Abstract: A controllable attenuator includes a pair of collimators respectively connected to input and output fibers. A pair of reflection devices are respectively positioned behind the pair of collimators opposite to the corresponding input and output fibers. A U-like light path is defined among the pair of collimators and the pair of reflection devices. A neutral density filter is moveably positioned between the pair of reflection devices wherein a moving direction of the filter is preferably parallel to a longitudinal direction of the pair of collimators. An ND filter position indicator such as a potentiometer, is used to dynamically monitor attenuation setting.

Abstract: A write element for recording data on a magnetic medium is provided having an impedance designed to substantially match the impedance of an electrical interconnection between it and a pre-amp chip located nearby on the load beam. Additional embodiments are directed to incorporating a read element with the write element to form a read/write head, and to further incorporate the read/write head into a magnetic disk drive. Further embodiments are directed towards the fabrication of the write element.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head having improved thermal characteristics. The read/write head includes a read element and a write element formed there over. The read element includes a read sensor embedded within a dielectric material and sandwiched between first and second shields. The write element includes first and second poles joined to form a yoke. The yoke is closed at one end and defines a write gap at the other. A coil having windings which extend through the yoke generates a magnetic flux within the yoke. This magnetic flux causes a magnetic fringe field at the location of the write gap, the fringe field being capable of imparting a magnetic signal onto a passing magnetic medium. The coil sits atop a thermally conductive, electrically insulating material which electrically isolates the coil from surrounding structure. When a current flows through the coil, heat will be generated.

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: A write element for recording data on a magnetic medium includes a first pole and a second pole separated by a non-magnetic, electrically insulating write gap layer. In addition, a coil layer is recessed into the first pole and is electrically insulated from the first pole by a coil insulation layer, and form the second pole by a coil separation layer. The coil layer includes at least one coil turn, each of which are transversely separated from an adjacent coil turn by a coil turn divider. In some embodiments, the coil turn dividers are integral with and therefore formed of the same material as the first pole. The coil layer, first pole, and coil turn dividers are planarized before formation of the coil separation layer. Also, a second pole pedestal can be connected to the second pole at the air bearing surface, and separated from the first pole by the write gap layer. A highly heat conductive material can be disposed below the first pole as an undercoat.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film write head having an upper and lower pole structures and conductor turns forming a winding for generating magnetic flux. The conductor is formed with a non-planar top surface. The winding of the present invention may be formed of lower and upper turns. The upper turns may be formed with a non-planar top surface, a non-planar bottom surface, or both. It is preferred that the bottom surface of the upper conductor turns be coherent with the non-planar top surface of the lower conductor turns. The non-planar top surface may be formed by removing corners formed during deposition between a generally planar top surface and abutting side walls. The corners may be removed by ion milling to form the non-planar top surface. The conductor may be copper with the non-planar top surface having sloping facets. The thin film write head of the present invention may be utilized to provide an improved data storage and retrieval apparatus.

Abstract: An Spin Dependent Tumelina SDT read sensor includes a first ferromagnetic (FM) layer and a second FM layer separated by an insulating layer. The first FM layer and second FM layer are substantially electrically isolated from each other. Specifically, the sidewalls of the SDT read sensor are substantially free of electrical paths between the first FM layer and the second FM layer. Also, a surface of the second FM layer that is substantially parallel to the air bearing surface, is recessed from the air bearing surface. A method for forming an SDT read sensor includes depositing a first FM material layer, depositing an intermediate insulation material layer over the first FM material layer, and then depositing a second FM material layer over the intermediate insulation material layer. The second FM material layer and the intermediate insulation material layer are etched, with the etching being stopped before the etching etches the first FM material layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head having improved overwrite performance and a small trackwidth. The magnetoresistive head having a magnetic yoke formed of first and second poles joined at a back gap region and having an opposite write gap region. A pedestal with a top portion constructed of a high saturation moment material is provided on the first pole, limited to the write gap region and spaced from the read element so as to prevent popcorn noise in read sensor. The high moment pedestal is raised above surrounding structure causing the second pole to define a very low apex angle in the write gap region.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive write element having a greatly reduced stack height allowing construction of a smaller track width and tighter track width tolerances. The reduced stack height also produces improved magnetic flux flow properties in the write element leading to an improved magnetic fringing field in the write gap region The magnetoresistive write head includes an electrically conductive planar coil having a portion thereof extending between first and second poles. The first and second poles join one another to form a magnetic yoke which is closed at one end and open at the other. An insulation layer separates the coil from the first pole. Another layer of insulating material is formed into the coil, interspersed between the winds and having an upper surface which is flush with the upper surface of the coil. A thin layer of write gap material insulates the coil from the second pole.

Abstract: The present invention describes a write element for a magnetic recording device that incorporates a second pole pedestal with a tapered shape. This tapered shape substantially reduces side-writing and the second pulse effect, each of which can limit maximum areal densities of information recorded on magnetic media. The present invention further includes a magnetic recording device incorporating a write element with a tapered second pole pedestal within the read/write head. The present invention also includes a method for producing a write element incorporating a tapered second pole pedestal.

Abstract: A structure which includes a ferromagnetic (FM) layer, a thin oxide layer, and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer is provided. The thin oxide layer, between 1 to 10 oxygen atoms in thickness, minimizes interlayer atomic diffusion between the FM layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. In a preferred embodiment, a spin valve sensor with improved thermal stability is provided by including the thin oxide layer between a FM layer and an AFM layer. The presence of the thin oxide layer also results in an improved spin valve sensor with an enhanced exchange pinning field.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film write head having an upper and lower pole structures and conductor turns forming a winding for generating magnetic flux. The conductor is formed with a non-planar top surface. The winding of the present invention may be formed of lower and upper turns. The upper turns may be formed with a non-planar top surface, a non-planar bottom surface, or both. It is preferred that the bottom surface of the upper conductor turns be coherent with the non-planar top surface of the lower conductor turns. The non-planar top surface may be formed by removing corners formed during deposition between a generally planar top surface and abutting side walls. The corners may be removed by ion milling to form the non-planar top surface. The conductor may be copper with the non-planar top surface having sloping facets. The thin film write head of the present invention may be utilized to provide an improved data storage and retrieval apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes first and second magnetic yoke layers which contact each other at a back closure region at one end and delineate a transducer gap at another end. A toroidal coil encompasses one of the yoke layers. The coil axis of the toroidal coil passes through the encompassed yoke layer. During data writing, electrical current passes through the toroidal coil inducing magnetic flux along the coil axis, which flux is efficiently and directly delivered to the transducer gap for writing on a recording medium. During data reading, magnetic flux intercepted by the transducer gap flows along the encompassed yoke layer and efficiently induces electrical current in the toroidal coil for amplification. In alternative embodiments, separate read transducers are disposed adjacent to the toroidal coils to form merged heads.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive (MR) device includes a synthetic antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer having an Fe/FeSi/Fe construction. A first Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a first direction, while a second Fe layer of the synthetic AFM layer has a magnetization substantially in a second direction that is substantially antiparallel to the first direction. The magnetoresistive device can be a spin valve in which a first surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a pinning layer, and a second surface of the synthetic AFM layer is adjacent to a spacer layer. Further, the spin valve includes a free layer that overlies the spacer, thereby being separated from the synthetic AFM layer by the spacer. The pinning layer, synthetic AFM layer, spacer, and free layer can be bounded by a first shield and a second shield to provide magnetic shielding of the spin valve sensor.

Abstract: A write element for recording data on a magnetic medium is provided having an impedance designed to substantially match the impedance of an electrical interconnection between it and a pre-amp chip located nearby on the load beam. Additional embodiments are directed to incorporating a read element with the write element to form a read/write head, and to further incorporate the read/write head into a magnetic disk drive. Further embodiments are directed towards the fabrication of the write element.

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: An inductive write head includes a first pole and a second pole that form a yoke having a write gap between the first pole and second pole. The second pole is formed of a particular Co100-a-bZRaCRb compound. More specifically, the second pole is formed where “a” is in the range of about 2 atomic percent to about 18 atomic percent, and “b” is in the range of about 0.5 atomic percent to about 6 atomic percent. The magnetic write element also includes a conductive coil which lies between the first pole and the second pole. The inductive write head also includes a first yoke pedestal attached to the first pole, and a second yoke pedestal attached to the second pole, with the write gap formed therebetween. Further, the first yoke pedestal has a pedestal width that defines the write element trackwidth and that is smaller than the pedestal width of the second yoke pedestal.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a write head is disclosed. The write head includes a first pole and a write gap. At least a portion of the write gap is on a portion of the first pole. The method and system include providing a coil layer including a plurality of turns on the write gap. Each of the plurality of turns is separated by a pitch. The method and system further include depositing an insulator to provide an insulating layer and providing a second pole above the insulating layer. The insulating layer has a first profile substantially conforming to the plurality of turns.

Abstract: An inductive write head includes a first pole and a second pole that form a yoke having a write gap between the first pole and second pole. The second pole is formed of a particular Co100-a-bZraCrb compound. More specifically, the second pole is formed where “a” is in the range of about 2 atomic percent to about 18 atomic percent, and “b” is in the range of about 0.5 atomic percent to about 6 atomic percent. The magnetic write element also includes a conductive coil which lies between the first pole and the second pole. The inductive write head also includes a first yoke pedestal attached to the first pole, and a second yoke pedestal attached to the second pole, with the write gap formed therebetween. Further, the first yoke pedestal has a pedestal width that defines the write element trackwidth and that is smaller than the pedestal width of the second yoke pedestal.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device for recording data includes a first pole connected to a second pole that is above the first pole. Above the first pole is a first conductive coil imbedded in a first insulation material, with at least a portion of the first conductive layer disposed below all of the second pole. The first and second poles have a first and second pole tip portion, respectively, between which is defined a write gap. A first pole pedestal, connected to the first pole at the first pole tip portion, and a second pole pedestal, connected to the second pole at the second pole tip portion, can be located between the first and second poles. Also, additional conductive coils can be included above the first conductive coil.