Magnetic Coating Patents (Class 427/128)
  • Patent number: 6977025
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming a monolayer of substantive particles including the steps of applying to a substrate a curable composition having substantive particles contained therein, the substantive particles having a particle size on at least one dimension thereof of at least 1 micrometer and being in two or more groups of different sizes; exposing the substantive particle-containing curable composition to a source of energy suitable for effecting polymerization of the curable composition for a sufficient time to effect polymerization of a layer of the curable composition having a thickness of no more than 50% of the height of the largest substantive particles; and optionally, removing uncured curable composition. The invention also provides a method of forming a monolayer of substantive particles in a non-random array where the curable composition comprises a ferrofluid composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Loctite (R&D) Limited
    Inventors: Ciaran Bernard McArdle, Rory Brian Barnes
  • Patent number: 6973712
    Abstract: A major problem in Lead Overlay design for GMR structures is that the magnetic read track width is wider than the physical read track width. This is due to high interfacial resistance between the leads and the GMR layer which is an unavoidable side effect of prior art methods. The present invention uses electroplating preceded by a wet etch to fabricate the leads. This approach requires only a thin protection layer over the GMR layer to ensure that interface resistance is minimal. Using wet surface cleaning avoids sputtering defects and plating is compatible with this so the cleaned surface is preserved Only a single lithography step is needed to define the track since there is no re-deposition involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Chao-Peng Chen, Kevin Lin, Jei-Wei Chang, Kochan Ju, Hui-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 6962753
    Abstract: In a composite magnetic body comprising soft magnetic powder dispersed in an organic binding agent and having an electromagnetic interference suppressing effect, powder excellent in thermal conductivity is further dispersed into the organic binding agent so as to provide a composite magnetic body excellent in thermal conductivity. This composite magnetic body may also be used as a heat dissipation sheet for an electronic device. Further, it may also constitute a heat sink having an electromagnetic interference suppressing effect. As the organic binding agent, thermoplastic polyimide or liquid crystal polymer can be cited. As the powder excellent in thermal conductivity, Al2O3, AlN, cubic BN, insulating SiC or a heat conductive reinforcement (capton) can be cited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: NEC Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeyoshi Yoshida, Mitsuharu Sato, Norihiko Ono
  • Patent number: 6959483
    Abstract: A recording head for use with magnetic recording media has an improved structure, made by a simplified manufacturing process. The electrically insulating materials within the recording head are inorganic. The insulating materials are vacuum deposited, with no need to use a hard bake process that would be required for use of organic insulators. In one embodiment, the write gap is first masked, and then the coil is deposited on the write gap. A slightly larger area is then exposed within the mask, permitting insulation to be deposited over the coil. In a second embodiment, the coil and associated insulation are deposited and then milled to have a tapered configuration. This recording head also places the writing pole on a very flat surface, thereby allowing plated or deposited films to be easily manufactured to correspond to narrow track widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Billy Wayne Crue, Michael Kevin Minor, Richard Joseph Bojko
  • Patent number: 6952866
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head which can exhibit a high-performance head characteristic without complicating the manufacturing procedure. A coil connection is integrated into one body and constituted part of the thin film coil. A connection middle pattern is provided on the coil connection at the time of forming a pole tip so that the position of the upper surface of the connection middle pattern becomes higher than that of the top pole tip. After the whole portion is covered by an insulating film, the connection middle pattern also can be exposed by polishing the surface of the insulating film until the top pole tip is exposed. Therefore, unlike the case where no connection middle pattern is provided, it is not necessary to form an opening by partially removing part of the insulating film. As a result, the number of manufacturing steps can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Makoto Yoshida, Taro Oike, Atsushi Iijima
  • Patent number: 6949266
    Abstract: Disclosed are medical devices having lubricious coatings which are capable of producing magnetic resonance image in the presence of a suitable magnetic field. The medical devices are easy to manipulate in body channels because of reduced friction with tissue surfaces and can be readily visualized in real time, which greatly facilitates the tracking of the medical devices while present within the bodies of humans or animals. The level of magnetic susceptible agent in the coatings of medical devices can be easily controlled by the present invention to give the desired performance. Coating processes to produce these medical devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Deborah Schachter, You-Ling Fan, Venceslav Rutar
  • Patent number: 6948231
    Abstract: The present invention presents a method for fabricating coil elements for magnetic write heads. A coil pattern is formed on a substrate using photolithographic techniques. The substrate is etched using reactive ion etching, creating a coil-shaped trench in the substrate. Thin film seed layers are deposited using ion beam deposition. The substrate is electroplated with metal filling the trenches with metal. The substrate is chemical mechanical polished to remove excess metal and planarize the air bearing surface of the write head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Hsiao, Quang Le, Paul P. Nguyen, Son Van Nguyen, Mustafa Pinarbasi, Patrick R. Webb, Howard G. Zolla
  • Patent number: 6944939
    Abstract: A GMR sensor having improved longitudinal biasing is provided as is a method of forming it. The improved biasing is provided by longitudinal biasing structures in which a soft magnetic layer is interposed between a hard magnetic biasing layer and the lateral edge of the GMR sensor element. The soft magnetic layer eliminates the need for a seed layer directly between the hard magnetic layer and the GMR element and provides improved coupling to the free layer of the GMR element and a substantial reduction in random domain variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yimin Guo, Li-Yan Zhu
  • Patent number: 6944937
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive read head which reduces electrostatic discharge and allows measurement of gap resistances in the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Richard Hsiao, James D. Jarratt, Emo Hilbrand Klaassen, Ian Robson McFadyen, Timothy J. Moran
  • Patent number: 6941643
    Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a magnetic lower core layer, a magnetic upper core layer, a coil layer, for inducing a recording magnetic field in the lower core layer and the upper core layer, formed so as to go around the base of the upper core layer, and a planarizing layer formed in the periphery of the lower core layer, excluding the section exposed to the air bearing surface, so that the surface of the planarizing layer is level with the surface of the lower core layer, the coil layer being formed from on the lower core layer to on the planarizing layer. A method of producing a thin film magnetic head is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 6941637
    Abstract: The method of manufacturing rare earth thick film magnet comprising a step of forming an alloy layer of 30-100 ?m thick having a general formula RXBYTMZ on a substrate by a physical deposition process, and a step of heat-treating the alloy layer to form a thick film magnetic layer having R2TM14B phase as a main phase. In the general formula, R is at least one of rare earth elements, B is boron, TM is iron or its alloy partly substituted by cobalt. X is 0.1-0.2, Y is 0.05-0.2 and Z=1-X-Y. Further, the method of the present invention includes a step of laminating a plurality of alloy layers formed on a substrate together with the substrate. A motor comprising rare earth thick film magnet of the present invention is extremely small while obtaining high output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Fukunaga, Masaki Nakano, Fumitoshi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6938325
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for fabricating electromagnetic meta-materials includes applying first and second array of electromagnetically reactive patterns to first and second non-conducting surfaces, wherein the first array includes at least one of a split ring resonator pattern, a square split ring resonator pattern, and a swiss roll pattern, and the second array includes a thin parallel wire pattern. The first and second non-conducting surfaces are joined together such that the first and second non-conducting surfaces bearing the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns are commonly oriented. Alternately, a method may further include slicing between elements of the first and second arrays of electromagnetically reactive patterns in a plane perpendicular to the first and second surfaces to form a plurality of slices, rotating at least one of the slices, and applying a third array of electromagnetically reactive patterns to a third non-conducting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Minas H. Tanielian
  • Patent number: 6935014
    Abstract: An electrode film and a protective electrode film are formed on an insulating film and a first magnetic film in turn. Then, a first photoresist layer, an intermediate layer and a second photoresist layer are formed on the protective electrode film in turn. The intermediate layer is formed by a sputtering method so that the surface temperature of the intermediate layer is set to 140° C. or below. Then, the first photoresist layer is exposed and developed, to fabricate a photoresist pattern. Then, the intermediate layer is partially etched and removed via the photoresist pattern as a mask by a reactive ion etching method using a chlorine-based gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuya Maekawa, Akio Iijima, Junichi Sato, Hiroyuki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 6928723
    Abstract: An exchange-coupled magnetic structure of a cobalt-ferrite layer adjacent a magnetic metal layer is used in magnetorestive sensors, such as spin valves or tunnel junction valves. The exchange-coupled magnetic structure is used in a pinning structure pinning the magnetization of a ferromagnetic pinned layer, or in an AP pinned layer. A low coercivity ferrite may be used in an AP free layer. Cobalt-ferrite layers may be formed by co-sputtering of Co and Fe in an oxygen/argon gas mixture, or by sputtering of a CoFe2 composition target in an oxygen/argon gas mixture. Alternatively, the cobalt-ferrite layer may be formed by evaporation of Co and Fe from an alloy source or separate sources along with a flux of oxygen atoms from a RF oxygen atom beam source. Magnetoresistive sensors including cobalt-ferrite layers have small read gaps and produce large signals with high efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Joseph Carey, Hoa Van Do, Robin Frederick Charles Farrow, Bruce Alvin Gurney, David Thomas Margulies, Ronald Franklin Marks, Philip Milton Rice, Ren Xu
  • Patent number: 6925702
    Abstract: A horizontal combined head is provided which has both a thin film write and an MR read element located at an air bearing surface (ABS). The read element can be formed with a track width that is independent of the track width of the write element. The MR sensor or the read element is separated from one of the first and second pole pieces of the write element by an insulation layer. Accordingly, the shields for the read element remain more stable after a write operation. In one embodiment of the present invention a single stripe MR sensor is employed while in a second embodiment a dual stripe MR sensor is employed. A method of the invention includes forming the dual MR stripe in a single process step so that the dual MR stripes of the dual MR sensor are near identical for implementing near absolute common mode rejection of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Mohamad Towfik Krounbi, Mark E. Re
  • Patent number: 6922128
    Abstract: A method for forming a spiral inductor (11) or component of a transformer, compatible with very large scale integrated processing, that achieves a higher Q value without occupying more space by splitting at least one turn (13 51) as two or more crisscrossing or interwoven smaller-width turns (13a 13b 52 53 54 55). The at least one turn (51) may, for example, be split into four turns paired up to provide two pairs of two turns, and the turns of each pair may then be interwoven or crisscrossed, and then the two pairs may also be interwoven or crisscrossed. The splitting of a turn into two or more smaller-width turns results in the current being divided among the smaller-width turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventors: Ari Vilander, Mikael Svard, Lassi Hyvonen
  • Patent number: 6920684
    Abstract: The fixed layers of all magnetoresistive elements that are formed on the same substrate are magnetized in the same direction. Chips including magnetoresistive elements are cut out individually from the substrate. A magnetic sensor is assembled by combining cut-out chips together with consideration given to the magnetization directions of the fixed layers of the magnetoresistive elements in the chips. In this manner, the fixed layers of the magnetoresistive elements are magnetized by a sufficiently strong magnetic field for magnetization, whereby an output signal having a large absolute value is obtained from the magnetoresistive elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuichi Shonai, Ichiro Tokunaga, Seiji Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6919138
    Abstract: A mixture of TiO2 and Co is placed in a vacuum chamber under selected oxygen pressure and irradiated in the vacuum chamber with a selected laser light to cause TiO2 and Co to evaporate from the target and a layer of TiO2-Co to epitaxially grow on a heated single crystal substrate. The titanium dioxide-cobalt magnetic film for use in a photocatalyst, a semiconductor material having optical, electrical and magnetic functions, and a transparent magnet. The film is expressed by Ti1-xCoxO2 where 0<x?0.3, and wherein a Ti atom at its lattice position is replaced with a Co atom. The film has anatase or rutile crystalline structure, has its band gap energy varying in a range between 3.13 eV and 3.33 eV, retains its magnetization even at a temperature higher than a room temperature, and is transparent to visible light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Japan Science and Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Hideomi Koinuma, Yuji Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 6915559
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an active element for use with a magnetic head includes depositing a magnetic material to form a magnetic member, and nitriding the magnetic member after the depositing step. Preferably, the depositing step comprises depositing nickel-iron alloy, and the nitriding step comprises plasma nitriding the magnetic member. Advantageously, plasma nitriding may be performed at a temperature below 300 degrees Celsius to avoid adverse effects to components of the active element, such as organic planars. Active elements manufactured according to the method of the invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2005
    Assignee: Storage Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bradford C. Schwartz, Steven C. Herrera
  • Patent number: 6913827
    Abstract: Particles have an ultrathin, conformal coating are made using atomic layer deposition methods. The base particles include ceramic and metallic materials. The coatings can also be ceramic or metal materials that can be deposited in a binary reaction sequence. The coated particles are useful as fillers for electronic packaging applications, for making ceramic or cermet parts, as supported catalysts, as well as other applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Colorado
    Inventors: Steven M. George, John D. Ferguson, Alan W. Weimer, Jeffrey R. Wank
  • Patent number: 6907655
    Abstract: A spin valve sensor is provided with a negative ferromagnetic coupling field ?HFC for properly biasing a free layer and a spin filter layer is employed between the free layer and a capping layer for increasing the magnetoresistive coefficient dr/R of the spin valve sensor. A top portion of the free layer is oxidized for improving the negative ferromagnetic coupling field ?HFC when the spin filter layer is employed for increasing the magnetoresistive coefficient dr/R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventor: Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Patent number: 6907654
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a spin valve film, which produces a large read out signal. After a completion of a film making process for forming a previous film of two films to be formed successively, but before an initiation of a film making process forming a succeeding film of the two the films, a step of decreasing an anisotropic magnetic field of the spin valve film is introduced by interrupting a film making process. This step may be performed by keeping a substrate within a sputtering vacuum chamber. The interruption can be shortened by exposing the substrate to a plasma, transferring the substrate in a separate vacuum chamber whose degree of vacuum is lower or whose H2O or O2 concentration is higher than that in the sputtering vacuum chamber, conducting a surface treatment with a gas containing H2O or O2, or flowing a process gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Hajime Amano, Hiroaki Takezutsumi, Tetsuro Sasaki, Jun-ichi Sato
  • Patent number: 6905761
    Abstract: A concentrated fine solid particle dispersion useful for forming a substantially photographically transparent magnetic recording layer is disclosed, comprising an organic solvent medium containing a dispersing agent and dispersed magnetic particles, wherein the magnetic particles are present at a concentration of at least 25% by weight and the organic solvent medium is comprised primarily of organic solvent selected from dimethyl succinate, dimethyl glutarate and dimethyl adipate. This invention provides a stable concentrated dispersion of magnetic particles useful for preparing substantially photographically transparent magnetic recording layers. A film-forming binder solution can be added to dilute the concentrated dispersion, which then can be applied to a support to form a transparent magnetic layer for a magnetic recording element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Robert O. James, Gregory W. Keyes, Lawrence A. Rowley, Daniel F. Hurley
  • Patent number: 6903904
    Abstract: In current synthetically pinned CPP SV designs, AP2 always makes a negative contribution to the device's GMR since its magnetization direction must be anti-parallel to the pinned layer (AP1). This effect has been reduced by replacing the conventional single layer AP2, that forms part of the synthetic pinned layer, with a multilayer structure into which has been inserted at least one layer of a material such as tantalum that serves to depolarize the spin of electrons that traverse its interfaces. The result is a reduction of said negative contribution by AP2, leading to a significant increase in the GMR ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Min Li, Kochan Ju, Simon Liao
  • Patent number: 6895657
    Abstract: A method for producing a slider for an optical head includes a slider member adapted for floating and running over a recording medium during recording and/or reproduction of information signals for the recording medium. An optical lens is bonded to the slider member and a magnetic field generator provided on a surface of the slider member carrying the optical lens facing the recording medium. A first step is forming a groove presenting a bottom surface inclined in the depth-wise direction by ejecting a polishing agent dispersed in a compressed gas on a substrate. A second step is charging an electrically conductive material, which proves a terminal electrically connected to the magnetic field generator in the inside of the groove formed in the substrate. A third step is cutting the substrate in the vicinity of an end of the groove to form a plurality of individual slider members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Akio Mishima, Toru Katakura
  • Patent number: 6896973
    Abstract: A recording medium manufacturing method has a surface treatment process which removes contamination from a surface of a thermoplastic resin support substrate and also improves its wettability. This surface treatment process is conducted prior to forming the layer structure, which includes at least a signal recording layer, onto the surface of the thermoplastic resin support substance. The support substance is placed in an active gas atmosphere, such as ozone, followed by an inert gas atmosphere, such as nitrogen. This surface treatment process generates little deterioration in the support substrate surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Sugata
  • Patent number: 6895658
    Abstract: A TMR element includes: a free layer formed on a lower gap layer; a tunnel barrier layer formed on the free layer; and a pinned layer formed on the tunnel barrier layer. The pinned layer and the tunnel barrier layer have sidewalls formed through etching. The TMR element further comprises a deposition layer made of a material that is separated by etching and deposits on the sidewalls and undergoes oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Shimazawa, Satoru Araki
  • Patent number: 6892442
    Abstract: The invention allows a thin-film magnetic head that meets specifications required by the customer to be provided in a short period of time and manufacturing costs to be reduced. A slider includes a first surface and a second surface each facing opposite directions. Two magnetic head element portions are formed in the slider near an end face orthogonal to the direction of air flow. One of the element portions is placed to face the first surface. The other element portion is placed to face the second surface. The element portions are placed in symmetrical positions with respect to a place parallel to the first and second surfaces. On the end face four pad-shaped electrodes are provided for electrically connecting the two element portions to an external device. The electrodes are selectively connected to any of the element portions through four conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Sasaki
  • Patent number: 6887355
    Abstract: A method for forming a trimmed upper pole piece for a magnetic write head, said pole piece having a uniform width above and below a write gap layer. Prior art methods of trimming pole pieces to a final width using ion-beam etches produce pole pieces with thickness differentials due to the etch resistant nature of the alumina write-gap filling material. The present method uses NiCr, NiFeCr or Ru as write gap filling materials which have an etch rate which is substantially equal to the etch rate of the other layers forming the pole piece and are highly corrosion resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherng-Chyi Han, Mao-Min Chen, Fenglin Liu
  • Patent number: 6881450
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method of magnetically linking a ferromagnetic object to a partially magnetized coating material made by applying a coating to a surface of a continuously-moving medium including the steps of providing a coating material by mixing a binder material suitable for being spread substantially and regularly over the surface and a ferromagnetic component, the binder material being a hot melt adhesive; providing a continuously-moving medium having a top surface to be substantially coated, the surface capable of receiving a substantially and regularly spread coating material; passing the coating material and continuously-moving medium between rollers to form a substantially constant thickness of the coating material substantially covering the top surface and allowing the coating material to set to form the coated medium as a magnetizable component, wherein the medium that is coated is one of a paper, a card, wallpaper, a flexible plastic sheet, a rigid plastic sheet, and walls; partially
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Claude Texier
  • Patent number: 6882509
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a SVGMR sensor element. In the first embodiment a buffer layer is formed between a seed layer and a ferromagnetic (FM) free layer, the buffer layer being composed of alpha-Fe2O3 having a crystal lattice constant that is close to the FM free layer's crystal constant and has the same crystal structure. The metal oxide buffer layer enhances the specular scattering. In the second embodiment, a high conductivity layer (HCL) is formed over the buffer layer to create a spin filter-SVGMR. The HCL layer enhances the GMR ratio of the spin filter SVGMR. The third embodiment include a pinned FM layer comprising a three layer structure of a lower AP layer, a space layer (e.g., Ru) and an upper AP layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jei-Wei Chang, Bernard Dieny, Mao-Min Chen, Cheng T. Horng, Kochan Ju, Simon Liao
  • Patent number: 6878445
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing a nanoparticle coated material, comprising a support and a nanoparticle layer formed on the support, wherein the nanoparticle layer contains nanoparticles comprising a CuAu type or Cu3Au type hard magnetic ordered alloy, and wherein the method satisfies at least one of the following conditions (i) and (ii): (i) the method comprises the steps of forming a shielding layer on the support before forming the nanoparticle layer; and (ii) a step of forming the nanoparticle layer comprises: the steps of applying a coating liquid containing nanoparticles capable of forming a CuAu type or Cu3Au type hard magnetic ordered alloy phase on the support to form a coating film; and irradiating laser light on the coating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Hattori, Koukichi Waki
  • Patent number: 6864042
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium is formed with a distribution of low coercivity regions functioning as a transition pattern for servo information capable of being sensed by a read/write head by exposing a masked magnetic layer to ions to change the coercivity of the exposed magnetic layer without substantially affecting the topography of the magnetic layer. Embodiments of the present invention include forming a series of substantially radially extending low coercivity regions used to divide the magnetic layer into a plurality of sectors comprising substantially concentric circumferentially extending data tracks by exposing a masked magnetic layer having a high coercivity, i.e. from about 2000 Oe to about 10000 Oe, to one or more heavy atom ion bombardments of gaseous ions, e.g. argon ions, at a dose of about 1×1013 atoms/cm2 to about 9×1015 atoms/cm2 having an implantation energy of about 10 KeV to about 50 KeV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: David Kuo, Xinwei Li, Jing Gui
  • Patent number: 6862798
    Abstract: A method of making a magnetic head assembly wherein the magnetic head assembly has a write head with a pole tip includes the steps of forming a shaping layer on an underlying layer wherein the shaping layer has a side surface and a top surface, ion beam sputter depositing a ferromagnetic material layer on the underlying layer and on the side and top surfaces of the shaping layer and removing first and second portions of the ferromagnetic material layer from the underlying layer and the top surface of the shaping layer, respectively, leaving a remaining portion of the ferromagnetic material layer on the side surface of the shaping layer which is the aforementioned pole tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: James Bernard Kruger, Benjamin Lu chen Wang, Patrick Rush Webb, Howard Gordon Zolla
  • Patent number: 6859997
    Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic write element for use in a magnetic data recording system such as a disk drive. The invention provides a method of manufacturing a well defined coil, which avoids the problem of shallow wall angle problems exhibited by prior art methods due to coil mask shrinkage during high temperature bake. A series of trenches are provided in the coil mask, the trenches being shallower than the coil pattern, and not extending completely through the coil pattern. During the high temperature baking process shrinkage of the coil mask will be absorbed by the trenches and not transferred to the coil pattern, preventing deformation of the coil wall portion of the mask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), Inc.
    Inventors: Lijun Tong, Kevin Lin, Joyce Hsiang, Yirong Hu
  • Patent number: 6857180
    Abstract: Patterned, longitudinally and transversely antiferromagnetically exchange biased GMR sensors are provided which have narrow effective trackwidths and reduced side reading. The exchange biasing significantly reduces signals produced by the portion of the ferromagnetic free layer that is underneath the conducting leads while still providing a strong pinning field to maintain sensor stability. In the case of the transversely biased sensor, the magnetization of the free and biasing layers in the same direction as the pinned layer simplifies the fabrication process and permits the formation of thinner leads by eliminating the necessity for current shunting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng T. Horng, Min Li, Ru-Ying Tong, Yun-Fei Li, You Feng Zheng, Simon Liao, Kochan Ju, Cherng Chyi Han
  • Patent number: 6857181
    Abstract: First, second and third pole tip components of a write head are formed with the second pole tip located between the first and third components and a write gap layer located between the first and second pole tip components. The second pole tip is formed with a width that defines a track width of the write head. The third pole tip component is formed with top and bottom surfaces wherein the bottom surface interfaces a top surface of the second pole tip component and has a width equal to the track width and wherein the top surface of the third pole tip has a width greater than the track width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jyh-Shuey (Jerry) Lo, Timothy J. Moran
  • Patent number: 6851178
    Abstract: One of the major requirements for higher frequency extendability is to reduce yoke length and inductance in order to have fast saturation. This has been accomplished by using a design that provides a cavity in the lower pole piece inside which is located at least two coils, one on top of the other. A process for manufacturing the device is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherng Chyi Han, Mao-Min Chen, Pokang Wang, Yimin Guo
  • Patent number: 6849326
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium containing a niobium-containing seedlayer having a thickness from about 1 ? to about 40 ?, and a method of making the same. The seedlayer provides a recording media with relatively high remanent coercivity and relatively high signal to medium noise ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Li-Lien Lee, Samuel D. Harkness, Rajiv Y. Ranjan
  • Patent number: 6846543
    Abstract: A magnetic thin film disk for use in a disk drive with a ruthenium-aluminum (RuAl) seed layer with B2 structure followed by a NiAl layer is described. The disk has reduced noise and increased squareness which results in improved recording performance in a disk drive utilizing the disk. The improved disk is formed by first depositing the RuAl seed layer on the substrate then the NiAl layer is deposited onto the NiAl, followed by the other layers required for a magnetic disk such as an underlayer material with a lattice parameter compatible with RuAl such as Cr-alloy, followed by a standard hcp magnetic material. The RuAl seed layer promotes a [100] preferred orientation in the underlayer which in turn promotes a [11{overscore (2)}0] preferred orientation in the magnetic layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.
    Inventors: Xiaoping Bian, Mary Frances Doerner, Jinshan Li, Mohammad Taghi Mirzamaani, Kai Tang
  • Patent number: 6843892
    Abstract: An in-line, multi-station apparatus including an improved pallet for transporting a plurality of workpieces/substrates through the apparatus, the pallet comprising: (a) a sheet of electrically conductive material provided with a plurality of spaced-apart regions extending at least partway therethrough, each of the regions adapted to mount therein and expose at least one major surface of respective workpieces/substrates for receipt of the treatment; and (b) a plurality of electrical contact means for selectively and controllably electrically contacting respective ones of said plurality of workpieces/substrates for applying an electrical bias potential thereto during treatment. Embodiments include in-line apparatus for performing bias sputtering of electrically conductive thin films on insulative substrates in the manufacture of multi-layer magnetic and/or magneto-optical recording media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Paul Stephen McLeod
  • Patent number: 6842969
    Abstract: In magnetic read heads based on bottom spin valves the preferred structure is for the longitudinal bias layer to be in direct contact with the free layer. Such a structure is very difficult to manufacture. The present invention overcomes this problem by using a liftoff technique to form, on the free layer, a buffer layer having a trapezoidal cross-section, sloping sidewalls, and a central area of uniform thickness, whose width defines the read track. A suitable bias layer and leads are then deposited on this buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Moris Dovek, Po-Kang Wang, Chen-Jung Chien, Chyu-Jiuh Torng, Yun-Fei Li
  • Patent number: 6836957
    Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole layer having an inverted trapezoidal cross-section at the face opposing a recording medium. The main magnetic pole layer is formed by plating in a groove which is formed in a resist layer. The width of the resist layer in the track width direction gradually increases from the bottom to the top of the resist layer. This tapered groove is formed by annealing a nontapered groove or controlling the patterning precision of the resist layer. The inverted trapezoidal main magnetic pole layer prevents side fringing when the perpendicular magnetic recording head has a skew angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6838195
    Abstract: A self-organized magnetic array includes a plurality of magnetic primary nanoparticles are arranged on the substrate in a self-organized magnetic array. A plurality of magnetic interstitial nanoparticles are positioned between at least some of the primary nanoparticles in the self-organized magnetic array. A method of making such an array is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Dieter K. Weller, Chao Liu, Timothy J. Klemmer
  • Patent number: 6836956
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head in which a top pole is divided into a pole tip and a tope pole layer, and the pole tip is formed on the flat surface of a bottom pole with a write gap layer in between. An insulating layer is formed in a region adjacent to the pole tip. A first layer of thin film coil is formed in a region wherein the insulating layer is formed. The thin film coil is covered by the insulating layer whose surface is flattened. A surface of the top pole layer facing the recording medium can be formed recessed from a surface of the pole tip facing the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20040258964
    Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having high C/N ratio characteristics particularly in a short wavelength range and capable of attaining a further higher-density recording as a magnetic recording tape produced by forming a magnetic layer by a vapor deposition method and other magnetic recording media of the next generation and a method of producing the same, wherein a magnetic layer is formed by a vapor deposition method on a nonmagnetic supporting body made of a polymer substrate, which has a configuration of comprising a nonmagnetic supporting body, an under layer formed on the nonmagnetic supporting body, containing Co and O and having an atomic ratio of O/Co of 0.4 or more and a magnetic layer containing Co and O, wherein the film thickness of the under layer is made 50 nm or less and the maximum incident angle is made 70° or less in the vapor deposition method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2004
    Publication date: December 23, 2004
    Inventors: Shinya Yoshida, Hitoshi Wako
  • Patent number: 6833192
    Abstract: The invention refers to a new process for preparing coated crystals by coating crystal template particles with alternating layers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes and/or nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Max-Planck Gesellschaft Zur Forderrung der Wissenschaften E.V.
    Inventors: Frank Caruso, Dieter Trau, Helmuth Möhwald, Reinhard Renneberg
  • Patent number: 6833157
    Abstract: The coating apparatus and method enable the coating liquid having been scraped-off to be reused without doing any one of the fluid adjusting treatment and the filtering treatment, while maintaining the features of the scraping-off type of extrusion coater, which is suitable for obtaining a uniform and extremely thin coating film. The coating head is provided with two slits: a coating slit and a recovering slit, and the excessive coating liquid having been discharged through the coating slit and applied to the web is scraped-off and recovered through the recovering slit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mandai, Mikio Tomaru, Norio Shibata
  • Patent number: 6830643
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an item comprises the steps of: controlling a printer means to print a layer of retaining material in a predetermined pattern onto a substrate; applying a manufacturing material to be retained by the retaining material in substantially the predetermined pattern; treating the manufacturing material so that it forms a continuous solid piece in substantially the predetermined shape of the pattern, or, where the pattern is made up of distinct parts, in substantially the predetermined shape of each distinct part of the pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Inventor: Jonathan Hayes
  • Patent number: 6824817
    Abstract: On a substrate at a temperature of 120 to 240° C., Fe and Pt monatomic layers are alternately laminated. The magnetic multilayer film obtained by such a method has an L10 ordered structure so as to exhibit a high magnetic anisotropy energy constant, a (001) surface parallel to the substrate surface, and a high perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, while its coercive force in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface and the squareness ratio of its magnetization curve in a direction perpendicular to the substrate surface are large, so that it is usable as a magnetic recording film for a magnetic recording medium and the like. Also, since the magnetic multilayer film is formed while the substrate temperature is 120 to 240° C., the temperature load on the substrate or the like is lowered as compared with conventional making methods in which the substrate temperature is about 500° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignees: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Araki, Koki Takanashi, Toshiyuki Shima, Seiji Mitani, Takuto Moriguchi