Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording device comprising a magnetic recording head having a negative anisotropic magnetic (?Ku) material notch. The magnetic recording device comprises a main pole disposed at a media facing surface (MFS), a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, and a trailing gap disposed between the main pole and the trailing shield. The trailing shield comprises a hot seed layer disposed adjacent to the trailing gap, and a notch comprising a ?Ku material in contact with the hot seed layer and the trailing gap. The notch is disposed adjacent to a first surface of the main pole at the MFS. The notch comprising the ?Ku material results in an increased effective write magnetic field, an increased down-track field gradient due to reduced shunting from the main pole to the trailing shield, leading to an increased areal density capacity.

Abstract: A magnetic read apparatus has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and includes a read sensor and a rear magnetic bias structure. The read sensor includes first and second free layers, a spacer layer and a rear surface opposite to the ABS. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic and between the first and second free layers. The read sensor has a track width in a cross track direction parallel to the ABS. The rear magnetic bias structure magnetically biases the read sensor a stripe height direction perpendicular to the ABS. The read sensor is between the ABS and the rear magnetic bias structure. The rear magnetic bias structure has a width in the cross track direction and a length in the stripe height direction. The length is greater than the width. The width of the rear magnetic bias structure is substantially equal to the track width of the read sensor.

Abstract: A slider includes a substrate having a trailing edge, a leading edge opposite the trailing edge, and an air bearing surface connecting the trailing edge with the leading edge; a read/write transducer formed at the trailing edge; and a coat layer attached on the trailing edge and covering on the read/write transducer. The slider further includes a protection layer for shielding the read/write transducer thereby preventing the read/write transducer from damaging during a laser soldering process. The present invention can prevent the read/write transducer from damaging during the laser bonding process and, in turn improve the reading and writing performance of the slider. The invention also discloses an HGA and a disk drive unit.

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.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes first and second ferromagnetic free layers that are not magnetically pinned, and a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between them. The first ferromagnetic free layer comprises a first plurality of ferromagnetic sub-layers that includes a first cobalt iron sub-layer that is in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer, and a first amorphous cobalt boron sub-layer that is not in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer. The second ferromagnetic free layer comprises a second plurality of ferromagnetic sub-layers that includes a second cobalt iron sub-layer that is in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer, and a second amorphous cobalt boron sub-layer that is not in contact with the non-magnetic spacer layer. Each of the first and second cobalt iron sub-layers has a composition Co(100?x)Fe(x) with x being in the range of 10 to 90 atomic percentage.

Abstract: A data storage device may have at least a slider constructed with at least one feature positioned on an air bearing region and separated from a data transducer. The at least one feature can be configured to provide a slider stiffness that decreases modulation while the at least one feature is floating above or in contact with a data storage media.

Abstract: A slider for magnetic data recording in a thermally assisted recording system. The slider has a slider body and a magnetic recording head formed on a trailing edge of the slider body. A first terminal is formed on a trailing edge surface of the recording head, and a second terminal is formed on a backside surface both the magnetic recording head and the slider body so as to extend across both the magnetic recording head and the slider body. An electrically conductive lead formed within the magnetic recording head connects the first lead with the second lead.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a main pole shielded laterally by a pair of side shields, shielded above by a trailing shield and shielded optionally below by a leading shield. The shields and the seed layers on which they are formed are formed of materials having substantially the same physical characteristics including the same material composition, the same hardness, the same response to processes such as ion beam etching (IBE), chemical mechanical polishing (CMP), mechanical lapping, such as the slider ABS lapping, the same coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) as well as the same Bs. Optionally, the trailing shield may be formed on a high Bs seed layer to provide the write head with improved down-track performance.

Abstract: A tunneling magnetoresistive sensor has an extended pinned layer wherein both the MgO spacer layer and the underlying ferromagnetic pinned layer extend beyond the back edge of the ferromagnetic free layer in the stripe height direction and optionally also beyond the side edges of the free layer in the trackwidth direction. A patterned photoresist layer with a back edge is formed on the sensor stack and a methanol (CH3OH)-based reactive ion etching (RIE) removes the unprotected free layer, defining the free layer back edge. The methanol-based RIE terminates at the MgO spacer layer without damaging the underlying reference layer. A second patterned photoresist layer may be deposited and a second methanol-based RIE may be performed if it is desired to have the reference layer also extend beyond the side edges of the free layer in the trackwidth direction.

Abstract: A trailing shield is provided on a trailing side of a magnetic pole with a non-magnetic gap layer in between, and an intermediate layer having negative uniaxial magnetocrystalline anisotropy is provided between the non-magnetic gap layer and the trailing shield. The intermediate layer has a magnetic property in which an easy axis of magnetization is provided in an in-plane direction and thus magnetization is likely to occur in that direction, whereas a difficult axis of magnetization is provided in a direction intersecting the in-plane direction and thus magnetization is less likely to occur in that direction. Accordingly, magnetic flux becomes difficult to excessively flow from the magnetic pole into the trailing shield.

Abstract: A write pole structure disclosed herein includes a write pole, a trailing shield, and a high magnetic moment (HMM) material layer on a surface of the trailing shield facing the write pole.

Abstract: A structure and a process for a perpendicular write pole that provides increased magnetic flux at the ABS is disclosed. This is accomplished by increasing the amount of write flux that originates above the write gap, without changing the pole taper at the ABS. Three embodiment of the invention are discussed.

Abstract: A slider includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, a transducer adjacent to the trailing edge, and an air bearing surface. The air bearing surface includes a forward pad, a rearward pad, and a center rail pad feature disposed along a longitudinal axis of the slider. The center rail pad feature includes a first shallow recess finger and a second shallow recess finger diverging from the longitudinal axis toward the trailing edge.

Abstract: A head slider for supporting a head over a magnetic disk in a hard disk drive, and a method of making the head slider are disclosed. The air bearing surface (ABS) of the head slider includes a relatively deep recess in front of a trailing pad and an island pad. A recess is formed between the trailing pad and the island pad of the ABS. In operation, the recess may reduce the peak pressure of the ABS, resulting in a reduced mid disk (MD) hump without a reduction in other performance parameters. The reduction in peak pressure may also reduce lubrication pick-up from the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head enabling both enhancement of a strength of a magnetic field from a main pole and provision of narrow-track recording to achieve a high recording density in a high-frequency magnetic field-assisted recording method is provided. An oscillator 110 that generates a high-frequency magnetic field is provided on the trailing side of a main pole 120, and viewed from the air bearing surface side, a ratio Pw/Two between a track width Pw of a trailing-side edge portion of the main pole and a track width Two of a leading-side edge portion of the oscillator is no less than 0.85 and no more than 1.25, and the main pole includes a part having a track width larger than Pw between the trailing-side edge portion and a leading-side edge portion of the main pole.

Abstract: A data storage device may have at least a slider constructed with at least one feature positioned on an air bearing region and separated from a data transducer. The at least one feature can be configured to provide a slider stiffness that decreases modulation while the at least one feature is floating above or in contact with a data storage media.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to air-bearing sliders used in magnetic storage systems that employ a trench arranged between a transducing head connected to a slider body and a leading edge of the slider body. The trench is configured to divert air passing over an air-bearing surface of the slider body away from the transducing head.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for a subambient pressure air bearing slider utilizing negative pressure grooves. In one embodiment, a groove extends from a slider's leading edge, splits, and terminates in two locations at the slider's trailing edge. In one embodiment, a groove is provided in a slider's compression pad near the trailing edge of the slider.

Abstract: The head-slider is configured to receive an air-stream produced by rotation of a magnetic-recording disk and is configured to fly in proximity with a recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk. The head-slider includes a trailing edge on an outflow side of the air-stream, and a disk-facing surface that is configured to face the recording surface of the magnetic-recording disk. A low-surface-energy film is disposed on a portion of a trailing-edge side of the head-slider that is in contact with a boundary between the trailing edge and the disk-facing surface. The low-surface-energy film has a lower surface energy than other portions of the trailing-edge side where the low-surface-energy film is not disposed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a head slider including a bearing surface opposed to a surface of a recording medium, an inflow end face, and an outflow end face, and configured to fly by an airflow between the recording medium surface and the bearing surface, and a recording element and a reproduction element disposed in an outflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow. The bearing surface of the head slider includes a trailing step on the outflow end portion, a trailing pad on the trailing step and includes an outflow end kept at an inflow-side gap away from the outflow end face, and a first groove formed along a step portion at a boundary between the trailing step and the trailing pad.

Abstract: A contact pad includes a first layer of material with a first yield strength and a second layer of material with a second yield strength is laminated to the first layer. A third yield strength of the laminated composite of the first layer and the second layer exceeds the first yield strength and the second yield strength due to the Hall-Petch phenomenon. An overcoat covers an edge of the first layer and the second layer of the contact pad to prevent wear. A method of creating the contact pad or other microelectronic structure includes depositing a first layer of material with a first yield strength on a substrate. A second layer of material with a second yield strength is deposited on the first layer. An edge of the first layer and the second layer is coated with an overcoat material to prevent wear of the first and second layers.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a head slider including a bearing surface opposed to a surface of a recording medium, an inflow end face, and an outflow end face, and configured to fly by an airflow between the recording medium surface and the bearing surface, and a recording element and a reproduction element disposed in an outflow end portion of the head slider with respect to the airflow. The bearing surface of the head slider includes a trailing step on the outflow end portion, a trailing pad on the trailing step and includes an outflow end kept at an inflow-side gap away from the outflow end face, and a first groove formed along a step portion at a boundary between the trailing step and the trailing pad.

Abstract: A method for a slider pad that allows for contact to be mitigated without plastic deformation. Various embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to a slider that presents a transducer and has at least one air bearing surface (ABS) feature. The ABS feature comprises a pair of sidewalls spaced a distance X apart. A pad is deposited on the ABS feature so that the pad comprises a hemispherical cross-section and has a circumferential diameter greater than X. As configured, the pad may mitigate contact between the pad and a media surface with elastic deformation.

Abstract: This application discloses a hard disk drive, a head stack assembly, a head gimbal assembly, each including a slider with a deposited end including at least one means for retaining lubricant that tends to accumulate on the deposited end.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a magnetic head is provided with a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on the upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on the outlet end side of the negative-pressure cavity, and a pair of embossed portions formed on the facing surface so as to project from the negative-pressure cavity and provided on the outlet side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow. The embossed portions individually extend along a second direction so as to be situated individually on the opposite sides of the trailing step portion and are formed so as to be lower than the trailing step portion with respect to the negative-pressure cavity and flush with an outlet-side end surface of the slider.

Abstract: A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier also includes a plurality of lubricant-accumulation-barrier portions disposed at a plurality of respective depths below an outer-most surface of a disk-facing side of the slider.

Abstract: A slider resistant to lubricant accumulation. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation includes a positive-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to levitate the slider above a magnetic-recording disk and a negative-air-pressure portion of the slider configured to bring the slider into proximity with the magnetic-recording disk at a fly height sufficient for writing data to and reading data from the magnetic-recording disk. The slider resistant to lubricant accumulation also includes a lubricant-accumulation barrier disposed in proximity to a trailing edge of the slider. The lubricant-accumulation barrier is configured to reduce lubricant accumulation on the slider.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for modifying the air bearing force of the trailing edge of a slider to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, a shaped TE which minimizes the air bearing force at the TE portion of the slider, to minimize the normal load and friction during contact to reduce slider bounce.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for increasing storage capacity of a disc drive by physically skewing a transducer in relation to a slider supporting the transducer. The physical skew angle of the transducer is configured to provide a predetermined zero skew position on the medium, which is capable of providing an increased storage capacity to the medium. To ascertain this zero skew position, a storage density or storage capacity of the medium may be ascertained for each of various zero skew positions on the medium. A desired storage density or capacity level is selected according to storage capacity requirements and the corresponding zero skew position is ascertained. The corresponding zero skew position may be implemented by physically skewing a transducer relative to a slider.

Abstract: A slider is formed with an ABS topography that eliminates the accumulation of lubricant swept from the surface of a rotating disk in an operating HDD. The topography includes air channeling grooves in which are formed backflow blocking elements that prevent the formation airflow patterns that would cause lubricant to be aspirated into the ABS topography of the slider and that create airflow patterns that sweep lubricant away from the ABS of the slider. The topography is first tested to make sure that the slider has the proper flying height and aerodynamic stability, then the backflow blocking elements are added to control the airflow, while maintaining the desired flying height and stability.

Abstract: A head slider for supporting a head over a magnetic disk in a hard disk drive, and a method of making the head slider are disclosed. The tail section of the head slider has a deep write hole that may improve the altitude performance of the head slider by minimizing fly height variations at high altitudes (i.e., altitudes above 3000 m) or in low atmospheric pressure environments. The write hole prevents the fly height from changing. Additionally, the write hole limits the amount of lubricant that will flow over the ABS.

Abstract: A transducer includes a first layer that is selectively deposited in a contact region to form a core, and selectively deposited in a transducer region to form a first element of the transducer. The transducer includes an electrically conductive magnetic deposit. The electrically conductive magnetic deposit forms a sidewall on the core. The electrically conductive magnetic deposit forms a second element of the transducer in the transducer region. The second element of the transducer has a planarized surface that is coplanar with a planarized surface of the sidewall.

Abstract: An air bearing surface for a head assembly for a data storage device comprises at least one air bearing pad. At least one channel is recessed within the at least one air bearing pad. The at least one channel is formed with an open top and is located entirely within boundaries of the at least one air bearing pad.

Abstract: A slider mounted read/write head is protected from thermal asperities due to head-disk interactions by a ridge formed along an interfacial plane that extends above the ABS plane of the slider. The ridge is formed as part of a lapping process that is directed from the read/write head towards the slider substrate and uses an abrasive slurry to which may be added a strong base such as KOH. The height of the ridge is less than approximately 2 nm.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a head which can prevent an external magnetic field form erasing a signal on the medium and whose main magnetic pole piece does not corrode during processing of the air bearing surface. In one embodiment, an anti-corrosion electrode is formed to apply a voltage to the main magnetic pole piece during processing of the air bearing surface. This retards corrosion of the main magnetic pole piece. Since a conductor (anti-corrosion wire) connected to this anti-corrosion electrode is made of a nonmagnetic material, concentration of an external magnetic field into the main magnetic pole piece can be suppressed. Consequently, since the magnetic leakage field emitted from the main magnetic pole piece is reduced, erasure of the signal on the medium can be prevented.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a slider that floats from a surface of a recording medium by an airflow generated on the surface of the recording medium to be rotated, and a thin film magnetic head element structure that is formed on an air discharging end face of the slider. A thermal plastic deformation portion is provided in the vicinity of the air discharging end face on a back surface of a recording medium facing surface of a slider so that a part of the thin film magnetic head element structure is further spaced from the surface of the recording medium than the recording medium facing surface of the slider.

Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a magnetic head slider capable of securing a larger flying margin even when position variations occur at the time of flying. Embodiments of the present invention also provide a magnetic head slider having an excellent flying following capability. A read element and a write element of a magnetic head slider are arranged on a spherical or ellipsoidal projection and this projection is formed on a thin film magnetic head part. This may prevent a flying margin from being reduced by variations in flying position and may prevent a manufacturing step from being caused on the spherical or ellipsoidal projection. Moreover, by making the constituent ratio of the thin film magnetic head part on an air-bearing surface of the magnetic head slider 100 to be 7% or more, the read element and the write element are arranged at a pressure center position on the center rail surface of the air-bearing surface.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head that shows stable read and/or write performances, maintaining the reliability over time by suppressing the wear of the head sufficiently, is provided. The head comprises: a substrate having an element-formed surface and an opposed-to-medium surface; a magnetic head element; an overcoat layer formed on the element-formed surface so as to cover the magnetic head element; a closure provided on the overcoat layer, a surface of the closure being in contact with the upper surface of the overcoat layer; and an element contact pad formed in a sliding-side surface of the head and having a contact surface including a part of the opposed-to-medium surface, a part of an end surface of the overcoat layer and a part of an end surface of the closure, one end of the magnetic head element reaching the contact surface.

Abstract: Head elements are formed on a wafer to suppress deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer, which is caused by ESD generated during air bearing surface polishing of a thin film magnetic head. The wafer is cut into rovers in each of which are connected head elements. Rover air bearing surfaces are polished until an MR elements attain a predetermined height. A final polishing step finishes air bearing surfaces by applying an electroconductive polishing liquid to achieve a predetermined shape and surface roughness with high accuracy. A pinning defect occurrence rate is reduced by suppressing deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer of a read element. To achieve this, a specific resistance of the electroconductive polishing liquid is controlled to 5 G?·cm or less. A shallow rail and a deep rail are formed on the air bearing surfaces, and the rover is cut into thin film magnetic heads.

Abstract: The application discloses processes for fabricating a slider or head for a data storage device. The processes disclosed provide a transducer portion that is separated from a slider body by a gap. In an illustrated embodiment, actuator elements are fabricated in the gap to adjust a position of the transducer portion relative to the slider body.

Abstract: A magnetic head device is disclosed. The magnetic head device having a levitation attitude formed by an air stream on a surface thereof when a recording medium moves. A levitation height of a magnetic function unit can be stabilized even when air density of an operating environment is changed. In a middle region of a slider of a magnetic head device, a deep concave bottom portion is provided and a levitation pressure is not substantially generated. The levitation is exerted to a front positive pressure surface located in front of the middle region and a rear positive pressure surface located in the rear of the middle region.

Abstract: The invention discloses a manufacturing method of slider. The slider comprises an incline portion (6) connecting a read/write portion (24) disposed with a convex configuration on an air bearing surface opposite to a recording medium, and a concave portion (26) adjacent to an end thereof where airflow flows in. The incline portion (6) includes a first incline portion (61) with a substantially linear shape connected with a surface of the read/write portion (24) and a second incline portion (62) with substantially linear shape connected with the concave portion (26). A first incline angle ?1 of the concave portion (26) with respect to the first incline portion (61) is larger than a second incline angle ?2 of the concave portion (26) with respect to the second incline portion (62).

Abstract: A disk drive includes a drive circuitry, a storage disk, a suspension and a slider. The slider is supported by the suspension and receives electrical current from the drive circuitry. The slider includes a flying side that generally faces the storage disk, a read/write head, and a slider deformer that is electrically decoupled from the drive circuitry. In one embodiment, the slider deformer is formed from a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion that is greater than a coefficient of thermal expansion of other portions of the slider. In this embodiment, the slider deformer causes a deformation of a portion of the flying side when the temperature of the slider deformer changes. Thus, when the read/write head expands or contracts due to a change in temperature of the slider, the slider deformer at least partially offsets the expansion and/or contraction of the read/write head to maintain a substantially consistent head-to-disk spacing of the disk drive.

Abstract: To provide a method of manufacturing magnetic head slider which is capable of improving the product quality, simplifying the manufacturing process, and reducing the manufacturing time. This method of manufacturing a magnetic head slider, formed by cutting out from a block member, includes the steps of: processing an end face of the block member forming one surface of a magnetic head slider; holding fixedly the end face of the block member processed; and while maintaining a holding state provided by the step of holding, cutting a portion of the end face side of the block member, and processing a cut surface of the cut portion forming another surface of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: A slider is formed with an ABS topography that eliminates the accumulation of lubricant swept from the surface of a rotating disk in an operating HDD. The topography includes air channeling grooves in which are formed backflow blocking elements that prevent the formation airflow patterns that would cause lubricant to be aspirated into the ABS topography of the slider and that create airflow patterns that sweep lubricant away from the ABS of the slider. The topography is first tested to make sure that the slider has the proper flying height and aerodynamic stability, then the backflow blocking elements are added to control the airflow, while maintaining the desired flying height and stability.

Abstract: Prior art designs of single pole writers have been limited by premature saturation at the tip. This limits the head field that can be achieved without simultaneously widening the write profile. This problem has bee solved by means of a vertical main pole whose thickness has its conventional value a short distance from the tip but that tapers down to a significantly reduced value as it approaches the tip. A process for manufacturing this tapered tip design is also presented.

Abstract: A method for preventing TMR (tunnel magneto-resistance) MRR (magneto-resistance resistance) drop of a slider, comprises steps of: positioning a row bar constructed by a plurality of slider structural bodies on a tray, each slider body having a pole tip with a TMR element; loading the tray into a processing chamber and evacuating the processing chamber to a preset pressure; introducing a processing gas containing oxygen gas into the processing chamber; and exposing the slider structural bodies to an etching means in the atmosphere of the processing gas to oxidize a surface of the TMR element to form an oxidation layer thereon. The invention also discloses a method for forming micro-texture on a surface of slider in same process, and a method for forming such a slider.

Abstract: A method for bonding slider row bars for photolithography process, includes steps of: providing a first carrier plate having a sticky surface; providing slider row bars each having a first surface for forming ABS and an opposite second surface, and securing each slider row bar to the first carrier plate with its first surface facing the sticky surface; providing an encapsulation glue and dispensing it to the second surfaces and gaps between the slider row bars; providing a second carrier plate and attaching it to the second surfaces through the encapsulation glue; irradiating the first carrier plate and the encapsulation glue with ultraviolet light such that the first carrier plate is removed from the slider row bars, and the encapsulation glue is cured to bond the slider row bars with the second carrier plate together.

Abstract: The present invention provides a transducing device. The transducing device includes a transducing element having a read element and a write element. The transducing device further includes at least one heating element formed within the transducing device and spaced apart from the heating element a sufficient distance to keep the at least one heating element from influencing a temperature of the transducing element.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is a slider with a lift pad and a thermal protrusion pad in which the heads are located. The lift pad is located immediately in front of the thermal protrusion pad and is designed to achieve the flying characteristics needed for normal operation of the disk drive. The thermal protrusion pad includes a heater which is used to protrude the pad for burnishing-on-demand and/or for thermal fly-height control. The thermal protrusion pad is designed to generate very little lift so that protruding the thermal protrusion pad does not significantly increase the lift experienced by the slider. An alternative embodiment uses two overcoat thicknesses on the ABS surface with the thermal protrusion pad having a thin overcoat and the lift pad having a thicker overcoat.