Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a disk device including a head and a controller. The controller, with mapping information in which parameter sets each including multiple types of parameters related to operations of the head are mapped to an adjustment variable so as to be associated with multiple different values of the adjustment variable, evaluates operations of the head while changing the value of the adjustment variable contained in the mapping information and determines a parameter set corresponding to an appropriate value of the adjustment variable based on the evaluation results and the mapping information to set for operations of the head using the determined parameter set.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing magnetic media disks during manufacturing using sliders with temperature sensors are provided. One such method involves scanning a surface of a selected disk of a plurality of magnetic media disks using a slider including a magnetic transducer and a temperature sensor, counting a number of the surfaces scanned, determining, during the scanning, whether a threshold crossing event has occurred by determining whether a signal from the temperature sensor signal is not within a preselected range, counting, during the scanning, a number of threshold crossing events, storing, if the number of threshold crossing events is greater than a preselected events limit, the number of surfaces scanned, stopping, if the number of surfaces scanned is greater than a surfaces scanned threshold, the scanning, and returning, if the number of surfaces scanned is less than or equal to the surfaces scanned threshold, to scan a next selected disk.

Abstract: A data storage device and method for enabling dynamic fly height control which is insensitive to off-track motions is described. In some embodiments, a hard disk drive acquires signal data from neighboring overlapping tracks which are unwritten, thermally erased, or AC demagnetized. Side-to-side (off-track) positional errors or oscillations of the read head do not affect the signal which arises solely from the magnetic domains on the disk. Thus, signal variations may only arise from changes in the fly height. In other embodiments, neighboring overlapping data tracks are prewritten with reference data. The width of the neighboring overlapping tracks exceeds any expected side-to-side positional errors of the read head, thus signal variations may only arise from changes in the fly height. For all embodiments, the noise or reference data signal may serve as a reliable dynamic measure of the fly height with no effects arising from off-track motions.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having a write pole and a trailing, wrap-around magnetic shield formed over the write pole and separated from the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer and non-magnetic side gap layers. The write head includes a remnant magnetic seed layer, that while being used to facilitate electroplating of the magnetic shield, is left intentionally extending beyond the back edge of the magnetic shield. This extended portion of the magnetic seed layer acts as a shunt for magnetic flux and prevents data erasure due to over-writing.

Abstract: A magnetic read head that has improved pinned layer stability while also maintaining excellent free layer stability. The free layer has sides that define a trackwidth of the sensor and a back edge that defines a functional stripe height of the sensor. However, the pinned layer can extend significantly beyond both the width of the free layer and the back edge (e.g. stripe height) of the free layer. The sensor also has a soft magnetic bias structure that compensates for the reduced volume presented by the side extension of the pinned layer. The soft magnetic bias structure can be magnetically coupled with the trailing magnetic shield, either parallel coupled or anti-parallel coupled. In addition, all or a portion of the soft magnetic bias structure can be exchange coupled to a layer of anti-ferromagnetic material in order to improve the robustness of the soft magnetic bias structure.

Abstract: A magnetic scissor type magnetic read head having magnetic side shielding for reduced effective track width and having side biasing for improved stability. The read head includes first and magnetic side shields that each include first and second magnetic layers and an anti-parallel exchange coupling layer sandwiched there-between. The magnetic layers of the side shields are anti-parallel coupled with one another such that one of the magnetic layers has its magnetization oriented in a first direction parallel with the air bearing surface and the second magnetic layer has its magnetization oriented in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and also parallel with the air bearing surface. These magnetizations of the first and second magnetic layers provide a bias field that stabilizes the magnetization of the free magnetic layers of the sensor stack to prevent flipping of the magnetizations of these layers.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having a stitched magnetic pole (also referred to as a shaping layer) for conducting magnetic flux to the pole tip portion of a magnetic write pole. The stitched magnetic pole has a shape so as to be thicker in a central region that is aligned with the pole tip of the write pole and is thinner a its outer sides. This shape helps to channel magnetic flux to the pole tip portion of the write pole while maintaining sufficient pole surface area for high data rate recording.

Abstract: In certain embodiments, an actuator arm has a shelf overlapping a coil region. The shelf defines at least one cutout over the coil region. In certain embodiments, an actuator arm includes a shelf and a coil. The shelf extends over the coil and forms at least one cutout along a rim of the shelf.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a mounting portion for mounting thereon a slider, a supporting portion for supporting one end portion of the mounting portion, a facing portion facing the mounting portion to be spaced apart therefrom, and a driving portion provided between the mounting portion and the facing portion. The driving portion includes a heater; and an expansive portion which is thermally expanded by heat generated from the heater.

Abstract: A magnetic recording system configured for recording to a bit patterned media using both hypertrack recording and shingled recording. The magnetic recording system includes a write pole with a notched trailing edge that results in a write bubble with a trailing edge that has two outer convex lobes separated by a centrally disposed concave region. By locating one of the lobes over first and second data tracks of a hypertrack, a proper alignment of the relative phase of the two tracks can be maintained. Further adjustment to the alignment can be achieved by adjusting the radial location of the write head.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a patterned magnetic media. The method allows both a data region and a servo region to be patterned without the patterning of one region adversely affecting the patterning of the other region. The method results in a patterned data region a patterned servo region and intermediate regions between the servo and data regions. The intermediate regions, which are most likely, but not necessarily, asymmetrical with one another indicate that the method has been used to pattern the media.

Abstract: A main object of the present invention is to provide a substrate for suspension which is produced at low costs and can sufficiently attain the prevention of damage by electrostatic discharge and restraint of noises. To attain the object, the present invention provides a substrate for suspension, comprising: a metallic substrate, an insulating layer formed on the metallic formed in substrate and having an opening from which the metallic substrate is exposed, a grounding-wiring layer formed on the insulating layer and arranged near the opening, and a ground terminal formed in the opening and contacting the metallic substrate and the grounding-wiring layer, characterized in that the ground terminal is made of a metal having a melting point of 450° C. or lower.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor having a novel hard bias structure that provides reduced gap spacing for increased data density. The magnetic sensor includes a sensor stack with first and second sides formed on a magnetic shield. A thin insulation layer is formed over the sides of the sensor stack and over the bottom shield. An under-layer comprising Cu—O is formed over the insulation layer and a hard magnetic bias layer is formed over the under-layer. The use of Cu—O as the under-layer allows the under-layer to be made thinner while still maintaining excellent magnetic properties in the hard bias layers formed thereover. This reduced thickness of the under-layer allows the gap spacing (spacing between the top and bottom magnetic shields) to be reduced, which in turn provides increased data density.

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 magneto-resistive effect (MR) element includes first and second magnetic layers in which a relative angle formed by magnetization directions changes in response to an external magnetic field, and a spacer layer positioned between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer is positioned closer to a substrate above which the MR element is formed than the second magnetic layer. The spacer layer includes a copper layer, a metal intermediate layer and a main spacer layer composed of gallium oxide as a primary component. The copper layer and the metal intermediate layer are positioned between the main spacer layer and the first magnetic layer. The metal intermediate layer is positioned between the copper layer and the main spacer layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preventing solder bridging. The method includes providing a substrate layer upon which a solder pad is disposed. The method further includes providing a signal conductive layer within the substrate layer. The method also includes forming a solder pad upon the signal conductive layer. The solder pad has a base surface. The method additionally includes forming a barrier portion above the base surface of the solder pad. The barrier portion is for controlling solder flow during a reflow process.

Abstract: A spoiler of a hard disk drive including a body portion coupled with a housing of the hard disk drive and adjacent to a hard disk, and an end portion coupled with the body portion, the end portion comprising a fan-shape, the spoiler extending radially with respect to the hard disk and parallel to a surface of the hard disk, wherein the fan-shape expands outward toward the tip end.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole layer and a yoke layer. The main magnetic pole layer generates a magnetic flux of a recording magnetic field and includes a magnetic pole front part and a magnetic pole rear part. The yoke layer is disposed at the magnetic pole rear part and includes a yoke front part and a yoke rear part. The magnetic pole front part extends on a magnetic medium-facing surface side of the magnetic pole rear part with a width in a track width direction being smaller than that of the magnetic pole rear part. The yoke front part extends on the magnetic medium-facing surface side of the yoke rear part with a width in the track width direction being larger than that of the magnetic pole rear part and that of the yoke rear part.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes: a magneto resistance effect film of which electrical resistance varies corresponding to an external magnetic field; a pair of shields provided on both sides in a manner of sandwiching the MR film in a direction that is orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; an anisotropy providing layer that provides exchange anisotropy to a first shield of the pair of shields in order to magnetize the first shield in a desired direction, and that is disposed on the opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield; and side shields that are disposed on both sides of the MR film in a track width direction and that include soft magnetic layers magnetically connected with the first shield.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes; an MR film that includes a pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a free layer of which a magnetization direction varies, and a spacer that is disposed therebetween; a pair of shields that are disposed on both sides sandwiching the MR film in a direction orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; and an anisotropy providing layer that provides anisotropy to a first shield so that the first shield is magnetized in a desired direction, and that is disposed on an opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield. The MR film includes a magnetic coupling layer that is disposed between the first shield and the free layer and that magnetically couples the first shield with the free layer.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator includes an actuator base that supports a load beam and has an opening accommodating a piezoelectric element, a receiver member that is laid on and fixed to the actuator base and forms a receiver that faces the opening and receives the piezoelectric element, an adhesive part formed of a liquid adhesive that is filled in a space defined by the piezoelectric element, an inner circumference of the opening, and the receiver and adheres the piezoelectric element to the inner circumference of the opening and the receiver, and a suppressing zone that is formed along an overlapping area where the actuator base and receiver member overlap each other and suppresses penetration of the liquid adhesive due to a capillary phenomenon into the overlapping area.

Abstract: An integrated load-unload ramp structure with a downstream spoiler and a slit-shroud for a hard-disk drive (HDD). The integrated load-unload (L/UL) ramp structure includes a L/UL ramp-structure portion, at least one downstream spoiler integrally attached to the L/UL ramp-structure portion, and a slit-shroud including at least one wing, the slit-shroud integrally attached to the L/UL ramp-structure portion. The L/UL ramp-structure portion is configured both for loading, and for unloading, at least one head-slider from at least one magnetic-recording disk. The downstream spoiler is configured for operation in an airflow downstream from the head-slider. In addition, the slit-shroud is configured to suppress axial airflow components in close proximity to an outside-diameter (OD) edge of the magnetic-recording disk. A HDD including the integrated L/UL ramp structure and a method for assembling a HDD with an integrated L/UL ramp structure are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic head, a manufacturing method therefor, a head assembly, and a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus. According to the present invention, it includes a magnetic pole layer, a non-magnetic layer, a trailing gap layer, and a trailing shield layer. The magnetic pole layer has a pole tip exposed on a magnetic medium-facing surface. The non-magnetic layer is laid on the magnetic pole layer. The trailing shield layer is exposed on the magnetic medium-facing surface and laid over the magnetic pole layer and the non-magnetic layer with the trailing gap layer between. The magnetic pole layer and the non-magnetic layer have a continuous tapered face opposed to a lower side of the trailing shield layer. Moreover, the tapered face extends from a trailing edge of the pole tip at a constant inclination angle.

Abstract: A head assembly includes a slider having a head element, a load beam, a fulcrum formed at a top end section of the load beam, a slider support plate for supporting the slider to freely turn around the fulcrum, at least one drive element for applying a turning force to the slider support plate in a plane thereof, a first linear link part having at both ends a first top end joint part mechanically connected to the slider support plate, and a first base end joint part mechanically connected to the load beam, and a second linear link part having at both ends a second top end joint part mechanically connected to the slider support plate, and a second base end joint part mechanically connected to the load beam. Both of an extended line of the first linear link part and an extended line of the second linear link part travel toward a position of the fulcrum and intersect with each other.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device includes: ahead actuator configured to move a head to an arbitrary position on a disk medium; a write/read module configured to write data to or read data from the disk medium using the head; an adjustment region selector configured to divide the disk medium into a plurality of regions in a circumferential direction, write test data to each of the regions, read the test data to measure signal quality of the each of the regions, compare the signal quality of the each of the regions, and select a parameter adjustment region; and a parameter adjustment module configured to adjust a parameter used for the write/read module to write data to and read data from the disk medium to an optimal value using the selected parameter adjustment region.

Abstract: A base member including two-step recesses and a hard disk drive (HDD) including the same. The HDD includes a base member; a spindle motor installed in the base member; a data storage disk assembled to the spindle motor; and an actuator rotatably installed in the base member and for moving a read/write head to a desired position on the disk, wherein the base member includes: a first floor surface disposed in a region facing the disk and having a center portion in which the spindle motor is installed; a shroud formed on a circumference of the first floor surface and extending the exterior circumference of the disk; and two-step recesses formed in an operating region of the actuator, wherein the two-step recesses comprise a first step recess formed on the first floor surface and a second step recess formed on a floor surface of the first step recess.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a medium projection detection mechanism that detects a projection on the surface of a recording medium. The medium projection detection mechanism has a discharging electrode, a capacitor, and an input line and an output line that are connected to the discharging electrode. The discharging electrode is configured to receive a voltage applied through the input line, and the capacitor is configured to store electric charge by the applied voltage. The output line is connected to a projection detection processing system and is connected to the charging electrode and the projection detection processing system to detect the location of the projection that is a detection target by detecting voltage change that is caused by discharging between the discharging electrode and the projection when the projection is detected.

Abstract: A tonearm includes an arm wand having a pivot location on a longitudinal axis of the tonearm. A magnetic element is coupled to the arm wand and aligned with the pivot location. The magnetic element is arranged for correcting the azimuth of the tonearm on the fly via magnetic field communication with another magnetic element.

Abstract: A low hysteresis pivot bearing suitable for a variety of applications. The relationship between torque and angular displacement is substantially linear, with negligible residual hysteresis. The pivot bearing includes a stationary shaft and at least one intermediate member pivotally connected to the stationary shaft by an intermediate member bearing. At least one outer sleeve is pivotally connected to the intermediate member by an outer sleeve bearing. At least one rotary actuator angularly displaces the intermediate member relative to the stationary shaft.

Abstract: Laser beam irradiation areas are provided in a load curve portion and an angle adjustment portion of a suspension. The laser beam irradiation areas are oriented in a direction in which the suspension is to be bent. A laser beam having a predetermined length and a predetermined shape is irradiated onto each laser beam irradiation area.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a multilayered nonmagnetic underlayer is provided under a perpendicular magnetic recording layer, which has a structure in which a nonmagnetic template layer consisting of ruthenium and silicon is formed between a first nonmagnetic underlayer consisting of one of ruthenium and a first ruthenium alloy sputtered in an inert gas ambient, and a second nonmagnetic underlayer consisting of one of ruthenium and a second ruthenium alloy sputtered in an inert gas ambient at a pressure higher than that when sputtering the first nonmagnetic underlayer.

Abstract: Provided are a head stack assembly (HSA) with reduced off-track, a hard disk drive including the HSA, and a method of reducing the off-track of the hard disk drive. The HSA includes a swing arm rotatably mounted on a base member of a hard disk drive (HDD); a connecting plate coupled to a front edge of the swing arm; a suspension coupled to the connecting plate to vibrate finely; a pair of hinges disposed on both sides of a center line of the suspension to connect the connecting plate to the suspension; a piezoelectric material layer including a piezoelectric material which is disposed on only one hinge of the pair of hinges, wherein the hinge is closer to a center of a disk in the HDD than the other is; and a head slider that is a recording or reproducing medium of data mounted on the front edge of the suspension.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes: a detection surface that receives a magnetic field to be detected; a free layer made of a ferromagnetic material, having an end face located in the detection surface, and exhibiting a change in magnetization direction in response to the magnetic field to be detected; a pinned layer made of a ferromagnetic material, disposed away from the detection surface, and having a fixed magnetization direction; and a coupling portion made of a nonmagnetic material and coupling the free layer to the pinned layer. The coupling portion includes a nonmagnetic conductive layer that allows electrons to be conducted while conserving their spins.

Abstract: A wiring connecting structure for a piezoelectric actuator includes a terminal 57-1, a through hole 67 formed through the terminal 57-1, a first liquid stopper 69-1 arranged around the through hole 67 in a gap between the terminal 57-1 and a common electrode 19 of a piezoelectric element 13 of the piezoelectric actuator, and a liquid trap 73 arranged adjacent to the first liquid stopper 69-1. The terminal 57-1 faces the common electrode 19 with an electric insulating layer 61 being on the piezoelectric element 13 side and the first liquid stopper 69-1 being in the gap between the common electrode 19 and the terminal 57-1. A liquid conductive adhesive 79 is filled in the through hole 67. If there is an excess of the liquid adhesive 79, the excess is guided into a trapping space 77 of the liquid trap 73, to prevent the excess from oozing out.

Abstract: The head gimbal assembly includes a slider and a micro-actuator assembly sharing power for the micro-actuator assembly to aid in positioning the slider and for an amplifier included in the slider to generate an amplified read signal when the slider read accesses data on a rotating disk surface included in a hard disk drive. The slider includes a read-write head providing a read differential signal pair to an amplifier to generate an amplified read signal reported when read accessing a rotating disk surface near the slider, which includes a read head employing a spin valve or employing a tunneling valve. Hard disk drive including a head stack assembly, which includes at least one of the head gimbal assemblies. Manufacturing the head gimbal assembly, the head stack assembly, and the hard disk drive, as well as these items as products of the invention's manufacturing processes.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a storage device includes: ahead actuator configured to move a head to an arbitrary position on a disk medium; a write/read module configured to write data to or read data from the disk medium using the head; an adjustment region selector configured to divide the disk medium into a plurality of regions in a circumferential direction, write test data to each of the regions, read the test data to measure signal quality of the each of the regions, compare the signal quality of the each of the regions, and select a parameter adjustment region; and a parameter adjustment module configured to adjust a parameter used for the write/read module to write data to and read data from the disk medium to an optimal value using the selected parameter adjustment region.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element 13 has a common electrode 19 that receives electricity from a terminal 57. The terminal 57 has a through hole 67 and an electric insulating layer 61. The piezoelectric element 13 is arranged so that the common electrode 19 faces the electric insulating layer 61 of the terminal 57. A liquid stopper 69 is formed around the through hole 67 so as to come between the common electrode 19 and the terminal 57 when the common electrode 19 and terminal 57 are set to face each other. A liquid conductive adhesive 71 is injected into the through hole 67 to fill a gap defined by the liquid stopper 69 between the terminal 57 and the common electrode 19 and secure electric connection between the terminal 57 and the common electrode 19. This configuration improves the reliability of wiring to the piezoelectric element and prevents the piezoelectric element from being damaged.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium suppresses effectively side erasure even when recording dot intervals are reduced. Magnetic dots and a soft magnetic layer are provided on a soft magnetic underlayer with a nonmagnetic layer intervening, so that magnetic dots are separated by the soft magnetic layer, and consequently leakage flux during recording to magnetic dots is absorbed by the soft magnetic layer, side erasure can be suppressed, and moreover the soft magnetic underlayer and soft magnetic layer are separated, so that an influence on recording/reproduction characteristics can be prevented.

Abstract: An aspect of the embodiments relates to a magnetic head assembly. The magnetic head assembly includes a suspension comprising an attachment surface, a bent section that extends generally vertically from the attachment surface, and a suspension comprising a first plurality of terminals attached on the bent section; and a head slider comprising a tracking surface, a fixed surface provided on an opposite side of the tracking surface, a lateral side that extends generally perpendicularly between the fixed surface and the tracking surface, and a second plurality of terminals attached on the lateral side, wherein the first plurality of terminals is opposed and connected electrically to the correspondent second plurality of terminals, with the fixed surface of the head slider fixed onto the attachment surface of the suspension.

Abstract: A recording head for use in magnetic storage devices is disclosed. The recording head includes a transducer that is bi-directionally movable with respect to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, thereby enabling improved positioning of the transducer during recording head read and write operations. Various structures are disclosed to bi-directionally actuate the recording head transducer. In one embodiment, an interleaver assembly having a plurality of flexure assemblies employs a motor including magnetic portions for selective, bi-directional actuation. In another embodiment, electrostatic charges are employed in the flexure assemblies for selective actuation. In yet another embodiment, piezoelectric elements are included to provide for selective actuation.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider disposed opposite to a surface of a magnetic disk, includes a slider main body, a magnetic head element that reads and reproduces data from the magnetic disk, and a vibration absorbing unit that absorbs vibrations generated due to contact between any portion of the slider main body and the surface of the magnetic disk, and that is provided on the slider main body at a predetermined position.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive includes a magnetic head, a magnetic disk, an actuator for changing the position of the magnetic head with respect to the magnetic disk, a sensor for detecting vibration of the magnetic head; and a controller for detecting contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk on the basis of the detected vibration and for controlling the actuator.

Abstract: A micro-actuator used in HGA of the disk drive unit is provided. The micro-actuator comprises a metal frame which includes a base piece and two opposite arms extending from the base piece, in which at least two pieces of thin film PZT are attached to the side surface(s) of each one of said two opposite arms respectively in such a manner that the displacement of each arm is increased due to the superposition effect when each arm displaces together with the thin film PZT attached thereon in response to drive signal(s) applied to the thin film PZT. Since at least two pieces of thin film PZT are attached on the side surface(s) of each arm, an increased displacement of the arms can be achieved due to the superposition effect.

Abstract: A suspension assembly for use with a disk drive having a disk and a slider. The suspension assembly includes a gimbal for receiving the slider. The suspension assembly further includes a shape memory actuator coupled to the gimbal. The shape memory actuator is formed of a shape memory metal material configured to deform in response to a dc input for selectively moving the slider towards and away from the disk.

Abstract: The head gimbal assembly includes a slider and a micro-actuator assembly sharing power for the micro-actuator assembly to aid in positioning the slider and for an amplifier included in the slider to generate an amplified read signal when the slider read accesses data on a rotating disk surface included in a hard disk drive. The slider includes a read-write head providing a read differential signal pair to an amplifier to generate an amplified read signal reported when read accessing a rotating disk surface near the slider, which includes a read head employing a spin valve or employing a tunneling valve. Hard disk drive including a head stack assembly, which includes at least one of the head gimbal assemblies. Manufacturing the head gimbal assembly, the head stack assembly, and the hard disk drive, as well as these items as products of the invention's manufacturing processes.

Abstract: A suspension for a HGA includes a base plate, a flexure having a suspension tongue for holding a slider, a load beam, and a hinge that are assembled together; wherein a strengthening plate is formed on the suspension tongue to increase stiffness of the suspension tongue. So the invention enable the use of the suspension with lower pitch and roll stiffness while preventing the suspension deformation. This ensures the slider mounted on the suspension have a good flying performance. The invention also discloses a HGA with such a suspension and a disk drive unit having such an HGA.

Abstract: A moving mechanism using a piezoelectric actuator is attached by an adhesive with adhesive parts of a constant area between a piezoelectric element and a slider and between the piezoelectric element and a suspension. A movable part, serving as the slider, is moved by the piezoelectric actuator. A support part, serving as a gimbal part of a suspension, supports the piezoelectric actuator. At least one of the movable part and the support part is fixed to the piezoelectric element. At least one of the piezoelectric element, the movable part and the support part has a bonding surface that is defined by a level difference.

Abstract: A device for accessing data stored on a medium includes a substrate that has a transducer on a back side, a bottom side facing the disc, and a surface that protrudes from the bottom side. An insulation layer is placed on top of the surface. An electrostatic actuator electrode is placed on top of the insulation layer. The electrostatic actuator electrode faces the medium across an electrostatically charged portion of an air layer. The electrostatic actuator electrode protrudes above the surface into the electrostatically charged portion of the air layer.

Abstract: A disk substrate for a perpendicular magnetic recording medium is formed, on a substrate, with a soft magnetic underlayer and a nonmagnetic underlayer. The nonmagnetic underlayer is made of an amorphous material containing Cr as a main component. A perpendicular magnetic recording disk is constituted by forming a perpendicular magnetic recording layer on the magnetic disk substrate.

Abstract: A method is provided for planarization of structures which minimizes step heights, reduces process steps, improves cleanliness, and provides increased ease of debond. Structures are placed with working surfaces facing down onto an adhesive layer such that structures remain fixed during heating. A bi-layer encapsulating film is used to achieve planarization. A carrier is bi-laminated with a thermoplastic film layer followed by a chemically inert protective polymer film layer that can withstand etch and cleaning processes. The thermoplastic layer is laminated on top of the carrier; the polymer layer is laminated on top of the joined thermoplastic layer and carrier. The carrier with bi-layer film is then placed onto the backside of the structures to resist chemical attack from the front side during photostrip and enable planarization. When heat is applied, the bi-layer encapsulating film melts and pushes the polymer layer into the gaps between structures thereby achieving complete planarization.