Accessory Feature Patents (Class 360/125.3)
  • Patent number: 9824701
    Abstract: A microwave assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole; a trailing shield; and a spin torque oscillator provided between the main magnetic pole and the trailing shield. The spin torque oscillator has a first end surface configuring a part of an air bearing surface, a second end surface facing the main magnetic pole, and a third end surface facing the first end surface, the first angle ?1 made by the first end surface and the second end surface is smaller than the second angle ?2 formed by the second end surface and the third end surface, and the second angle ?2 is 80 to 100 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenyao Tang, Tetsuya Roppongi, Yoshikazu Soeno, Hironobu Matsuzawa, Hirokazu Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9799369
    Abstract: A magnetic recording system for preventing data loss resulting magnetic oscillator current. The magnetic recording system includes a magnetic write head with a magnetic write pole, a magnetic oscillator near the magnetic write pole, and a write coil for magnetizing the write pole. Circuitry is connected with the magnetic write coil to supply a current to the write coil and connected with the magnetic oscillator to supply a current to the magnetic oscillator. The circuitry is configured to ensure that the current to the magnetic oscillator does not inadvertently magnetize the write pole after the magnetic write pole has demagnetized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Satoshi Tabata, Atsushi Yamada, Michiya Kazusawa, Masato Shiimoto
  • Patent number: 9792930
    Abstract: A microwave-assisted magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole, an auxiliary magnetic pole facing the main magnetic pole with a gap therebetween, and a stacked-layer element disposed in the gap. The stacked-layer element includes, in the order from the main magnetic pole to the auxiliary magnetic pole, a thermal spin injection layer that is formed on the main magnetic pole, exchange-coupled with the main magnetic pole, and formed of a magnetic material of which spin-dependent Seebeck coefficient is negative, a first non-magnetic layer formed on the thermal spin injection layer, an oscillation layer formed on the first non-magnetic layer, a second non-magnetic layer formed on the oscillation layer, and a spin injection layer formed on the second non-magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mariko Shimizu, Katsuhiko Koui, Shuichi Murakami
  • Patent number: 9761633
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a magnetic film structure is provided. The method comprises forming a magnetic structure on a bottom electrode layer, the magnetic structure comprising at least one pinned bottom magnetic film layer having a fixed magnetic orientation; at least one top magnetic film layer whose magnetic orientation can be manipulated by a current; and a tunneling layer between the bottom magnetic film layer and the top magnetic film layer; forming a metallic hard mask atop the magnetic structure; patterning and etching the metallic hard mask to define exposed areas of the magnetic structure; selectively etching the exposed areas of the magnetic structure by a chemical etch process based on a CO etch chemistry to form discrete magnetic bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: III HOLDINGS 1, LLC
    Inventors: Krishnakumar Mani, Benjamin Chen
  • Patent number: 9728209
    Abstract: A near-field transducer includes first and second stacked base portions having a common outline shape. The second base portion is proximate alight delivery structure. A peg extends from the first base portion towards a media-facing surface. The peg includes a material that is more thermally robust than a plasmonic material of the base portion. The peg has a peg thickness that is less than a thickness of the first base portion. The first base portion has a first recess proximate the peg. The first recess separates the first base portion from the media-facing surface and exposes at least a top side of the peg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Weibin Chen, Martin Blaber, Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, John Charles Duda
  • Patent number: 9721592
    Abstract: This perpendicular magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole; a pair of side shields disposed to face each other with the magnetic pole interposed therebetween in a cross track direction; a pair of side gaps each provided between the magnetic pole and the pair of side shields; a trailing gap provided to cover the magnetic pole and the pair of side gaps, and having a first width in the cross track direction; and a first magnetic layer covering the trailing gap and having a second width larger than the first width in the cross track direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kei Hirata, Shingo Miyata
  • Patent number: 9721604
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording writer is disclosed with a side shield separated from a write pole side by a gap layer at an air bearing surface (ABS) where the side shield has a first sidewall facing the write pole with an end at height (h1) from the ABS, and a second sidewall at height h1 that is parallel to the ABS. The write pole side is curved such that a first portion proximate to the ABS is at an angle of 0 to 40 degrees with respect to a center plane formed orthogonal to the ABS, and a second section proximate to a corner where the curved side connects with a flared main pole side is formed substantially parallel to the second sidewall. When h1 is 30-80 nm, and the corner is 80-150 nm from the ABS, overwrite is improved while cross-track field gradient is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuhui Tang, Yaguang Wei, Jiun-Ting Lee, Ping-Wei Zhuang
  • Patent number: 9704510
    Abstract: A data writer can have at least a write pole separated from first and second side shields by a continuous dielectric gap layer. Each side shield may have first and second shield sub-layers configured with different magnetic moments that increase relative to the sub-layer's distance from the write pole. The side shields may wrap around a leading tip of the write pole to form a box shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Lei Lu, Kirill Rivkin, Xuelian Xu, Huaqing Yin
  • Patent number: 9704552
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus includes a spin-torque oscillator, a recording unit, and a controller. The spin-torque oscillator includes an oscillation layer. The recording unit includes at least one recording layer. Magnetization reversal in each recording layer is performed by excitation of cooperative dynamics between magnetization of the oscillation layer and magnetization of the recording layer. The controller controls precession of the magnetization of the oscillation layer, which is induced by application of an electric current to the spin-torque oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kiwamu Kudo, Tazumi Nagasawa, Hirofumi Suto, Koichi Mizushima, Rie Sato
  • Patent number: 9653100
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The coil includes a coil element located on the trailing side of the main pole. The coil element has a front end face facing toward the medium facing surface. The return path section includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate film interposed between the first portion and the second portion. Part of the first portion is interposed between the medium facing surface and the front end face of the coil element. Part of the second portion is interposed between the first portion and the front end face of the coil element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Kazuki Sato, Shigeki Tanemura, Yukinori Ikegawa, Kenichi Takano
  • Patent number: 9595917
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a polarizer, a first free layer, a second free layer, and an antiferromagnetic (AF) coupling layer. The polarizer has a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). The polarizer, the first free layer, the second free layer, and the AF coupling layer are included in a spin-torque oscillator (STO). The AF coupling layer is positioned between the first free layer and the second free layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated
    Inventors: Jimmy Kan, Kangho Lee, Seung Hyuk Kang
  • Patent number: 9589581
    Abstract: A microwave-assisted magnetic recording head according to an embodiment includes: a magnetic pole; a magnetic shield including a first portion and a second portion connecting to the first portion, a gap being present between the first portion and the magnetic pole; a recording coil disposed to at least one of the magnetic pole and the magnetic shield; and a spin torque oscillator including a nonmagnetic intermediate layer extending within and outside the gap, an oscillation layer disposed on a portion of the nonmagnetic intermediate layer in the gap, and a spin injection layer in which a magnetization direction is pinned and which is disposed on a portion of the nonmagnetic intermediate layer outside the gap so as to be separated from the oscillation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Takagishi, Hitoshi Iwasaki, Kenichiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9583134
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head. The magnetic recording medium includes a first track including a first sub-track extending along a first direction, and a second sub-track extending along the first direction. The second sub-track is arranged with the first sub-track in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The magnetic head includes a recording unit and a reproducing unit. The recording unit records information in the magnetic recording medium. The reproducing unit reproduces the information recorded in the magnetic recording medium. The recording unit includes a magnetic pole, a write shield separated from the magnetic pole in the first direction, and a side shield separated from the magnetic pole in the second direction. The reproducing unit includes a reproducing element having a reproducing width along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichiro Yamada, Masayuki Takagishi, Tomoyuki Maeda, Yousuke Isowaki, Shuichi Murakami, Naoyuki Narita, Yasushi Tomizawa
  • Patent number: 9502053
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, and a gap section. The write shield includes a trailing shield. The trailing shield includes a first portion, a second portion, a third portion and a fourth portion. The second portion and the third portion are located on opposite sides of the first portion in the track width direction. Top surfaces of the first to third portions are coplanar with each other. The fourth portion lies on the top surfaces of the first to third portions. The first portion is higher in saturation flux density than the second to fourth portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: HEADWAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Kazuki Sato, Shigeki Tanemura, Yukinori Ikegawa, Kazumasa Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9378756
    Abstract: An example magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic recording head and a signal processor. The magnetic recording head includes a first magnetic pole to apply a recording magnetic field to the magnetic recording medium; a spin torque oscillator arranged parallel to the first magnetic pole; and a first coil to magnetize the first magnetic pole. The signal processor writes and reads a signal on the magnetic recording medium by using the magnetic recording head and includes a first current circuit to supply a recording current to the first coil, the recording current including a recording signal to be recorded on the magnetic recording medium. The recording current includes either one of a signal changing at a frequency higher than that of the recording signal, and a signal having the same frequency as the recording signal and changing an absolute value thereof in one cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichiro Yamada, Hitoshi Iwasaki, Masayuki Takagishi
  • Patent number: 9355659
    Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole in which a recording magnetic field is generated, a write shield magnetic pole disposed alongside the main magnetic pole with a gap therebetween, a spin torque oscillator disposed within the gap and configured to generate a microwave, an anti-ferromagnetic layer disposed within the gap between the write shield magnetic pole and the spin torque oscillator, and a non-magnetic metal layer disposed within the gap between the spin torque oscillator and the anti-ferromagnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Koui, Mariko Shimizu, Shuichi Murakami, Kenichiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 9355657
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing spin-torque oscillator (STO) erasure prevention for microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) hard disk drives (HDDs). A first voltage is applied to an STO element in the MAMR head at the time of write operation. A second voltage is applied to the STO element at the time of read operation, or not write operation, to prevent STO erasure otherwise resulting from remnant magnetization of STO at the time of read operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Jun Aoyama, Masato Shiimoto
  • Patent number: 9343087
    Abstract: A method manufacturing a magnetic writer provides an intermediate layer including multiple sublayers is provided. The sublayers include first and second nonmagnetic layers and an etch stop layer being between the first and second nonmagnetic layers. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer using at least one etch, such as a reactive ion etch. The trench has a location and profile corresponding to the main pole. A main pole having a bottom and a top is provided in the trench. At least a portion of the second nonmagnetic layer is removed using at least a second etch, such as a wet etch process. The etch stop layer is resistant to the at least the second etch. A half side shield is provided on at least part of the first nonmagnetic layer. The half side shield bottom is between the top and the bottom of the main pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Ronghui Zhou, Xiaoyu Yang, Ming Jiang, Jinqiu Zhang
  • Patent number: 9311934
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a MAMR head. The MAMR head includes an STO and a current switching system electrically coupled to the STO. The current switching system can be used to optimize the STO frequency by changing the STO bias polarity, i.e., by changing the direction of the current flowing to the STO. As a result, the difference between the STO frequency and the magnetic media frequency is minimized, which improves recording capability of the MAMR head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masato Shiimoto, Masashige Sato, Masukazu Igarashi, Yo Sato, Masato Matsubara
  • Patent number: 9305586
    Abstract: A magnetic head, according to one embodiment, includes a magnetized high-speed rotor placed in the vicinity of a main magnetic pole, wherein the main magnetic pole generates a magnetized rotating magnetic field, wherein information is recorded by generating a high-frequency magnetic field from the magnetized high-speed rotor and switching the magnetic head between a magnetic resonance state and a magnetization state, and wherein the magnetic head has a structure such that leaking is reduced for magnetic fields applied parallel to a magnetized rotating surface of the magnetized high-speed rotor from the main magnetic pole. Additional systems and methods are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masafumi Mochizuki, Masukazu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9299367
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer is disclosed wherein a 19-24 kG hot seed layer is formed between a gap layer and a 10-19 kG magnetic layer in a partially wrapped around shield structure involving side shields and trailing shield to reduce internal flux shunting, improve writability, and enable side gap and write gap dimensions 5-10 nm smaller than typical writers for conventional and shingled magnetic recording. Side shields have a bottom surface formed along a plane that is parallel to the main pole leading edge, and at a down-track distance from 50 nm above to 100 nm below the leading edge. Cross-track and down-track field gradients are improved by fully coupling the trailing shield and side shield hot seed layers. Also, side shield hot seed layers have a height <0.15 micron and less than the 10-19 kG side shield layer height to reduce internal flux shunting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: YuHui Tang, Yaguang Wei, Yue Liu, Jiun-Ting Lee, Moris Dovek
  • Patent number: 9299366
    Abstract: A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium including a recording layer in which at least two magnetic layers are layered on a non-magnetic substrate; and a magnetic head including a main magnetic pole for applying a recording magnetic field in a direction substantially perpendicular to a recording face of the magnetic recording medium and a microwave generating element that generates a microwave magnetic field. The relationship between a thickness Ts of a magnetic layer having a lowest magnetic anisotropy energy among the at least two magnetic layers composing the recording layer of the magnetic recording medium, and a thickness Tt of the recording layer is Ts/Tt?0.2. The microwave generating element applies the microwave magnetic field having a width broader than the width of the recording magnetic field generated by the main magnetic pole of the magnetic head to the magnetic recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tsutomu Aoyama, Akimasa Kaizu, Tetsuhito Shinohara, Yoshikazu Soeno
  • Patent number: 9230569
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole positioned configured to generate a writing magnetic field when current is applied to a write coil, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) located adjacent the main magnetic pole, the STO being configured to generate a high frequency magnetic field when current is applied thereto, wherein the high frequency magnetic field is generated simultaneously to the writing magnetic field to assist in reversing magnetization of a magnetic recording medium. The STO includes: a spin polarization layer (SPL), a field generation layer (FGL) positioned adjacent the SPL, and one or more interlayers positioned between the SPL and the FGL, and a magnetization easy axis of the SPL is positioned in an in-plane direction such that the SPL has no perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masato Shimoto, Masukazu Igarashi, Keiichi Nagasaka, Yo Sato, Susumu Okamura, Masashige Sato
  • Patent number: 9218824
    Abstract: A data writer may be generally configured at least with a write pole that has a pole sidewall and a continuous first taper angle connecting leading and trailing edges. The write pole can be positioned adjacent to a side shield that is configured with first and second shield sidewalls tapered to a shield tip that is the closest point between the write pole and side shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Eric Shane Linville, Jianhua Xue, Eric Roger Meloche, Huaqing Yin, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 9202491
    Abstract: An apparatus (e.g., a heat assisted magnetic recording read/write element) that has an optical component that extends to a location adjacent a media-facing surface of a slider body. The apparatus further includes a planar plasmon antenna that is disposed between the tip portion of the magnetic write pole and the optical component. The planar plasmon antenna can be formed of a plasmonic material operationally capable of a plasmonic excitation in response to an evanescent coupling with an optical mode of the optical component. In some instances, the planar plasmon antenna includes an enlarged region spaced from the optical component and a peg region formed in the enlarged region. The peg region has a thickness in a direction substantially transverse to the optical component that is less than a thickness of a portion of the enlarged region that spaces the peg region from the optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Weibin Chen, Werner Scholz
  • Patent number: 9183855
    Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole that generates a recording magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a recording layer, a write shield with a surface that faces a trailing side of the main magnetic pole, so that a write gap is interposed between the surface and the main magnetic pole, the write shield forming a magnetic core together with the main magnetic pole, a recording coil, a high frequency oscillator within the write gap, a wiring through which a current can flow through the main magnetic pole, the high frequency oscillator, and the write shield in series, and a magnetic element made of soft magnetic material, positioned within the write gap and separated from the high frequency oscillator, and configured to form a magnetic path passing through the main magnetic pole, the magnetic element, and the write shield, and not through the high frequency oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomoko Taguchi
  • Patent number: 9159342
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a magnetic recording apparatus includes following elements. The spin torque oscillator generates a first oscillating magnetic field. The recording medium unit includes one or more recording medium layers which are stacked, each of the one or more recording medium layers including a recording medium and spin-wave lines each of which generates a second oscillating magnetic field. The write magnetic field source generates a write magnetic field. The controller is configured to control the spin torque oscillator, the spin-wave lines, and the write magnetic field source to simultaneously apply the write magnetic field, and the first and second oscillating magnetic fields to target medium magnetization in the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kiwamu Kudo, Tazumi Nagasawa, Hirofumi Suto, Tao Yang, Koichi Mizushima, Rie Sato
  • Patent number: 9147411
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording and reproducing device includes magnetic recording medium and a magnetic head. The magnetic recording medium includes a first surface. A plurality of bits is provided in the first surface. Each of the bits has a direction of magnetization corresponding to recorded information. The magnetic head includes a reproducing unit. The reproducing unit senses the direction of magnetization. The reproducing unit includes a first shield, a second shield, a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, a third magnetic layer, a fourth magnetic layer, an intermediate layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, and a second nonmagnetic layer. The first and the second nonmagnetic layers include at least one selected from ruthenium, copper, and tantalum. A distance between the first shield and the second shield is not less than 3 times and not more than 7 times a length of each of the bits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masayuki Takagishi, Hitoshi Iwasaki, Kenichiro Yamada, Yousuke Isowaki, Kohsuke Harada
  • Patent number: 9111550
    Abstract: A write transducer for a disk drive magnetic head includes a ferromagnetic write yoke having a write pole protruding towards an air bearing surface. The write transducer also includes a ferromagnetic side shield, and a ferromagnetic buffer layer disposed between the write yoke and the side shield. A first non-magnetic layer is disposed between the side shield and the ferromagnetic buffer layer. A second non-magnetic layer is disposed between the ferromagnetic buffer layer and the write yoke. The ferromagnetic buffer layer extends in a direction normal to the air bearing surface by a buffer layer throat height in the range of 10 nm to 500 nm. In certain embodiments, such a write transducer may advantageously reduce undesired wide area track erasure, without unacceptably degrading write field rise time for acceptable on-track writing data rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liu, Zhanjie Li
  • Patent number: 9099102
    Abstract: Approaches to improving the signal-to-noise ratio in a microwave-assisted magnetic recording hard disk drive over the entire region from the inner diameter to the outer diameter of the disk, especially in the context of shingled magnetic recording, include a narrower side gap on the side opposing a spin torque oscillator offset direction than the side gap in the offset direction, thereby increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction and reducing the track edge noise of the recording pattern. Embodiments include use of a side shield on the side opposing the offset direction that has a higher saturation magnetization than the side shield on the side in the offset direction, thereby further increasing the gradient of the recording magnetic field in the cross-track direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Katada, Masato Shiimoto, Maki Maeda
  • Patent number: 9087533
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a spin torque oscillator formed between a main magnetic pole and auxiliary magnetic pole. The spin torque oscillator includes a transmission-type spin transfer layer, first interlayer, oscillation layer, second interlayer, and reflection-type spin transfer layer. The transmission-type spin transfer layer includes a first perpendicular magnetization film and first interface magnetic layer. The first interface magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one element selected from Cr, V, Mn, Ti, and Sc. The reflection-type spin transfer layer includes a second perpendicular magnetization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mariko Shimizu, Katsuhiko Koui, Shuichi Murakami, Hiromi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9087532
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a spin torque oscillator formed between a main magnetic pole and auxiliary magnetic pole. The spin torque oscillator includes a transmission-type spin transfer layer, first interlayer, oscillation layer, second interlayer, and reflection-type spin transfer layer. The transmission-type spin transfer layer includes a first perpendicular magnetization film and first interface magnetic layer. The first interface magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one element selected from Cr, V, Mn, Ti, and Sc. The reflection-type spin transfer layer includes a second perpendicular magnetization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Mariko Shimizu, Katsuhiko Koui, Shuichi Murakami, Hiromi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9082434
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to a magnetic read head wherein read sensitivity distribution is made asymmetric in the off-track direction. The method of making the magnetic head is also disclosed. The read head may comprise a magneto-resistive effect element with an asymmetric structure around the element in the off-track direction and the read sensitivity profile in the off-track direction may also be asymmetric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: HGST NETHERLANDS B.V.
    Inventors: Jun Aoyama, Hiroyuki Katada, Masato Shiimoto, Mikito Sugiyama, Yosuke Urakami
  • Publication number: 20150138672
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a trailing shield opposed to the main pole with a write gap therebetween, and a high-frequency oscillator between the main pole and the trailing shield in a range of a width of the main pole in a track width direction, and configured to generate a high-frequency magnetic field. The high-frequency oscillator includes a spin injection layer, an intermediate layer, and an oscillation layer, and at least the oscillation layer comprises divided oscillation regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Kenichiro YAMADA, Katsuhiko KOUI
  • Patent number: 9036299
    Abstract: Approaches to improving hard disk drive far track interference problems include utilizing a wrap-around shield having recessed high magnetic moment layer(s). Embodiments include tapering the high-moment portion away from the air bearing surface (ABS) in the cross-track direction away from the write pole, thereby reducing exposure of high moment layers at the ABS to reduce the risk of unwanted track erasure away from the main pole. Embodiments include positioning the high magnetic moment layers in their entirety away from the ABS, such as with a laminate structure of high magnetic moment and low magnetic moment materials laid down in a direction away from the pole tip trailing edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Venkatesh Chembrolu
  • Patent number: 9030777
    Abstract: A spin torque oscillator generates a strong high-frequency magnetic field stably and has high reliability. A magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole and a spin torque oscillator. A magnetization control layer is antiferromagnetically coupled via a non-magnetic coupling layer with an interface contacting a high-frequency magnetic field generation layer of the spin torque oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yo Sato
  • Patent number: 9019660
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole configured to apply a recording magnetic field to a recording layer of a recording medium, a spin torque oscillator adjacent to the main magnetic pole in a vicinity of a disk-facing surface confronting the recording medium, a recording coil configured to excite the main magnetic pole, a recording current control circuit configured to supply a recording current to the recording coil, a constant current supply circuit configured to supply a constant current to the spin torque oscillator, and an inverted current supply circuit configured to supply an inverted current having a polarity different from the constant current to the spin torque oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Tomomi Funayama
  • Patent number: 9013830
    Abstract: A PMR writer is disclosed that includes a recessed center section in the write pole trailing edge and a center recessed trailing shield to improve the field gradient at track edge. In all embodiments, there is a non-uniform write gap between the trailing edge and the trailing shield. The recessed portion of the write pole trailing edge and/or center recess of the trailing shield has a thickness from 10 to 40 nm in a down-track direction and a width in a cross-track direction of 20 to 200 nm. The distance between the center recess and a corner of the trailing edge is from 20 to 80 nm. A sequence of steps is provided to fabricate the two embodiments of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lijie Guan
  • Patent number: 9013837
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive element according to an embodiment includes: a magnetoresistance effect film including: a first magnetic film; a second magnetic film; and an intermediate film of a nonmagnetic material disposed between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film, at least one of the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film being formed of a material expressed as AxB1?x(65 at %?x?85 at %) where A is an alloy containing Co and at least one element selected from Fe and Mn, and B is an alloy containing Si or Ge, a Si concentration in the at least one of the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film decreasing and a Ge concentration increasing as a distance from the intermediate film increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Naoki Hase, Masayuki Takagishi, Susumu Hashimoto, Shuichi Murakami, Yousuke Isowaki, Masaki Kado, Hitoshi Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 9007721
    Abstract: A spin torque oscillator is provided which is adapted to high data transfer rates and which can perform assisted magnetic recording of sufficient magnitude. A spin torque oscillator is provided with a stacked spin injection layer and a high frequency magnetic field generation layer. The stacked spin injection layer has a stacked structure in which a first magnetic layer, a coupling layer, and a second magnetic layer are stacked in the order mentioned from a far side as viewed from the high frequency magnetic field generation layer. Magnetization of the first magnetic layer and magnetization of the second magnetic layer are coupled antiparallel to each other. A polarity of the magnetization of the second magnetic layer is reversed temporally earlier than a magnetic field polarity reversal of a leakage magnetic field from the main magnetic pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yo Sato, Katsuro Watanabe, Keizou Katou, Masukazu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9007722
    Abstract: To uniformly determine the positional relationship between a main magnetic pole and a spin torque oscillator while independently optimizing the main magnetic pole and the spin torque oscillator. On a trailing end surface of a main magnetic pole, a step is provided at the boundary between the main magnetic pole and a gap material disposed on both sides thereof, and a spin torque oscillator is formed on the step. The spin torque oscillator is effectively separated into two regions by utilizing the step. Further, a part of the spin torque oscillator is removed so as to disable the unwanted region, thereby realizing a self-alignment type high frequency magnetic field assisted magnetic recording head structure such that the positions of the end portions of the main magnetic pole and the spin torque oscillator are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichiro Shimizu, Kikuo Kusukawa, Yo Sato, Masukazu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 9007723
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) head includes a main pole configured to write data to a magnetic medium using a write magnetic field, a write coil, wherein the write magnetic field is produced by the main pole upon a recording current, Iw, being provided to the write coil, and a spin torque oscillator (STO) positioned near the main pole, the STO being configured to provide a high-frequency assistance magnetic field to the magnetic medium upon a STO drive current, ISTO, being provided to the STO, wherein the STO drive current, ISTO, is ramped-up prior to the recording current, Iw, being provided to the write coil in order to begin a write operation for writing data to the magnetic medium. A method of operation for the MAMR head and an apparatus including the MAMR head are also described according to additional embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masukazu Igarashi, Masato Shiimoto, Masato Matsubara, Yo Sato, Kenji Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9007724
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to the data storage field and hard disk drives (HDD) using microwave assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) technology. Aspects of the preferred embodiments are to prevent the breakdown of spin torque oscillators (STO) due to large amounts of current flowing through the STO during head/disk contact. A magnetic head slider is disposed above and spaced apart from a disk. A STO is formed on a section of the magnetic head slider. Two electrodes are coupled to the STO, and one electrode has a higher potential than the other electrode. A preamplifier is adapted to send a current through the two electrodes, resulting in the higher potential electrode protruding closer to the disk than the lower potential electrode. Current then flows from one electrode to the disk without flowing through the STO, and breakdown of the STO is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Masaru Furukawa, Junguo Xu, Masato Shiimoto, Jianhua Li
  • Patent number: 9007720
    Abstract: A magnetic recording device includes: a magnetic recording medium containing a plurality of recording layers; a magnetic recording head for conducting magnetic writing of information in the magnetic recording medium; and a magnetic reproducing head for conducting magnetic reading out of the information from the magnetic recording medium; wherein the magnetic recording head includes a high frequency oscillator for magnetically assisting the magnetic writing of the information so as to change a magnetization of at least one of the plurality of recording layers of the magnetic recording medium, thereby recording a plurality of information different from one another in the magnetic recording medium commensurate with a total amount of magnetization of the plurality of recording layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hideaki Fukuzawa, Hiromi Yuasa
  • Patent number: 9001465
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a MAMR head. The MAMR head includes an STO. The STO has a first surface at a media facing surface, a second surface that is opposite the first surface and a third surface adjacent to the first and second surfaces. The first and third surfaces form a first acute angle and the second and third surfaces form a second acute angle, where the second acute angle is less than or equal to the first acute angle. Having this configuration, the electrical current going through the STO is substantially perpendicular to the STO, which causes the spin torque to be maximized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: HGST Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Junichiro Shimizu, Masukaza Igarashi
  • Patent number: 8995085
    Abstract: An example magnetic recording apparatus includes a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording head. The magnetic recording head includes a first magnetic pole to apply a recording magnetic field to a magnetic recording medium, a spin torque oscillator provided parallel to the first magnetic pole, a first coil which surrounds the first magnetic pole, to magnetize the first magnetic pole, and a second coil to pass a current independently of the first coil and magnetize the first magnetic pole. A signal processor writes and reads a signal on the magnetic recording medium by using the magnetic recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kenichiro Yamada, Hitoshi Iwasaki, Masayuki Takagishi
  • Patent number: 8995087
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is disclosed. The PMR head includes a perpendicular magnetic recording pole having at least one side, a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The PMR head also includes at least one side gap, at least one side shield, a to gap on the PMR pole and a top shield. The side gap(s) encapsulate the side(s) of the PMR pole, has at least one width and is between the PMR pole and the side shield(s). The to gap has a thickness such that the ratio of the width(s) to the thickness is greater than one. A portion of the top gap is between at least part of the top shield and the side shield(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Yingjian Chen, Kyusik Shin
  • Patent number: 8995086
    Abstract: A write head has a pole tip, a write yoke connected to the pole tip, a write return yoke, a write shield, and one or more side shields disposed in close proximity to the pole tip. The write return yoke connects to the write yoke on one end and the write shield on a different end. The one or more side shields are separated from the pole tip and write shields by a non-magnetic material and therefore are “floating” and not directly coupled to the write shield or pole tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mourad Benakli, Michael Mallary
  • Patent number: 8988825
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location. An intermediate is provided. The intermediate layer includes a first sublayer and a second sublayer in at least a side shield region. The first sublayer has a first sublayer top. The second sublayer is on the first sublayer top in the shield region. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer using at least one etch. A main pole is provided in the trench. The main pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The first sublayer top is between the top and the bottom of the main pole. At least a portion of the second sublayer is removed in the shield region. At least one half side shield is provided. A bottom of the at least one half side shield being between the top and the bottom of the main pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont, LLC
    Inventors: Jinqiu Zhang, Lien-Chang Wang, Xiaoyu Yang, Feng Liu, Ming Jiang
  • Patent number: 8988822
    Abstract: A spin transfer oscillator with a seed/SIL/spacer/FGL/capping configuration is disclosed with a composite seed layer made of Ta and a metal layer having a fcc(111) or hcp(001) texture to enhance perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) in an overlying (A1/A2)X laminated spin injection layer (SIL). Field generation layer (FGL) is made of a high Bs material such FeCo. Alternatively, the STO has a seed/FGL/spacer/SIL/capping configuration. The SIL may include a FeCo layer that is exchanged coupled with the (A1/A2)X laminate (x is 5 to 50) to improve robustness. The FGL may include an (A1/A2)Y laminate (y=5 to 30) exchange coupled with the high Bs layer to enable easier oscillations. A1 may be one of Co, CoFe, or CoFeR where R is a metal, and A2 is one of Ni, NiCo, or NiFe. The STO may be formed between a main pole and trailing shield in a write head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kunliang Zhang, Min Li, Yuchen Zhou