Detail Of Magnetic Shielding Patents (Class 360/319)
  • Patent number: 8000063
    Abstract: A magneto-resistive element includes a lower magnetic shield film and a magneto-resistive film disposed above the lower magnetic shield film. The lower magnetic shield film includes a lower shield layer and an upper shield layer. The upper shield layer is amorphous or microcrystalline, made of a NiFe or CoFe composition containing B or P, and deposited on the lower shield layer. The lower shield layer is a magnetic conductive layer which is amorphous or microcrystalline with a crystal grain size equal to or less than 20 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Yamaguchi, Kei Hirata, Satoshi Miura, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Kiyoshi Noguchi
  • Publication number: 20110194213
    Abstract: In some examples, a system comprising a data storage member including a magnetic storage medium, the magnetic storage medium having a plurality of magnetic bit domains aligned on at least one data track, where a transition boundary between respective magnetic bit domains defines a transition curvature. The system may further comprise a magnetic read head including a first shield layer, a second shield layer, and a read sensor stack provided proximate to the first and second shield layers, where the magnetic read head senses a magnetic field of each of the plurality of magnetic bit domains according to a read playback sensitivity function. In some examples, the shield layers and read sensor stack may be configured to provide a reader playback sensitivity function that substantially corresponds to the shape of the respective magnetic bit domains.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kaizhong Gao, Xilin Peng, Zhongyan Wang, Yonghua Chen
  • Patent number: 7995311
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic shield composed of size-controlled small crystal grains and provide a more after-write read noise free thin film magnetic head. According to one embodiment of the present invention, an upper magnetic shield uses a multi-layered magnetic film formed by alternately stacking a face-centered cubic (fcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer and a body-centered cubic (bcc) crystalline magnetic thin layer by plating. The plating bath is such that the temperature is 30±1° C., pH is about 2.0?1.0 to 2.0+0.5, metal ion concentrations are about 5 to 25 (g/l) for Ni2+ and 5 to 15 (g/l) for Fe2+, saccharin sodium concentration is about 1.5±1.0 (g/l), sodium chloride concentration is about 25±5 (g/l), and boric acid concentration is about 25±5 (g/l). Each layer's crystal structure is different from that of its upper and lower layers, which results in size-controlled small crystal grains since the epitaxial growth is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands BV
    Inventors: Kazue Kudo, Gen Oikawa, Yohji Maruyama, Noriyuki Saiki, Hiromi Shiina
  • Patent number: 7990659
    Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a substrate; a sensor formed above the substrate; a second shield formed above the sensor and the substrate; a first insulation layer positioned between the substrate and the sensor; a second insulation layer positioned between the sensor and the second shield; and a nonmagnetic, non-electrically insulative layer formed between the substrate and the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Glenn Biskeborn, Calvin Shyhjong Lo, Jason Liang, Teya Topuria
  • Publication number: 20110181988
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming a magnetic shield in which all domain patterns and orientations are stable and which are consistently repeated each time said shield is exposed to an initialization field. The shield is given a shape which ensures that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to the initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to one another. Most, though not all, of these shapes are variations on trapezoids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Glen Garfunkel, Moris Dovek, Kenichi Takano, Joseph Smyth, Yuchen Zhou
  • Patent number: 7983009
    Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic recording/reproducing system constructed such that until the skew angle is past the maximum skew angle ?max, the edges of the write shield layer and the edges of the lower read shield layer do not overlap on the same track, so that upon application of an external magnetic field, the already written signals are kept back from degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Norikazu Ota, Tetsuya Roppongi
  • Patent number: 7983010
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head according to the present invention is composed of a first magnetic layer having a main magnetic pole exposed at a facing surface opposite a recording medium, a second magnetic layer adjacent to the first magnetic layer with an intermediary non-magnetic layer disposed therebetween, and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the first magnetic layer. Since the second magnetic layer has a shape including a substantially arched portion in its cross section along a height direction, it becomes possible to keep an Edge Write magnetic field in a low level and improve external magnetic field resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Toma, Hiroshi Kameda, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Toru Takahashi, Sumihito Morita
  • Patent number: 7978438
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head provided with at least one MR read head element includes a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer, and an MR layer formed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. A profile of the upper shield layer, appeared at an ABS, has obtuse or rounded upper corners at end edges of the upper shield layer along a track-width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Ohta, Kosuke Tanaka, Takayasu Kanaya, Kazuki Sato, Yasufumi Uno, Tetsuya Kuwashima
  • Patent number: 7974048
    Abstract: The invention provides a magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, having a magneto-resistive effect unit, and a first shield layer and a second shield layer located and formed such that the magneto-resistive effect unit is sandwiched between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shimazawa, Daisuke Miyauchi, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Takahiko Machita, Shinji Hara
  • Patent number: 7961437
    Abstract: Magnetic recording heads and associated methods of fabrication are disclosed. A magnetic recording head has a first shield and a magnetoresistance (MR) read element formed on the first shield. The first shield has a shield height that is defined by a distance between the air bearing surface (ABS) of the recording head and a back edge of the first shield that is opposite the ABS. The MR read element has a stripe height that is defined by a distance between the air bearing surface (ABS) of the recording head and a back edge of the MR read element that is opposite the ABS. The magnetic recording heads as disclosed herein have a stripe height that is greater than the shield height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventor: David J Seagle
  • Patent number: 7961438
    Abstract: The invention provides a magnetoresistive device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magnetoresistive unit, and a first shield layer and a second shield layer which are located and formed such that the magnetoresistive unit is sandwiched between them with a sense current applied in a stacking direction. The magnetoresistive unit comprises a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed such that the nonmagnetic intermediate layer is sandwiched between them. The first shield layer and the second shield layer are each controlled by magnetization direction control means in terms of magnetization direction to create an antiparallel magnetization state where their magnetizations are in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tomohito Mizuno, Koji Shimazawa, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7957105
    Abstract: A shield in a magnetic reader includes a magnetic layer having a first surface and a second surface. The magnetic layer includes at least one aperture that extends through the magnetic layer from the first surface to the second surface. Apertures can be provided in both the top shield and bottom shield of the magnetic reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Mourad Benakli
  • Patent number: 7952838
    Abstract: A read head for a rotating magnetic storage system including concentric tracks is disclosed. The read head comprises a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor that reads information from a read track of the magnetic storage medium. First and second shields have a length greater than two tracks in a track width direction and define a gap therebetween, wherein the MR sensor is arranged in the gap. Inner magnetic portions of the first and second shields are spaced a first distance from the read track. Outer magnetic portions of the first and second shields are spaced a second distance from adjacent tracks to the read track, wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Marvell Intenational Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Sato, Yasuyuki Ito
  • Patent number: 7948716
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes: a coil; a pole layer; a shield having an end face located in a medium facing surface forward of an end face of the pole layer along a direction of travel of a recording medium; a gap layer between the shield and the pole layer; and a substrate on which the foregoing elements are stacked. The top surface of the pole layer includes: first and second portions with a difference in height therebetween; and a third portion connecting the first and second portions to each other. The first portion has an edge located in the medium facing surface, and the second portion is located farther from the medium facing surface and from the substrate than the first portion. The magnetic head further includes a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the second portion and the gap layer. The nonmagnetic layer has a surface touching the second portion, the surface having an edge located at the boundary between the second and third portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignees: SAE Magnetics (H.K.) Ltd., TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Naoto Matono, Koichi Otani, Tatsuya Harada, Noriaki Kasahara, Takamitsu Sakamoto, Hiroaki Kawashima, Hirotaka Gomi, Kenkichi Anagawa, Norikazu Ota
  • Publication number: 20110116195
    Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a write pole and a first permanent magnet. The write pole has a write pole tip, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side and a second side. The first permanent magnet is located either at the trailing edge of the write pole, the first side of the write pole or at the second side of the write pole. The first permanent magnet has a magnetization orientation that is changed in relation to a field of the write pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Alexandru Cazacu, Mark Anthony Gubbins
  • Publication number: 20110109998
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a read sensor for a recording head for a magnetic media storage system, has first and second shields, and a magneto-resistive sensor disposed between and shielded by the first and second shields in which the sensing axis of the sensor is tilted with respect to the recording surface of the head. In one embodiment, the sensing axis is oriented at an angle between 10 and 60 degrees with respect to the normal of the recording surface. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: David Berman, Robert G. Biskeborn, Michel Despont, Philipp Herget, Wayne Isami Imaino, Pierre-Olivier Jubert, Peter V. Koeppe, Chandrasekhar Narayan
  • Publication number: 20110109999
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for a magnetic shield structure for data transduction from a recordable media in a data storage device. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a data transducer and a magnetic shield structure comprising a write shield magnetic material constructed of exchange decoupled material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Mourad Benakli, Kirill Rivkin, Kaizhong Gao, James Wessel, Ming Sun, Ibro Tabakovic, Mark Thomas Kief
  • Patent number: 7933095
    Abstract: A magnetic head includes a pole layer and a shield. The shield includes a shield layer having a front end face located in the medium facing surface at a position forward of an end face of the pole layer along a direction of travel of the recording medium. The magnetic head further includes a stopper layer for suppressing protrusion of the front end face of the shield layer, the stopper layer being disposed adjacent to the shield layer and made of a nonmagnetic material having a linear thermal expansion coefficient of 5×10?6/° C. or smaller at a temperature of 25° C. to 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Sasaki, Hiroyuki Itoh, Hironori Araki, Takehiro Horinaka, Kowang Liu, Erhard Schreck
  • Publication number: 20110090603
    Abstract: The invention discloses a MAMR head that has the STO stack placed at the trailing side of the write element, with both STO and write element completely self-aligned in the cross track direction. A method for defining both the MP and the STO stack geometries in a single step is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventor: Zhigang Bai
  • Publication number: 20110085261
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes an upper magnetic shield, a lower magnetic shield,a magnetoresistive element having a magnetization-free layer formed therein formed between the shields, an upper magnetic shield restricting part formed on a medium facing surface side, a lower magnetic shield restricting part formed on the medium facing surface side, and a non-magnetic part formed between the upper and lower magnetic shield restricting parts on the medium facing surface side such that the magnetoresistive element is not exposed at the medium facing surface. The non-magnetic part is positioned such that a distance between the upper and lower magnetic shield restricting parts in a direction perpendicular to a plane of deposition is smaller than a distance between the upper and lower magnetic shields in the direction perpendicular to the plane of deposition near the medium facing surface. Other systems and heads are disclosed as well.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Naoto Ito, Kaori Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7916430
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a lower magnetic shield layer, an MR multi-layered structure formed on the lower magnetic shield layer so that current flows in a direction perpendicular to surfaces of laminated layers, an upper magnetic shield layer formed on the MR multi-layered structure, and an additional lower magnetic shield layer directly laminated on the lower magnetic shield layer outside both side ends in a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure. The additional lower magnetic shield layer is directly contacted with both side surfaces in a track-width direction of the MR multi-layered structure. A top surface of the additional lower magnetic shield layer is positioned higher in height than a top surface of the lower magnetic shield layer in a region where the MR multi-layered structure is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Kagami, Takayasu Kanaya
  • Patent number: 7914916
    Abstract: High magnetic moment films FeCo(X, Y), where X is a transition metal element and Y is a rare earth element are formed using off-axis static deposition techniques. The films have tunable magnetic anisotropy from 0 Oe to greater than 500 Oe that are thermally stable beyond nominal photoresist curing temperatures. By using off-axis static deposited FeCo(X, Y) films as seed layers to normally deposited FeCo films, inplane anisotropy and the magnetic moment can be controlled for specific design needs. Epitaxial-like growth (column-to-column matching) from the off-axis static FeCo(X,Y) seed layers to normally deposited FeCo films is attributed to sustained anisotropy in the entire film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Venkateswara Rao Inturi, Mark Thomas Kief
  • Patent number: 7916429
    Abstract: A magnetic field detecting element comprising: a stack including an upper and magnetic layer, a lower magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched therebetween, an upper and lower shield electrode layer provided in a manner that they sandwich said stack therebetween in a direction of stacking of the stack, wherein the upper and lower shield electrode layer supply sense current in the direction of stacking and magnetically shield the stack; a bias magnetic layer provided on a surface of the stack, the surface being opposite to an air bearing surface of said stack, and insulating films provided on both sides of the stack with regard to a track width direction thereof. The bias magnetic layer has a larger thickness than the stack, and the upper shield electrode layer and/or said lower shield electrode layer includes an auxiliary shield layer which fills a stepped portion formed by the stack and bias magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Miyauchi, Takahiko Machita
  • Publication number: 20110069417
    Abstract: An MR element in a CPP structure includes an MR part configured with a nonmagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer that functions as first free layer and a second ferromagnetic layer that functions as a second free layer, and first and second ferromagnetic layers are laminated to sandwich the nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a sense current flows in a lamination direction of the MR part, an orthogonalizing bias function part, which influences a substantial orthogonalization function for magnetization directions of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer, is formed on the rear side the MR part, side shield layers are disposed on both sides in the width direction of the MR part, the side shield layers are perpendicular magnetized layers with a magnetic shield function, and magnetization directions of the perpendicular magnetized layers are in an orthogonal direction that corresponds to the thickness direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Kawamori, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Daisuke Miyauchi, Takahiko Machita
  • Publication number: 20110058283
    Abstract: In a read-write head, the shields can serve as magnetic flux conductors for external fields, so that they direct a certain amount of flux into the recording medium. This problem has been overcome by the addition to the shields of a pair of tabs located at the edges closest to the ABS. These tabs serve to prevent flux concentrating at the edges so that horizontal fields at these edges are significantly reduced. Said tabs need to have aspect ratios of at least 2 and may be either triangular or rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the tabs may be omitted and, instead, outer portions of the shield's lower edge may be shaped so as to slope upwards away from the ABS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Lijie Guan, Moris Dovek
  • Patent number: 7903371
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a first magnetic layer having a main magnetic pole exposed at a medium-facing surface that faces a recording medium; a second magnetic layer that faces the first magnetic layer with a nonmagnetic layer interposed therebetween; and a coil layer for applying a recording magnetic field to the first magnetic layer. The second magnetic layer includes a relatively thick edge portion, whereby the edge-write magnetic field is reduced and the external magnetic field resistance is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Toma, Hiroshi Kameda, Kiyoshi Kobayashi, Toru Takahashi, Sumihito Morita, Toshinori Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20110051291
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes first and second shield layers that are positioned on both sides of a magnetoresistive (MR) stack with respect to a film surface orthogonal direction; a first exchange-coupling layer that is positioned between the MR stack and the first shield layer and that generates an exchange-coupling between a first magnetoresistive (MR) magnetic layer and a first magnetic control layer of the first shield layer; a second exchange-coupling layer that is positioned between the MR stack and the second shield layer and that generates an exchange-coupling between a second magnetoresistive (MR) magnetic layer and a second magnetic control layer of the second shield layer; a bias magnetic field application layer that is disposed at an opposite surface of the MR stack from an air bearing surface (ABS) and that applies a bias magnetic field to the MR stack in a direction orthogonal to the ABS; and pair of side shield layers that are positioned at both sides of the MR stack with respect to a tra
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daisuke Miyauchi, Keita Kawamori, Takahiko Machita
  • Patent number: 7898773
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) head is fabricated with a pole tip shielded laterally by a separated pair of side shields and shielded from above by an upper shield. The side shields are formed by a RIE process using specific gases applied to a shield layer through a masking layer formed of material that has a slower etch rate than the shield material. A masking layer of Ta, Ru/Ta, TaN or Ti, formed on a shield layer of NiFe and using RIE gases of CH3OH, CO or NH3 or their combinations, produces the desired result. The differential in etch rates maintains the opening dimension within the mask and allows the formation of a wedge-shaped trench within the shield layer that separates the layer into two shields. The pole tip is then plated within the trench and, being aligned by the trench, acquires the wedge-shaped cross-section of the trench. An upper shield is then formed above the side shields and pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherng-Chyi Han, Min Li, Fenglin Liu, Jiun-Ting Lee
  • Patent number: 7881019
    Abstract: A magnetic structure for use in a magnetic head for avoiding stray field writing. The magnetic structure can be for example a magnetic shield or could be a magnetic pole of a write head and is particularly advantageous for use in a perpendicular recording system, because such perpendicular recording systems are especially susceptible to stray field writing. The magnetic structure includes a forward protruding portion that extends toward the air bearing surface (ABS) of the head also includes first and second wing portions that extend laterally from the forward protruding portion. The wing portions each have includes an inner constant recess portion, and an outer tapered portion. The inner constant recess portion of each wing prevents stray field writing while also preventing magnetic saturation, the outer tapered portions, which taper away from the ABS as they extend laterally outward, further prevent stray field writing by removing the outer corners of the shield away from the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wen-Chien David Hsiao, Yimin Hsu, Ming Jiang, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Patent number: 7876534
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive device comprising a magnetoresistive unit, an upper shield layer and a lower shield layer stacked such that the magnetoresistive unit is held between them. The magnetoresistive unit comprises a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer, a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked with the nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer in the middle. When no bias magnetic field is applied, the first and second ferromagnetic layers have mutually antiparallel magnetizations. The magnetoresistive unit further comprises first and second side shield layers, and first and second biasing layers located to be magnetically coupled to the first and second side shield layers, wherein magnetic fluxes fed from the bias magnetic fields pass through the first and second side shield layers positioned in proximity to the magnetoresistive unit such that the magnetizations of the first and second ferromagnetic layers become substantially orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tsutomu Chou, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya, Daisuke Miyauchi, Kiyoshi Noguchi
  • Patent number: 7874062
    Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head according to one embodiment comprises forming a shield layer having first and second recesses in first and second end regions which surround a central region; depositing first and second lead layers in the first and the second recesses; and forming a read sensor in the central region such that a first edge of the read sensor is positioned above an edge of the first lead layer and a second edge of the read sensor is positioned above an edge of the second lead layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Hugo Alberto Emilio Santini
  • Patent number: 7876535
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive device of a CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure includes a magnetoresistive unit sandwiched between a first substantially soft magnetic shield layer from below, and a second substantially soft magnetic shield layer from above, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction. The magnetoresistive unit includes a non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between a first ferromagnetic layer, and a second ferromagnetic layer. At least one of the first and second shield layers is configured in a window frame of a planar shape, including a front frame-constituting portion and a back frame-constituting portion partially comprising a combination of a nonmagnetic gap layer with a bias magnetic field-applying layer. The combination of the nonmagnetic gap layer with the bias magnetic field-applying layer forms a closed magnetic path with magnetic flux going all the way around the window framework, turning the magnetization of the front frame-constituting portion into a single domain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Machita, Koji Shimazawa, Daisuke Miyauchi, Tsutomu Chou
  • Patent number: 7872835
    Abstract: Improved writability and a reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved in a PMR writer with a large flare angle of 45 and 90 degrees in the main write pole and a full side shield or partial side shield configuration around the narrow write pole section and write pole tip. A trailing shield is formed above the write pole's top surface and a full or partial side shield section is spaced a certain distance from each side of the write pole. The partial side shield has a thickness less than that of the write pole and a top or bottom surface about coplanar with the pole tip's top or bottom edge, respectively. The partial side shield may include two sections on each side of the write pole wherein the bottom surface of a top section is separated by a certain distance from the top surface of a bottom section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Lijie Guan
  • Patent number: 7872836
    Abstract: In a disk drive device in which low-density gas is sealed, embodiments of the present invention help to improve joint reliability at a solder joint section between a feedthrough and an enclosure with respect to stress applied by deformation due to changes in temperature environment in use. According to one embodiment, helium gas is sealed in an interior space of an HDD. A feedthrough is solder jointed to a feedthrough mounting surface of a base. At a part with relatively large thermal stress, a width of the feedthrough mounting surface is increased, and at a part with relatively small thermal stress, a width of the feedthrough mounting surface is decreased. This prevents a crack penetrating path from being generated at the solder joint section due to the thermal stress and prevents the solder joint section from contacting pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Shindo, Teruhiro Nakamiya, Kouki Uefume, Takako Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20110007429
    Abstract: A tunneling magneto-resistive reader includes a sensor stack separating a top magnetic shield from a bottom magnetic shield. The sensor stack includes a reference magnetic element having a reference magnetization orientation direction and a free magnetic element having a free magnetization orientation direction substantially perpendicular to the reference magnetization orientation direction. A non-magnetic spacer layer separates the reference magnetic element from the free magnetic element. A first side magnetic shield and a second side magnetic shield is disposed between the top magnetic shield from a bottom magnetic shield, and the sensor stack is between the first side magnetic shield and the second side magnetic shield. The first side magnetic shield and the second side magnetic shield electrically insulates the top magnetic shield from a bottom magnetic shield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Dimitar V. Dimitrov, Zheng Gao, Wonjoon Jung, Paul Edward Anderson, Olle Gunnar Heinonen
  • Publication number: 20110007427
    Abstract: A magnetic sensor assembly including first and second shields, and a sensor stack between the first and second shields. The sensor stack includes a seed layer adjacent the first shield, a cap layer adjacent the second shield, and a magnetic sensor between the seed layer and the cap layer, wherein at least one of the seed layer and the cap layer has a synthetic antiferromagnetic structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Jiaoming Qiu, Hao Meng, Yonghua Chen
  • Publication number: 20110007428
    Abstract: A magnetic writer comprises a surface, a write pole, a trailing shield and a gap. The write pole has a write pole tip proximate the surface. The trailing shield is proximate the surface and space away from the write pole. The gap is proximate the surface and located between the write pole tip and the trailing shield. The gap has an effective thickness. The gap comprises a first write gap and a synthesized low magnetization shield. The synthesized low magnetization shield is configured such that a magnetization of the synthesized magnetization shield adjacent the surface has a perpendicular component in an opposite direction to the magnetization of the write pole tip during a write operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Sharat Batra, Michael Mallary, Mourad Benakli
  • Patent number: 7869165
    Abstract: A magnetic field detecting element comprising: a stack including an upper magnetic layer, a lower magnetic layer and a non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched between said upper magnetic layer and said lower magnetic layer, wherein magnetization directions of said upper magnetic layer and said lower magnetic layer change in accordance with an external magnetic field; an upper shield electrode layer and a lower shield electrode layer which are provided in a manner that they sandwich said stack therebetween in a direction of stacking of said stack, wherein said upper shield electrode layer and said lower shield electrode layer supply sense current in the direction of stacking and magnetically shield said stack; a bias magnetic layer which is provided on a surface of said stack, the surface being opposite to an air bearing surface of said stack, wherein said bias magnetic layer applies a bias magnetic field to said upper magnetic layer and to said lower magnetic layer in a direction perpendicular to the air b
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Miyauchi, Takahiko Machita
  • Patent number: 7861400
    Abstract: Write heads and corresponding methods of fabrication are provided using multiple electronic lapping guides to collect information regarding multiple distances of a write head, such as a throat height and a flare point distance of a write pole. A method of fabricating a write head includes fabricating a write pole and a corresponding write pole ELG. The method further includes fabricating a trailing shield and a corresponding trailing shield ELG. The method further includes performing a lapping process on the write head, and monitoring a lapping depth of the lapping process based on the resistance of the write pole ELG and the resistance of the trailing shield ELG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Lille
  • Patent number: 7859797
    Abstract: Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a Current Perpendicular to the Plane—Giant Magnetoresistive (CPP-GMR) head exhibiting a high magnetoresistance (MR) ratio with a low area-resistance product. A lower shield is made up of a first shield layer/a crystalline reset layer/a second shield layer, and an amorphous material is used in at least a part of the crystalline reset layer, thereby controlling crystallinity of the second lower shield/the CPP-GMR head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Katsumi Hoshino, Hiroyuki Hoshiya, Yasuyuki Okada
  • Publication number: 20100321835
    Abstract: A magnetic writer includes a write pole, a first partial shield and a second partial shield. The write pole has a leading edge, a trailing edge, a first side and a second side. The first partial side shield is located on the first side of the write pole, and the second partial side shield is located on the second side of the write pole. The first partial side shield and the second partial side shield extend along side of the write pole from the trailing edge to a location intermediate that trailing edge and the leading edge so that the first partial side shield and the second partial side shield do not shield the leading edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Zhang, Mark T. Kief, Dion Song, Lijuan Zou, Charles E. Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 7848061
    Abstract: A current perpendicular to plane (CPP) magnetoresistive sensor having a free layer that is magnetically coupled with a magnetic shield, thereby providing the free layer with a large effective flux guide. Sensor performance is improved by virtually eliminating demagnetization fields at the back edge of the sensor. The free layer can be magnetically connected with the shield by a magnetic coupling layer or shunt structure that is disposed between the free layer and the shield behind the capping layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Wipul Jayasekara, Vladimir Nikitin
  • Patent number: 7848062
    Abstract: In a read-write head, the shields can serve as magnetic flux conductors for external fields, so that they direct a certain amount of flux into the recording medium. This problem has been overcome by the addition to the shields of a pair of tabs located at the edges closest to the ABS. These tabs serve to prevent flux concentrating at the edges so that horizontal fields at these edges are significantly reduced. Said tabs need to have aspect ratios of at least 2 and may be either triangular or rectangular in shape. Alternatively, the tabs may be omitted and, instead, outer portions of the shield's lower edge may be shaped so as to slope upwards away from the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lijie Guan, Moris Dovek
  • Publication number: 20100302688
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive effect head includes a lower magnetic shield provided on a substrate, a magnetoresistive effect film laminated from a pinned layer with a pinned direction of magnetization, an intermediate layer, a free layer having a varying direction of magnetization controlled by an applied external magnetic field, a magnetic domain control layer formed with an intervening insulation layer on both sides in a track width direction of the magnetoresistive effect film, an upper magnetic shield, and electrodes for directing sense current flow in a direction perpendicular to a film surface of the magnetoresistive effect film, wherein a magnetic field applied by the magnetic domain control layer to a region away from an ABS of the free layer is at least 1.4 times larger than a magnetic field applied by the magnetic domain control layer to a region near the ABS of the free layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Masato Shiimoto, Kan Yasui, Nobuo Yoshida, Hiroyuki Takazawa
  • Patent number: 7843667
    Abstract: Provided is a thin film magnetic head capable of suppressing an occurrence of a track erase, decreasing an influence on a magnetoresistive element caused by a magnetic flux generated from a thin film coil, and further decreasing the parasitic capacity. The thin film magnetic head has, in order in a stacked direction, a first magnetic shield layer, a magnetoresistive element, a second magnetic shield layer, a third magnetic shield layer, a main magnetic pole layer and a return yoke layer. A width in a track width direction of at least one of the first and the second magnetic shield layers is smaller than widths in a track width direction of the third magnetic shield layer and the return yoke layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kei Hirata, Norikazu Ota, Yuichi Watabe, Tetsuro Sasaki, Takeo Kagami, Tetsuya Roppongi, Kazuki Sato, Yuji Otsubo, Sohei Horiuchi, Yoshiaki Tanaka, Kenji Yokoyama, Noriaki Kasahara
  • Patent number: 7843668
    Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a first and a second shield, and an MR stack disposed between the shields. The MR stack includes a first and a second ferromagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer disposed between the ferromagnetic layers. The first and second ferromagnetic layers have magnetizations that are in directions antiparallel to each other when no external magnetic field is applied to the layers, and that change directions in response to an external magnetic field. An insulating layer is formed to touch a rear end face of the MR stack and the first shield, and a bias magnetic field applying layer is formed above the insulating layer with a buffer layer disposed in between. The bias magnetic field applying layer includes a hard magnetic layer and a high saturation magnetization layer. The high saturation magnetization layer is located between the rear end face and the hard magnetic layer, but not located between the first shield and the hard magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Machita, Kei Hirata, Koji Shimazawa, Daisuke Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 7826179
    Abstract: The invention provides a magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure, comprising a magneto-resistive effect unit, and an upper shield layer and a lower shield layer located with that magneto-resistive effect unit sandwiched between them, with a sense current applied in a stacking direction, wherein the magneto-resistive effect unit comprises a nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed with that nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer sandwiched between them, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer and said second ferromagnetic layer are exchange coupled via the nonmagnetic metal intermediate layer such that where there is no bias magnetic field applied as yet, their magnetizations are anti-parallel with each other, and at least one of the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer has an inclined magnetization structure with its magnetization inclining with respect to a track width direction
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shimazawa, Tsutomu Chou, Yoshihiro Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7821746
    Abstract: A magnetic head device includes a TMR sensor or a CPP GMR sensor. Shield layers are disposed in contact with the top and bottom of a sensor body. A sensing current is supplied to the sensor body through the shield layers. Lead layers are connected to the shield layers and extend to below conductive pads. Ends of the lead layers are electrically connected to the conductive pads via lifting layers. Heat-conducting layers are disposed below the ends of the lead layers. An insulating layer is formed between the heat-conducting layers and an end surface of a slider body to such a thickness that it does not obstruct heat transfer. Heat applied from a molten solder to the lead layers is released to the slider body through the heat-conducting layers. This prevents the shield layers from being heated to high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Tomohiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 7821745
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is provided. The thin-film magnetic head includes a return-yoke layer formed on an opposed surface such that a maximum length of the return-yoke layer is shorter than a longer length of the length of the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer. The length sets in the range of 0 to 2 ?m, and more preferably 2 ?m. Accordingly, magnitudes of leakage magnetic fields leaked from each front end surface of return-yoke layer, the upper shield layer, and the lower shield layer toward the record medium are balanced and reduced. An advantage of the invention is to provide a thin-film magnetic head so as to prevent a record data recorded in a record medium from being erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kameda, Yusuke Touma
  • Patent number: 7817381
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head comprises a lower magnetic shield layer and an upper magnetic shield layer which are mutually opposed in the layering direction, a magnetoresistance effect element having a free layer, and a bias-applying layer which applies a bias magnetic field to the magnetoresistance effect element. The free layer is positioned between the lower magnetic shield layer and the upper magnetic shield layer, and is positioned on the side of the media-opposed surface. The bias-applying layer has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion. The first portion and the second portion are positioned at a distance in the track width direction so as to enclose the magnetoresistance effect element therebetween. The third portion is positioned either between the magnetoresistance effect element and the lower magnetic shield layer or between the magnetoresistance effect element and the upper magnetic shield layer, and connects the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Ohta, Kosuke Tanaka, Kazuki Sato