Combined With Inductive Write Head In Piggyback/merged Configuration Patents (Class 360/317)
  • Patent number: 7536775
    Abstract: A method for sample preparation. The method includes mechanically polishing portions of an insulating layer over a main pole of a recording head embedded within a sample structure. The insulating layer is polished top down in planar layers perpendicular to an air bearing surface adjoining the main pole. The method also includes selectively wet etching the remaining portions of the insulating layer to expose the main pole, wherein the insulating layer surrounds the main pole. Etching is made without damaging the main pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Phillip J. Peterson, Monica L. Vargas
  • Patent number: 7536777
    Abstract: Methods and structures for the fabrication of perpendicular thin film heads are disclosed. Prior to the deposition of shield structures, capped seed layers having a dual layer structure are utilized, improving photo resist adhesion and plated shield adhesion, without the need to deposit, then remove, traditional inorganic anti-reflection coatings prior to shield plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hieu Lam, Patrick Rush Webb, Yi Zheng
  • Patent number: 7536778
    Abstract: A method of fabrication is disclosed for a slider having sites for fabrication of a continuous coil having a set of front coils and a set of back coils and a center tab, where the slider includes underpass leads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Amanda Baer, Tsung Yuan Chen, David Patrick Druist, Edward Hin Pong Lee
  • Publication number: 20090128964
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a wrap around magnetic shield. The method allows a highly accurate short wavelength such as 193 mm photolithography to be used to accurately define the placement and critical dimension of wrap around magnetic shield. The method includes the formation of a magnetic write pole, top gap, and side gap and the deposition of a RIEable fill layer thereover, and CMP to planarization. A 193 nm photolithography and ion milling is used to form a mask over the RIEable layer and one or more reactive ion etching processes are performed to pattern the RIEable layer through 193 nm photolithography mask. A wrap around shield can then be electroplated into the opening formed in the RIEable layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Hung-Chin Guthrie, Ming Jiang, Changqing Shi, Sue Siyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7530159
    Abstract: A method is presented for fabricating a write pole for a magnetic recording head, wherein a photoresist layer is formed on a wafer stack. A target P2 pole configuration is provided, and a photomask having a pattern is produced, and the pattern is transferred to the photoresist to create a patterned photoresist having at least one photoresist channel. A layer of photoresist channel shrinking film used to produce a reduced width photoresist channel in an expanded photoresist. A P2 pole tip is formed within the reduced width photoresist channel. The P2 pole tip is then compared to the target P2 pole configuration to identify distortions, which are then used to produce a distortion-corrected photomask. The distortion-corrected photomask is then used to produce a distortion-corrected expanded photoresist, which is then used to produce a distortion-corrected P2 pole tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kim Y. Lee, Jyh-Shury Lo
  • Patent number: 7525770
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head capable of shortening a manufacturing time and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. After forming a write gap layer by using a non-magnetic conductive material such as copper, a top pole is formed on the write gap layer by growing a plating film with the write gap layer used as a seed layer. Unlike the case where the write gap layer is formed by using a non-magnetic insulating material such as alumina, a step of newly forming a seed layer aside from the write gap layer and a step of selectively removing the newly formed seed layer become unnecessary. Therefore, the number of manufacturing processes is reduced, and the manufacturing time of the thin film magnetic head is shortened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoto Matono
  • Patent number: 7523550
    Abstract: A method for forming a via in an alumina protective layer on a structure such as a magnetic write head for use in perpendicular magnetic recording. A structure such as a magnetic pole, and or magnetic trailing shield, is formed over a substrate and is covered with a thick layer of alumina. The alumina layer can then be planarized by a chemical mechanical polishing process (CMP) and then a mask structure, such as a photoresist mask, is formed over the alumina layer. The mask structure is formed with an opening disposed over the contact pad. A reactive ion mill is then performed to remove portions of the alumina layer that are exposed at the opening in the mask, thereby forming a via in the alumina layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Amanda Baer, Hamid Balamane, Michael Feldbaum, Ming Jiang, Aron Pentek
  • Patent number: 7523543
    Abstract: A magnetic memory device may include a digit line on a substrate, a first insulating layer on the digit line, and a magnetic tunnel junction memory cell on the first insulating layer so that the first insulating layer is between the digit line and the magnetic tunnel junction memory cell. A second insulating layer may be provided on the magnetic tunnel junction memory cell, wherein the second insulating layer has a hole therein exposing portions of the magnetic tunnel junction memory cell. A bit line may be provided on the second insulating layer and on portions of the magnetic tunnel junction memory cell exposed by the hole in the second insulating layer, and ferromagnetic spacers may be provided on sidewalls of at least one of the digit line and/or the bit line. Related methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-Rae Byun, Sung-Lae Cho
  • Patent number: 7520048
    Abstract: A giant magnetoresistive (GMR) head is formed to include a recess in an overcoat layer that reduces stress on the poles. The process includes depositing a seed layer over the overcoat layer prior to plating a metal mask layer with an opening where the recess is to be formed, wet chemical etching the seed layer through the opening in the mask layer and performing an ion milling process to remove any remaining traces of the seed layer. With the seed layer completely removed, a trench having smooth sidewalls and bottom is etched in the overcast layer by a reactive ion etch (RIE) process. The saw that is used to separate the head elements in the wafer can be passed through the clean trench without contacting the overcoat layer, thereby avoiding the chipping and cracking that might otherwise result from the use of a silicon dioxide or silicon nitride overcoat layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yunxiao Gao, Aron Pentek, Alan J. Tam, Sue Siyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7511921
    Abstract: Techniques for reducing adjacent track erasure include: a bucking coil having a lower number of turns than the write coil for bucking out a portion of the field induced by the write coil; a hybrid solenoid coil that includes turns that are in a pancake arrangement and turns that are in a solenoid arrangement; a P2 write pole tip with an increasing amount of flare as the distance from the ABS increases; a notch along an edge of the ABS surface of the P1 write pole adjacent to a tooth that extends closest to the P2 write pole; a back notch adjacent to the tooth on the P1 write pole that has a width generally corresponding to the width of the tooth; and a layered structure on the pole tip of the P1 write pole adjacent to the tooth, the layers having at least one of decreasing amounts of saturation magnetization, decreasing amounts of permeability, or alternating layers of magnetic and nonmagnetic material, where the width of the magnetic and nonmagnetic layers is controlled or the characteristics of the magnetic
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Mallary, Mourad Benakli
  • Patent number: 7509729
    Abstract: A method for making a write pole in a perpendicular magnetic recording write head uses a metal mask to pattern the primary resist and only ion milling during the subsequent patterning steps. A layer of primary resist is deposited over the magnetic write pole material and a metal mask layer is deposited on the primary resist layer. An imaging resist layer is formed on the metal mask layer and lithographically patterned generally in the desired shape of the write pole. Ion milling without a reactive gas is then performed over the imaging resist pattern to pattern the underlying metal mask layer, which is then used as the mask to define the shape of the primary resist pattern. Ion milling with oxygen is then performed over the metal mask pattern to pattern the underlying primary resist. Ion milling without a reactive gas is then performed over the primary resist pattern to form the underlying write pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Donald G. Allen, Amanda Baer, Michael Feldbaum, Hung-Chin Guthrie, Aron Pentek
  • Patent number: 7506430
    Abstract: The problem of increased edge sensitivity associated with the reduction of the spacing between bias magnets in a CPP head has been solved by limiting the width of the bias cancellation layer and by adding an extra layer of insulation to ensure that current through the device flows only through its central area, thereby minimizing its edge reading sensitivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jei-Wei Chang, Koichi Terunuma, Youfeng Zheng, Kochan Ju
  • Patent number: 7506432
    Abstract: A lower shield layer is formed by being embedded in a first recess formed in an under layer. Accordingly, the distance between the lower shield layer and a slider can be reduced. Also, a second metal layer is formed from above a gap layer covering an electrode extracting layer over above the under layer hindwards therefrom. Accordingly, the second metal layer can be brought closer to the slider side than an upper shield layer. Consequently, the thermal dissipation effects of the thin-film magnetic head can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Sato, Hideki Gochou, Hisayuki Yazawa
  • Patent number: 7506431
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method allows the write head to be formed with a write pole having a concave trailing edge. The method further allows the amount of concavity of the trailing edge to be accurately and carefully controlled both within a wafer and between wafers. A write pole is formed using a mask that includes a hard mask, a RIEable layer and an endpoint detection layer. A layer of non-magnetic material (ALD layer) is deposited, and then, an ion milling process is used to remove a portion of the ALD layer disposed over the write pole and mask. A reactive ion etch process is performed to remove the RIEable layer leaving the ALD layer to form non-magnetic side walls with upper portions that extend above the write pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wen-Chien David Hsiao, Yimin Hsu, Vladimir Nikitin, Aron Pentek, Yi Zheng
  • Patent number: 7500302
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention recite a process for fabricating a write gap structure for a magnetic recording head. In one embodiment, at least one layer of inert material is deposited which is disposed proximate to the P2 pole of a magnetic recording head. A layer of magnetic material is deposited which is disposed between the layer of inert material and the P1 pedestal (P1P) of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, a second layer of inert material is deposited which is disposed between the layer of magnetic material and the P1P of the magnetic recording head. In embodiments of the present invention, the throat height of the write gap structure is defined wherein the layer of magnetic material and the inert layer only overlie a portion of the P1 pedestal of the magnetic recording head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wen-Chien Hsiao, Terence Lam, Yinshi Liu, Michael Yang, Samuel Yuan
  • Patent number: 7497009
    Abstract: A main pole forming method is provided. The main pole forming method includes etching an exposed side face of a main pole layer, and the plated foundation film, thereby defining a recording track width. The method also includes etching the nonmagnetic insulating layer, and reattaching a material repelled from the nonmagnetic insulating layer to the side face of the main pole layer and a side face of the plated foundation film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7493688
    Abstract: A method for providing a magnetic recording transducer is disclosed. The method includes providing a first pole having front and rear portions and a back gap on the rear portion. The method also includes providing an insulator on the first pole. The method includes providing a write gap and providing a portion of a second pole on at least the write gap. A portion of the write gap resides on the front portion of the first pole. A portion of the insulator covers a portion of the first pole between the portion of the second pole and the back gap. The method also includes providing a mask that covers the back gap and exposes the portion of the second pole and the insulator. The method also includes performing a pole trim that can substantially remove the portion of the insulator covering the remaining portion of the first pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Liping Ren, Yingjian Chen, Christopher T. Ngo, Ming Zhao
  • Patent number: 7492555
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin-film magnetic head structure comprises the steps of preparing an insulating layer 10; forming a first resist layer 51 provided with a first slit pattern 51a corresponding to a very narrow groove part and a second slit pattern 51b corresponding to a temporary groove part integrally extending from the very narrow groove part along outer edges of a main depression onto the insulating layer 10; etching the insulating layer 10 while using the first resist layer 51 as a mask; eliminating the first resist layer 51; forming a second resist layer having an opening pattern corresponding to the main depression onto the insulating layer 10; and etching the insulating layer 10 while using the second resist layer as a mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Ito, Takehiro Kamigama, Tatsushi Shimizu, Hironori Araki, Shigeki Tanemura, Kazuo Ishizaki
  • Patent number: 7486485
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention prevent a decrease in magnetization or demagnetization from occurring to recording magnetization regardless of a direction in which a stray field is applied. In one embodiment, an apparatus for data storage system comprises a head having a magnetic field shield in the vicinity of a main pole, and a cover of the device, using a constituent material with a magnetic field shielding effect, across the cover, or at part thereof. When a stray field in a direction perpendicular to a recording medium is applied, the effect of the magnetic field is alleviated by the magnetic field shield installed in the vicinity of the main pole. In such a case, it need only be sufficient to form the magnetic field shield in a shape optimum for removing the stray field in the perpendicular direction only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Takehiko Hamaguchi, Yoshihisa Kamo, Hideaki Maeda, Yukiya Shimizu, Ikuya Tagawa, Tetsuo Yuki
  • Patent number: 7483243
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a magnetic head which prevents data on a recording medium from being erased even when a stray field is applied. In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a perpendicular write head having a main pole and an auxiliary pole; and a read head having a lower shield, an upper shield and a magneto-resistive element formed between the lower shield and the upper shield. At least one of the auxiliary pole, lower shield and upper shield has a recessed portion, whose height in an element height direction is lower than the height of edges thereof in a track width direction, on a surface opposite to the air bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fukui, Yoji Maruyama, Masafumi Mochizuki, Kaori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7472470
    Abstract: A main magnetic pore layer is formed on an insulating layer flattened into a high-flatness surface, and a yoke layer having a large film thickness is formed under the main magnetic pole layer independently of the main magnetic pole. The main magnetic pole layer has a front end surface formed in a shape with a width size gradually increasing in a direction of track width as the front end surface departs farther away from an auxiliary magnetic pole layer. A perpendicular magnetic recording head can be provided which can suppress the occurrence of fringing in a recording pattern, and can form the main magnetic pole layer with high pattern accuracy, and can satisfactorily introduce a recording magnetic field to a fore end of the main magnetic pole layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Hisayuki Yazawa, Hideki Gochou, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Minoru Yamada, Kiyoshi Sato, Toshinori Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7472471
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording that includes a pole layer and a pole-layer-encasing layer. The method includes the steps of: forming a nonmagnetic layer that will be formed into the pole-layer-encasing layer; forming a polishing stopper layer on the top surface of the nonmagnetic layer, the polishing stopping layer being made of a nonmagnetic conductive material and having a penetrating opening with a shape corresponding to the plane geometry of the pole layer; forming a groove in the nonmagnetic layer by selectively etching a portion of the nonmagnetic layer exposed from the opening; forming a magnetic layer to be the pole layer such that the groove is filled; and polishing the magnetic layer until the polishing stopper layer is exposed, so that the magnetic layer is formed into the pole layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hironori Araki, Shigeki Tanemura, Takehiro Horinaka
  • Patent number: 7469467
    Abstract: A perpendicular write head includes a main pole comprising a Durimide/Alumina hard mask formed over a laminate layer process to form the main pole without using a liftoff or chemical mechanical polishing process, thereby avoiding rounding corners of the pole, the main pole being controlled in shape for improved control of critical dimension of track width and angle of the bevel to avoid undesirable adjacent track writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yunxiao Gao, Hung-Chin Guthrie, Ming Jiang, Sue Siyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7469468
    Abstract: A read/write head for a disk drive having a shorting conductor from a shield of the read element to a conductor that runs from the write element to an external electrical contact pad. This allows for the measurement of the electrical isolation between the read sensor and the read shield via the external contact pads. Such a capability allows the electrical isolation to be measured both during the lapping process and subsequent to the heads being diced into separate sliders. This shorting conductor may be in the form of an internal shorting stud or in the form of an interim conductor that passes through the parting zone between adjacent heads. In the latter case, the shorting conductor is broken when the heads are diced so that a head of this embodiment can only be measured for electrical isolation prior to dicing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph W. Cross, Chris Broussalian
  • Patent number: 7467461
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method includes the formation of a write pole over a substrate. A non-magnetic side gap layer is deposited and an ion milling is used to remove a portion of the substrate to lower the floor of the substrate. A sacrificial fill layer can then be deposited. A chemical mechanical polishing process can be used to remove the mask structure remaining as a remnant of the formation of the write pole, and then the sacrificial fill layer can be removed. A non-magnetic, electrically conductive material can be deposited to form a tailing gap, an a magnetic material can then be deposited to form a wrap around trailing shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Christian Rene Bonhote, Quang Le, Neil Leslie Robertson, Petrus Antonius Van Der Heijden
  • Patent number: 7464457
    Abstract: Methods for forming write heads. One method includes forming a mask layer above a pole tip layer; forming a layer of resist above the mask layer; patterning the resist; removing portions of the mask layer not covered by the patterned resist; shaping a pole tip from the pole tip layer; depositing a layer of dielectric material above the pole tip and flux shaping layer, wherein the layer of dielectric material extends about adjacent to the mask layer; depositing a stop layer over the dielectric material, the stop layer abutting the mask layer; and polishing for forming a substantially planar upper surface comprising the mask layer and stop layer. Another method includes depositing a layer of dielectric material at least adjacent the pole tip, wherein the layer of dielectric material extends about adjacent to the mask layer. A further method includes forming dishing in the pole tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Edward Hin Pong Lee, Jui-Lung Li, Aron Peniek, Nian-Xiang Sun
  • Patent number: 7466516
    Abstract: A slider having a lead circuitry configured to minimize capacitive coupling between leads in a slider having a read head, a write head and an extra device such as a heater element. The leads are configures so that wherever a pair of leads cross one another, they do so at right angles or at nearly right angles. The leads can cross one another at angles of between 45 and 135 degrees, but preferably cross one another at an angle of about 90 degrees. The leads are electrically insulated from one another by a dielectric material formed between them. By crossing a pair of leads at right angles to one another, the overlapping area between the leads is minimized, thereby minimizing the capacitive coupling between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Lille
  • Patent number: 7464456
    Abstract: A slider separating method includes bonding a row bar containing a plurality of slider-forming portions to a bonding surface of a cutting fixture along a side surface that extends in its length direction; cutting the row bar bonded on the cutting fixture into individual sliders along cutting gaps provided between the slider-forming portions; decreasing bonding force between each diced slider and the bonding surface; and separating the sliders with decreased bonding force from the cutting fixture by pushing each slider along a side direction being parallel to the bonding surface and perpendicular to the length direction and holding and receiving the slider to a slider tray having recesses formed therein which is partitioned according to the sliders. The method can reliably and efficiently separate a row bar containing a plurality of slider-forming portions into individual sliders without depending upon size or arrangement pitch of the sliders and hold these sliders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sae Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuji Fujii, ChunFei Cheung
  • Patent number: 7464458
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic write head having a notched, self aligned trailing shield for canting a magnetic field emitted therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Aron Pentek
  • Publication number: 20080297952
    Abstract: To provide a thin-film magnetic head which suppresses PE while securing magnetic recording capability by controlling a domain of a leading end part of a main magnetic pole layer. The first flare part has a first flare angle smaller than a second flare angle of the second flare part. The second flare angle is smaller than 90°. The auxiliary yoke layer has a flare angle not smaller than the first flare angle but not greater than the second flare angle. The length h from the medium-opposing surface of the pole straight part to the end on the deeper side in the height direction of the first flare part satisfies the following conditional expression: h×Bs<0.000008[m·T] where Bs is the saturated magnetic flux density of the main magnetic pole layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi KAMEDA, Hisayuki YAZAWA
  • Publication number: 20080291581
    Abstract: A magnetic recording and reading device includes a magnetic recording medium having at least one magnetic recording layer, a magnetic head enabling a data transfer rate of more than 50 MB/s and a recording density of more than 5 Gb/in2 on the magnetic recording medium, and a R/W-IC. The magnetic head includes a recording head and a reading head. The at least one magnetic recording layer contains (1) at least one metal element selected from a first group consisting of Co, Fe and Ni as a primary component, and (2) at least two elements selected from a second group consisting of Cr, Mo, W, V, Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr, Hf, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ir and Si.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Shiroishi
  • Patent number: 7454828
    Abstract: A method for measuring recession in a wafer undergoing an asymmetrical ion mill process. The method includes the formation of first and second reference features and possibly a dummy feature. The reference features are constructed such that the location of the midpoint between them is unaffected by the asymmetrical ion mill. By measuring the distance between a portion of the dummy feature and the midpoint between the reference features, the amount of recession of the dummy feature can be measured. The measurement can be used to calculate the relative location of the flare to the read sensor rear edge through overlay information. By keeping the angles of the sides of the features steep (ie. nearly parallel with the direction in which the ion mill is asymmetrical) the amount of material consumed on each of the reference features is substantially equal and the midpoint between the reference features is substantially stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sukhbir Singh Dulay, Justin Jia-Jen Hwu, Thao John Pham
  • Patent number: 7453671
    Abstract: A magnetic head comprising for reading data from magnetic media includes a first magneto-resistive (MR) reader and a second MR reader. Both of the MR readers are either anisotropic magneto-resistive (AMR) readers or giant magneto-resistive (GMR) readers. The MR readers are tuned to sense magnetic flux differently such that the magnetic head is capable of reading two different types of magnetic media. The magnetic head may be configured such that the readers share sensor shields in various configurations in order to carry out their reading functions. The magnetic head may further include a writer. In this case, the magnetic head may be configured such that the writer and the readers share sensor shields in various configurations in order to carry out their writing and reading functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Stoarge Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Nibarger, Francis X. Campos
  • Patent number: 7444741
    Abstract: Biasing schemes used for CIP GMR devices were previously thought to be impractical for CPP devices due to current shunting by the abutted hard magnets. In the present invention the CPP stripe is a narrow conductor directly above the free layer. The resistivity of the latter is made to be relatively high so the sensing current diverges very little as it passes through it. This makes it possible to use abutted hard magnets for longitudinal bias with virtually no loss of sensing current due to shunting by the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Guo, Li-Yan Zhu
  • Patent number: 7444740
    Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a pole for a magnetic recording head. The method and system include providing an insulator and fabricating at least one hard mask on the insulator. The at least one hard mask has an aperture therein. The method and system also include removing a portion of the insulator to form a trench within the insulator. The trench is formed under the aperture. The method and system further include depositing at least one ferromagnetic material. The pole includes a portion of the ferromagnetic material within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Ki Sup Chung, Kyusik Sin, Danning Yang, Yingjian Chen, Brant Nease
  • Patent number: 7441325
    Abstract: A perpendicular write head including a main pole and a trailing shield, the main pole being made of a diamond-like carbon (DLC) layer as hard mask and a rhodium (Rh) layer as shield gap, both DLC and Rh layers being CMP stop layers so as to avoid corner rounding and damage from chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) process, the DLC layer being removed by reactive ion etching (RIE) to create a trench, the trailing shield being deposited into the trench for self alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Yunxiao Gao, Hung-Chin Guthrie, Ming Jiang, Sue Siyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7440238
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head capable of satisfying both assurance of recording performance and assurance of reproduction performance. In the case where a lower magnetic layer is formed of an iron cobalt alloy (for example, Fe65Co35) which contains iron in a range of 60 at % to 80 at % and has extremely high saturation magnetic flux density of 2.4 T or higher, a head isolation layer formed of ruthenium (Ru) is provided between the lower magnetic layer and an upper read shield layer portion. As compared with the case where the head isolation layer is not provided between the lower magnetic layer and the upper read shield layer portion, the strength of a recording magnetic field increases and a reproduction output of an MR element is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Hirata, Kiyoshi Noguchi, Atsushi Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7440237
    Abstract: In a thin film magnetic head of the present invention, lead formation patterns of a first lead for connection between a lower shield layer and a first extraction electrode portion and a second lead for connection between an upper shield layer and a second extraction electrode portion are each formed so as not to have an overlapping portion with a heatsink layer but to bypass the heatsink layer when observing from the upper shield layer side toward the lower shield layer in a transparent state in plan view. Therefore, it is possible to increase an effect of heat radiation to the substrate side on the basis of the presence of the heatsink layer to thereby limit propagation of heat to a magnetoresistive effect layer as much as possible and further to achieve a drastic improvement in recording and reproducing characteristics at high recording frequencies, i.e. frequency characteristics (f characteristics) in a high frequency region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Kasahara, Nozomu Hachisuka
  • Publication number: 20080253034
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a perpendicular magnetic write head which can suppress unintended erasure of information written on a write medium at a non-writing time by optimizing a magnetic domain structure of main component elements that are engaged in writing operation. In the perpendicular magnetic write head, an auxiliary magnetic pole layer is disposed on a trailing or leading side of a main magnetic pole layer, the auxiliary magnetic pole layer being recessed from the main magnetic pole layer. When the main magnetic pole layer has a tensile stress as its internal stress, a nonmagnetic layer disposed in a layer same as the auxiliary magnetic pole layer and in an area in front of the auxiliary magnetic pole layer, also has a tensile stress as its internal stress.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicants: TDK CORPORATION, SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Matono, Noriaki Kasahara, Shin Narushima, Takamitsu Sakamoto, Koichi Otani
  • Patent number: 7436633
    Abstract: A parasitic capacity C4 generated between a slider substrate and the first shield layer with the first insulating layer as a capacity layer is made substantially equal to a parasitic capacity C2 occurring between a lower magnetic layer and the second shield layer with the third insulating layer as a capacity layer. Preferably, a connection is made between the lower magnetic layer and the slider substrate by a resistance of preferably 100 (?) or lower. Thus, it is possible to provide a thin-film magnetic head that can hold back deterioration in a reproducing device and the occurrence of errors due to crosstalk between a recording device and the reproducing device and extraneous noises.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kiyono, Tetsuya Kuwashima, Takeo Kagami, Noriaki Kasahara, Naoki Ohta, Nozomu Hachisuka
  • Patent number: 7418778
    Abstract: A CPP thin-film magnetic head includes a bottom shield layer; a top shield layer, the bottom shield layer and the top shield layer being disposed at a predetermined interval; a thin-film magnetic head element between the bottom shield layer and the top shield layer; an insulating layer behind the thin-film magnetic head element in the height direction and disposed between the bottom shield layer and the top shield layer; and a metal layer in the insulating layer, the top shield layer including a first top shield sublayer on the thin-film magnetic head element; and a second top shield sublayer behind the first top shield sublayer in the height direction, the second top shield sublayer and the bottom shield layer being conductively connected through the metal layer, wherein a current flows in the direction orthogonal to a surface of a layer constituting the thin-film magnetic head element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 7400474
    Abstract: A magnetic tape head having an array of reader/writer pairs formed on a common substrate, each reader/writer pair being configured in a piggyback configuration such that the writer and reader of each pair are aligned in a direction parallel to a relative direction of media travel thereover. Each reader comprises a first shield, a second shield, a sensor positioned between the shields, and leads coupled to the sensor. Each writer comprises a first pole and a second pole. A charge clamp circuit electrically couples at least one of the reader shields to at least one of the leads. An electrical conductor operatively electrically couples the at least one of the shields to at least one of the poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Glenn Biskeborn, Peter VanderSalm Koeppe
  • Patent number: 7400473
    Abstract: A disk drive includes a rotatable storage disk, a suspension, and a slider assembly. The slider assembly includes a slider body, a first slider deformer and a second slider deformer. Activation of the first slider deformer deforms the slider body, and activation of the second slider deformer deforms the slider body. Further, the slider deformers can be independently controllable. The read element is positioned near the first slider deformer and the write element is positioned near the second slider deformer. Activation of the first slider deformer adjusts a read head-to-disk spacing of the read element and activation of the second slider deformer adjusts a write head-to-disk spacing of the write element. Further, activation of the first slider deformer does not significantly influence the write head-to-disk spacing and activation of the second slider deformer does not significantly influence the read head-to-disk spacing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas J. Krajnovich, Erhard Schreck, Kaz Saito, Don Brunnett
  • Patent number: 7398591
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method of a thin-film magnetic head whereby re-deposition and an overlapped part in a region of a magnetoresistive effect multi-layered structure opposite to an air bearing surface can be removed and also a width of a free layer can be narrowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Kagami, Takayasu Kanaya, Noriaki Kasahara, Kazuki Sato
  • Patent number: 7398592
    Abstract: This invention describes a manufacturable method, including a CMP liftoff process, for removing masking materials after ion milling for fabricating the write pole of a magnetic head. Significant parameters for the CMP assisted liftoff process include the thickness of the remaining mask materials after the write pole ion milling for effective CMP assisted liftoff, the thickness of the dielectric fill material deposited to protect the write pole during the CMP liftoff step, and the type of CMP slurry, polishing pad and the polishing conditions that are required to yield satisfactory results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Quang Le, Jui-Lung Li
  • Patent number: 7395595
    Abstract: A method for forming a P3 layer with NiFe and alumina mask using resist shrink process for use in perpendicular magnetic write heads. The method includes forming a laminated layer, forming an alumina layer on top of the laminated layer, depositing a conductive layer onto the laminated layer, forming a plating frame on a gap layer. The plating frame has a trench defined by plating track, the alumina, laminated and conductive layers each including an area below the trench. The method further includes shrinking the trench, plating NiFe into a portion of the shrunk trench, stripping the plating frame, removing the conductive layer except the conductive layer formed below the trench, removing the alumina layer except the alumina layer formed below the trench, removing the laminated layer except the laminated layer formed below the trench and patterning the laminated layer formed below the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Kim Yang Lee, Jyh-Shuey Lo, Yi Zheng
  • Patent number: 7397625
    Abstract: A magnetic head structure having enhanced protrusion and having a first pole structure, a second pole structure forming a yoke with the fist pole, a coil structure disposed in the yoke, and a layer of partially cured polymer operatively coupled to the yoke. Also disclosed is a magnetic head having a first pole structure, a second pole structure forming a yoke with the fist pole, a coil structure disposed in the yoke, and a layer of at least partially insulative material operatively coupled to the read and/or write head for providing enhanced protrusion, the at least partially insulative material having a coefficient of thermal expansion higher than a coefficient of thermal expansion of fully cured hard bake novalac. Further embodiments include disk drive systems having the head structures described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Lille
  • Patent number: 7397634
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for manufacturing a coil structure for a magnetic head. Initially, an insulating layer is deposited with a photoresist layer deposited on the insulating layer. Moreover, a silicon dielectric layer is deposited on the photoresist layer as a hard mask. The silicon dielectric layer is then masked. A plurality of channels is subsequently formed in the silicon dielectric layer using reactive ion etching (i.e. CF4/CHF3). The silicon dielectric layer is then used as a hard mask to transfer the channel pattern in the photoresist layer using reactive ion etching with, for example, H2/N2/CH3F/C2H4 reducing chemistry. To obtain an optimal channel profile with the desired high aspect ratio, channel formation includes a first segment defining a first angle and a second segment defining a second angle. Thereafter, a conductive seed layer is deposited in the channels and the channels are filled with a conductive material to define a coil structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Daniel Wayne Bedell, Richard Hsiao, James D. Jarratt, Patrick Rush Webb, Sue Siyang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7392579
    Abstract: A slider mounted CPP GMR or TMR read head sensor is protected from electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage and from noise and cross-talk from an adjacent write head by means of a balanced resistive/capacitative shunt. The shunt includes highly resistive interconnections between upper and lower shields of the read head and a grounded slider substrate and a low resistance interconnection between the lower pole piece of the write head and the substrate. The capacitances between the pole piece and the upper shield, the upper shield and the lower shield and the lower shield and the substrate are made equal by either forming the shields and pole piece with equal surface areas and separating them with dielectrics of equal thicknesses, or by keeping the ratio of area to insulator thicknesses equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignees: Headway Technologies, Inc., SAE Magnetics (HK) Ltd.
    Inventors: Eric Cheuk Wing Leung, Anthony Wai Yuen Lai, Pak Kin Wong, David Hu, Moris Dovek, Rod Lee
  • Patent number: 7394619
    Abstract: An inductive write head has its write poles and write gap oriented to generate magnetic fields in the cross-track direction on a magnetic recording disk in a disk drive. The disk has the magnetizations in the concentric data tracks oriented in the cross-track direction with the concentric data tracks magnetically separated from each other by guard bands. The write head may have an erase pole and an erase gap to generate magnetic fields in an along-the-track direction on the sides of the data tracks, with the along-the-track magnetizations serving as the guard bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Vladimir Nikitin