Abstract: The present invention is directed to a load/unload disk drive that includes: a rotational arm engaging a slider; a magnetic storage disk, wherein the magnetic head in the slider reads data from and/or writes data to a data zone of the magnetic storage disk; and a ramp positioned next to the magnetic storage disk. The magnetic storage disk includes a slider cleaning zone having a roughness greater than a roughness of the data zone. The slider is periodically contacted with the slider cleaning zone to remove particles collected on the slider.

Abstract: A tape back-up drive having a head assembly. The head assembly includes a head configured to read data from a tape and to write data to the tape. The head assembly also includes at least one tape guide disposed adjacent to the head.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate having a tape bearing surface. A plurality of elements are coupled to the substrate and positioned towards the tape bearing surface. The elements selected from a group consisting of readers, writers, and combinations thereof. A base is coupled to the substrate. The base has an outrigger formed integrally therewith. The outrigger causes a tape passing thereacross to approach the substrate at a first wrap angle relative to a plane of the tape bearing surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise in a lapping guide. Selected portions of a Giant magnetoresistive device wafer are masked, thereby defining masked and unmasked regions of the wafer in which the unmasked regions include lapping guides. The wafer is bombarded with ions such that a Giant magnetoresistive effect of the unmasked regions is reduced. The GMR device is lapped, using the lapping guides to measure an extent of the lapping.

Abstract: A tape drive system includes a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic tape over the head, and an ion generating device for providing ions in a vicinity of the tape, the ions being adsorbed onto the tape surface, which may include being absorbed by water on the tape. Ions dissolved in the water promote corrosion of metallic accumulations on the head.

Abstract: One embodiment of a threader assembly for a tape drive has a retractable head brush assembly that is articulated into and out of wiping contact with the tape head. The head brush assembly is integrated into the cartridge loading assembly such that some of the same components used to load and unload the media tape also articulate the head brush assembly. In one version, the head brush assembly comprises a set of bristles that are mounted to a pair of brush arms. The head brush assembly has a cleaning position wherein the bristles are pivoted to wipe across the air bearing surface of the tape head. When the head brush assembly is in the cleaning position, the tape head is cleaned through the movement of the brush relative to the head. The head brush assembly also has a spring-biased storage position wherein the entire head brush assembly is pivotally retracted away from the tape head.

Abstract: A write head's material having a great thermal expansion coefficient expands due to Joule heat resulting from a write current and a temperature rise dependent on high-frequency core loss, thereby causing the head's flying surface to protrude toward a magnetic disk. This phenomenon is called TPR (thermal protrusion). It is essential that the flying height be accurately determined and managed in consideration of TPR. A magnetic disk drive for actual use or a magnetic disk drive that is in a testing process but similar to the one for actual use is used to measure TPR amount changes resulting from a write operation, store the resulting measured data in a memory or on the magnetic disk, and perform flying height management with the stored measured data. Further, flying height management is performed as needed in conjunction with a SMART function. The present invention makes it possible to perform high-reliability flying height management.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic field detecting element having a free layer whose magnetization direction is variable depending on an external magnetic field and a pinned layer whose magnetization direction is fixed with respect to the external magnetic field, said free layer and said pinned layer being stacked with an electrically conductive, nonmagnetic spacer layer sandwiched therebetween, wherein sense current is configured to flow in a direction that is perpendicular to film planes of the magnetic field detecting element is provided. The method has the steps of: forming a spacer adjoining layer that is adjacent to said spacer layer, Heusler alloy layer, and a metal layer successively in this order; and forming either at least a part of said pinned layer or said free layer by heating said spacer adjoining layer, said Heusler alloy layer, and said metal layer. The spacer adjoining layer has a layer that is chiefly made of cobalt and iron.

Abstract: A tape drive head cleaner has a brush that is driven to sweep over a write/read head in the direction of longitudinal grooves on the write/read head. Debris that are within the grooves are swept out of the grooves by the movement of the brush in the direction of the grooves. The brush is carried by a tape drive head cleaner mechanism that includes a lead screw driven by a stepper motor that engages the half nut attached to a brush carriage that carries the brush. The brush carriage is guided by fixed guide shafts so that the brush is precisely swept over the write/read head.

Abstract: A magnetic write head includes a magnetic yoke having a first pole and a second pole. The first pole and the second pole each terminate at an air bearing surface. The first pole is magnetically coupled to the second pole in a backgap region. The magnetic write head further includes a electrically conductive write coil magnetically coupled to the magnetic yoke. The magnetic write head further includes a resistive heater coil having a first coil turn and a second coil turn. The heater coil is electrically isolated from the write coil. At least a portion of the first coil turn is between the first pole and the second pole and between the air bearing surface and the backgap region. At least a portion of the second coil turn is between the first pole and the second pole and between the air bearing surface and the backgap region. The portion of the first coil turn overlaps the portion of the second coil turn.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes at least one inductive write head element and at least one read magnetic head element, capable of controlling a spacing between a magnetic recording medium and the at least one magnetic read head element by heating. A gain SG (nm/° C.) of the spacing is greater than a spacing gain threshold SGTHLD (nm/° C.) defined by the following expression: SGLIMT=A*dPTP+B A=1.4642E?02*exp(?6.6769E?05*LRDMF) B=4.9602E?01*exp(?2.0423E?03*LRDMF) where dPTP represents an amount of change in protrusion (nm) of a top end of the at least one inductive write head element and/or the at least one read magnetic head element by heating, and LRDMF represents a line recording density (kFCI) at a frequency half of the maximum recording frequency.

Abstract: A heating device for a magnetic recording head includes first and second separating layers, the first separating layer having preferably a higher or equal thermal resistance than the first separating layer, and a heater formed between the first and second separating layers. A magnetic recording head for recording on magnetic medium includes a heating device which generates a heat spot on the magnetic medium which is larger than a magnetic track width, and/or heats a portion of the magnetic recording head which is on a leading edge side of a write gap in the magnetic recording head.

Abstract: In a non-magnetic material layer, a concave portion is formed above a groove G. In addition, an auxiliary magnetic pole layer is formed having a convex portion which extends in the direction toward a main magnetic pole layer and which is placed in the concave portion. Accordingly, since a magnetic flux B passing in a perpendicular magnetic recording head from the main magnetic pole layer to the auxiliary magnetic pole layer is generated, an appropriate adjustment of the intensity of a magnetic field A generated from the main magnetic pole layer can be easily performed, and the edge of a recording track on a recording medium M can be clearly defined.

Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head and manufacturing method are provided. The HAMR head is mounted on a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a substrate; a recording unit formed on the substrate and having a stepped end; a waveguide located in a space formed by the stepped end; and a near field light emission (NFE) pole located adjacent to the recording unit and having an end located on a same plane as the ABS. The method includes forming a cladding layer on a substrate; forming a first metal layer on the cladding layer; etching a part of the first metal layer; forming a core layer on the etched region; forming a refraction part in a part of the core layer; forming a second metal layer the first metal layer and the core layer; and forming a recording unit on the second metal layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a media heating device that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure. The media heating device is fabricated between the writing magnetic pole of a perpendicular magnetic head and the ABS surface of the head, where it serves to heat the magnetic media during the passage of the magnetic media beneath the writing magnetic pole of the magnetic head. The media heating device includes an optical cavity resonator that can produce a high intensity near-field optical spot of subwavelength dimension at the write pole that is appropriate for perpendicular recording at 1 Tbits/in2 and beyond. Optical energy is coupled into the resonant cavity through a waveguide that is placed proximate the cavity, and optical energy is coupled out of the cavity through a post that is placed within the cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal laminate which is broadly used for a flexible wiring board or the like and an etching method therefor. In particular, the present invention relates to a metal laminate which includes a layer obtained by laminating a metal layer and an insulating layer, where the insulating layer is subjected to an etching process, wherein, in a surface of the metal layer which is positioned so as to come in contact with the insulating layer, respective concentrations of main metal element and oxygen element constituting the metal layer are measured from the surface of the metal layer towards inside of the metal layer in a time-elapsing manner according to AES (Auger electron spectroscopy) and a value of the thickness of a metal oxide film of the surface of the metal layer measured at a time when atomic concentrations of the main metal element and the oxygen element constituting the metal layer become equal to each other is in a range of at least 0 ? to less than 50 ?.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of an electromagnetic transducer and a magnetoresistive device, and a heater member adapted to generate heat upon energization. The heater member contains NiCu or NiCr.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a tip adjacent to an air bearing surface of the recording head, a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole, a conductor positioned adjacent to an edge of the write pole at the air bearing surface, a first conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, and a second conductive heat sink connected to the conductor, wherein at least a portion of each of the first and second conductive heat sinks is positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface and wherein each of the first and second conductive heat sinks includes a structure for augmenting confinement of a magnetic write field adjacent to the write pole. Magnetic storage devices that include the magnetic recording head are also included.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head has at least either an electromagnetic transducer or a magnetoresistive device, and a sheet-shaped heater for generating heat when energized. The heater has a heating part and a lead part connected in series to the heating part. The lead part has a sheet resistance lower than that of the heating part.

Abstract: A head structure having a write head portion for writing data to magnetic media. The write head portion includes a first pole piece with a first pole tip, a probe pole piece having a probe pole tip for emitting magnetic flux from an ABS end thereof, an insulation stack positioned between the pole pieces, at least one write coil embedded in the insulation stack, a shaping layer positioned between the probe pole piece and the insulation stack for focusing flux to the probe pole tip, a trailing shield spaced apart from the pole, the trailing shield causing the magnetic flux to enter the media at an angle from a plane perpendicular to a surface of the media facing the pole, and a return pole piece.

Abstract: A magnetic head for writing information on a relatively-moving medium is disclosed, the head having a leading end, a trailing end and a medium-facing surface, the head comprising: a soft magnetic write pole that terminates in a pole tip that is disposed adjacent to the medium-facing surface; at least one coil section that is disposed adjacent to the write pole to induce a magnetic flux in the write pole; and a hard magnetic bias structure disposed within one micron of the pole tip to magnetically bias the pole tip.

Abstract: Heads for perpendicular recording using a floating-trailing shield as part of the magnetic circuit for writing magnetic domains in the recording media are described. The floating-trailing shield is separated from the main pole piece by a layer of non-magnetic material along its entire length and the air bearing surface of the floating-trailing shield is substantially larger than that of the main pole piece. The reluctance between the trailing shield and the underlayer in the recording medium is made so low that both are at the same magnetomotive force (or potential), so that no direct connection is needed between the floating-trailing shield and the yoke. When the head is used in a storage system with a magnetic recording medium with a soft underlayer, the floating-trailing shield is, in effect, magnetically shorted to the return pole piece during recording.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for electrically coupling read elements and write elements of a tape head assembly to another component includes an interconnect structure having plural layers of traces, with the traces comprising write traces electrically connected to respective write elements, and read traces electrically connected to respective read elements. The write traces and read traces are interleaved across a dimension of the interconnect structure.

Abstract: A magnetic head having a heat sink structure that is disposed proximate the induction coil to draw heat away from sensitive components of the head. The heat sink is fabricated above the second magnetic pole, and is therefore fabricated subsequent to the fabrication of the more delicate components of the magnetic head. In a preferred embodiment, the heat sink is fabricated photolithographically in the same process steps in which the electrical lead to the center tap of the induction coil is fabricated. The only difference in the magnetic head fabrication process is the modification of the photolithographic mask that is used to create the electroplating trench in which the electrical lead is electroplated, and the change to the mask involves the creation of a second opening within the mask for the creation of an electroplating trench at the location of the heat sink.

Abstract: A magnetic head including a media heating device that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure. The media heating device includes an electrically resistive element that is fabricated above the first magnetic pole layer close to the ABS surface of the head. A P1 pole pedestal is fabricated above the heating element. Electrical insulation layers are fabricated beneath and above the heating element to prevent electrical shorting to the P1 pole layer and the P1 pole pedestal that are disposed beneath and above the heating element, respectively.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of a magnetoresistive device for reading and an electromagnetic transducer device for writing, and a heating element provided in the head body part. The heating element has an up portion meandering between an origin and a halfway point and a down portion meandering along the up portion from the halfway point to an end positioned in the vicinity of the origin, and adapted to generate heat when energized.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head on a support includes an electromagnetic transducer for writing, a magnetoresistive device for reading, an overcoat layer and a heating element. The transducer and magnetoresistive device are disposed on the support. The overcoat layer is disposed at the opposite side of them from the support. The heating element is provided in the overcoat layer and generates heat when energized.

Abstract: A magnetic head for thermally-assisted writing of data to a disk is disclosed. In one illustrative example, the magnetic head includes a write head element and a heating element which is a resistive infared radiator. The heating element is coupled to at least one via pad which is exposed on an outer surface of the magnetic head. This via pad may be the same pad utilized for the write head element or for a read sensor. The heating element is formed beneath or within the pole tip such that it is able to transfer heat to a portion of the disk before the write head element can write data to it Advantageously, the heater facilitates the writing of data to high coercivity media.

Abstract: An effective heat sink is provided for a magnetic recording head. The heat sink conducts heat away from the recording head thus limiting the range of temperatures to which the recording head is subjected. A heat sink on a recording head significantly reduces heat induced protrusion.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic write/read device comprising a magnetic read element and a magnetic write element is formed in a thin film magnetic head portion of a magnetic head slider. A heat generating resistor is formed between a substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device for heating thereby thermally expanding and protruding a portion of the magnetic head slider to control the flying height. The heat generating resistor is positioned between the substrate portion and the magnetic reproducing device being apart from the magnetic reproducing device for making the response speed for the flying height control of the magnetic head slider as high as possible and decreasing the effect caused by the heat generation of the heat generating resistor on the magnetic reproducing device as little as possible.

Abstract: A removable device which is used during manufacturing for ESD/EOD protection and removed when the head is mounted in a drive. The device consists of crossed diodes which are mounted in the device and will connect to the readers. Each reader has two or more crossed diodes detachably coupled to its leads. The diodes are mounted on a device which is removable at the end of manufacturing assembly and the device can be reused. The device limits the voltage across a reader to the voltage limit of the number of diodes connected in series. Crossed diodes are connected in parallel with the electrical device to be protected to protect against random current spikes in either direction through the device in question. The device has leads which can be connected to an external device to measure the reader resistance or other electrical properties.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises at least one of a magnetoresistive device and an electromagnetic transducer, and a heater adapted to generate heat upon energization. A method of making this thin-film magnetic head comprises a heater forming step of forming the heater, and an annealing step of annealing the heater formed by the heater forming step.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a tip adjacent to an air bearing surface of the recording head, a return pole magnetically coupled to the write pole, a conductor positioned adjacent to at least one edge of the write pole at the air bearing surface for carrying current to produce a magnetic field that saturates at least a portion of the write pole and augments a write field, a first conductive heat sink connected to a first end of the conductor, and a second conductive heat sink connected to a second end of the conductor. Disc drives that include the recording head are also included.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk drive has a magnetic recording head that includes first and second separating layers, and a heater formed between the first and second separating layers. The heater has a dimension such a thermal protrusion is induced in the recording head and a thermal conductance between the recording head and a recording medium is enhanced.

Abstract: A tape recording head is provided comprising a support plate having a contoured surface with an opening in the contoured surface which allows head chips to protrude far enough to allow proper head tape contact for recording. The support plate is fixed on a coarse actuator so that the support plate and coarse actuator move together perpendicular to the motion of the recording tape. The head chips comprising rowbar substrates containing a multiplicity of recording elements are supported on a carrier mounted on a fine actuator and are not fixed to the support plate to allow low mass fine actuation.

Abstract: A head for use in a drive includes a heating element capable of generating heat sufficient to cause the head to have a shape that is similar or identical to the shape that the head has when performing an operation (e.g. writing) on a recording medium in the drive. The heating element is activated when the operation is not being performed. Hence, a head generates the same amount (or similar amount) of heat and is therefore at the same temperature (also called “operating temperature”), regardless of whether or not an operation (such as writing) is being performed. Therefore, the head maintains a fixed shape or has a shape that varies minimally, within a predetermined range around the fixed shape, that in turn results in maintaining fly height (distance between the head and the recording medium). The heating element may be implemented to use loss mechanisms inherent in a write transducer, e.g. by providing a center tap to the write transducer.

Abstract: A flying type thin-film magnetic head includes a write head element with a coil conductor and a yoke, a write current flowing through the coil conductor, an overcoat layer laminated on the write head element, and a heat-block layer formed in the overcoat layer and made of a material with a heat conductivity that is lower than a heat conductivity of the overcoat layer.

Abstract: In a slider using thermal expansion type, being adjustable on a flying height thereof, having problems to be solved, i.e., to reduce the electric power consumption, and to lesson the heat load upon a reproducing element thereof, wherein a heating device 4 is located separating from tip portions of the recording and reproducing elements 2 and 3. Also, for deforming only the vicinity of the heating device 4 and the recording and reproducing elements 2 and 3, so as to protrude from, the heating device 4 and the recording and reproducing elements 2 and 3 are surrounded by a resin film 6 of small rigidity, thereby increasing an amount of protrusion of the recording and reproducing elements 2 and 3 per a unit of electric power, but without increasing temperature of the reproducing element 3, with an aim of the structure of cutting off the force from materials of circumferences against the deformation.

Abstract: A magnetic head having an air bearing surface is used to reduce thermal pole tip protrusion and recession. The magnetic head includes a substrate and a data transducer positioned upon the substrate adjacent the air bearing surface. The data transducer is comprised of a plurality of metallic layers. A compensation structure is positioned adjacent to at least one of the plurality of metallic layers, is exposed at the air bearing surface or recessed at the ABS and extends substantially perpendicular from the air bearing surface. The compensation structure is formed of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion less than a coefficient of thermal expansion of a material forming the substrate.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes at least one thin-film magnetic head element with an ABS, and at least one heating means located at a position opposite to the ABS with respect to the at least one thin-film magnetic head element. The at least one heating means is energized to heat at least when the at least one thin-film magnetic head element operates.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning the slider air bearing surface of a head gimbal assembly is disclosed. A plurality of carriers may position and hold a plurality of head gimbal assemblies to be polished. A cloth strip may be rubbed against the slider air surface. A movable cylinder unit coupled to the plurality of carriers may move the carriers. A polish tank may provide cleaning solution to the movable cylinder unit. A pump may recirculate the cleaning solution. A filter canister with a filter cartridge may filter the cleaning solution.

Abstract: A mobile communication terminal device is disclosed having elements for detecting moisture in the device. These elements include the following precautionary features: a memory for recording a circumstance under which the detection of moisture takes place, a shutdown feature for shutting down the mobile communication terminal device at least partially if moisture has been detected, and a feature for determining two circumstances, namely that the mobile communications terminal has been at least partially shut down as a result of a detection of moisture and that the mobile communication terminal device has been connected to an external power supply and subsequent current is being drawn from the power supply. Once these two circumstances have been detected, a mode is activated by which the mobile communication terminal device is subjected to a heating phase and as a result, in turn, to a drying phase.

Abstract: A method for cleaning a magnetic head using a cleaning tape comprising a substrate and a cleaning layer, wherein the cleaning tape has a stiffness of 2 or less in a width direction, and the magnetic head has trenches substantially parallel to a sliding direction of the cleaning tape.

Abstract: A magnetic head parking system of a hard disk drive to move a magnetic head mounted on a slider of an actuator from a data zone of a disk and to place the magnetic head in a parking zone thereof when the disk stops rotating. The magnetic head parking system includes a head limiter provided on an upper surface of a flange of a spindle motor to protrude toward the disk and restricting a range of movement in upward and downward directions of the magnetic head placed in the parking zone of the disk. The head limiter is provided at a position opposite to a position where the slider of the actuator is installed or at a position deviating from and/or adjacent to a position directly under the slider. Thus, when an external impact is applied and an operation of the hard disk drive is stopped, the range of the up and down movement of the magnetic head is limited by the head limiter, so that the possibility of the damage to the magnetic head due to the head slap can be lowered.

Abstract: A thinfilm magnetic head for tape drives that enables onsite, real time temperature monitoring of the head-media interface. The head includes a media interface contacting a data bearing surface of the tape. A thinfilm, read-write element and a thinfilm sensor of a thermosensor are positioned on the head-media interface. The thermosensor generates a signal based on the temperature of the media interface. The media interface includes an active island and an optional inactive island positioned transverse to the tape travel path with the read-write element in the active island. The sensor may be placed on the inactive island or on the active island adjacent the read-write element. In one embodiment, a plurality of read-write elements and thermosensors are provided and sensors of the thermosensors are positioned on the inactive island and/or the active island among or between the read-write elements or adjacent an end element.

Abstract: A slider having leading and trailing edges is configured to fly on an airbearing above a data storage disk rotating from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Read and write heads are mounted on the slider proximate the trailing edge. An auxiliary thermal sensor is mounted on the slider, but preferably nearer the leading edge. Forward placement of the sensor allows it to sense mechanical defects before they reach the heads, thereby permitting a write inhibit operation, for example. The sensor may also be used to detect airbearing modulation. Appropriate action may be taken when unacceptable airbearing modulation is detected, such as notifying the user and/or scrubbing the slider. The sensor is preferably wider than the heads. This allows, for example, an in-situ glide test to be performed faster using the sensor. An arm electronics module is preferably configured to permit concurrent operation of the sensor and heads.

Abstract: The magnetic head is formed with a narrow pole tip, and a pole tip heating element is fabricated to reduce the pole tip stress and increase its permeability, such that the magnetization switching speed of the pole tip is increased. The heating element is preferably electrically interconnected within the induction coil circuit of the magnetic head, such that the electrical current flowing through the induction coil also flows through the heating element. In a preferred embodiment, the heating element is fabricated above the second magnetic pole. The heating element is preferably formed with a resistance of approximately 0.2 to 1.0 ohms, such that the approximately 40 mA current that flows through the induction coil and the heating element creates a heating energy of the heating element of approximately 0.3 to 1.6 mW. The heating element can be comprised of a variety of materials such as Cu, W, NiFe, NiCr and IrRh.

Abstract: An apparatus has an information storage medium with an information storage surface, and structure operable to effect relative movement of the head and surface within a first zone while maintaining the head adjacent the surface and while using the head to effect at least one of reading information from and writing information to the surface. A head cleaning section includes a cleaning part engageable with the head when the head is in a second zone where the head is spaced from the surface, the structure being operable to effect relative movement of the engaged head and cleaning part in a manner which includes a component of movement that is representative of an applied force subject to a damping influence.

Abstract: There is provided a cleaning tape capable of attaining sufficient cleaning effects while preventing electrostatic discharge damage to magnetoresistive heads or changes in reproduced output due to excessive head wear. The cleaning tape includes a non-magnetic substrate 1, surface protrusions 6 formed on the non-magnetic substrate 1 with particles 2 having a particle diameter of 10 to 40 nm at a density of 300×104 to 5000×104 mm2, a metal evaporated film 3 (preferably an electrically conductive layer such as an alloy layer containing Co as a primary component, an Al layer or the like) having a thickness of 10 to 200 nm and an inorganic protection film 4 having a thickness of 3 to 50 nm formed on the metal evaporated film 3.

Abstract: A cleaning device capable of cleaning a rotary head without discharging static electricity to a magnetic head is provided. The cleaning device comprises a protruding shaft-like supporting member provided at a position in a housing facing a portion of the outer peripheral surface of a rotary drum and opposite a portion in contact with a magnetic tape, and a cylindrical cleaning member supported at the upper end of the supporting member. The supporting member is configured with a metal material, and is electrically connected with the housing. The cleaning member is made of an electrically conductive resin in which carbon particles are contained. When and while the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, the cleaning member is electrically connected with the housing through the supporting member.