Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method allows the write head to be formed with a write pole having a concave trailing edge. The method further allows the amount of concavity of the trailing edge to be accurately and carefully controlled both within a wafer and between wafers. A write pole is formed using a mask that includes a hard mask, a RIEable layer and an endpoint detection layer. A layer of non-magnetic material (ALD layer) is deposited, and then, an ion milling process is used to remove a portion of the ALD layer disposed over the write pole and mask. A reactive ion etch process is performed to remove the RIEable layer leaving the ALD layer to form non-magnetic side walls with upper portions that extend above the write pole.

Abstract: A lower shield layer is formed by being embedded in a first recess formed in an under layer. Accordingly, the distance between the lower shield layer and a slider can be reduced. Also, a second metal layer is formed from above a gap layer covering an electrode extracting layer over above the under layer hindwards therefrom. Accordingly, the second metal layer can be brought closer to the slider side than an upper shield layer. Consequently, the thermal dissipation effects of the thin-film magnetic head can be improved.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording is disclosed. The method comprising: a first step of depositing a non-magnetic film over and around the main magnetic pole, and subsequently polishing and planarizing the non-magnetic film, wherein the non-magnetic film is made of a non-magnetic material which exhibits a lower ion milling rate than that of a magnetic metal material which constitutes the main magnetic pole; a second step of etching the surface by use of ion milling at a first angle relative to a stacked direction of the magnetic head, to form a stepped portion in which the main magnetic pole is lower from the non-magnetic film around the main magnetic pole; and a third step of etching the stepped portion, by use of ion milling, at a second angle relative to the stacked direction, wherein the second angle is larger than the first angle.

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: A magnetic recording head includes: a main magnetic pole; a laminated body; and a pair of electrodes operable to pass a current through the laminated body. The laminated body includes a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. A lamination direction of the laminated body is substantially parallel to a medium moving direction. In a first direction parallel to an air bearing surface and perpendicular to the lamination direction, the laminated body has a protruding portion that protrudes beyond an end of a surface of the main magnetic pole facing the laminated body.

Abstract: A main pole forming method is provided. The main pole forming method includes etching an exposed side face of a main pole layer, and the plated foundation film, thereby defining a recording track width. The method also includes etching the nonmagnetic insulating layer, and reattaching a material repelled from the nonmagnetic insulating layer to the side face of the main pole layer and a side face of the plated foundation film.

Abstract: A method for mounting a head slider of the type having terminal pads to a wireless disk drive head suspension flexure including a slider mounting region, lead contact pads, and a deflectable and resilient slider engagement member for releasably mounting a head slider to the slider mounting region. The method includes engaging and deflecting the slider engagement member and positioning the head slider onto the slider mounting region and between the lead contact pads and the slider engagement member while the slider engagement member is deflected. The method further includes disengaging the slider engagement member and causing the slider engagement member to force the head slider into frictional engagement with the lead contact pads and the slider engagement member with the lead contact pads in mechanical and electrical contact with the head slider terminal pads.

Abstract: A method for providing a magnetic recording transducer is disclosed. The method includes providing a first pole having front and rear portions and a back gap on the rear portion. The method also includes providing an insulator on the first pole. The method includes providing a write gap and providing a portion of a second pole on at least the write gap. A portion of the write gap resides on the front portion of the first pole. A portion of the insulator covers a portion of the first pole between the portion of the second pole and the back gap. The method also includes providing a mask that covers the back gap and exposes the portion of the second pole and the insulator. The method also includes performing a pole trim that can substantially remove the portion of the insulator covering the remaining portion of the first pole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head structure comprises the steps of preparing an insulating layer 10; forming a first resist layer 51 provided with a first slit pattern 51a corresponding to a very narrow groove part and a second slit pattern 51b corresponding to a temporary groove part integrally extending from the very narrow groove part along outer edges of a main depression onto the insulating layer 10; etching the insulating layer 10 while using the first resist layer 51 as a mask; eliminating the first resist layer 51; forming a second resist layer having an opening pattern corresponding to the main depression onto the insulating layer 10; and etching the insulating layer 10 while using the second resist layer as a mask.

Abstract: An electric field read/write head, a method of manufacturing the electric field read/write head, and an information storage device including the electric field read/write head are provided. The electric field read/write head includes: a substrate having a first surface facing a recording medium and a second surface that is perpendicular to the first surface; and a protrusion formed on the second surface and having at least a portion facing the recording medium, wherein a resistance sensor comprising a source, a drain, and a channel is included in the protrusion. An insulating layer and electric field shield layers are further sequentially formed on opposite sides of the protrusion, respectively, and at least one of the electric field shield layers is a write electrode.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly to record servo signals, that serves for positioning of data recording magnetic heads and data reproducing magnetic heads, on magnetic tapes includes a servo signal recording head of which sliding surface has a magnetic gap embedded thereon in order to record the servo signals onto a magnetic tape and guide blocks which are set adjacent to at least one of the up-stream position or the down-stream position of a line of magnetic tape passing the servo signal recording head and are slightly set back from the sliding surface of the recording head so that said magnetic tape slides an edge of the servo signal recording head and an edge of the guide block.

Abstract: A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and is operable to generate a first field at the write element tip. A conductor is proximate the write element tip for carrying a current to generate a second field that augments the first field. An encapsulating layer is on at least one surface of the conductor, wherein the encapsulating layer is made of a material that increases a maximum sustainable current density of the conductor to greater than about 108 A/cm2.

Abstract: An electric field read/write head, a method of manufacturing the same, and an information storage device including the electric field read/write head are provided. The electric field read/write head includes: a resistance region formed in a substrate which comprises an end surface facing a recording medium; a source and a drain formed in the substrate and disposed on both sides of the resistance region, respectively; and an insulating layer and a write electrode formed sequentially on the resistance region, wherein the length (l) to width (w) ratio (l/w) of the resistance region satisfies (l/w)?0.2.

Abstract: On the trailing side of a main pole air bearing surface of a magnetic head for perpendicular recording, the central portion is formed closer to the leading side than the corners on the trailing side, such that the main pole air bearing surface is formed in the shape of a recess with respect to the tailing side. As a result, it is possible to linearize the magnetic field distribution on the trailing side whereby the magnetic reversal is determined, and to record a bit without curving the shape of magnetic reversal.

Abstract: A filled-gap magnetic recording head is provided comprising a flat or cylindrical contour head having a row of magnetic transducers in a gap region disposed between a rowbar substrate and a closure. The gap region is intentionally recessed to have a predetermined recess profile below a tape support surface. An electrical insulation layer is deposited on the tape support surface and on the recess profile of the gap region. The insulation layer prevents electrical shorting between the magnetic transducers and other conductive elements in the gap due to accumulations of conductive debris from the magnetic recording tape. A method of making the filled-gap magnetic recording head by intentionally recessing the gap region, cleaning the recessed profile and depositing an insulator layer is provided.

Abstract: A main magnetic pore layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed under the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording that includes a pole layer and a pole-layer-encasing layer. The method includes the steps of: forming a nonmagnetic layer that will be formed into the pole-layer-encasing layer; forming a polishing stopper layer on the top surface of the nonmagnetic layer, the polishing stopping layer being made of a nonmagnetic conductive material and having a penetrating opening with a shape corresponding to the plane geometry of the pole layer; forming a groove in the nonmagnetic layer by selectively etching a portion of the nonmagnetic layer exposed from the opening; forming a magnetic layer to be the pole layer such that the groove is filled; and polishing the magnetic layer until the polishing stopper layer is exposed, so that the magnetic layer is formed into the pole layer.

Abstract: A perpendicular write head includes a main pole comprising a Durimide/Alumina hard mask formed over a laminate layer process to form the main pole without using a liftoff or chemical mechanical polishing process, thereby avoiding rounding corners of the pole, the main pole being controlled in shape for improved control of critical dimension of track width and angle of the bevel to avoid undesirable adjacent track writing.

Abstract: One illustrative method of fabricating a read sensor of a magnetic head includes the steps of forming a plurality of read sensor layers on a wafer; etching the read sensor layers to form a read sensor structure with a trench in front of the read sensor structure; forming a highly porous material within the trench; and slicing the wafer and lapping the sliced wafer through the highly porous material until an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head is reached. Advantageously, the highly porous material in front of the read sensor structure reduces mechanical stress on the read sensor during the lapping process. This reduces the likelihood that the amplitude of the read sensor will be degraded or set in a “flipped” or reversed orientation, as well as reduces the likelihood that electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to the read sensor will occur.

Abstract: A read/write head for a disk drive having a shorting conductor from a shield of the read element to a conductor that runs from the write element to an external electrical contact pad. This allows for the measurement of the electrical isolation between the read sensor and the read shield via the external contact pads. Such a capability allows the electrical isolation to be measured both during the lapping process and subsequent to the heads being diced into separate sliders. This shorting conductor may be in the form of an internal shorting stud or in the form of an interim conductor that passes through the parting zone between adjacent heads. In the latter case, the shorting conductor is broken when the heads are diced so that a head of this embodiment can only be measured for electrical isolation prior to dicing.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method includes the formation of a write pole over a substrate. A non-magnetic side gap layer is deposited and an ion milling is used to remove a portion of the substrate to lower the floor of the substrate. A sacrificial fill layer can then be deposited. A chemical mechanical polishing process can be used to remove the mask structure remaining as a remnant of the formation of the write pole, and then the sacrificial fill layer can be removed. A non-magnetic, electrically conductive material can be deposited to form a tailing gap, an a magnetic material can then be deposited to form a wrap around trailing shield.

Abstract: A slider separating method includes bonding a row bar containing a plurality of slider-forming portions to a bonding surface of a cutting fixture along a side surface that extends in its length direction; cutting the row bar bonded on the cutting fixture into individual sliders along cutting gaps provided between the slider-forming portions; decreasing bonding force between each diced slider and the bonding surface; and separating the sliders with decreased bonding force from the cutting fixture by pushing each slider along a side direction being parallel to the bonding surface and perpendicular to the length direction and holding and receiving the slider to a slider tray having recesses formed therein which is partitioned according to the sliders. The method can reliably and efficiently separate a row bar containing a plurality of slider-forming portions into individual sliders without depending upon size or arrangement pitch of the sliders and hold these sliders.

Abstract: Methods for forming write heads. One method includes forming a mask layer above a pole tip layer; forming a layer of resist above the mask layer; patterning the resist; removing portions of the mask layer not covered by the patterned resist; shaping a pole tip from the pole tip layer; depositing a layer of dielectric material above the pole tip and flux shaping layer, wherein the layer of dielectric material extends about adjacent to the mask layer; depositing a stop layer over the dielectric material, the stop layer abutting the mask layer; and polishing for forming a substantially planar upper surface comprising the mask layer and stop layer. Another method includes depositing a layer of dielectric material at least adjacent the pole tip, wherein the layer of dielectric material extends about adjacent to the mask layer. A further method includes forming dishing in the pole tip.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic write head having a notched, self aligned trailing shield for canting a magnetic field emitted therefrom.

Abstract: A high performance hard disk drive is disclosed in which a flying read/write head runs in contact or in near contact with a rotating platter. In this design there is no wear of the hard disk platter or flying head due to both head and platter being coated with an amorphous carbon that has an exceptionally low coefficient of friction in a sealed, inert gas environment. The overcoat contains carbon in the range between about 52 and 80 atomic percent and hydrogen in the range between about 20 to 48 atomic percent. There is no lubricant required in this design, which eliminates a significant cause of hard drive failure from oxidation of the lubricant, stiction and rippling of the lubricant. This contact method achieves a high areal density with no wear, within a robust, hermetically sealed environment.

Abstract: A method for measuring recession in a wafer undergoing an asymmetrical ion mill process. The method includes the formation of first and second reference features and possibly a dummy feature. The reference features are constructed such that the location of the midpoint between them is unaffected by the asymmetrical ion mill. By measuring the distance between a portion of the dummy feature and the midpoint between the reference features, the amount of recession of the dummy feature can be measured. The measurement can be used to calculate the relative location of the flare to the read sensor rear edge through overlay information. By keeping the angles of the sides of the features steep (ie. nearly parallel with the direction in which the ion mill is asymmetrical) the amount of material consumed on each of the reference features is substantially equal and the midpoint between the reference features is substantially stationary.

Abstract: A system and method for providing corrosion protection for a magnetic read/write head is disclosed. A monolayer surface coating is applied to cover those portions of the under layer of a magnetic read/write head not already covered by a previously applied diamond-like coating. This allows for a thinner diamond like coating than previously applied in the art. The monolayer surface coating can be a self-assembled monolayer, such as an organosilicon for hydroxylated surfaces or carboxylic acids for aluminum or other metal oxides. Alternatively, the monolayer surface coating can be directly applied to the under layer with no diamond-like coating being present. The monolayer surface coating can be applied by a surface immersion process or by a vacuum coating process.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; at least one transducer formed above the substrate, the at least one transducer being selected from a group consisting of a reader and a writer; an overcoat portion formed above the at least one transducer; and a wear resistant portion formed between the overcoat portion and a media-proximal surface of the magnetic head, the wear resistant portion being formed of a material having a greater resistance to media wear than a material from which the overcoat portion is formed.

Abstract: A method of forming a perpendicular magnetic recording write head having a trailing shield (TS) with a precisely defined throat height (TH) on an air-bearing slider includes depositing an electrical lapping guide (ELG) layer on the substrate adjacent to and spaced from the write pole (WP) layer. A nonmagnetic TS pad layer is deposited on both the gap layer and the ELG layer, with the TS pad layer patterned to have a front edge extending across the both the ELG layer and the gap layer and recessed from the line where the substrate will be later cut to form the slider. An ELG protection layer is patterned on the ELG layer, the TS pad layer material is removed from the ELG layer in the region recessed from the TS pad layer front edge, and the ELG layer is removed in regions not covered by the ELG protection layer.

Abstract: Biasing schemes used for CIP GMR devices were previously thought to be impractical for CPP devices due to current shunting by the abutted hard magnets. In the present invention the CPP stripe is a narrow conductor directly above the free layer. The resistivity of the latter is made to be relatively high so the sensing current diverges very little as it passes through it. This makes it possible to use abutted hard magnets for longitudinal bias with virtually no loss of sensing current due to shunting by the magnets.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a pole for a magnetic recording head. The method and system include providing an insulator and fabricating at least one hard mask on the insulator. The at least one hard mask has an aperture therein. The method and system also include removing a portion of the insulator to form a trench within the insulator. The trench is formed under the aperture. The method and system further include depositing at least one ferromagnetic material. The pole includes a portion of the ferromagnetic material within the trench.

Abstract: A perpendicular write head including a main pole and a trailing shield, the main pole being made of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer as hard mask and a rhodium (Rh) layer as shield gap, both DLC and Rh layers being CMP stop layers so as to avoid corner rounding and damage from chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process, the DLC layer being removed by reactive ion etching (RIE) to create a trench, the trailing shield being deposited into the trench for self alignment.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a first module having a tape bearing surface; a second module having a tape bearing surface; and a third module having a tape bearing surface, the third module being positioned on an opposite side of the second module than the first module, wherein the tape bearing surface of the first module is substantially parallel to a tape oriented at a desired wrap angle relative to the tape bearing surface of the second module at an edge of the tape bearing surface of the second module closest to the first module, wherein writing and reading functions are performed by different modules at a given time.

Abstract: A transducer having an external contact surface includes a writer and a contact member. The writer has a portion extendable beyond the external contact surface. The contact member surrounds at least a portion of the extendable writer portion.

Abstract: A magnetic write transducer includes a yoke having a lower pole portion, an upper pole portion, and a First bobbin portion; a first coil turn wrapped around the first bobbin portion of the yoke in a first plane; a second coil turn wrapped around the first bobbin portion of the yoke in a second plane above the first plane; a third coil turn wrapped around the First bobbin portion of the yoke in a third plane above the second plane; and a fourth coil turn wrapped around the first bobbin portion of the yoke in a fourth plane above the third plane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a perpendicular recording magnetic head. A perpendicular recording element includes a main magnetic pole film for emitting a perpendicular magnetic field and is supported by a slider. The main magnetic pole film includes an electrode film and a plated film, the electrode film is an alloy film of at least one element selected from the platinum group and Ni, and the plated film is a magnetic film grown on the electrode film.

Abstract: A magnetic head incorporates: a medium facing surface; a coil; a pole layer; first and second shields disposed to sandwich the pole layer therebetween; a first gap layer disposed between the first shield and the pole layer; a second gap layer disposed between the second shield and the pole layer; and a substrate. The first shield is located closer to the substrate than the second shield. The first shield has a first layer and a second layer disposed between the first layer and the first gap layer.

Abstract: A method of forming interleaved coils of a write head is disclosed using a combination of non-damascene and damascene processes.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer and an auxiliary yoke layer that overlaps the main magnetic pole layer as viewed in a top view and is magnetically coupled to the main magnetic pole layer. The main magnetic pole layer includes a pole straight part exposed to an opposing surface opposite a recording medium, and a flared part that extends from the pole straight part in a height direction, the flared part broadening in a track width direction as the flared part extends in the height direction. The auxiliary yoke layer includes a flared part that extends from the recording medium-opposing surface, the flared part broadening in the track width direction as the flared part extends in the height direction. The flared part of the auxiliary yoke layer is disposed at a position located closer to the rear side in the height direction than the flared part of the main magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A method using a CMP resistant hardmask in a process of fabricating a pole piece for a magnetic head is described. A set of layers used as the mask for milling the pole piece preferably includes a CMP resistant hardmask of silicon dioxide, a resist hardmask, an upper hardmask and a photoresist mask respectively. A multi-step reactive-ion etching (RIE) process is preferably used to sequentially remove the excess materials in the layer stack to ultimately define the multilayer mask for the pole piece. The excess pole piece material is then milled away. The wafer is then refilled with a nonmagnetic material such as alumina. A CMP liftoff is used to remove the resist hardmask. The material for the CMP resistant hardmask is selected to have a high resistance to the CMP liftoff process in comparison to the refill material. The CMP resistant hardmask is preferably then removed by a RIE process.

Abstract: A method for forming a protective bilayer on a magnetic read/write head or magnetic disk. The bilayer is formed as an adhesion enhancing and corrosion resistant underlayer and a protective diamond-like carbon (DLC) overlayer. The underlayer is formed of transition metal oxynitride, having the general formula MeOxNy, where Me represents a single element or an alloy formed with two or more of the following transition metal elements: Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, and W, here x can be within the range between 0 and 3 and y is in the range between approximately 0 and 2 By adjusting the values of x and y the adhesion underlayer contributes to such qualities of the protective bilayer as stress compensation, chemical and mechanical stability and low electrical conductivity. Various methods of forming the adhesion layer are provided, including reactive ion sputtering, plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition and plasma immersion ion implantation.

Abstract: A CPP thin-film magnetic head includes a bottom shield layer; a top shield layer, the bottom shield layer and the top shield layer being disposed at a predetermined interval; a thin-film magnetic head element between the bottom shield layer and the top shield layer; an insulating layer behind the thin-film magnetic head element in the height direction and disposed between the bottom shield layer and the top shield layer; and a metal layer in the insulating layer, the top shield layer including a first top shield sublayer on the thin-film magnetic head element; and a second top shield sublayer behind the first top shield sublayer in the height direction, the second top shield sublayer and the bottom shield layer being conductively connected through the metal layer, wherein a current flows in the direction orthogonal to a surface of a layer constituting the thin-film magnetic head element.

Abstract: Disclosed is a perpendicular recording head for a hard disk drive. The perpendicular recording head includes a yoke that has a plurality of grooves essentially perpendicular to a magnetic flux that flows in a vertical direction relative to the yoke.

Abstract: A read and/or write head for a tape drive system has a tape bearing surface that includes relatively smooth areas surrounded by relatively rough areas. Read and/or write elements are located in the smooth areas.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic head that can sustain favorable head contact even when magnetic tapes having different thicknesses are used. A magnetic head has a sliding surface coming in contact with a moving magnetic tape. An electromagnetic transducing element is disposed in the sliding surface. First edges are formed at each end of the sliding surface in the direction of movement of the magnetic tape. Second edges are formed in positions extended in the direction of movement of the magnetic tape from each end of the sliding surface and come in contact with the magnetic tape.

Abstract: This invention describes a manufacturable method, including a CMP liftoff process, for removing masking materials after ion milling for fabricating the write pole of a magnetic head. Significant parameters for the CMP assisted liftoff process include the thickness of the remaining mask materials after the write pole ion milling for effective CMP assisted liftoff, the thickness of the dielectric fill material deposited to protect the write pole during the CMP liftoff step, and the type of CMP slurry, polishing pad and the polishing conditions that are required to yield satisfactory results.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a thin-film magnetic head whereby re-deposition and an overlapped part in a region of a magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure opposite to an air bearing surface can be removed and also a width of a free layer can be narrowed.

Abstract: A method for forming a P3 layer with NiFe and alumina mask using resist shrink process for use in perpendicular magnetic write heads. The method includes forming a laminated layer, forming an alumina layer on top of the laminated layer, depositing a conductive layer onto the laminated layer, forming a plating frame on a gap layer. The plating frame has a trench defined by plating track, the alumina, laminated and conductive layers each including an area below the trench. The method further includes shrinking the trench, plating NiFe into a portion of the shrunk trench, stripping the plating frame, removing the conductive layer except the conductive layer formed below the trench, removing the alumina layer except the alumina layer formed below the trench, removing the laminated layer except the laminated layer formed below the trench and patterning the laminated layer formed below the trench.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic head is disclosed, including perpendicular magnetic recording head includes forming a primary magnetic pole having a flat top surface, where a shield layer over the primary magnetic pole and at the sides of the primary magnetic pole is formed in a single piece. The distance in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction between the side surfaces of the primary magnetic pole and the side shield layer is longer than the distance in the thickness direction between the top surface of the primary magnetic pole and the shield layer.

Abstract: A slider mounted CPP GMR or TMR read head sensor is protected from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage and from noise and cross-talk from an adjacent write head by means of a balanced resistive/capacitative shunt. The shunt includes highly resistive interconnections between upper and lower shields of the read head and a grounded slider substrate and a low resistance interconnection between the lower pole piece of the write head and the substrate. The capacitances between the pole piece and the upper shield, the upper shield and the lower shield and the lower shield and the substrate are made equal by either forming the shields and pole piece with equal surface areas and separating them with dielectrics of equal thicknesses, or by keeping the ratio of area to insulator thicknesses equal.