Abstract: The side edge of the main magnetic pole layer is prevented from protruding in the track width direction even when a skew angle is generated by forming the main magnetic pole layer of the opposing face opposing the recording medium as an inverted trapezoid, thereby enabling the occurrence of side fringing to be prevented.

Abstract: Shielded electronic integrated circuit apparatus (5) includes a substrate (10), with an eletronic integrated circuit (15) formed thereon, and a dielectric region (12) positioned on the electronic integrated circuit. The dielectric region and the substrate are substantially surrounded by lower and upper magnetic material regions (26, 30), deposited using electrochemical deposition, and magnetic material layers on each side (32, 34). Each of the lower and upper magnetic material regions preferably include a glue layer (36, 40), a seed layer (28, 24), and an electrochemically deposited magnetic material layer (26, 30). Generally, the electrochemically deposited magnetic material layer can be conveniently deposited by electroplating.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an active element for use with a magnetic head includes depositing a magnetic material to form a magnetic member, and nitriding the magnetic member after the depositing step. Preferably, the depositing step comprises depositing nickel-iron alloy, and the nitriding step comprises plasma nitriding the magnetic member. Advantageously, plasma nitriding may be performed at a temperature below 300 degrees Celsius to avoid adverse effects to components of the active element, such as organic planars. Active elements manufactured according to the method of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: A manufacturing method in which a second magnetic layer of a thin-film magnetic head includes the steps of: forming a pole portion layer; forming a protective layer so as to cover a part of the pole portion layer located near the medium facing surface ABS; forming an electrode layer to be used as an electrode when forming a yoke portion layer by electroplating; forming the yoke portion layer by electroplating on the electrode layer using the electrode layer as an electrode; and removing an unnecessary portion of the electrode layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a slider for an optical head includes a slider member adapted for floating and running over a recording medium during recording and/or reproduction of information signals for the recording medium. An optical lens is bonded to the slider member and a magnetic field generator provided on a surface of the slider member carrying the optical lens facing the recording medium. A first step is forming a groove presenting a bottom surface inclined in the depth-wise direction by ejecting a polishing agent dispersed in a compressed gas on a substrate. A second step is charging an electrically conductive material, which proves a terminal electrically connected to the magnetic field generator in the inside of the groove formed in the substrate. A third step is cutting the substrate in the vicinity of an end of the groove to form a plurality of individual slider members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for microencapsulating or electrodeposited coating of ferromagnetic and soft-magnetic sub-micron or nano sized powderized material comprising use of a rotary flow-through device assisted by an electromagnet within the electrode ring to alternately position the powder at the face of the cathode ring and electroplate the powder and reorient it prior to another repositioning. The invention is also of a process and apparatus for forming a strip, mesh, or film from magnetic powderized material in an organized bipolar arrangement, which is particularly useful for electroforming foils with the magnetic particles positioned in a monolayer within a multilayer metallic foil.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head assembly wherein the magnetic head assembly has a write head with a pole tip includes the steps of forming a shaping layer on an underlying layer wherein the shaping layer has a side surface and a top surface, ion beam sputter depositing a ferromagnetic material layer on the underlying layer and on the side and top surfaces of the shaping layer and removing first and second portions of the ferromagnetic material layer from the underlying layer and the top surface of the shaping layer, respectively, leaving a remaining portion of the ferromagnetic material layer on the side surface of the shaping layer which is the aforementioned pole tip.

Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head which protects the front P2 pole tip during the ion mill patterning of the yoke is described. A front connecting pedestal is electroplated over the front P2 pole tip slightly behind the ABS, and a back gap connecting pedestal is electroplated over the back gap P2 pedestal. Insulator materials are formed over the front P2 pole tip, over the front connecting pedestal, and in between the front and the back gap connecting pedestals. Next, a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is performed over the top of the structure to form a substantially planar top surface. A full-film of yoke layer materials is then sputter deposited over this top surface, followed by the formation of a photoresist mask slightly behind the ABS. When the yoke layer materials are subsequently ion milled to form the yoke, the front P2 pole tip is protected by the surrounding insulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head having sufficient recording performance on a recording medium imparted with a large coercive force. According to the present invention, a plated magnetic thin film can be obtained in which a crystal grain size is modulated in a film thickness direction and a coercive force is reduced. Further, according to the present invention, even for a composition area indicating a high saturation magnetic flux density in which, conventionally, soft magnetic properties could not be obtained, magnetic film having an excellent soft magnetic property can be manufactured.

Abstract: A method for forming a plated magnetic thin film of high saturation magnetization and low coercivity having the general form Co100−a−bFeaMb, where M can be Mo, Cr, W, Ni or Rh, which is suitable for use in magnetic recording heads that write on narrow trackwidth, high coercivity media. The plating method includes four current application processes: direct current, pulsed current, pulse reversed current and conditioned pulse reversed current.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a method for forming a uniform and dense electroplating film with high adhesion strength on the surface of an article, yet irrespective of the surface material and the surface properties of the article. A means for a solution of the problem comprises: forming on the surface of the article, a resin coating made of a resin containing dispersed therein a powder of a first metal; then forming a second-metal substituted plating film on the surface of the resin coating by immersing the resin-coated article in a solution containing ions of a second metal having an ionization potential nobler than that of the first metal; and further forming an electroplating film of a third metal on the surface of the metal-substituted plating film.

Abstract: A method for multi-layer electrodeposition in a single bath is also provided. A substrate is immersed in a bath. An electrodeposition operation is initiated for depositing a first layer of material on the substrate. The electrodeposition operation includes agitating the bath and applying current pulses. The electrodeposition operation is later altered for depositing a second layer of material on the first layer, where the second layer is of a different composition than the first layer. In the altered mode, the current density is changed for altering a composition of material deposited on the substrate, the duration and/or frequency of the current pulses are altered, and the bath is agitated at a different rate of agitation.

Abstract: As the recording density of magnetic disk drives approaches 100 Gbits/in2, write track lengths of about 0.10 microns will be required. This cannot be accomplished using conventional photolithography. The present invention solves this problem by first forming on the bottom pole of the write head a cavity in a layer of photoresist, using conventional means. A seed layer of non-magnetic material is electrolessly laid down, following which a second layer of photoresist is deposited and patterned to form a second cavity that symmetrically surrounds the first one, thereby forming a mold around it. Ferromagnetic metal is then electro-deposited in this mold to form the top magnetic pole. Following the removal of all photoresist and a brief selective etch of the bottom pole, an extremely narrow write head is obtained.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a nonostructure, which enables cylindrical pores arrayed according to any periodic pattern to be easily made on a substrate over a large area at a low cost in a short period of time. The method of manufacturing a structure having such pores includes the steps of preparing a substrate having recesses in its surface, providing a film on the surface of the substrate and anodizing the film.

Abstract: A projection structure is deposited on a substrate having a top surface by applying a negative photoresist overlying the substrate, and positioning a mask overlying the substrate and lying in a mask plane generally parallel to the top surface. The mask is a negative mask that is opaque in a region defining a location where the projection structure is to be deposited. The method further includes exposing the negative photoresist through the mask, baking and developing the exposed negative photoresist, and depositing the projection structure through the exposed and etched negative photoresist.

Abstract: A memory element comprising nanomagnets having a rotational symmetry selected in order to provide high remanence and a suitable coercivity. There is also a sensor element comprising nanomagnets having a rotational symmetry selected such that they are superparamagnetic and exhibit substantially zero hysteresis so that a magnetisation of the nanomagnets depends only on the current value of applied field and not on the field history.

Abstract: High density magnetic recording requires the write head materials to have high saturation magnetic flux density. Preparation of such materials has been achieved by providing an aqueous solution of nickel, iron, and cobalt salts, each present within a specified concentration range, together with selected additives. When used, under the specified operating conditions, as the electrolyte during electro-deposition, said solution provides a ferromagnetic layer having improved magnetic properties, particularly high saturation magnetic flux density. One embodiment of the process teaches formation of pole tips for use in a magnetic write head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating an electroplating mask for the formation of a miniature magnetic pole tip structure. The method incorporates a silylation process to silylate photoresist after creating a photoresist cavity or trench in the electroplating mask. The silylation process is performed after a dry etch of the photoresist. Alternatively, silylation is performed after a lithographic patterning of the trench. As a result of chemical biasing, the vertical side walls of the photoresist layer shift inward creating a narrower trench. The resulting structure formed after electroplating has a width of less than 0.3 micrometers. This structure can be used as a magnetic pole of a thin film head (“TFH”) for a data storage device.

Abstract: The process is provided involving formation of multilayer components in which a photoresist-type material is used not only as a conventional patterning material, but also as an insulating and/or planarizing material between magnetic or electrically conductive layers. A variety of integrated CMOS/micromagnetic components are thereby capable of being formed, including components containing planar inductors and transformers. Additionally, a particular technique is used to etch gold-containing seed layers from a substrate surface without damaging an electroplated copper coil. Also provided is a magnetic material particularly useful in devices such as inductors and transformers. The material is an amorphous iron-cobalt-phosphorus alloy having a composition of CoxPyFez, where x+y+z=100, x is 5 to 15, y is 13 to 20, and z is the remainder. The alloy typically exhibits a coercivity of 0.1 to 0.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an active element for use with a magnetic head includes depositing a magnetic material to form a magnetic member, and nitriding the magnetic member after the depositing step. Preferably, the depositing step comprises depositing nickel-iron alloy, and the nitriding step comprises plasma nitriding the magnetic member. Advantageously, plasma nitriding may be performed at a temperature below 300 degrees Celsius to avoid adverse effects to components of the active element, such as organic planars. Active elements manufactured according to the method of the invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: The process is provided involving formation of multilayer components in which a photoresist-type material is used not only as a conventional patterning material, but also as an insulating and/or planarizing material between magnetic or electrically conductive layers. A variety of integrated CMOS/micromagnetic components are thereby capable of being formed, including components containing planar inductors and transformers. Additionally, a particular technique is used to etch gold-containing seed layers from a substrate surface without damaging an electroplated copper coil. Also provided is a magnetic material particularly useful in devices such as inductors and transformers. The material is an amorphous iron-cobalt-phosphorus alloy having a composition of CoxPyFez, where x+y+z=100, x is 5 to 15, y is 13 to 20, and z is the remainder. The alloy typically exhibits a coercivity of 0.1 to 0.

Abstract: The invention relates, inter alia, to a method in which an electrically nonconductive mask layer (16) is applied to an electrically conductive contact layer which is supported by a substrate layer (12). A free space is made in the mask layer (16). Then, a plurality of layers (52 to 60) are electrochemically deposited in the free space. Then, layers (72 and 76) are applied above the layer (60) which was deposited last. Then, in a removal process, the mask layer (16) is removed down to the height of the top layer (76).

Abstract: An optical transparent film is formed so as to cover a first thin film element and a marker, and flattened. A resist-cover is formed on the part of the optical transparent film above the marker. A plate underfilm is formed on the optical transparent film and the resist-cover. The resist-cover is removed from the optical transparent film. A resistframe is fabricated on the part of the optical transparent film including the plate underfilm above the first thin film element on the basis of the marker which is visible via the optical transparent film from the removed part of the resist-cover. Then, a plate film is formed on the part of the plate underfilm enclosed by the resistframe.

Abstract: A fabrication method using a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) eliminating deleterious effects of unwanted reflected light during the photo exposure step of a photolithographic process. The BARC coating comprises a carbon coating having a thickness of 300 angstroms, deposited by a carbon ion beam deposition tool, and an initial silicon BARC coating layer having thickness of 20 angstroms deposited before the carbon coating. Where the BARC layer is utilized in a photolithographic NiFe pole tip fabrication process, a NiFe seed layer is first deposited upon a substrate. The BARC layer is then formed on the NiFe seed layer and the pole tip trench is then photolithographically created. Thereafter, the BARC layer is removed from the bottom of the trench, utilizing a reactive ion etch process, exposing the NiFe seed layer. The NiFe pole tip is then fabricated into the trench, and any remaining photoresist and BARC layer are removed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium and a process for making the same provides a plurality of micro- or nano-machined recesses in a non-magnetic carrier layer. The recesses are machined by a fiber laser and when filled with a magnetic material, provide isolated single-domains on the magnetic recording media. The micro- or nano-machining of the recesses produces single domains of extremely small dimensions to increase the recording density on magnetic recording media.

Abstract: A method of preparing a hard disc comprising steps of:immersing an aluminum or aluminum alloy substrate in a zincate solution containing a zinc compound, an alkali hydroxide, and at least one amine to thereby form a zincate film on the surface of the substrate,immersing the zincate film-formed substrate in an electroless nickel plating solution comprising a water-soluble nickel salt, a complexing agent, and a hypophosphite to thereby form a nickel--phosphorus alloy layer on the surface of the zincate film-coated substrate, and forming a magnetic layer on the nickel--phosphorus alloy layer.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved process for fabricating devices containing metallized magnetic ceramic material, such as inductors, transformers, and magnetic substrates. In particular, the unique vias utilized in the process of the invention allow fabrication of devices from multiple unfired ferrite layers with only a single via-coating step, thereby avoiding the need numerous punching steps. Moreover, there is no need for expanding the dimensions of the vias and thus no need for internal metallization. The invention therefore provides for green tape-type fabrication of devices such as inductors, transformers, and magnetic substrates in a manner faster, less complex, and more reliable than current methods. The invention also relates to use of an improved conductive material in such a process, the conductive material containing silver/palladium particles, ferrite particles, a cellulose-based or other organic binder, and a solvent.

Abstract: A mini-floppy disk or like information storage device is comprised of a circle of data storage medium having a central metal hub. In use, the hub is contacted with and driven by a magnetized spindle. The hub comprises a ferromagnetic substrate and a metal coating. The coating has magnetization B.sub.s which is less than the magnetization of the substrate. The coating is harder than the substrate, preferably greater than 400 DPH hardness number. The coating is deposited with an amorphous microstructure while the substrate is crystalline. The coating has a nodular surface texture and surface oxide film which provides improved adhesive bond strength, where the medium is joined to the hub. The coating preferably is an electroless plating deposit, comprised of nickel or cobalt base metal, with phosphorous or boron additive; most preferably it is nickel-11% phosphorous.

Abstract: A method of electroplating an object to be plated attached to a lower portion of a plating bath constituted by draining used plating solution and supplying new plating solution at every plating procedure. The method has a step of supplying additional current so that the object to be plated always has cathode potential, while the object to be plated is being dipped in the plating bath and electroplating is not carried out.

Abstract: An article (130) comprising a non-conductive substrate (136), preferably of an environmentally degradeable character, having a thickness of an oxidizable metal coating (138) thereon, and optionally an oxidation enhancingly effective amount of a salt (140), e.g., from about 0.005 to about 25% by weight of salt, based on the weight of oxidizable metal, present on the oxidizable metal coating. Also disclosed is a related method of forming such article, comprising chemical vapor depositing the oxidizable metal coating on the substrate. When utilized in a form comprising fine-diameter substrate elements such as filaments, the resulting product may be usefully employed as an "evanescent" chaff. In the presence of atmospheric moisture, such evanescent chaff undergoes oxidization of the oxidizable metal coating so that the conductivity and radar absorbance/reflectance characteristics of the chaff transiently decays.

Abstract: A magnetically shape-anisotropic material is made by providing a matrix with a plurality of elongated holes, and depositing first and second magnetic materials in each hole so as to form elongated particles including the first material adjacent one end and the second material adjacent the opposite end. One of the materials is a magnetically soft material having relatively low coercivity whereas the other material is a magnetically hard material having relatively high coercivity. The particles have dimensions transverse to their axes of elongation smaller than the magnetic domain size of the magnetically soft material.

Abstract: A magnetic thin film manufacturing method in which an object of treatment is electroplated in a plating bath so that a magnetic thin film is formed on the surface of the object of treatment. The plating bath contains two or more types of ions selected from a set consisting of Fe.sup.2+ ions, Ni.sup.2+ ions and Co.sup.2+ ions, and fine particles of an insulating material are dispersed in the plating bath. In a more particular embodiment of the invention, a magnetic thin film manufacturing method is characterized by the fact that ?a! the aforementioned two or more types of ions selected from a set consisting of Fe.sup.2+ ions, Ni.sup.2+ ions and Co.sup.2+ ions are supplied by means of sulfates and/or chlorides, ?b! the plating bath is an acidic bath, and ?c! the fine particles of an insulating material that are dispersed in the plating bath are colloidal particles of SiO.sub.2 and/or Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: An improved electroplating bath, complexing agent, product and method for producing nickel-rich nickel-iron alloys, such as Permalloy, having about 22% iron and 78% nickel. The improved electroplating bath contains a small amount of an organic amine complexing agent such as ethylenediamine or diethylenetriamine which increases the nickel/iron mass ratio of the deposit, causes nickel to be deposited in favor of iron, reduces the sensitivity of the deposit composition to the iron content of the bath and the applied current density. Further, the pH of the bath is adjusted to about 5.0 to stabilize the complexes and tartaric acid is added to complex ferric ion and thus prevent its precipitation. The organic amine complexing agents useful in accordance with the present invention are agents which complex with nickel and include ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine each having at least two amine groups with each of the amine groups separated by two carbons.

Abstract: An electroplating apparatus and method reduces oxidation of thermodynamically unstable and oxidizable ionic species in an electroplating solution to deposit complex magnetic alloys onto substrates. In one embodiment, the electroplating apparatus comprises an electroplating cell in which oxidation of oxidizable anions and cations is reduced. The cell comprises (i) an anode compartment comprising an anode and anolyte solution; and (ii) a cathode compartment comprising a cathode and catholyte solution containing oxidizable plating anions. A cation-selective semi-permeable membrane separates the anode and cathode compartments. An electrical power supply is used to maintain a voltage across the anode and cathode. Upon application of the voltage to the anode and cathode, transport of the oxidizable plating anions, and to a lesser degree cations, to the anode is substantially blocked by the cation-selective semi-permeable membrane, thereby reducing oxidation of the oxidizable anions and cations at the anode.

Abstract: A thin film helical conductor coil assembly includes an electrically-nonconducting ceramic substrate having a substantially planar surface and separated first and second magnetic elements which mutually bound a volume of the ceramic substrate. The thin film conductor coil assembly also includes a thin film magnetic core, which magnetically connects the first magnetic element to the second magnetic element. The thin film magnetic core, which overlies the substantially planar surface of the ceramic substrate, is constructed from a compliant electroplated magnetic material. The thin film conductor coil assembly further includes an electroplated thin film helical coil which traverses about the thin film magnetic core and forms a conductive path from a first terminal to a second terminal.

Abstract: A process for producing a thin film magnetic head uses the upper magnetic pole as a self-aligning mask for partially trimming the lower magnetic pole, wherein the yoke and pole tip regions to be trimmed are processed by separate and distinct photolithographic steps, thereby achieving noncritical alignment in the yoke area, while maintaining critical alignment in the pole tip region which includes the transducing gap.

Abstract: A soft-magnetic multilayer thin film produced by electroplating, wherein an anode-dissolution process is effected by intermittently applying a reverse d.c. bias current with respect to the plating-forward current. Involving the anode-dissolution process allows the formation of a re-dissolution effect layer differing in crystal structure from the plated film layer. A soft-magnetic multilayer thin film characterized by having a multilayer film structure which comprises a plated layer and a re-dissolution effect layer laminated to each other and which the plated layer is at least magnetically isolated. Further, a method of manufacturing a soft-magnetic multilayer thin film having a multilayer film structure magnetically isolated only through plating, which is offered by introducing the anode-dissolution process.

Abstract: A process for forming an electroconductive thin-film coil element uses an InNi alloy film which is heated to a temperature above its melting point and melted off together with an electrode used for electroplating.

Abstract: A process for patterned electroplating involves the steps of: (i) coating a substrate with a layer of hydroxyquinoline which acts as an adhesion promoter; (ii) coating the adhesion layer with a radiation sensitive polymeric resist; (iii) imagewise exposing the film to radiation; (iv) developing the image to patternwise expose the substrate; (v) electroplating metal onto the exposed portions of the substrate; and (vi) removing the remaining polymeric film from the substrate.

Abstract: A magnetic thin film head having a laminated structure includes a non-magnetic substrate, a lower magnetic layer deposited on the non-magnetic substrate, a magnetic gap layer overlying the lower magnetic layer, at least two insulating layers overlying the magnetic gap layer, at least one electrically conductive layer interposed between the insulating layers, and an upper magnetic layer overlying the insulating layers. A magnetic core of the magnetic thin film head is made up of the upper and lower magnetic layers, at least one of which includes a plurality of magnetically soft layers plated with a metal alloy and a plurality of modified layers each interposed between two adjoining magnetically soft layers. The modified layers function to magnetostatically separate the magnetically soft layers. Each of the modified layers is made by introducing, during electroplating, an anodic dissolution process wherein a surface to be plated is temporarily used as an anode.

Abstract: A soft magnetic multilayer film is manufactured by an electroplating process using an electrolyte containing metal ions. The soft magnetic multilayer film includes soft magnetic layers composed of elements, and deteriorated-soft magnetic layers composed of the same elements and alternating with the soft magnetic layers. The soft magnetic layers are preferably different in composition from the deteriorated-soft magnetic layers. In addition, it is preferable that the metal ions contained in the electrolyte include at least two of Ni ion, Co ion, and Fe ion.

Abstract: This invention is for holding components made of a ferromagnetic material parallel to a component axis for electroplating the component. The component substrate according to the invention has at least two magnet poles, oriented toward the components and having opposite polarity. The magnet field lines extend from one magnet pole to the other magnet pole through the components only in the vicinity of a contact faces of the components oriented toward the magnet poles. This prevents ferromagnetic particles from depositing on the ends of the components remote from the contact faces. The apparatus according to the invention is especially suitable for holding a plurality of components during electrolytic surface coating of the components.

Abstract: An article comprising a substrate formed with predetermined patterns and magnetized magnetic substances arranged in the substrate in accordance with the predetermined patterns, and a method of manufacturing an article with magnetized magnetic substances arranged according to predetermined patterns, comprising the steps of arranging said magnetic substances in a substrate in accordance with the predetermined patterns and magnetizing the magnetic substances.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic read/write head has a copper iron boron core. Cobalt, iron and boron are included in the electroplating bath used to form the pole pieces of the thin film magnetic head. Following exposure to a rotating magnetic field, the pole pieces have high saturation magnetization, low coercivity, low anisotropy and large permeability.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic recording head for high-density recording applications. The head includes a pole formed from at least two ferromagnetic material layers with one layer having high anisotropy (H.sub.k) and low permeability (.mu.), and the other layer having low H.sub.k and high .mu.. The high H.sub.k layer provides the lower magnetic impedance flux path in the tip region and the low H.sub.k layer provides the lower magnetic impedance path in the yoke region of the head. A non-magnetic film may be disposed between the layers, with a thickness chosen to minimize domain flux coupling of the two magnetic layers, while allowing magnetic signal flux transfer between layers at an appropriate point between the tip and the yoke. The pole may be sculpted so that the low H.sub.k layer extends only partially into the tip region, or so that the high H.sub.k layer extends only partially into the yoke.

Abstract: A closely adherent metal coating having a uniform thickness and substantially free from pinholes is formed on the porous surface of a bonded magnet to improve its oxidation and corrosion resistance without lowering its magnetic properties. The coating is formed by electroplating from an aqueous solution not containing chlorine, and having a pH of 5 or above. More particularly, the solution contains mainly nickel sulfate, an electrolyte in the form of an organic acid salt not containing chlorine, and a basic electrolyte not containing chlorine, and forms a nickel coating on the magnet surface.

Abstract: A method of producing a thin-film magnetic head on a carrier (1) comprising depositing an electrically conducting plating-base (2) and electroplating flux conductors (4a, 4b) and a magnetically insulating layer (8) on the plating-base. This provides a planar structure on which an electrically insulating layer (9) and a magneto-resistance element (10) are applied. The plating-base (2) also constitutes the gap layer.