layer as a hard mask.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film write head having an improved laminated flux carrying structure and method of fabrication. The preferred embodiment provides laminated layers of: high moment magnetic material, and easily aligned high resistivity magnetic material. In the preferred embodiment, the easily aligned laminating layer induces uniaxial anisotropy, by exchange coupling, to improve uniaxial anisotropy in the high moment material. This allows deposition induced uniaxial anisotropy by DC magnetron sputtering and also provides improved post deposition annealing, if desired. It is preferred to laminate FeXN, such as FeRhN, or other crystalline structure material, with an amorphous alloy material, preferably Co based, such as CoZrCr. In the preferred embodiment, upper and lower pole structures may both be laminated as discussed above.

Abstract: Bias layers for a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor have an in-plane easy axis of magnetization for providing a longitudinal bias to MR layers. The bias layers include cobalt (Co), and are formed on various underlayers having crystalline structures that encourage an in-plane alignment of the C-axis of that Co. Preferred underlayers include nickel aluminum (NiAl) and magnesium oxide (MgO), and an interlayer containing chromium (Cr) may be interposed between a bias layer and an underlayer.

Abstract: A magnetic thin film includes a ferrite-containing underlayer and a ferrite-containing top layer. The composition of the underlayer differs from that of the top layer. During ex-situ annealing of the thin film structure, the underlayer inhibits diffusion of substrate atoms into the top layer. The composition of the underlayer relative to the top layer suppresses grain nucleation within the underlayer relative to the top layer at high temperatures and inhibits the nucleation of grains within the underlayer having undesirable composition, crystal structure, and orientation.