Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20140002927 | WRITE HEAD STRUCTURE DESIGNED FOR TEMPERATURE INSENSITIVE WRITING PERFORMANCE | 01-02-2014 |
20130342937 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD HAVING A MAIN POLE AND A SUB-POLE - A magnetic write head having a main magnetic write pole and a magnetic sub-pole that are configured to maximize magnetic performance. The main magnetic write pole has a flared portion located near the air bearing surface and a non-flared portion removed from the air bearing surface. A magnetic sub-pole is formed adjacent to the main magnetic write pole and terminates at a front endpoint that is recessed from the air bearing surface but is closer to the air bearing surface than the non-flared portion. | 12-26-2013 |
20130308228 | READ SENSOR HAVING A STRUCTURE FOR REDUCING MAGNETIC COUPLING BETWEEN A MAGNETIC BIAS LAYER AND AN UPPER MAGNETIC SHIELD - A magnetic sensor having reduced read gap thickness, reduced signal noise and improved signal to noise ratio. The sensor includes a sensor stack and hard bias structures formed at either side of the sensor stack for biasing the free layer of the sensor. A protective layer is formed over a portion of the hard bias structure, however a portion of the hard bias structure extends upward toward the upper shield and is disposed between the protective layer and the sensor stack as a result of the process used to form the magnetic bias structure. This portion of the hard bias structure that extends toward the upper shield has a reduced magnetization relative to the rest of the hard bias structure so that it will not magnetically couple with the upper shield. | 11-21-2013 |
20130301157 | CORROSION-RESISTANT BIT PATTERNED MEDIA (BPM) AND DISCRETE TRACK MEDIA (DTM) AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION THEREOF - In one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic recording layer including a magnetic material characterized by having convex and concave portions, the convex portions acting as magnetic regions, a nonmagnetic material positioned within each concave portion of the magnetic material which act as nonmagnetic regions that separate the magnetic regions, an organic material layer which exhibits a corrosion-inhibiting characteristic with respect to cobalt or cobalt alloy positioned on a nonmagnetic region side of each concave portion, and an oxide layer and/or hydroxide layer positioned adjacent the organic material layer on a magnetic region side of each concave portion of the magnetic material. In another embodiment, the magnetic recording medium may be a patterned recording layer having a protective film, and the oxide layer and/or hydroxide layer may be positioned at least in defect portions of the protective film. | 11-14-2013 |
20130284693 | DIFFERENTIATED LIFTOFF PROCESS FOR ULTRA-SHALLOW MASK DEFINED NARROW TRACKWIDTH MAGNETIC SENSOR - A method for manufacturing a magnetic read sensor allows for the construction of a very narrow trackwidth sensor while avoiding problems related to mask liftoff and shadowing related process variations across a wafer. The process involves depositing a plurality of sensor layers and forming a first mask structure. The first mask structure has a relatively large opening that encompasses a sensor area and an area adjacent to the sensor area where a hard bias structure can be deposited. A second mask structure is formed over the first mask structure and includes a first portion that is configured to define a sensor dimension and a second portion that is over the first mask structure in the field area. | 10-31-2013 |
20130279045 | MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A CONTACT DETECTION SENSOR - A head for magnetic thermally assisted magnetic data recording, having a read element, a write element a heater element for controlling thermal protrusion of the read and write elements and a thermal sensor for detecting contact a portion of the head with a magnetic media. The thermal contact sensor is arranged so that the thermal conduction between the thermal contact sensor and the read element is substantially equal to the thermal conductivity between the thermal contact sensor and the write element. In this way the accuracy of the detection of thermal contact is maintained whether the read element makes contact with the disk or the write element makes contact with disk. | 10-24-2013 |
20130268718 | IMPLEMENTING REMAPPING COMMAND WITH INDIRECTION UPDATE FOR INDIRECTED STORAGE - A method, apparatus, and a storage system are provided for implementing enhanced indirection update for indirected storage devices. A novel remapping command generated by a host is used to store indirection data. The remapping command enables remapping of a set of Logical Block Addresses (LBAs) to a different set of LBAs. The remapping command includes a source LBA, length and a destination LBA. | 10-10-2013 |
20130242431 | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD WITH NON-CONFORMAL SIDE SHIELD GAP - A magnetic write head having a shield structure that provides both a leading shield and side shielding function. The magnetic shield is separated from the sides and leading edge of the write pole by a non-magnetic gap layer that has a non-uniform thickness. The non-magnetic gap layer is thicker near the leading edge and thinner at the trailing edge. This allows for increased side field gradient near the trailing edge of the write pole and decreased write field loss at the leading edge of the write pole. | 09-19-2013 |
20130237131 | System, Method and Apparatus for Polishing Workpieces - A method of polishing workpieces includes final tape polishing (FTP) a media disk by rotating the media disk; applying a liquid that is substantially pure to the media disk adjacent to an FTP tape; applying the FTP tape to the media disk at a pad load to polish the media disk, such that the liquid acts as a transient lubricant between the media disk and the FTP tape; and completing FTP. The FTP process is completely independent of the final disk lubricant, such that the final disk lubricant may be applied before or after FTP. | 09-12-2013 |
20130236987 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MASK STRUCTURE FOR PATTERNING A WORKPIECE BY IONS - A method of fabricating workpieces includes one or more layers on a substrate that are masked with an ion implantation mask comprising two or more layers. The mask layers include a first mask layer closer to the substrate, and a second mask layer on the first mask layer. The method also comprises ion implanting one or more of the layers on the substrate. Ion implantation may form portions with altered physical properties from the layers under the mask. The portions may form a plurality of non-magnetic regions corresponding to apertures in the mask. | 09-12-2013 |
20130235491 | THERMALLY ENABLED EXCHANGE COUPLED MEDIA FOR MAGNETIC DATA RECORDING - A heat enabled magnetic media having a composite magnetic recording layer structure that includes first and second magnetic layers and an exchange coupling layer sandwiched between the first and second magnetic layers. The exchange coupling layer has a reduced Curie temperature that allows the magnetic layers to become decoupled a lower temperature. This reduced Curie temperature can be achieved the addition of an alloying element such as Ni or Cu into the exchange coupling layer. Therefore, the exchange coupling layer can be constructed of an alloy such as FePtNi FePtCu, and the magnetic layers can be constructed of a material such as FePt. | 09-12-2013 |
20130235490 | Perpendicular magnetic recording media with seed layer structurecontaining ruthenium (Ru) - An embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus that includes: a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a substrate, a soft under layer above the substrate, a seed layer structure above the soft under layer, wherein the seed layer structure contains Ruthenium; and a magnetic recording layer above the seed layer structure. | 09-12-2013 |
20130229728 | SUBSTRATE NITROGEN PLASMA TREATMENT FOR SOFTER CoFe MAIN POLE WRITER FORMATION - A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a nonmagnetic gap layer in a trench; a pole seed layer above the nonmagnetic gap layer; and a pole layer of a magnetic material above the pole seed layer, wherein at least one of the nonmagnetic gap layer, the pole seed layer and the pole layer has nitrogen therein. A magnetic head according to another embodiment includes a nonmagnetic gap layer in a trench; a pole seed layer above the nonmagnetic gap layer, the pole seed layer being comprised primarily of a material selected from a group consisting of NiCr, Ta/Ru, Ta/Rh, NiCr/Ru, NiCr/Rh, NiCr, CoOx, Ru, Rh, Cu, Au/MgO, Ta/Cu; and a pole layer comprised primarily of CoFe above the pole seed layer, wherein at least one of the nonmagnetic gap layer, the pole seed layer and the pole layer has nitrogen therein. | 09-05-2013 |
20130215530 | SPIN-TORQUE OSCILLATOR (STO) FOR MICROWAVE-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING (MAMR) AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - In one embodiment, a magnetic data storage system includes a main pole power supply adapted for supplying an excitation current to a main pole coil, a microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) device including a spin-torque oscillator (STO) element, the STO element having a field generation layer (FGL) and a polarization layer, a timing-control circuit adapted for determining a duration of a main pole magnetic moment inversion process and signaling a start of the main pole magnetic moment inversion process, and a current-regulating circuit comprising an STO power supply adapted for supplying current to the STO element, wherein the STO power supply prevents degradation of a single rotating magnetic domain structure in the FGL into a closure magnetic domain structure in the FGL. Other systems and methods for preventing degradation of the single rotating magnetic domain structure in the FGL into a closure magnetic domain structure are described for more embodiments. | 08-22-2013 |
20130198436 | IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED DATA PARTIAL-ERASE FOR MULTI-LEVEL CELL (MLC) MEMORY USING THRESHOLD VOLTAGE-DRIFT OR RESISTANCE DRIFT TOLERANT MOVING BASELINE MEMORY DATA ENCODING - A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced data partial erase for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data partial erase for data written to the MLC memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding is performed, and a data re-write after the partial erase to the MLC memory is performed using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data partial erase cycle includes a duration and voltage level based upon a degradation of the MLC memory cells. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194865 | IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED DATA READ FOR MULTI-LEVEL CELL (MLC) MEMORY USING THRESHOLD VOLTAGE-DRIFT OR RESISTANCE DRIFT TOLERANT MOVING BASELINE MEMORY DATA ENCODING - A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced data read for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A data read back for data written to the MLC memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding is performed, higher voltage and lower voltage levels are compared, and respective data values are identified responsive to the compared higher voltage and lower voltage levels. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194864 | IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED DATA WRITE FOR MULTI-LEVEL CELL (MLC) MEMORY USING THRESHOLD VOLTAGE-DRIFT OR RESISTANCE DRIFT TOLERANT MOVING BASELINE MEMORY DATA ENCODING - A method and apparatus are provided for implementing enhanced performance for multi-level cell (MLC) memory using threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding. A voltage baseline of a prior write is identified, and a data write uses the threshold-voltage-drift or resistance-drift tolerant moving baseline memory data encoding for data being written to the MLC memory responsive to the identified voltage baseline. | 08-01-2013 |
20130194693 | MAGNETIC MEDIA AND MAGNETIC RECORDING DEVICES USING FLUORINE COMPOUNDS - According to one embodiment, a lubricant includes a perfluoropolyether having a chemical structure of | 08-01-2013 |
20130188273 | MAGNETIC HEAD SLIDER HAVING SHARED HEATER AND CONTACT SENSOR TERMINAL PADS - In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes at least one magnetic head element chosen from a group consisting of: a write element adapted for writing data to a magnetic recording medium and a read element adapted for reading data from the magnetic recording medium, a heater element adapted for controlling a flying height of the at least one magnetic head element above the magnetic recording medium, a contact sensor element adapted for detecting contact between the magnetic head slider near the at least one magnetic head element and the magnetic recording medium, and shared terminals adapted for supplying voltage to the heater element and for conveying signals from the contact sensor element. Other magnetic head sliders and methods of use are described according to additional embodiments. | 07-25-2013 |
20130171475 | Magnetic Head Having Stable Shield Domain Structure - A manner for stabilizing the shield domain structure is described that employs the magnetic field of a hard bias layer. More particularly, it has been found that the shield domain structure is stabilized when the height of the hard bias layer in the depth direction is made substantially half the height of upper shield layer. In another embodiment of the invention, a stabilizing structure is provided at approximately the midpoint of the shield in order to fix the closure domain of the shield to the desired two-domain structure. In an embodiment of the invention, the stabilizing structure is made convex or concave as viewed from the air-bearing surface. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170331 | PREHEAT FEATURE FOR THERMALLY ASSISTED RECORDING - An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus; and at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer. A method according to one embodiment includes heating the near-field transducer by passing a current through the at least one conductor or circuit; and illuminating the near-field transducer during a write operation, wherein the current does not pass through the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of a time of illumination. Additional embodiments are also presented. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170075 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MAGNETIC MEDIA WITH A NON-CONTINUOUS METALLIC SEED LAYER - A magnetic media has a substrate with an underlayer and a seed layer on the underlayer. The seed layer has a non-continuous metallic layer with a cubed crystalline lattice that is 001 textured, and has a lattice mismatch within 15% of a crystalline lattice structure of FePt with a metallic additive. This structure defines nucleation sites with an established epitaxial interface. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170068 | MAGNETIC DOMAIN CONTROL FOR AN EMBEDDED CONTACT SENSOR FOR A MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD - A head for magnetic data recording that includes an embedded contact sensor. The embedded contact sensor detects head disk contact by detecting changes in temperature as a result of contact between the head and the disk. The embedded contact sensor includes a thermoresistive layer and a structure for pinning the magnetic domains of the thermoresistive layer. This pinning of the magnetic domains prevents the thermoresistive layer from changing resistance in response to magnetic fields (rather than temperature) so as to avoid unwanted signal noise as a result of a magnetic signal from the magnetic media. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170061 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHINGLED MAGNETIC RECORDING IN DISK DRIVES - A method of targeted corruption of user data in a shingled magnetic recording disk includes identifying user data on a Track_N targeted for corruption; identifying a readback centerline of the Track_N; identifying a readback centerline of an adjacent track to Track_N; acquiring user data of the adjacent track; and rewriting the user data of the adjacent track with an offset write centerline to overwrite magnetic material at the readback centerlines of both Track_N and the adjacent track. | 07-04-2013 |
20130170060 | MICROWAVE-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD AND SYSTEMS THEREOF WITH ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS CONTROL - In one embodiment, a system includes a medium, a magnetic head having a write element adapted for writing data to the medium, a MAMR element and/or a TAMR element adapted for assisting recording on the medium, the MAMR element having a microwave-generating portion that receives current for operation thereof, the TAMR element having a localized heat-generating portion that receives current for operation thereof, and a read element adapted for reading data from the medium, a device adapted for measuring environmental conditions relating to the TAMR/MAMR elements and the medium, and a controller adapted for controlling operation of the magnetic head and adjusting operating parameters of the system based on the environmental conditions. The environmental conditions include temperature, a reproduced signal of the read element, and/or clearance between the TAMR/MAMR elements and the medium. The operating parameters include the clearance, amount of current injected to the TAMR/MAMR elements, and/or write current. | 07-04-2013 |
20130164562 | TUNNELING MAGNETORESISTANCE (TMR) READ SENSOR WITH A LONG DIFFUSION PATH AND EX-SITU INTERFACES IN A SENSE LAYER STRUCTURE - The invention provides a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor with a long diffusion path and ex-situ interfaces in a sense layer structure. The sense layer structure comprises a first sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe film, a second sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe—B film, and a third sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Ni—Fe film. The sense layer structure has a long diffusion path (defined as a total thickness of the first and second sense layers) and ex-situ interfaces for suppressing unwanted diffusions of Ni atoms. Alternatively, the sense layer structure comprises a first sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe film, a second sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe—B film, a third sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Co—Fe—B—Hf film, and a fourth sense layer preferably formed of a ferromagnetic Ni—Fe film. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163124 | MAGNETIC READ SENSOR HAVING FLAT SHIELD PROFILE - A magnetic read sensor having a flat shield for improved gap thickness definition and control. The magnetic read head includes a sensor stack and hard bias layer formed at either side of the sensor stack. A SiNx hard bias capping layer is formed over the hard bias layers between the hard bias structure and the upper magnetic shield. The hard bias capping layer has an upper surface that has been planarized by chemical mechanical polishing that is co-planar with an upper surface of the sensor stack. The read sensor is constructed by a method wherein the hard bias capping layer is constructed of a material (e.g. SiNx) that is also used as a CMP stop layer and that can be planarized by chemical mechanical polishing while having some resistance to removal by chemical mechanical polishing. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163121 | MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING HARD BIAS STRUCTURE FOR OPTIMIZED HARD BIAS FIELD AND HARD BIAS COERCIVITY - A magnetic read sensor having a hard bias structure that extends beyond the back edge of the sensor stack by a controlled, distance that is chosen to maximize both hard bias field and hard bias magnetic coercivity and anisotropy. The hard bias structure has a back edge that is well defined and that has a square corner at its innermost end adjacent to the sensor stack. The magnetic sensor can be constructed by a process that includes a separate making an milling process that is dedicated to defining the back edge of the hard bias structure. | 06-27-2013 |
20130163111 | MAGNETIC DATA RECORDING SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SERVO CAPABILITY FOR BIT PATTERNED RECORDING - A magnetic data recording system wherein the wherein adjacent track interference during writing is avoided by modulating the size of a write bubble on the magnetic media in response to a position error signal. If the position error signal indicates that the magnetic head is off-track, circuitry within the magnetic data recording system adjusts the size of the write bubble temporarily to prevent the write bubble from encroaching on a neighboring data track. This adjustment of the write bubble can be accomplished by adjusting power to the write head. Adjustment of the write bubble can also be achieved by adjusting power to a magnetic oscillator in a microwave assisted magnetic recording system (MAMR) or adjusting power to a heating element in a thermally assisted magnetic recording system. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161181 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH IMPROVED YIELD - A method for manufacturing a magnetic media for magnetic data recording that greatly reduces the time required to manufacture the magnetic media. After constructing the magnetic disk with the desired magnetic media layer, a protective overcoat is deposited on the disk. The disk is then exposed to ozone in order to speed the rate of oxidation of the protective overcoat and thereby reduce the time needed to treat the overcoat. After exposing the overcoat to an ozone a lubrication layer can be applied. This process reduces the time necessary to cure the overcoat from a time of about 24 hours to a time range of 10 seconds to 30 minutes. | 06-27-2013 |
20130157382 | PROFILE METHOD IN MAGNETIC WRITE HEAD FABRICATION - A method according to one embodiment includes depositing a dielectric hard mask layer above a polymer mask under-layer; forming a photoresist mask above the hard mask layer; transferring the image of the photoresist mask onto the hard mask layer using reactive ion etching, thereby defining a hard mask; determining that a critical dimension bias of the hard mask is within or outside a specification; and changing a level of an input source power used during a subsequent reactive ion etching step to move the critical dimension bias towards a target critical dimension bias when the critical dimension bias of the hard mask is outside the specification. Additional embodiments are also disclosed. | 06-20-2013 |
20130157082 | PERFLUORINATED POLYETHERS (PFPE) AS MAGNETIC LUBRICANTS - A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include an anchor group or a truncation group. The anchor group includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroalkyl-branched perfluorinated ether unit. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155544 | SHIELD STRUCTURE FOR REDUCING THE MAGNETIC INDUCTION RATE OF THE TRAILING SHIELD AND SYSTEMS THEREOF - In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a trailing shield positioned on a trailing side of the main magnetic pole, a trailing gap positioned between the trailing shield and the main magnetic pole, side shields positioned on either side of the main magnetic pole in a cross-track direction, side gaps positioned between the side shields and the main magnetic pole on either side of the main magnetic pole in the cross-track direction, and trailing shield gaps positioned on either side of the main magnetic pole in the cross-track direction between the trailing shield and the side shields, wherein the trailing shield gaps extend beyond the side gaps in a direction parallel to the cross-track direction. In addition, a method for producing a magnetic head as described above is also disclosed, according to one embodiment. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155543 | PATTERNED MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION THEREOF UTILIZING CRYSTAL ORIENTATION CONTROL TECHNOLOGY - In one embodiment, a patterned magnetic recording medium includes an interlayer positioned above a nonmagnetic substrate, wherein portions of the interlayer have good crystal orientation separated by portions of the interlayer which have poor crystal orientation, and a magnetic recording layer positioned above the interlayer. The magnetic recording layer is defined by a pattern which includes magnetic portions having good crystal orientation above the portions of the interlayer having good crystal orientation separated by magnetic portions having poor crystal orientation above the portions of the interlayer having poor crystal orientation. In another embodiment, a method is proposed for producing the patterned magnetic recording medium as described above which includes forming an interlayer and a recording layer above the interlayer, and imparting a template pattern to the interlayer using an organic resist during or after formation of the interlayer. The interlayer is adapted for controlling crystal orientation of the recording layer. | 06-20-2013 |
20130155542 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM WITH GRAIN BOUNDARY CONTROLLING LAYERS - In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes an oxide recording layer including an oxide and a non-oxide recording layer which does not contain an oxide positioned above the oxide recording layer. The oxide recording layer includes a region R | 06-20-2013 |
20130154020 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEEDLESS ELECTROPLATED STRUCTURE ON A SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE - An integrated circuit has a doped silicon semiconductor with regions of insulators and bare silicon. The bare silicon regions are isolated from other bare silicon regions. A semiconductor device on the doped silicon semiconductor has at least two electrical connections to form regions of patterned metal. A metal is electroplated directly on each of the regions of patterned metal to form plated connections without a seed layer. A self-aligned silicide is located under each plated connection, formed by annealing, for the regions of plated metal on bare silicon. | 06-20-2013 |
20130149558 | MAGNETIC MEDIA HAVING ULTRA THIN BONDED LUBRICATION LAYER - A method for manufacturing a magnetic media having an extremely thin lubricant layer on a magnetic media. The thin lubricant layer decreases magnetic spacing to maximize magnetic performance of the magnetic data recording system. The lubricant layer is formed by first depositing a lubricant that includes two different lubricant materials, one bonded and the other non-bonded. After lubricant deposition a burnishing process can be performed, with the lubricant being thick enough for effective burnishing. Then, the disk is exposed to a solvent vapor, which removes most of the lubricant leaving only a very thin layer of the bonded lubricant material. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148234 | HARD DISK DRIVE WITH WRITE ASSIST BASED ON DETECTED CONDITIONS - In one embodiment, a hard disk drive includes a magnetic disk medium, a magnetic head adapted for writing data to the magnetic disk medium, a mechanism (such as a detection circuit) adapted for detecting at least one recording condition of drive current provided to the magnetic head during writing operations, and an energy conversion element for controlling at least one recording characteristic of the magnetic head in response to the at least one detected recording condition. According to another embodiment, a method includes writing data to a magnetic medium using a magnetic head, detecting at least one recording condition of drive current provided to the magnetic head during the writing, and controlling at least one recording characteristic of the magnetic head during the writing using an energy conversion element in response to the at least one detected recording condition. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148231 | SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY FORMED WITH A PROTECTIVE STRUCTURE - A magnetic disk drive system that has a suspension assembly that includes a slider having a heating element and a suspension configured with a protective structure that protects the heating element. The heating element of the slider can extend through the suspension to extend from the suspension assembly from a side that is opposite the slider. The protective structure is configured to protect the heating element and to prevent the heating element from contacting the heating element of an adjacent suspension during an event such as a physical shock to the disk drive system. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148229 | IMPLEMENTING SPIN-TORQUE OSCILLATOR SENSING WITH ENHANCED DELAY CONTROL FEEDBACK CIRCUIT FOR HARD DISK DRIVES - A method, apparatus, and system for implementing spin-torque oscillator (STO) sensing with an enhanced delay control feedback circuit for hard disk drives. A detector receives an input signal from a STO read sensor having an oscillation frequency related to the strength of the detected magnetic signal field. The received input signal is mixed with a time delayed input signal for providing a detector output signal. A low frequency component signal of the detector output signal is monitored and a delay control feedback is applied to an adjustable time delay to bias the DC signal of the detector output signal. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148228 | WRITE HEAD DESIGNED FOR ADJUSTING RELATIVE WRITE PHASE BETWEEN SUBTRACKS OF A PATTERNED MEDIA HYPERTRACK - A magnetic recording system configured for recording to a bit patterned media using both hypertrack recording and shingled recording. The magnetic recording system includes a write pole with a notched trailing edge that results in a write bubble with a trailing edge that has two outer convex lobes separated by a centrally disposed concave region. By locating one of the lobes over first and second data tracks of a hypertrack, a proper alignment of the relative phase of the two tracks can be maintained. Further adjustment to the alignment can be achieved by adjusting the radial location of the write head. | 06-13-2013 |
20130148224 | IMPLEMENTING SPIN-TORQUE OSCILLATOR SENSING WITH ENHANCED INTEGRATED DEMODULATOR FOR HARD DISK DRIVES - A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing spin-torque oscillator sensing with an enhanced integrated demodulator for hard disk drives. The demodulator receives an input signal from a STO read sensor having an oscillation frequency ω related to the strength of the detected magnetic signal field. The demodulator includes a pair of mixers coupled to a quadrature reference oscillator with respective quadrature components cos(ω | 06-13-2013 |
20130148223 | IMPLEMENTING SPIN-TORQUE OSCILLATOR SENSING WITH ENHANCED DEMODULATOR FOR HARD DISK DRIVES - A method, apparatus, and system are provided for implementing spin-torque oscillator (STO) sensing with a demodulator for hard disk drives. The demodulator measures an instantaneous phase of the readback signal from a STO sensor and converts the readback signal into a signal that is proportional to the magnetic field affecting the STO frequency during a bit time. The converted signal is used for processing by conventional data detection electronics. | 06-13-2013 |
20130142020 | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD AND SYSTEM HAVING OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE CORE AND/OR CLADDING OF AN ALLOYED OXIDE MATERIAL - An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer positioned towards a media-facing surface side, a primary waveguide for delivering light to the near field transducer, a secondary waveguide positioned near the primary waveguide and configured for receiving light from a light source and transferring at least some of the light received thereby to the primary waveguide, and a gap layer positioned between the primary waveguide and the secondary waveguide, wherein the secondary waveguide includes an oxide of at least one of Ta, Ti, Zr, and Nb alloyed with an oxide of at least one of Si and Al. Additional embodiments are also disclosed. | 06-06-2013 |
20130141814 | ERROR RECOVERY BASED ON APPLYING CURRENT/VOLTAGE TO A HEATING ELEMENT OF A MAGNETIC HEAD - In one embodiment, a magnetic disk device includes a magnetic disk medium, at least one magnetic head having at least one of: a magnetic read element adapted for reading data from the magnetic disk medium and a magnetic write element adapted for writing data to the magnetic disk medium, and a heating element adapted for generating heat upon application of a voltage/current thereto, wherein the heating element is positioned on, near, or within the magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head, wherein the controller is configured to retract the at least one magnetic head from a flying state above the magnetic disk medium and apply the voltage/current to the heating element while the magnetic head is retracted. | 06-06-2013 |
20130141813 | MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A THERMAL FLY-HEIGHT CONTROL (TFC) STRUCTURE UNDER A FLAT LOWER SHIELD - In one embodiment, a method includes forming a conducting material above an insulating film, applying a mask to portions of the conducting material in a shape of a TFC structure, removing exposed portions of the conducting material to form the TFC structure, depositing an insulating film above the TFC structure, and planarizing the insulating film to form a planar upper surface of the insulating film. In another embodiment, a magnetic head includes a TFC structure positioned between insulating films and a magnetic element positioned above the TFC structure, the TFC structure configured for providing localized thermal protrusion of the magnetic head on a media facing surface thereof, wherein an upper surface of an upper of the insulating films is planar, the magnetic element includes at least one of a main magnetic pole and a read sensor, and the TFC structure is configured for providing thermal protrusion of the magnetic element. | 06-06-2013 |
20130135772 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC SENSOR USING TWO STEP ION MILLING - A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that includes depositing a plurality of mask layers, then forming a stripe height defining mask over the sensor layers. A first ion milling is performed just sufficiently to remove portions of the free layer that are not protected by the stripe height defining mask, the first ion milling being terminated at the non-magnetic barrier or spacer layer. A dielectric layer is then deposited, preferably by ion beam deposition. A second ion milling is then performed to remove portions of the pinned layer structure that are not protected by the mask, the free layer being protected during the second ion milling by the dielectric layer. | 05-30-2013 |
20130135764 | IMPLEMENTING DATA TRACK PITCH ADJUSTMENT UNDER OPERATIONAL VIBRATION CONDITIONS - A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing data track pitch adjustment for data written on a recordable surface of a storage device under operational vibration conditions. An operational vibration disturbance spectrum is detected during a write operation and the data track pitch is selectively adjusted based on the detected operational vibration disturbance spectrum. The adjusted track pitch information is saved and used during a read operation. | 05-30-2013 |
20130128381 | MAGNETORESISTIVE HEAD HAVING PERPENDICULARLY OFFSET ANISOTROPY FILMS AND A HARD DISK DRIVE USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a lower shield layer, a sensor stack positioned above the lower shield layer, the sensor stack including a free layer, a layered hard bias magnet positioned above the lower shield layer and on both sides of the sensor stack in a track width direction, and an upper shield layer positioned above the hard bias magnet and the sensor stack. The hard bias magnet includes a perpendicular anisotropy film positioned above the lower shield layer and aligned with both sides of the sensor stack in the track width direction, wherein the perpendicular anisotropy film directs magnetic fields in a direction perpendicular to planes of formation thereof, and an in-plane anisotropy film positioned above the perpendicular anisotropy film, wherein the in-plane anisotropy film directs magnetic fields in a direction of planes of formation thereof. | 05-23-2013 |
20130120876 | MAGNETIC WRITE HEAD WITH NOVEL SHIELD STRUCTURE - A magnetic write head having a gap structure that improves write head performance. The write head includes a magnetic write pole and a magnetic shield that is separated from the trailing edge of the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer and is separated from the sides of the write pole by non-magnetic side gap layers. The trailing gap extends laterally beyond the side gap layers, and a convex bump is formed an edge of the magnetic shield at a location near the trailing end of the side gap layers. | 05-16-2013 |
20130114165 | FePt-C BASED MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA WITH ONION-LIKE CARBON PROTECTION LAYER - A magnetic media for magnetic data recording having a plurality of magnetic grains protected by thin layers of graphitic carbon. The layers of graphitic carbon are formed in a manner similar to onion skins on an onion and can be constructed as single monatomic layers of carbon. The thin layers of graphitic carbon can be formed as layers of graphene or as fullerenes that either cover or partially encapsulate the magnetic gains. The layers of graphitic carbon provide excellent protection against corrosion and wear and greatly reduce magnetic spacing for improved magnetic performance. | 05-09-2013 |
20130094109 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ANTICORROSION OVERCOAT - A magnetic media disk has a substrate; a recording magnetic media on the substrate; and an overcoat on the recording magnetic media, the overcoat comprising a Si-based layer on the recording magnetic media, and a Ti-based layer on the Si-based layer. | 04-18-2013 |
20130094108 | MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING CoFeBTa IN PINNED AND FREE LAYER STRUCTURES - A magnetic read sensor having improved magnetic performance and robustness. The magnetic sensor includes a magnetic free layer and a magnetic pinned layer structure. The magnetic pinned layer structure includes first and second magnetic layers separated from one another by a non-magnetic coupling layer. The second magnetic layer of the magnetic pinned layer structure includes a layer of CoFeBTa, which prevents the diffusion of atoms and also promotes a desired BCC crystalline grain growth. The magnetic free layer structure can also include such a CoFeBTa layer for further prevention of atomic diffusion and further promotion of a desired BCC grain growth. | 04-18-2013 |
20130084468 | FABRICATION OF BIT PATTERNED MEDIA USING MICROCONTACT PRINTING - A method for manufacturing a bit patterned magnetic media for magnetic data recording. The method includes selectively depositing a self assembled monolayer over a seed layer and then oxidizing the deposited self assembled monolayer. The self-assembled monolayer can be deposited by use of a stamp to form a pattern covering areas where a non-magnetic segregant (such as an oxide) is to be formed and openings where a magnetic material is to be formed. A magnetic alloy and a segregant (such as an oxide) are then co-sputtered. The magnetic alloy grows only or selectively over the seed layer, whereas the segregant grows only or selectively over the oxidized self-assembled monolayer. | 04-04-2013 |
20130083432 | MAGNETIC BIAS STRUCTURE FOR MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR - A magnetic read head having a hard bias structure that both optimizes magnetic bias field and also ensures manufacturability while maintaining sensor stripe height integrity. The read head includes a sensor stack having a back edge and first and second laterally opposed sides. A hard bias structure extending from each of the first and second sides of the sensor stack has a neck portion located near the sensor and having a back edge that is aligned with and parallel to the back edge of the sensor stack. The hard bias structure also includes a flared portion having a back edge that defines an angle relative to the air bearing surface of the read head. The back edge preferably defines and angle of 45-75 degrees relative to the air bearing surface. | 04-04-2013 |
20130083422 | LUBRICANT LAYER THAT PROVIDES A STABLE HEAD-TO-DISK INTERFACE IN HUMID CONDITIONS - In one embodiment, a magnetic disk medium includes a nonmagnetic substrate, a magnetic recording layer above the nonmagnetic substrate, a protective layer above the magnetic recording layer, and a lubricant layer above the protective layer, the lubricant layer including a mixture of a compound having one or more cyclophosphazene groups and a lubricant formulated R1-OCH | 04-04-2013 |
20130083420 | METHOD FOR CREATING BURST MAGNITUDE SERVO PATTERNS WITH UNIPOLAR BITS ON A MAGNETIC MEDIA OF A MAGNETIC DATA RECORDING SYSTEM - A magnetic data storage system having a magnetic disk having burst patterns for providing a position error signal (PES) wherein each magnetic burst pattern is offset from an adjacent burst pattern by ¼ track pitch. All of the magnetic bits of the burst patterns can be unipolar magnetized, and the bits of each burst pattern can be aligned with one another in radial and circumferential direction. The magnetic media can be a bit patterned media wherein the magnetic bits of the burst patterns are magnetically isolated portions separated by non-magnetic spaces or non-magnetic material. | 04-04-2013 |
20130083416 | SHINGLED RECORDING SYSTEMS USING MULTIPLE PASS WRITE, SINGLE PASS READ ARCHITECTURE - In one embodiment, a magnetic data storage system includes a bit patterned magnetic medium, wherein centers of bits in adjacent data tracks do not lie on a common line in a cross-track direction, a magnetic head having a writer element having a width greater than a width of a data track in a track width direction adapted for writing data successively to at least two adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium, and a reader element having a width larger than the width of a data track in the track width direction adapted for reading data concurrently from the at least two adjacent data tracks of the magnetic medium in a single pass, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082696 | MAGNETIC BIAS STRUCTURE FOR MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR HAVING A SCISSOR STRUCTURE - A scissor style magnetic sensor having a novel hard bias structure for improved magnetic biasing robustness. The sensor includes a sensor stack that includes first and second magnetic layers separated by a non-magnetic layer such as an electrically insulating barrier layer or an electrically conductive spacer layer. The first and second magnetic layers have magnetizations that are antiparallel coupled, but that are canted in a direction that is neither parallel with nor perpendicular to the air bearing surface by a magnetic bias stricture. The magnetic bias structure includes a neck portion extending from the back edge of the sensor stack and having first and second sides that are aligned with first and second sides of the sensor stack. The bias structure also includes a tapered or wedged portion extending backward from the neck portion. | 04-04-2013 |
20130082027 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC WRITE HEAD USING NOVEL REACTIVE ION ETCHING CHEMISTRY - A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for magnetic data recording. The method includes forming a depositing a magnetic write pole material and forming a mask structure over the write pole material that includes a polymer mask under-layer, a dielectric hard mask formed over the polymer mask under-layer and a photoresist mask formed over the dielectric hard mask. The image of the photoresist mask is transferred onto the underlying dielectric hard mask and then a reactive ion etching is performed to transfer the image of the dielectric hard mask onto the polymer mask under-layer. This reactive ion etching is performed in an atmosphere chemistry that includes both an oxygen containing gas and a nitrogen containing gas. | 04-04-2013 |
20130081937 | BIT PATTERNED MAGNETIC MEDIA FABRICATED BY TEMPLATED GROWTH FROM A PRINTED TOPOGRAPHIC PATTERN - A method for manufacturing a bit patterned magnetic media for magnetic data recording. The method includes patterning a topography that includes an array of raised regions separated by a recessed portion. The array can be patterned by micro-printing using a stamp that has raised islands. The raised regions can have a height of 1 to 5 nm as measured from the recessed region. A magnetic alloy and a non-magnetic segregant are then co-sputtered. The magnetic alloy preferentially grows over the raised portions and the non-magnetic segregant grow preferentially over the recessed region between the raised portions. | 04-04-2013 |
20130078890 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED CLEANING AND POLISHING OF MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK - Cleaning or polishing magnetic recording media (MRM) may comprise mounting and rotating the MRM on a spindle; circulating a tape adjacent to a surface of the MRM; and applying an electrostatic (ES) voltage to the tape and attracting particles located on the MRM to the tape. The ES voltage may apply an ES load to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. No mechanical load may be applied to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. Additionally, a mechanical load may be applied to the tape to force the tape into contact with the surface of the MRM. | 03-28-2013 |
20130077189 | LOW CLEARANCE MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A CONTACT DETECTION SENSOR - According to one embodiment, a magnetic data system includes a magnetic disk medium, a magnetic head having a writer element and/or a reader element, an exothermic resistor element for thermal fly-height control (TFC), a contact detection sensor having a resistor element and at least one contact detection electrode, and an insulating film on a medium facing side of the magnetic head to protect the contact detection sensor, the insulating film having a thickness greater than the contact detection electrode, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head, wherein the controller adjusts magnetic spacing between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk medium via thermal distortion of the exothermic resistor element. The contact detection sensor may be used as a second TFC resistor element. | 03-28-2013 |
20130070366 | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD WITH LOW-WEAR PROTECTIVE FILM HAVING HYDROGEN AND/OR WATER VAPOR THEREIN - According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a magnetic device includes forming a protective film above a structure, wherein at least one of hydrogen and water vapor are introduced into a formation chamber during formation of the protective film. In-another embodiment, a magnetic head includes at least one of: a read element, a write element, a heater element, and a resistance detector element above a substrate, conductive terminals for each of the at least one of: the read element, the write element, and the heater element, and a protective film above the at least one of: the read element, the write element, and the heater element, wherein the protective film comprises at least one of hydrogen and water vapor. | 03-21-2013 |
20130057983 | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD WITH ADJACENT TRACK INTERFERENCE SUPPRESION BY NOVEL MICROWAVE-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING ELEMENT - A magnetic write head for magnetic data recording that incorporates a novel magnetic oscillation generator stricture that sets up a magnetic oscillation in the magnetic media for improving writing and that also narrows the write width and reduces adjacent track interference by suppressing writing in regions outside of the desired data track. The magnetic oscillation generating structure includes a centrally disposed magnetic assist element that generates an oscillating magnetic field that oscillates in a direction that will assist the write pole in writing to the magnetic medium. The magnetic oscillation generating structure also includes first and second magnetic non-assist elements at either side of the assist element. The non-assist elements generate a magnetic field that oscillates in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, which counteracts the magnetic write assist from the centrally disposed magnetic assist element and acts to suppress writing in these side regions. | 03-07-2013 |
20130057981 | SHINGLED MAGNETIC RECORDING (SMR) HEAD WITH BENT TRAILING SHIELD AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION THEREOF - In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main pole, a trailing shield positioned near a trailing side of the main pole, a side shield positioned near both sides of the main pole in a cross-track direction, a leading shield positioned near a leading side of the main pole, and a gap positioned between the main pole and the shields, characterized in that Sg | 03-07-2013 |
20130033779 | AIR BEARING SURFACE OVERCOAT WITH SOFT INTERMEDIATE FILM, AND METHODS OF PRODUCING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes at least one magnetic head element for reading from and/or writing to a magnetic medium, the element having an air bearing surface (ABS) facing toward a magnetic medium, an adhesive film including silicon nitride above the ABS having a characteristic of being formed under a water vapor partial pressure, and a protective film above the adhesive film, the protective film including carbon. Also, in another embodiment, a method includes forming an ABS of a magnetic head, the ABS being a surface of the magnetic head which is closest to a magnetic medium when in use, forming an adhesive film above the ABS of the magnetic head, the adhesive film being formed under a water vapor partial pressure, and forming a protective film above the adhesive film, the protective film including carbon. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033778 | TRACK PITCH VARIATION MEASUREMENT METHOD USING SPIRAL DC PATTERN WRITING - In one embodiment, a method includes spiral writing a DC pattern onto a magnetic disk medium using a writer of a magnetic head while moving the magnetic head in a direction about parallel to a radial direction of the magnetic disk medium while rotating the magnetic disk medium, reading the magnetic disk medium while moving the magnetic head in the direction about parallel to the radial direction of the magnetic disk medium while rotating the magnetic disk medium, and calculating a track pitch interval between data tracks of the magnetic disk medium based on the reading of the magnetic disk medium. In another embodiment, a magnetic disk medium includes a DC spiral pattern in a radial region further outward and/or a radial region further inward than a radial region where data is recorded. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033777 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SYNCHRONIZED WRITING ON BIT PATTERNED MEDIA WITH READ-WRITE OFFSET - A system and method of establishing write timing in a disk drive using bit patterned media and a magnetic head with read-write offset in which servoing and writing occur on different tracks with timing offsets. Initially, the distance between the servoing and writing tracks is determined for each track/head position in accordance with head geometry and skew angle. The relative timing errors are then measured by iteratively writing data at timing offset increments to determine the optimal timing offset for the servoing/writing track pair, and then writing the offset to sync fields on the servoing tracks of the disk. | 02-07-2013 |
20130027803 | DUAL REVERSE MICROWAVE ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING (MAMR) AND SYSTEMS THEREOF - In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a first MAMR element positioned above and wider than the main magnetic pole that is positioned to extend beyond sides of the main magnetic pole in a track width direction, a spin-rectifying-current-pinned-magnetic layer, a magnetic interlayer, a FGL, a magnetic-zone-control layer, and a second MAMR element that is wider than the main magnetic pole and is positioned to extend beyond sides of the main magnetic pole in the track width direction positioned above the first MAMR element, and a trailing shield positioned above the second MAMR element, wherein the main magnetic pole is adapted for producing a high-frequency magnetic field comprising oscillating microwaves, wherein during a writing operation, current is applied to the first and second MAMR elements to produce magnetic fields which oppose bit-switching in the magnetic medium to avoid adjacent track bit reversal. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026131 | Method For Manufacturing Wraparound Shield Write Head Using Hard Masks - The present disclosure describes a method for manufacturing a full wraparound shield damascene write head through the implementation of a three layered (tri-layered) hard mask. According to an embodiment of the invention, the various layers of hard mask are used for different purposes during the formation of a write head. The wraparound shield head of the present invention exhibits improved physical characteristics that further result in improved performance characteristics. Use of the hard mask layers according to the present invention allows for use of manufacturing processes that can be more closely controlled than those processes used in other processes. For example, smaller dimension lithographic techniques can be used. Also, reliance on certain CMP processes is not necessary where the use of CMP processes is not as well-controlled as deposition or lithographic techniques as is possible using the present invention. | 01-31-2013 |
20130019467 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC WRITE POLE HAVING STRAIGHT SIDE WALLS AND A WELL DEFINED TRACK-WIDTH - A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a write pole with a very narrow track width, straight well defined sides and a well defined trailing edge width (e.g. track-width). The method includes uses two separate chemical mechanical polishing processes that stop at separate CMP stop layers. The first CMP stop layer is deposited directly over a RIEable fill layer. A RIE mask, is formed over the fill layer and first CMP stop layer, the RIE mask having an opening. A trench then is formed in the RIEable fill layer. A second CMP stop layer is then deposited into the trench and over the RIE mask, followed by plating of a magnetic material. First and second chemical mechanical polishing processes are then performed, the first stopping at the first CMP stop and the second stopping at the second CMP stop. | 01-24-2013 |
20130016444 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PATTERNED MAGNETIC MEDIA WITH OFFSET DATA AND SERVO REGIONSAANM Grobis; Michael K.AACI San JoseAAST CAAACO USAAGP Grobis; Michael K. San Jose CA USAANM Lille; Jeffrey S.AACI SunnyvaleAAST CAAACO USAAGP Lille; Jeffrey S. Sunnyvale CA USAANM Ruiz; RicardoAACI Santa ClaraAAST CAAACO USAAGP Ruiz; Ricardo Santa Clara CA US - A method for manufacturing a patterned magnetic media. The method allows both a data region and a servo region to be patterned without the patterning of one region adversely affecting the patterning of the other region. The method results in a patterned data region a patterned servo region and intermediate regions between the servo and data regions. The intermediate regions, which are most likely, but not necessarily, asymmetrical with one another indicate that the method has been used to pattern the media. | 01-17-2013 |
20130001187 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR USING SIMULTANEOUSLY FORMED HARD BIAS AND ELECTRICAL LAPPING GUIDE - A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor using an electrical lapping guide deposited and patterned simultaneously with a hard bias structure of the sensor material. The method includes depositing a sensor material, and patterning and ion milling the sensor material to define a track width of the sensor. A magnetic, hard bias material is then deposited and a second patterning and ion milling process is performed to simultaneously define the back edge of an electrical lapping guide and a back edge of the sensor. | 01-03-2013 |
20120327531 | LOW PERMEABILITY MATERIAL FOR A SIDE SHIELD IN A PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC HEAD - In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole, a side shield disposed on both sides of the main magnetic pole in a track width direction, the side shield including a material having a saturation magnetic flux density of no greater than about 1.0 T, and a trailing shield disposed on a trailing side of the main magnetic pole, wherein the trailing shield and the side shield are physically separated from one another. In another embodiment, the side shield includes a first magnetic film, and the trailing shield includes a second magnetic film, wherein a magnetic permeability of the first magnetic film is lower than a magnetic permeability of the second magnetic film. | 12-27-2012 |
20120320473 | MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING A HARD BIAS SEED STRUCTURE - A magnetic sensor having a novel hard bias structure that provides reduced gap spacing for increased data density. The magnetic sensor includes a sensor stack with first and second sides formed on a magnetic shield. A thin insulation layer is formed over the sides of the sensor stack and over the bottom shield. An under-layer comprising Cu—O is formed over the insulation layer and a hard magnetic bias layer is formed over the under-layer. The use of Cu—O as the under-layer allows the under-layer to be made thinner while still maintaining excellent magnetic properties in the hard bias layers formed thereover. This reduced thickness of the under-layer allows the gap spacing (spacing between the top and bottom magnetic shields) to be reduced, which in turn provides increased data density. | 12-20-2012 |
20120307395 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM WITH AN INVERTED Hk STRUCTURE - According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a first granular recording layer characterized by a magnetic anisotropy Ku | 12-06-2012 |
20120307394 | WRITER HAVING A SHIELD STRUCTURE FOR ADJACENT AND FAR TRACK INTERFERENCE REFRESHMENT - In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a magnetic head having a main magnetic pole and a wrap around shield positioned around the main magnetic pole at an ABS thereof, a magnetic medium, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the magnetic head, and a controlling mechanism electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head that initiates rewriting of information of a recording track of the magnetic medium if a recording magnetic field applied to the recording track exceeds a threshold. In another embodiment, a method includes writing data to a first track of a magnetic medium using a magnetic head, determining characteristics consistent with data degradation from tracks adjacent to the first track and far tracks away from the first track using a controlling mechanism, and rewriting data in tracks determined to be degraded due to ATI and/or FTI. | 12-06-2012 |
20120303884 | IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED UPDATES FOR INDIRECTION TABLES - A method and a storage system are provided for implementing indirection tables and providing enhanced updates of the indirection tables for persistent media or disk drives, such as shingled perpendicular magnetic recording (SMR) indirection tables. A plurality of memory pools are used to store indirection data. An exception pointer table provides a pointer to an exception list for an I-Track. The exception list includes predetermined-size exception entries sorted by an offset from a start of the I-Track. An insert exception entry is provided for a new host write and merged to an updated exception list using an offset of the insert exception entry. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303867 | IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED EPO PROTECTION FOR INDIRECTION DATA - A method and a storage system are provided for implementing indirection tables for persistent media or disk drives with enhanced emergency power outage (EPO) protection for the indirection data, such as shingled perpendicular magnetic recording (SMR) indirection tables. Chaining of indirection data is provided with one block pointing to another block of the indirection data stored to disk or flash memory. An EPO-safe buffer is used to store a metadata entry responsive to completing each host write command. Each metadata entry is added to a metadata block, a pointer is stored in the EPO-safe buffer to a current metadata block and a previous metadata block. For a next EPO-safe buffer update entries are removed for the previous metadata block, keeping the last two metadata pointers and last metadata block. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303562 | ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORK APPLICATION FOR MAGNETIC CORE WIDTH PREDICTION AND MODELING FOR MAGNETIC DISK DRIVE MANUFACTURE - A method for predicting and optimizing magnetic core width of a write head using neural networks to analyze manufacturing parameters, and determining new manufacturing parameters that will provide more optimal magnetic core width results. The manufacturing parameters can include: write pole flare point; wrap around shield dimension; and side gap dimension. | 11-29-2012 |
20120300334 | MAGNETIC HEAD WITH SELF COMPENSATING DUAL THERMAL FLY HEIGHT CONTROL - A magnetic head for data recording having a pair of heating elements that self regulate in response to temperature to distribute heat for thermal actuation. The head includes a first heating element located adjacent to the read sensor and away from the writer, and a second heating element located adjacent to the writer. The first and second heating elements have different coefficients of thermal resistance that cause the heating of the second heating element to increase relative to that of the first heating element when the overall temperature increases or when power provided by a power source increases. There, thereby prevents the read sensor from extending too much and possibly contacting the disk. | 11-29-2012 |
20120299132 | TUNNELING MAGNETORESISTANCE (TMR) READ SENSOR WITH LOW-CONTACT-RESISTANCE INTERFACES - The invention provides a TMR read sensor with low-contact-resistance metal/metal, metal/oxide and oxide/metal interfaces. The low-contact-resistance metal/metal interfaces in a reference or sense layer structure are in-situ formed in a high-vacuum deposition module of a sputtering system, without exposures to low vacuum in a transfer module and damages caused by a plasma treatment conducted in an etching module. The low-contact-resistance metal/oxide interface is formed by utilizing a thin Co—Fe—B reference layer and a thick Co—Fe reference layer to reduce boron diffusion and segregation caused by annealing. The low-contact-resistance oxide/metal interface is formed by replacing a Co—Fe—B sense layer with a Co-rich Co—Fe sense layer to eliminate boron diffusion and segregation caused by annealing. With the low-contact-resistance metal/metal, metal/oxide and oxide/metal interfaces, the TMR read sensor exhibits a junction resistance-area product of below 0.6 Ω-μm | 11-29-2012 |
20120287530 | THIN-FEMTO MAGNETIC HEAD SLIDER AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes a substrate, at least two elements (read element, write element, and/or heater element) positioned adjacent to the substrate, a resistance detection element positioned near the two elements, a pair of conductive terminals in an accessible position and coupled to each of the two elements, a protective film surrounding the two elements and the resistance detection element, a first and a second thin conductive wire extending from the resistance detection clement and terminating at an edge of the protective film, a third thin conductive wire extending from one of the pair of conductive terminals for a first of the two elements and terminating at an edge of the protective film, and a fourth thin conductive wire extending from one of the pair of conductive terminals for a second of the two elements and terminating at an edge of the protective film. | 11-15-2012 |
20120282491 | FLUORINATED POLYTETRAMETHYLENE GLYCOL (PTMG) WITH DIEPOXIDE ENDGROUPS AS MAGNETIC LUBRICANTS - A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include a terminal section and a midsection. The terminal section includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit. The middle portion includes at least one perfluorobutyl ether unit. | 11-08-2012 |
20120262816 | MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A CONTACT DETECTION SENSOR - A thermally actuated head for magnetic head for magnetic data recording having a contact sensor for detecting contact between the head and a magnetic disk. The contact sensor includes a thermal sensor film and first and second leads, wherein the leads extend at least as far from the ABS as the thermal sensor film. More preferably the leads extend slightly further from the ABS than the sensor film so that contact between the magnetic disk and the contact sensor occurs at the leads rather than at the sensor film. The sensor film can be constructed of NiFe, preferably having 30-70 atomic percent Ni or more preferably 40-60 atomic percent Ni or most preferably 40-50 atomic percent Ni. The leads are preferably constructed of one or more of Ru, Rh or Ta or an alloy whose primary constituents are Ru, Rh or Ta. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261640 | QUANTUM WELL GRAPHENE STRUCTURE FORMED ON A DIELECTRIC LAYER HAVING A FLAT SURFACE - An electronic device employing a graphene layer as a charge carrier layer. The graphene layer is sandwiched between layers that are constructed of a material having a highly ordered crystalline structure and a high dielectric constant. The highly ordered crystalline structure of the layers surrounding the graphene layer has low density of charged defects that can lead to scattering of charge carriers in the graphene layer. The high dielectric constant of the layers surrounding the graphene layer also prevents charge carrier scattering by minimizing interaction between the charge carriers and the changed defects in the surrounding layers. An interracial layer constructed of a thin, non-polar, dielectric material can also be provided between the graphene layer and each of the highly ordered crystalline high dielectric constant layers to minimize charge carrier scattering in the graphene layer through remote interfacial phonons. | 10-18-2012 |
20120257298 | TMR SENSOR FILM USING A TANTALUM INSERTION LAYER AND SYSTEMS THEREOF - In one embodiment, a tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) head includes a lead layer above a substrate, a seed layer above the lead layer, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer above the seed layer, a first ferromagnetic layer above the AFM layer, a second ferromagnetic layer above the first ferromagnetic layer, a coupling layer between the first and second ferromagnetic layers, the coupling layer causing a magnetization of the second ferromagnetic layer to be coupled to a magnetization of the first ferromagnetic layer, a fixed layer above the second ferromagnetic layer, an insertion layer adjacent the fixed layer or in the fixed layer, a barrier layer above the fixed layer, a free layer above the barrier layer, and a cap layer above the free layer. In another embodiment, the insertion layer is from about 0.05 nm to 0.3 nm in thickness and includes Ta, Ti, Hf, and/or Zr, and the free layer includes CoFeB. | 10-11-2012 |
20120250178 | MAGNETIC MEDIA WITH THERMAL INSULATION LAYER FOR THERMALLY ASSISTED MAGNETIC DATA RECORDING - A magnetic media for heat assisted magnetic data recording. The magnetic media includes a thermal insulation layer structure formed near the substrate of the media provide more efficient heating of the write layer by allowing less heat dissipation to the substrate. The thermal insulation layer structure can be one or more layers of an oxide such as SiO2 and one or more layers of a material such as NiTa. Increasing the number of oxide layers and NiTa layers increases the thermal insulation of the thermal insulation layer structure thereby further increasing the efficiency of the heat assisted writing. | 10-04-2012 |
20120243125 | MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR HAVING A STRUCTURE FOR ACTIVATING AND DEACTIVATING ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGE PREVENTION CIRCUITRY - A structure for preventing Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) damage to a magnetoresistive sensor during manufacture. The structure includes a switching element that can be switched off during testing of the sensor and then switched back on to provide ESD shunting to the sensor. The switch can be a thermally activated mechanical relay built onto the slider. The switch could also be a programmable resistor that includes a solid electrolyte sandwiched between first and second electrodes. One of the electrodes functions as an anode. When voltage is applied in a first direction an ion bridge forms across through the electrolyte across electrodes making the resistor conductive. When a voltage is applied in a second direction, the ion bridge recedes and the programmable resistor becomes essentially non-conductive. | 09-27-2012 |
20120231296 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN ADVANCED MAGNETIC READ SENSOR - A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that minimizes topography resulting from stripe height defining masking and patterning in order to facilitate definition of track width. The method includes depositing a series of mask layers and then masking and ion milling the series of sensor layers to define a back edge of a sensor. A non-magnetic fill layer is then deposited, the magnetic fill layer being constructed of a material that has an ion mill rate that is similar to that of the series of sensor layers. A second masking and milling process is then performed to define the track width of the sensor and hard bias is deposited. Because the non-magnetic fill layer is removed at substantially the same rate as the sensor material the structure has a very flat topography on which to form the sensor track width. | 09-13-2012 |
20120221786 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR READING DATA FROM A TAPE - An apparatus and method for writing data to be played back onto a tape is provided. Included is an acquisition unit for acquiring data to be written onto the tape, a writing unit for writing the data to the tape, and a determination unit for determining a data amount of a leading part of the data to be stored in a place separate from a place where the data is stored so that a part following the leading part is made ready to be played back before playback of the leading part ends, to reduce the time taken to read the data from the tape. Also included is an extraction unit for extracting the data and a storage unit for storing the leading part of the data. | 08-30-2012 |
20120217480 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GRAPHENE ELECTRONICS - An electrical circuit structure employing graphene as a charge carrier transport layer. The structure includes a plurality of graphene layers. Electrical contact is made with one of the layer of the plurality of graphene layers, so that charge carriers travel only through that one layer. By constructing the active graphene layer within or on a plurality of graphene layers, the active graphene layer maintains the necessary planarity and crystalline integrity to ensure that the high charge carrier mobility properties of the active graphene layer remain intact. | 08-30-2012 |
20120187079 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC SENSOR HAVING A FLAT UPPER SHIELD - A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that has a flat upper shield. A sensor stack is formed with a sensor capping layer at its top and a first CMP stop layer over the sensor capping layer and a mask formed over the CMP stop layer. A hard bias layer and second CMP stop layer are deposited over the sensor stack, capping layer, first CMP stop layer and mask. A chemical mechanical polishing process is then performed to remove the mask, leaving a portion of the hard bias layer exposed between the first and second CMP stop layers. An ion milling is then performed to etch back the exposed portions of the hard magnetic bias layer. A reactive ion etching is then performed to remove the remaining first and second CMP top layers. An upper shield can then be formed on a substantially flat surface. | 07-26-2012 |
20120186974 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA WITH OXIDE-CONTAINING EXCHANGE COUPLING LAYER - A method according to one embodiment includes forming a high Ku first oxide magnetic layer above a substrate by sputtering; forming a low Ku second oxide magnetic layer above the first oxide magnetic layer by sputtering; forming an exchange coupling layer of CoCrPt-oxide above the second oxide magnetic layer; and forming a magnetic cap layer above the exchange coupling layer. Additional systems and methods are also presented. | 07-26-2012 |
20120184053 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC READ SENSOR HAVING A LOW RESISTANCE CAP STRUCTURE - A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that decreases area resistance and decreases MR ratio of the sensor by eliminating any oxide formation in the capping layer of the sensor. The method includes forming a sensor stack having a multi-layer capping structure formed there-over. The multi-layer capping structure can include first, second, third and fourth layers. The second layer is constructed of a material that is not easily oxidized and which is different from the first layer. The sensor can be formed using a mask that includes a carbon hard mask. After the sensor stack has been formed by ion milling, the hard mask can be removed by reactive ion etching. Then, a cleaning process is performed to remove the second, third and fourth layers of the capping layer structure using an end point detection method such as secondary ion mass spectrometry to detect the presence of the second layer. | 07-19-2012 |
20120164757 | Method for Junction Isolation to Reduce Junction Damage for a TMR Sensor - The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a TMR sensor that reduces damage to a sensor stack during intermediate stages of the manufacturing process. In an embodiment of the invention, after formation of a sensor stack, a protective layer is deposited on the sensor stack that provides protection from materials that may be used in subsequent steps of the manufacturing process. The protective layer is subsequently converted to an insulating layer and the thickness of the insulating layer is extended to an appropriate thickness. In converting the protective layer to an insulating layer, the sensor stack is not directly exposed to materials that may damage it. For example, in an embodiment of the invention, Mg is used as the protective layer that is subsequently converted to MgO with the introduction of oxygen. Although direct contact of oxygen with the sensor stack may cause damage to the sensor stack, direct contact is avoided by the present invention. Subsequently, the thickness of the insulating layer, in this example can be extended to an appropriate thickness without exposing the sensor stack to damage causing oxygen and inter-diffusion. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162821 | WRITE HEAD WITH ROTATIONAL WRITE FIELD - The present disclosure describes various ways to achieve a rotational write field using a single coil. For example, a rotational write field can be achieved with a single coil by using different yoke lengths for different poles of a write element. Also described are ways to achieve a rotational write field with a single coil by varying the resistivity, saturation flux density, or pole width of the different poles of the write element of the present invention. The present disclosure also describes various ways to achieve a rotational write field using varied windings of a single coil. | 06-28-2012 |
20120162810 | MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A PLANAR HALL EFFECT READ SENSOR - In one embodiment a magnetic head includes a sensor thin film adapted for producing a planar Hall voltage, the sensor thin film having a thickness along a down-track direction that is greater than a thickness along a cross-track direction. The down-track direction is in a direction of travel of a magnetic medium relative to the sensor thin film, and the cross-track direction is perpendicular to the down-track direction. In another embodiment, at least one magnetic head as described above is included in a magnetic data storage system, which includes a magnetic medium, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the at least one magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head. Other heads and systems are described according to various other embodiments. | 06-28-2012 |
20120156390 | MULTI-ANGLE HARD BIAS DEPOSITION FOR OPTIMAL HARD-BIAS DEPOSITION IN A MAGNETIC SENSOR - A method for manufacturing a magnetic sensor that result in improved magnetic bias field to the sensor, improved shield to hard bias spacing and a flatter top shield profile. The method includes a multi-angled deposition of the hard bias structure. After forming the sensor stack a first hard bias layer is deposited at an angle of about 70 degrees relative to horizontal. This is a conformal deposition. Then, a second deposition is performed at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to horizontal. This is a notching deposition, that results in notches being formed adjacent to the sensor stack. Then, a hard bias capping layer is deposited at an angle of about 55 degrees relative to horizontal. This is a leveling deposition that further flattens the surface on which the top shield can be electroplated. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154954 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC WRITE HEAD HAVING A LAMINATED TRAILING RETURN POLE - A perpendicular magnetic write head having a laminated trailing return pole structure that reduces magnetic eddy currents in the return pole for improved write head efficiency. The trailing magnetic return pole includes multiple magnetic layers. Each magnetic layer is separated from an adjacent magnetic layer of the return pole by a non-magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer terminates at a region that is removed from the air bearing surface in order to allow contact between the magnetic layers at the ABS, thereby preventing stray magnetic fields from emitting from the magnetic layers of the write pole. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154951 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC WRITE POLE HAVING A WRITE POLE AND TRAILING SHIELD WITH A TAPERED TRAILING GAP - A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head having a that has a write pole with a tapered trailing edge in a pole tip region, and a trailing shield that has a leading edge that tapers away from the write pole at an angle that is greater than that taper angle of the trailing edge of the write pole. The magnetic head has a step feature with a front edge that is recessed from the ABS. In one embodiment a magnetic wedge is formed over the tapered surface of the write pole. In another embodiment, a non-magnetic bump is formed over a first tapered portion of the write pole adjacent to the front edge of the step feature, and a non-magnetic wedge is formed over a second tapered portion of the write pole and extends from the non-magnetic bump to the air bearing surface. | 06-21-2012 |
20120154948 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA HAVING LOW MEDIUM NOISE AND SYSTEMS USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a soft-magnetic underlayer above the substrate, a seed layer above the soft-magnetic underlayer, a first intermediate layer above the seed layer, a second intermediate layer above the first intermediate layer, a recording layer above the second intermediate layer, and a protective layer above the recording layer. The second intermediate layer includes an Ru alloy having an element selected from a group consisting of: Ti in a range from about 20 at. % to about 50 at. %, Nb in a range from about 20 at. % to about 50 at. %, Al in a range from about 20 at. % to about 40 at. %, Ta in a range from about 30 at. % to about 50 at. %, and Si in a range about 20 at. % to about 40 at. %. Other magnetic media and systems using this media are described according to more embodiments. | 06-21-2012 |
20120152891 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC TAPE HEAD USING A TMR SENSOR - A method for manufacturing a magnetic tape head having a data sensor and a servo sensor. The data sensor and servo sensor are each separated from first and second magnetic shields by a non-magnetic gap layer, and the gap thickness for the servo sensor is larger than the gap thickness for the data sensor. The method involves depositing a first gap layer over shield structures, then depositing a second gap layer using a liftoff process to remove the second gap layer over the data sensor region. A plurality of sensor layers are then deposited, and a stripe height defining mask structure is formed over the data and servo sensor regions, the mask having a back edge that is configured to define a stripe height of the data and servo sensors. An ion milling is then performed to define the stripe height and to remove gap material from the field. | 06-21-2012 |
20120151752 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A CRITICAL DIMENSION AT A PLANE OF INTEREST FROM A MEASUREMENT TAKEN AT A TEST PLANE - A method for determining a critical dimension of a structure along a plane of interest from a measurement along a test plane that is not necessarily located at the plane of interest. The method involves slicing a structure along a test plane and measuring a marker feature in this test plane. A determination of a critical dimension of a feature at the plane of interest is then determined based on the measurement of the marker feature measurement at the test plane. This testing methodology can be useful, for example in the measurement of a critical dimension of a write pole at an air bearing surface plane form a measurement of a test feature at a plane that is not necessarily located at the air bearing surface plane. | 06-21-2012 |
20120149433 | SMART PHONE DISPLAY AND KEYBOARD EXTENSION - A device for providing an external display and keypad for a smart-phone. The device has a port for receiving the smart phone. The device does not have its own computing power, but uses the computing power of the smart phone itself, thereby allowing the device to be smaller, lighter and less expensive than a standard lap-top computer not notebook device. The device is configured with a port for receiving a smart-phone and preferably holds the smart phone so that does not extend above the surface of the device or is flush with the surface of the device. The device can also be configured to allow the smart phone itself to act as a numerical keypad adjacent to the keypad provided on the device. | 06-14-2012 |
20120141832 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA HAVING A DECOUPLED LOW ANISOTROPY OXIDE LAYER FOR WRITEABILITY ENHANCEMENT - A magnetic media having a multi-layer magnetic oxide structure with an uppermost magnetic oxide layer having a very low magnetic anisotropy energy. The magnetic oxide structure includes at least three magnetic oxide layers. An upper most magnetic oxide layer structure has a magnetic anisotropy energy of less than 1×10 | 06-07-2012 |
20120128871 | METHOD FOR PATTERNED MEDIA WITH REDUCED MAGNETIC TRENCH MATERIAL - A bit patterned magnetic media design for reducing the amount of magnetic material located in the trenches between topographic features is disclosed. An intermediate non-magnetic layer is deposited on the topography prior to depositing the functional magnetic layer on the topographic substrate features. The non-magnetic layer increases the width of the land regions that will ultimately support the functional magnetic layer. The non-magnetic layer also reduces the amount of trench deposition that can occur in the subsequent deposition of the magnetic recording layer. By eliminating most of the magnetic trench material, the amount of magnetic flux and readback interference produced by the trench material is reduced to an acceptable level. | 05-24-2012 |
20120127839 | THERMALLY ASSISTED MAGNETIC WRITE HEAD EMPLOYING A PLASMONIC ANTENNA COMPRISING AN ALLOYED FILM TO IMPROVE THE HARDNESS AND MANUFACTURABILITY OF THE ANTENNA - A thermally assisted write head having a plasmonic heating device. The plasmonic heating device has a plasmonic antenna located at an air bearing surface of the thermally assisted write head. The plasmonic antenna is constructed of an alloy that is sufficiently hard to withstand the processes such as ion milling and chemical mechanical polishing used to construct the plasmonic antenna. The plasmonic antenna is preferably constructed of AuX, where X is Cu, Ni, Ta, Ti, Zr or Pt having a concentration less than 5 atomic percent. | 05-24-2012 |
20120127609 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA HAVING DECOUPLED CONTROL AND GRADED ANISOTROPY - A structure for high performance perpendicular magnetic recording media has a substrate with a plurality of sequential layers including an adhesion layer, a first soft underlayer (SUL), a coupling layer, a second SUL, a seed layer, a Ru layer, and an onset layer; at least one oxide layer on the onset layer and having a composition with graded anisotropy to improve overwrite of the media; an exchange coupling layer (ECL) on the at least one oxide layer; a cap layer; a decoupling-controlled layer between the ECL and the cap layer to reduce lateral exchange coupling in the cap layer on the ECL; and a carbon overcoat on the cap layer. | 05-24-2012 |
20120125883 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC WRITE POLE USING A MULTI-LAYERED HARD MASK STRUCTURE - A method for manufacturing a magnetic write pole using a mask that includes a multi-layer hard mask. The multi-layer hard mask hard mask includes a first hard mask layer that is constructed of a Si containing material that can be spun on and a second hard mask material that is deposited by a deposition process such as sputter deposition. The first hard mask layer has optical properties that allow it to function well as a bottom anti-reflective coating (BARC) and also has optical properties that match well with an underlying image transfer layer. The second hard mask material has good selectivity for reactive ion etching so that it functions well as a RIE hard mask. | 05-24-2012 |
20120120520 | CPP-TMR SENSOR WITH NON-ORTHOGONAL FREE AND REFERENCE LAYER MAGNETIZATION ORIENTATION - A CPP spin-valve magnetic head, according to one embodiment includes a ferromagnetic free layer having a bias-point magnetization nominally oriented in a first direction; a ferromagnetic reference layer film having a bias-point magnetization nominally oriented in a second direction that is not orthogonal to the said first direction; and a tunnel barrier layer between the free and reference layers. | 05-17-2012 |
20120113544 | WET ETCHING SILICON OXIDE DURING THE FORMATION OF A DAMASCENE POLE AND ADJACENT STRUCTURE - A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a side gap layer comprising primarily silicon nitride, wherein outer sides of the side gap layer taper away from one another from a leading end of the side gap layer towards a trailing end of the side gap layer; a seed layer above the silicon nitride side gap layer; and a magnetic pole on the seed layer. A method for forming a magnetic head according to one embodiment includes etching a channel in a silicon oxide layer; forming a side gap layer comprising primarily silicon nitride in the channel; forming a seed layer above the side gap layer; plating a pole on the seed layer; and removing the silicon oxide layer by wet etching. Additional systems and methods are also presented. | 05-10-2012 |
20120107646 | PLANARIZED MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH PRE-PATTERNED SURFACE FEATURES AND SECURE ADHESION OF PLANARIZING FILL MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR PLANARIZING THE DISK - A magnetic recording disk has surface features of elevated lands and recessed grooves, and a planarized upper surface. A chemical-mechanical-polishing (CMP) stop layer is deposited over the lands and into the recesses. An adhesion film, like silicon, is deposited over the CMP stop layer, and fill material containing a silicon oxide (SiO | 05-03-2012 |
20120107645 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A SHORT FLARE DEFINITION BY ADDITIVE PROCESS FOR PERPENDICULAR HEAD - A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for perpendicular magnetic recording. The method includes forming a write pole, and then depositing a refill layer. A mask structure can be formed over the writ pole and refill layer, the mask structure being configured to define a stitched pole. An ion milling or reactive ion milling can then be performed to remove portions of the refill layer that are not protected by the mask structure. Then a magnetic material can be deposited to form a stitched write pole that defines a secondary flare point. The stitched pole can also be self aligned with an electrical lapping guide in order to accurately locate the front edge of the secondary flare point relative to the air bearing surface of the write head. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105999 | INTEGRATED TOUCH-DOWN PAD AND TOUCH-DOWN SENSOR - In one general embodiment, a magnetic head includes a touch-down pad, comprising at least one shielding element positioned between a leading edge of a main magnetic pole and a trailing edge of a lower return pole; an embedded contact sensor (ECS) in an electrically isolating layer, the ECS positioned near an ABS side of the magnetic head and between the leading edge of the main magnetic pole and the trailing edge of the lower return pole; and a first thermal fly-height control (TFC) element positioned away from the ABS side of the magnetic head. Additional systems and methods are also presented. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105996 | THERMALLY ASSISTED MAGNETIC WRITE HEAD EMPLOYING A NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER (NFT) HAVING A DIFFUSION BARRIER LAYER BETWEEN THE NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER AND A MAGNETIC LIP - A thermally assisted magnetic write head having a near-field transducer, a magnetic lip and a diffusion barrier layer between the near-field tranducer and the magnetic lip. The near-field transducer includes a transparent aperture constructed of a material such as SiO | 05-03-2012 |
20120099216 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORAGE ARCHITECTURE FOR BIT PATTERNED MEDIA USING BOTH ERASE BAND AND SHINGLED MAGNETIC RECORDING - Storage architecture for bit patterned media uses both erase band and shingled magnetic recording. A hard disk drive may comprise a disk having bit patterned media with a plurality of data tracks arrayed in architecture pages having at least one of erase band mode (EBM), shingled mode (SM) and unallocated space. An actuator has a head for writing data to the data tracks of the bit patterned media. A control system monitors, reallocates and reconfigures the architecture pages from EBM, SM or unallocated space to a different one of EBM, SM or unallocated space to enhance performance of the hard disk drive. | 04-26-2012 |
20120092790 | PATTERNED PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE AND MEDIUM WITH PATTERNED EXCHANGE BRIDGE LAYER BELOW THE DATA ISLANDS - A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk with discrete data islands of recording layer (RL) material includes a substrate, a patterned exchange bridge layer of magnetic material between the substrate and the islands, and an optional exchange-coupling control layer (CCL) between the exchange bridge layer and the islands. The exchange bridge layer has patterned pedestals below the islands. The exchange bridge layer controls exchange interactions between the RLs in adjacent islands to compensate the dipolar fields between islands, and the pedestals concentrate the flux from the write head. The disk may include a soft underlayer (SUL) of soft magnetically permeable material on the substrate and a nonmagnetic exchange break layer (EBL) on the SUL between the SUL and the exchange bridge layer. In a thermally-assisted recording (TAR) disk a heat sink layer may be located below the exchange bridge layer and the SUL may be optional. | 04-19-2012 |
20120092789 | THERMAL FLY HEIGHT CONTROL MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD HAVING A NOVEL HEATING ELEMENT GEOMETRY - A heating element for use in a thermal fly height control magnetic recording head of a magnetic data recording system. The heating element has a centrally disposed portion with a straight front edge that is recessed by a substantially constant distance, and has first and second side portions that taper away from the air bearing surface. The side portions preferably taper away from the air bearing surface by an angle of 20 to 45 degrees. The center portion of the front edge is spaced from the air bearing surface by a distance D and has a width W, such that W is 1.5 to 2.5 (or about 2) times D. D is typically 2-6 um to have good heater efficiency while being large enough to not over heat the heater. The heating element has an overall width WW and a overall depth HH from the air bearing surface such that WW is 1.5-2.5 (or about 2) times HH. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091096 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PATTERN CLEAN-UP DURING FABRICATION OF PATTERNED MEDIA USING FORCED ASSEMBLY OF MOLECULES - A pattern clean-up for fabrication of patterned media using a forced assembly of molecules is disclosed. E-beam lithography is initially used to write the initial patterned bit media structures, which have size and positioning errors. Nano-sized protein molecules are then forced to assemble of on top of the bits. The protein molecules have a very uniform size distribution and assemble into a lattice structure above the e-beam patterned areas. The protein molecules reduce the size and position errors in e-beam patterned structures. This process cleans the signal from the e-beam lithography and lowers the noise in the magnetic reading and writing. This process may be used to fabricate patterned bit media directly on hard disk, or to create a nano-imprint master for mass production of patterned bit media disks. | 04-19-2012 |
20120087034 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM AND MAGNETIC STORAGE APPARATUS USING THE SAME - According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a soft magnetic underlayer formed above a substrate, a lower seed layer formed above the soft magnetic underlayer, at least one upper seed layer formed above the lower seed layer, an interlayer formed above the at least one upper seed layer, a perpendicular recording layer formed above the interlayer, and a protective layer formed above the perpendicular recording layer, wherein the at least one upper seed layer comprises Ni or a Ni based alloy including N, and wherein the lower seed layer includes Ni and at least one element selected from a group consisting of: W and Cr. Other embodiments are described herein regarding perpendicular magnetic recording systems and methods of producing perpendicular magnetic media. | 04-12-2012 |
20120082015 | THERMALLY-ASSISTED RECORDING (TAR) PATTERNED-MEDIA DISK DRIVE WITH OPTICAL DETECTION OF WRITE SYNCHRONIZATION AND SERVO FIELDS - A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) bit-patterned-media (BPM) magnetic recording disk drive uses optical detection of synchronization fields for write synchronization and optical detection of servo sectors for read/write head positioning. The synchronization fields and servo sectors extend generally radially across the data tracks and are patterned into discrete nondata blocks separated by gaps in the along-the-track direction. A near-field transducer (NFT) directs laser radiation to the disk and generates a power absorption profile on the disk that has a characteristic along-the-track spot size less than the along-the-track length of the gaps between the nondata blocks in the synchronization fields and servo sectors. A sensor provides an output signal in response to radiation from the nondata blocks and gaps in the synchronization fields and servo sectors as the disk rotates to control the timing of the magnetic write field applied to the data islands and to control the positioning of the read/write head on the data tracks. | 04-05-2012 |
20120075747 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SHAPE-ENGINEERED ISLANDS OF EXCHANGE SPRING OR EXCHANGE COUPLED COMPOSITE, BIT PATTERNED MEDIA - A hard disk drive has a magnetic media disk comprising a substrate having an axis, and an exchange coupled, bit patterned media on the substrate arranged in a plurality of tracks. Each of the tracks has a pattern of islands extending in an axial direction from the disk. Each island comprises a first layer having a first anisotropy and a first layer radial width, and a second layer on the first layer and having a second anisotropy that is lower than the first anisotropy. The second layer radial width is less than the first layer radial width. | 03-29-2012 |
20120070784 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A C-APERTURE OR E-ANTENNA PLASMONIC NEAR FIELD SOURCE FOR THERMAL ASSISTED RECORDING APPLICATIONS - A method of fabricating a c-aperture or E-antenna plasmonic near field source for thermal assisted recording applications in hard disk drives is disclosed. A c-aperture or E-antenna is built for recording head applications. The technique employs e-beam lithography, partial reactive ion etching and metal refill to build the c-apertures. This process strategy has the advantage over other techniques in the self-alignment of the c-aperture notch to the c-aperture internal diameter, the small number of process steps required, and the precise and consistent shape of the c-aperture notch itself. | 03-22-2012 |
20120069471 | CURRENT-PERPENDICULAR-TO-PLANE (CPP) READ SENSOR WITH FERROMAGNETIC BUFFER, SHIELDING AND SEED LAYERS - A current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) or giant magnetoresistance (GMR) read sensor with ferromagnetic buffer, shielding and seed layers is proposed for high-resolution magnetic recording. The ferromagnetic buffer layer is preferably formed of an amorphous Co—X (where X is Hf, Y, Zr, etc.) film. It provides the CPP read sensor with microstructural discontinuity from a ferromagnetic lower shield, thus facilitating the CPP read sensor to grow freely with preferred crystalline textures, and with ferromagnetic continuity to the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting as a portion of the ferromagnetic lower shield. The ferromagnetic shielding layer is preferably formed of a polycrystalline Ni—Fe film. It exhibits magnetic properties exactly identical to those of the ferromagnetic lower shield, thus acting identically as the ferromagnetic lower shield, and a uniform columnar grain morphology, thus initiating a uniform large grain morphology in the CPP read sensor. | 03-22-2012 |
20120063035 | CURRENT-PERPENDICULAR-TO-THE-PLANE (CPP) MAGNETORESISTIVE (MR) SENSOR WITH REFERENCE LAYER INTEGRATED IN MAGNETIC SHIELD - A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane magnetoresistive (CPP MR) sensor has a shield layers that also functions as the sensor's reference layer. In a CPP MR disk drive read head, the shield layer has a fixed magnetization oriented substantially parallel to the air-bearing surface (ABS) of the slider that supports the read head. The quiescent magnetization of the sensor free layer is oriented at an angle relative to the magnetization of the shield layer, preferably between 120 and 150 degrees, to optimize the sensor response to magnetic fields from the recorded data bits on the disk. The magnetization of the free layer is biased by a biasing structure that includes a ferromagnetic side biasing layer formed near the side edges of the free layer and a ferromagnetic back biasing layer that is recessed from the ABS and has a magnetization oriented generally orthogonal to the ABS. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063034 | CURRENT-PERPENDICULAR-TO-THE-PLANE (CPP) MAGNETORESISTIVE (MR) SENSOR WITH IMPROVED INSULATING STRUCTURE - A current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor, like a CPP MR disk drive read head, has an improved insulating structure surrounding the stack of layers making up the sensor. The sensor has a first silicon nitride layer with a thickness between about 1 and 5 nm on the side edges of the sensor and on regions of the bottom shield layer adjacent the sensor below the sensor's ferromagnetic biasing layer. The sensor has a second silicon nitride layer with a thickness between about 2 and 5 nm on the back edge of the sensor and on the region of the bottom shield layer adjacent the sensor back edge, and a substantially thicker metal oxide layer on the second silicon nitride layer. The insulating structure prevents edge damage at the perimeter of the sensor and thus allows for the fabrication of CPP MR read heads with substantially smaller dimensions. | 03-15-2012 |
20120063033 | MAGNETIC FIELD SENSOR WITH GRAPHENE SENSE LAYER AND FERROMAGNETIC BIASING LAYER BELOW THE SENSE LAYER - A graphene magnetic field sensor has a ferromagnetic biasing layer located beneath and in close proximity to the graphene sense layer. The sensor includes a suitable substrate, the ferromagnetic biasing layer, the graphene sense layer, and an electrically insulating underlayer between the ferromagnetic biasing layer and the graphene sense layer. The underlayer may be a hexagonal boron-nitride (h-BN) layer, and the sensor may include a seed layer to facilitate the growth of the h-BN underlayer. The ferromagnetic biasing layer has perpendicular magnetic anisotropy with its magnetic moment oriented substantially perpendicular to the plane of the layer. The graphene magnetic field sensor based on the extraordinary magnetoresistance (EMR) effect may function as the magnetoresistive read head in a magnetic recording disk drive. | 03-15-2012 |
20120044595 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM (PMRM) AND MAGNETIC STORAGE SYSTEMS USING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium (PMRM) includes a first interlayer comprising Ru or a Ru alloy, a second interlayer above the first interlayer comprising Ru or a Ru alloy, and a third interlayer formed between the first interlayer and the second interlayer that reduces an average cluster size of the second interlayer. In another embodiment, a PMRM includes a first interlayer comprising Ru or a Ru alloy, a second interlayer above the first interlayer comprising Ru or a Ru alloy, and a third interlayer formed between the first interlayer and the second interlayer that reduces an average cluster size of the second interlayer. The third interlayer has a thickness of between about 1.0 nm and about 3.0 nm and has a structure selected from a group consisting of: BCC, B2, C11b, L21, and D03. Other PMRMs and methods of fabrication are presented as well. | 02-23-2012 |
20120016499 | IMPLEMENTING SEQUENTIAL SEGMENTED INTERLEAVING ALGORITHM FOR ENHANCED PROCESS CONTROL - A method and apparatus are provided for implementing Advanced Process Control (APC) for enhanced electrical, magnetic, or physical properties process output control using a sequential segmented interleaving algorithm. The sequential segmented interleaving algorithm includes two tuning equations running in parallel. A deposition time is calculated after a production run based upon the relationship between the electrical, magnetic, or physical properties process output and deposition time process input. A deposition rate offset value is calculated after a calibration run based upon the relationship between a calibration deposition thickness process output and an updated deposition time process input calculated after a last production run. | 01-19-2012 |
20120014013 | DISK DRIVE WITH VARIABLE INCREMENTED COUNTING OF WRITES TO THE DATA TRACKS FOR MINIMIZING THE EFFECT OF FAR TRACK ERASURE - A hard disk drive (HDD) minimizes the effects of far track erasure (FTE) by counting the number of writes to the data tracks and incrementing counters based on the known effect of FTE on each track. The extent of the FTE effect is determined for each track within a range of tracks of the track being written, and based on the relative FTE effect for all the tracks in the range a count increment (CI) is determined for each track within the range. A counter is maintained for each track. For every writing to a track, a count for each track within a range of the track being written is increased by the CI value associated with the track number within the range. When the count value for a track reaches a predetermined threshold the data is read from that track and rewritten, preferably to the same track. | 01-19-2012 |
20120012554 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF FABRICATING MEDIA - A method of fabricating media comprises forming recording media on a substrate. An overcoat is deposited on the recording media opposite the substrate. The overcoat has a first surface finish. The overcoat is etched to remove material and provide the overcoat with a second surface finish that is smoother than the first surface finish. The depositing and etching may occur sequentially in an in-situ, dry vacuum process. The second surface finish may not be mechanically processed after etching to further planarize the overcoat. | 01-19-2012 |
20120008233 | Extended Cavity VCSEL Mounted to Substrate with Electrical and Thermal Contact to Substrate and Optical Power Directed Toward Substrate - A system according to one embodiment includes a slider adapted for use in a hard disk drive; and a laser coupled to a slider, wherein electrical contacts of the laser are positioned towards or face the slider, wherein light from the laser is emitted towards the slider, wherein the slider acts as a heat sink for the laser. | 01-12-2012 |
20110310471 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ULTRAVIOLET CURING OF ADHESIVES WITH LIGHT BEAM SHAPING IN DISK DRIVE MANUFACTURING - UV curing of adhesives with light beam shaping utilizes a spot curing process that focuses a limited amount of UV light onto a target area, such as glue dots. A focusing lens may be used to direct the UV light beam to the target area. The target areas have different geometrical shapes, and the UV light is advantageously concentrated in a more efficient manner. Beam-shaping optics or lenses are used to facilitate re-shaping and re-defining the UV-light beam. The UV beam may be defined and limited to a rectangular spot to improve the spot process quality and efficiency. | 12-22-2011 |
20110307645 | IMPLEMENTING ENHANCED HOST TO PHYSICAL STORAGE MAPPING USING NUMERICAL COMPOSITIONS FOR PERSISTENT MEDIA - A method and a storage system are provided for implementing host to physical mapping for persistent media including flash memory. Numerical compositions at multiple granularities are used to store the host to physical mappings. A plurality of groupings, each grouping including a fixed number of blocks is encoded using recursive composition, eliminating the need to store separate lengths. | 12-15-2011 |
20110287698 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ELASTOMER PAD FOR FABRICATING MAGNETIC RECORDING DISKS - A pad for polishing media disks has an elastomeric body with a Shore A hardness of not greater than 20, and a coating of polystyrene (PS) and a flexible polymer. The elastomeric pad may comprise styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers, or a styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymer. The pad may be viscoleastic with a particulate composite coating. The pad may be a styrenic block copolymer and the coating is a different type of styrenic block copolymer containing solid particles. The coating may have a binder with a mixture of PS and flexible styrenic block copolymers, and filler particles comprising cross-linked PS/divinylbenzene polymer microspheres. | 11-24-2011 |
20110286125 | PATTERNED-MEDIA MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE WITH DATA ISLAND MISPLACEMENT INFORMATION IN THE SERVO SECTORS - A disk drive with patterned-media disks has information recorded in the servo sectors that identifies misplacement of the data islands in the data regions between the servo sectors. This misplacement information is read from the servo sectors prior to writing to correct either or both the radial position of the write head and the timing of the write pulses to the data islands. The misplacement information may include radial deviation of the data tracks, circumferential or along-the-track misplacement of the data islands, or the location of defective data islands. | 11-24-2011 |
20110281780 | LUBRICANT SUITABLE FOR USE WITH MAGNETIC DISK - A lubricant according to one embodiment includes a first ingredient and a second ingredient, said first ingredient as the main constituent being a first perfluoropolyether compound represented by the formula (1) which has a weight-average molecular weight of 500 to 6000 and a dispersity smaller than 1.3, and said second ingredient being a second perfluoropolyether compound which has a weight-average molecular weight of 500 to 6000 and has 6 to 10 hydroxyl groups (on average) in one molecule, | 11-17-2011 |
20110268993 | SILICON/GOLD SEED STRUCTURE FOR CRYSTALLINE ALIGNMENT IN A FILM STACK - A silicon/gold (Si/Au) bilayer seed structure is located in a film stack between an amorphous or crystalline lower layer and an upper layer with a well-defined crystalline structure. The seed structure includes a Si layer on the generally flat surface of the lower layer and a Au layer on the Si layer. The Si/Au interface initiates the growth of the Au layer with a face-centered-cubic (fcc) crystalline structure with the (111) plane oriented in-plane. The upper layer grown on the Au layer has a fcc or hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) crystalline structure. If the upper layer is a fcc material its [111] direction is oriented substantially perpendicular to the (111) plane of the Au layer and if the upper layer is a hcp material, its c-axis is oriented substantially perpendicular to the (111) plane of the Au layer. | 11-03-2011 |
20110256424 | PERFLUOROPOLYETHER LUBRICANT AND SYSTEMS COMPRISING SAME - A surface agent includes two end portions and a middle portion disposed between the end portions. The end portions include a terminal section and a midsection. The terminal section includes at least one surface active functional group. The midsection includes at least one perfluoroethyl ether unit. The middle portion includes at least one perfluorobutyl ether unit. | 10-20-2011 |
20110249365 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WRITE HEAD WITH IMPROVED LAMINATED MAIN POLE - A perpendicular magnetic recording write head has an improved antiferromagnetically-coupled laminated main pole (MP) formed on a substrate. The MP has two ferromagnetic multilayers, each comprising at least one FeCo/NiFe/FeCo ferromagnetic trilayer, antiferromagnetically coupled across an antiferromagnetically coupling (AFC) film consisting essentially of ruthenium (Ru). The MP has a NiFe layer directly above the AFC film, on the side of the AFC film opposite the side facing the substrate, and in contact with the Ru AFC film and the lower FeCo layer of the upper multilayer. There is no NiFe layer directly below the Ru AFC film so the side of the AFC film facing the substrate is in direct contact with the upper FeCo layer of the lower multilayer. | 10-13-2011 |
20110212347 | PATTERNED-MEDIA PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH SERVO REGIONS HAVING MAGNETIZED SERVO PILLARS AND OPPOSITELY-MAGNETIZED SERVO TRENCHES - A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a pre-patterned disk substrate with pillars and trenches arranged in data regions and servo regions. In the data regions, the height of the data pillars is equal to or greater than the spacing between the data pillars, while in the servo regions the height of the servo pillars is less than the spacing between the servo pillars. A magnetic recording material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is deposited over the entire disk substrate, which results in magnetic material on the tops of the data pillars and servo pillars and in the servo trenches. The material in the data trenches is either nonmagnetic or discontinuous. After the application of a high DC magnetic field in one perpendicular direction and a low DC magnetic field in the opposite direction, the resulting disk has patterned servo sectors with servo pillars all magnetized in the same perpendicular direction and servo trenches magnetized in the opposite perpendicular direction. | 09-01-2011 |
20110199867 | ALL-OPTICAL MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEM USING CIRCULARLY POLARIZED LIGHT AND BIT-PATTERNED MEDIA - A perpendicular magnetic recording system uses bit-patterned media (BPM) and circularly polarized light to switch the magnetization of the discrete magnetic bits by the inverse Faraday effect. Circularly polarized light generates an external rotating electric field in a plane orthogonal to the light propagation direction, which induces a magnetic field parallel to the light propagation direction in a magnetic material exposed to the electric field. The BPM is a generally planar substrate with discrete spaced-apart metal or metal alloy magnetic islands that are magnetizable in a perpendicular direction and are separated by nonmagnetic spaces of non-metallic material on the substrate. A near-field metal transducer is patterned into at least three tips, with the tips surrounding and defining a transducer active region. The circularly polarized light is incident on the tips, which produce a strong in-plane rotating electric field. A magnetic island exposed to the rotating electric field will experience an induced perpendicular magnetic field that switches the magnetization of the magnetic island. | 08-18-2011 |
20110154060 | IMPLEMENTING SECURE ERASE FOR SOLID STATE DRIVES - A method and apparatus are provided for implementing secure erase for solid state drives (SSDs). An encryption key is used to encrypt data being written to SSD. A controller identifies a key storage option, and responsive to the identified key storage option, stores a key for data encryption and decryption. The controller deletes the key within the SSD responsive to the identified key storage option, ensuring that once the key is deleted, the key is not recoverable and data is effectively erased. | 06-23-2011 |
20110153959 | IMPLEMENTING DATA STORAGE AND DUAL PORT, DUAL-ELEMENT STORAGE DEVICE - A method for implementing data storage and a dual port, dual element storage device are provided. A storage device includes a predefined form factor including a first port and a second port, and a first storage element and a second storage element. A controller coupled between the first port and second port, and the first storage element and second storage element controls access and provides two separate data paths to the first storage element and second storage element. | 06-23-2011 |
20110151360 | PHOTOLITHOGRAPHIC METHOD AND MASK DEVICES UTILIZED FOR MULTIPLE EXPOSURES IN THE FIELD OF A FEATURE - A photolithographic mask set for creating a plurality of characters on a device includes a plurality of photolithographic masks, wherein each mask includes at least one mask character area and at least one mask character field area that surrounds said mask character area; wherein each said mask character field area has a radiation energy density transmission factor T | 06-23-2011 |
20110151144 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM, MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE SAME, AND MAGNETIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium improved for fly ability, high in read signal quality, and capable of suppressing magnetic decay of recorded magnetization to be caused by stray fields. In one embodiment, a perpendicular recording layer is formed over a substrate with a soft magnetic underlayer therebetween, then an amorphous or nano-crystalline layer is formed between the substrate and the soft magnetic underlayer. The soft magnetic underlayer includes first and second amorphous soft magnetic layers, as well as a nonmagnetic layer formed between those first and second amorphous soft magnetic layers. The first and second amorphous soft magnetic layers are given uniaxial anisotropy in the radial direction of the substrate respectively and coupled with each other antiferromagnetically. | 06-23-2011 |
20110149441 | MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE WITH WRITE DRIVER TO WRITE HEAD TRANSMISSION LINE HAVING NON-UNIFORM SECTIONS FOR OPTIMAL WRITE CURRENT PULSE OVERSHOOT - An interconnect between the write driver and the write head in a magnetic recording disk drive enables an inherent write current overshoot. The interconnect includes an integrated lead suspension (ILS) and a short flex cable that connects the write driver circuitry to the ILS. The interconnect is a two-segment transmission line, with the first segment connected to the write driver having multiple sub-segments or sections with non-uniform impedance levels. The section of the first segment that connects to the write driver is the short flex cable and has an impedance substantially higher than the source impedance Z | 06-23-2011 |
20110149429 | FLOATING HEAD DEVICE FOR FLOATING A HEAD ON A MAGNETIC DISK AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING A MAGNETIC DISK - In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic disk includes rotating a magnetic disk, supporting a floating head on the rotating magnetic disk, the floating head having a slider body and an element unit formed on a trailing edge of the slider body, contacting a floating surface of the slider body with the magnetic disk, and protruding a portion of the floating head toward the magnetic disk due to application of power to a heater element within the element unit, wherein the element unit is positioned away from the magnetic disk. In another embodiment, a floating head includes a slider body comprising AlTiC, an element unit positioned on a trailing edge of the slider body, the element unit having an initial recess amount of at least about 4 nm, and a heater element positioned within an alumina protective film of the element unit. | 06-23-2011 |
20110143169 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH ORDERED NUCLEATION LAYER AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE DISK - A continuous-media perpendicular magnetic recording disk with an oxide-containing granular Co alloy recording layer (RL) having minimal grain size dispersion has an ordered nucleation layer (ONL) formed below RL. The ONL has ordered nucleation sites arranged in a generally repetitive pattern. The nucleation sites are generally surrounded by non-nucleation regions of a different material than the nucleation sites. The Co-alloy grains of the subsequently deposited RL grow on the nucleation sites and the oxide of the RL become generally segregated on the non-nucleation regions. The ordered nucleation sites may be formed of a Ru-containing material and the non-nucleation regions may be formed of an oxide. The ONL is formed by nanoimprint lithography, preferably by a master mold fabricated with a method using self-assembling block copolymers for creating periodic nanometer scale features. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141626 | MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE WITH INTEGRATED LEAD SUSPENSION HAVING MULTIPLE SEGMENTS FOR OPTIMAL CHARACTERISTIC IMPEDANCE - An integrated lead suspension (ILS) in a magnetic recording disk drive has the transmission line portion of the ILS between the flex cable and the gimbal formed of multiple interconnected segments, each with its own characteristic impedance. At the interface between any two segments there is a change in the widths of the electrically conductive traces of the transmission line. The change in impedance of a fixed-length segment is a function of the change in its trace width. The number of segments and their characteristic impedance values are selected to produce the largest frequency bandwidth with a substantially flat group delay from the write driver to the write head. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141616 | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD AND MAGNETIC DISK STORAGE DEVICE - In one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole adapted for generating a magnetic field for recording information on a magnetic disk, a magnetic shield member adapted for suppressing spreading of a magnetic field output from the main magnetic pole through a non-magnetic insulation member, a side top gap, a side bottom gap, and a trailing gap. The side top gap is less than two times the trailing gap, the side bottom gap is larger than the side top gap, and the magnetic shield member is positioned on a sliding surface of the magnetic recording head and includes a trailing portion positioned adjacent the trailing gap in the trailing direction and at least one side portion positioned adjacent the side bottom gap in the cross-track direction. Other heads and systems are also presented according to various embodiments. | 06-16-2011 |
20110141606 | TUNNELING JUNCTION MAGNETORESISTIVE EFFECT ELEMENT AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - According to one embodiment, a TMR effect element includes a ground layer, an antiferromagnetic layer above the ground layer, a first ferromagnetic layer above the antiferromagnetic layer and exchange-coupled to the antiferromagnetic layer, an anti-parallel coupling layer above the first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer having a magnetic moment coupled anti-parallel to the magnetic moment of the first ferromagnetic layer via the anti-parallel coupling layer, an insulation barrier layer above the second ferromagnetic layer, and a third ferromagnetic layer above the insulation barrier layer. At least a portion of the second ferromagnetic layer and at least a portion of the third ferromagnetic layer on an insulation barrier layer side are comprised of a crystal, and the insulation barrier layer comprises MgO and an oxide material having an independent cubic crystal structure and complete solid solubility with MgO. Other elements, heads, and formation methods are described according to various embodiments. | 06-16-2011 |
20110134565 | MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK AND DISK DRIVE WITH TRACK IDENTIFICATION USING PHASE-TYPE SERVO PATTERNS - A magnetic recording disk drive has a disk with a head positioning servo pattern of multiple circumferentially-spaced chevron patterns of discrete patterned servo islands. The disk drive has servo electronics that decodes the chevron patterns to determine the absolute radial position of the head without the need for separate track identification fields. The chevron pattern with the smallest radial period has a radial period P | 06-09-2011 |
20110134564 | MAGNETIC HEADS HAVING A GRADED DOMAIN CONTROL FILM AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURE THEREOF - A magnetic head, according to one embodiment, includes a sensor film, a sensor cap film provided above the sensor film, a pair of shields including an upper magnetic shield and a lower magnetic shield which serve as electrodes that pass current in a film thickness direction of the sensor film, a track insulating film contacting both sides of the sensor film in the track width direction, a graded domain control film arranged on both sides in the track width direction of the sensor film adjacent the track insulating film, and an element height direction insulating film positioned on an opposite side of the sensor film relative to an air-bearing surface, wherein an edge position of the element height direction insulating film adjacent the sensor film on the air-bearing surface side is substantially the same as an edge position of the sensor cap film in the element height direction. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134561 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WRITE HEAD AND SYSTEM WITH IMPROVED SPIN TORQUE OSCILLATOR FOR MICROWAVE-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING - A microwave-assisted magnetic recording (MAMR) write head and system has a spin-torque oscillator (STO) located between the write pole of the write head and a trailing shield that alters the write field from the write pole. The STO is a stack of layers whose planes lie generally parallel to the X-Y plane of an X-Y-Z coordinate system, the stack including a ferromagnetic polarizer layer, a free ferromagnetic layer, and a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer between the polarizer layer and the free layer. In the presence of the write field from the write pole the polarizer layer has its magnetization oriented at an angle between 20 and 80 degrees, preferably between 30 and 70 degrees, with the Z-axis. In the presence of a direct electrical current through the STO stack, the free layer magnetization rotates or precesses about the Z-axis with a non-zero angle to the Z-axis. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134559 | METHODS FOR PRODUCING AND/OR TESTING MAGNETIC HEADS USING CLASSIFICATIONS - In one embodiment, a manufacturing method for magnetic heads includes classifying magnetic heads into one of a first tested head class, and a non-test-candidate head class, determining characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the first tested head class, estimating characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the non-test-candidate head class, wherein the estimating is based on the characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the first tested head class, classifying each of the magnetic heads classified in the non-test-candidate head class into one of: a second tested head class, and a non-test head class based on the estimated characteristic values, determining characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the second tested head class, and screening magnetic heads in the second tested head class based on the determined characteristic values of the magnetic heads classified in the second tested head class. | 06-09-2011 |
20110128649 | MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM HAVING NON-MAGNETIC SEPARATING REGIONS AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME - In one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a patterned magnetic recording layer above a substrate, the patterned magnetic recording layer including recording regions and separating regions for separating the recording regions and a non-magnetic alloy layer positioned in the separating regions, wherein the non-magnetic alloy layer includes Ti. In another embodiment, a method for producing a magnetic recording medium includes forming separating regions in a magnetic recording layer by removing portions of the magnetic layer, wherein the separating regions separate recording regions in the magnetic layer, and depositing a non-magnetic alloy layer in the separating regions. Other media and methods are described according to more embodiments. | 06-02-2011 |
20110122525 | MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM USING LAYERS HAVING HIGHER- AND LOWER-HK ANISOTROPIC MAGNETIC FIELDS - According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes a magnetic recording layer formed above a substrate, comprising: a first magnetic layer formed from a [Co/Pt] | 05-26-2011 |
20110119498 | IMPLEMENTING DATA CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTEGRITY OF SHINGLED WRITTEN DATA - A method, apparatus and a data storage device are provided for implementing data confidentiality and integrity of data stored in overlapping, shingled data tracks on a recordable surface of a storage device. A unique write counter is stored for each zone written to the recordable surface of the storage device. An encryption key is used together with the write counter information and a logical block address to encrypt each sector being written, and to decrypt all sectors being read. An individual sector is decrypted, obtaining the write counter information and reading the data sector. A message authentication code is stored for each zone. All sectors of the zone are read to perform integrity check on a sector. | 05-19-2011 |
20110116184 | MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A MULTILAYER MAGNETIC FILM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - According to one embodiment, a method for producing a magnetic head includes depositing a first film above a substrate, etching a pattern into the first film, depositing a second film on the etched portion of the first film, and depositing a third film above the first and second film to form a multilayer magnetic film, wherein the second film is embedded between the first and third film in a portion of the first film that is removed. In another embodiment, a differential magnetic read head includes a magnetic multilayer film comprising a stack of a first magnetic sensor film and a second magnetic sensor film which are not magnetically connected and a hard magnetic film provided on both sides in a track width direction of the magnetic multilayer film for controlling a magnetic domain of the magnetic multilayer film. The hard magnetic film is a laminated structure as described above. | 05-19-2011 |
20110109993 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WRITE HEAD WITH ENHANCEMENT CAPACITOR ON SLIDER BODY FOR WRITE CURRENT OVERSHOOT AT WRITE CURRENT SWITCHING - Write enhancement circuitry on the head carrier of a magnetic recording disk drive provides additional write current overshoot beyond that provided by the write driver circuitry. An enhancement capacitor is formed with a dielectric layer between two layers of electrically-conductive magnetically-permeable shield material that serve as the capacitor plates. The write enhancement circuitry may also include an enhancement resistor. The enhancement capacitor and resistor are connected between the two terminals on the head carrier that connect to the write head coil. The capacitor and resistor are fabricated on the head carrier at the same time and in the same process as the read head. The first and second capacitor plates are generally coplanar with and formed of the same electrically-conductive magnetically-permeable material that forms the first and second magnetic shields for the read head. The enhancement resistor is a stack of layers that is coplanar with and formed of the same materials as the stack of layers that form the sensor portion of the read head between the two magnetic shields. | 05-12-2011 |
20110102940 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PLANARIZING SURFACES WITH FUNCTIONALIZED POLYMERS - The surfaces of hard disk drive magnetic media disks are planarized with surface-grafted polymer chains that form a monolayer-thick film of uniform, self-limiting thickness. The thickness is controlled by the molecular weight of the polymer selected. The polymer film may be swollen by a solvent vapor to fill variable width gaps in the topography. The polymer may be cross-linked in place by radiation or thermal processing. | 05-05-2011 |
20110102936 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING THE SAME - According to one embodiment, a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a main pole, wherein a thickness in a down-track direction of the main pole increases moving away from an air bearing surface of the magnetic pole, and wherein a center position in a thickness direction of a portion of the main pole which is exposed at the air bearing surface (the ABS portion) is positioned toward a trailing side of the main pole with respect to a center position in a thickness direction of a portion of the magnetic pole having a greatest cross-sectional area and which is set back from the air bearing surface (the set-back portion). Further embodiments of this magnetic recording head, along with systems thereof and methods of producing magnetic recording heads are also described, according to more embodiments. | 05-05-2011 |
20110096436 | PATTERNED MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH PATTERNED SERVO SECTORS AND METHOD USING BLOCK COPOLYMERS FOR MAKING A MASTER MOLD FOR NANOIMPRINTING THE DISK - A patterned-media perpendicular magnetic recording disk has patterned servo regions and is nanoimprinted from a master mold made using directed self-assembly of block copolymers. The disk has patterned concentric circular data tracks of discrete data islands, with the tracks having a track pitch in the radial or cross-track direction. The disk also has patterned servo sectors extending generally radially across the patterned data tracks. The servo pattern is a chevron pattern of slanted or non-radial stripes that have a stripe pitch in the cross-stripe direction substantially equal to the track pitch. As a result of the method of making the master mold, the nanoimprinted disk has a chevron servo pattern with non-radial stripes that are magnetized segments of radial lines separated by nonmagnetic spaces. | 04-28-2011 |
20110096434 | SYSTEMS HAVING WRITER WITH DEEPER WRAP AROUND SHIELD AND METHODS FOR MAKING THE SAME - A method according to one embodiment includes etching an underlayer positioned under a main pole for reducing a thickness thereof and creating an undercut under the main pole; adding a gap material along sides of the main pole and in the undercut; and forming a shield along at least a portion of the gap material. A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes a main pole; an underlayer positioned under the main pole and spaced therefrom, thereby defining an undercut therebetween; a first layer of gap material extending along sides of the main pole and in the undercut; a second layer of gap material extending continuously along the underlayer under the main pole; and a shield encircling the main pole, wherein the shield extends between the first and second layers of gap material in the undercut. Additional systems and methods are also presented. | 04-28-2011 |
20110086440 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING AN EXTRAORDINARY MAGNETORESISTIVE (EMR) DEVICE WITH NOVEL LEAD STRUCTURE - A method for manufacturing an extraordinary magnetoresistive sensor (EMR sensor) having reduced size and increased resolution is described. The sensor includes a plurality of electrically conductive leads contacting a magnetically active layer and also includes an electrically conductive shunt structure. The electrically conductive leads of the sensor and the shunt structure can be formed in a common photolithographic masking and etching process so that they are self aligned with one another. This avoids the need to align multiple photolithographic processing steps, thereby allowing greatly increased resolution and reduced lead spacing. The EMR sensor can be formed with a magnetically active layer that can be close to or at the air bearing surface (ABS) for improved magnetic spacing with an adjacent magnetic medium of a data recording system. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085264 | PATTERNED PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM WITH DATA ISLANDS HAVING A FLUX CHANNELING LAYER BELOW THE RECORDING LAYER - A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording medium, such as a disk for use in hard disk drives, has a flux channeling layer (FCL) located below the recording layer (RL) in each of the discrete data islands. The disk includes a substrate, a soft underlayer (SUL) of soft magnetically permeable material on the substrate, and a nonmagnetic exchange break layer (EBL) on the SUL. A nonmagnetic separation layer (SL) is located between the FCL and the RL in the islands. The FCL has an anisotropy field substantially lower than the anisotropy field of the RL, and a magnetization equal to or higher than the magnetization of the RL. The FCL is saturated at a much lower field than the RL and thus channels the magnetic flux from the write head through the island positions. The dipolar fields from the RL above the FCL polarize the magnetization of the FCL parallel to the magnetization direction of the RL in the absence of an external field, to thereby enhance the readback signal. | 04-14-2011 |
20110085261 | MAGNETORESISTIVE MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A NON-MAGNETIC PART ON A MEDIUM FACING SURFACE SIDE OF THE SENSOR - 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. | 04-14-2011 |
20110075286 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING TRACK PITCH IN A HARD DISK DRIVE TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF BOTH OFF-TRACK CAPACITY AND ADJACENT TRACK ERASURE - Track pitch in a hard disk drive is selected to satisfy the requirements of both off-track capacity (OTC) and adjacent track interference (ATI). The invention separately measures the track pitch requirements for OTC and ATI. The track pitch for the drive is set with the larger of the OTC and ATI track pitches. The OTC track pitch is measured with a 747 curve, and the ATI track pitch is measured by the positions of adjacent tracks at which the on-track error rate is not worse than a given value after the targeted number of adjacent track writes in the ATI requirement. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074062 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIA - A system, method and apparatus for manufacturing high density magnetic media is disclosed. A flexible mold having a very low modulus of less than about | 03-31-2011 |
20110069413 | CURRENT-PERPENDICULAR-TO-THE-PLANE (CPP) MAGNETORESISTIVE READ HEAD WITH MULTIPLE SENSING ELEMENTS FOR PATTERNED-MEDIA - A magnetoresistive (MR) sensor or read head for a magnetic recording disk drive has multiple independent current-perpendicular-to-the-plane (CPP) MR sensing elements. The sensing elements are spaced-apart in the cross-track direction and separated by an insulating separation region so as to be capable of reading data from multiple data tracks on the disk. The sensing elements have independent CPP sense currents, each of which is directed to independent data detection electronics, respectively. Each sensing element comprises a stack of layers formed on a common electrically conducting base layer, which may be a bottom magnetic shield layer formed of electrically conducting magnetically permeable material. Each sensing element has a top electrical lead layer. A top magnetic shield layer is located above the sensing elements in contact with the top lead layers. The top shield layer is formed of soft magnetically permeable material, but is electrically insulating, so that the independent sense currents can be passed to the independent sensing elements. | 03-24-2011 |
20110051288 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEM AND WRITE HEAD WITH TRANSVERSE AUXILIARY POLE FOR FAST SWITCHING OF WRITE POLE MAGNETIZATION - A perpendicular magnetic recording system has a write head having a main coil (the write coil) and main pole (the write pole) that directs write flux in a direction perpendicular to the recording layer in the magnetic recording medium, and a transverse auxiliary pole (TAP) that injects auxiliary magnetic flux into the write pole at an angle to the primary or perpendicular axis of the write pole. The additional flux from the TAP, which is injected non-parallel to the primary magnetization of the write pole, exerts a torque on the magnetization of the write pole, thereby facilitating magnetization reversal of the write pole. The TAP is coupled to the main coil but not electrically connected to it. A separate passive coil, not electrically connected to the main coil, may be wrapped as a loop around the main pole and the TAP. Alternatively, the TAP may be located near one of the electrically conductive turns of the main coil. | 03-03-2011 |
20110038081 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEM WITH SPIN TORQUE OSCILLATOR AND CONTROL CIRCUITRY FOR FAST SWITCHING OF WRITE POLE MAGNETIZATION - A perpendicular magnetic recording hard disk drive includes a write head with a write pole and an electrically conductive coil coupled to the write pole, a write driver for supplying electrical write current to the coil to generate magnetic flux in the write pole, a spin torque oscillator (STO) that injects auxiliary magnetic flux to the write pole to facilitate magnetization switching of the write pole, and STO control circuitry. Direct electrical current to the STO induces rotation of the magnetization of a free ferromagnetic layer in the STO, which generates the auxiliary magnetic flux. The STO control circuitry may be coupled to the STO via the electrical lines that connect the write driver to the write head, the lines that connect the read amplifier to the read head, or, if the disk drive is one with thermal fly-height control (TFC), the lines that connect the TFC circuitry with the heater. | 02-17-2011 |
20110038079 | PERPENDICULAR RECORDING MEDIA WITH SUBLAYERS OF OXIDE DOPANT MAGNETIC MATERIALS - Perpendicular recording media with sublayers of dual oxide dopant magnetic materials are disclosed. The magnetic layer may comprise multiple sublayers of magnetic materials. In each sublayer, dual oxide dopants are incorporated. The compositions of the sublayers can be the same or different depending on the application. The magnetic layer may be deposited using a target comprising a mixture of CoPtCrB and dual oxides as dopants. The layer deposited with such targets can be the entire magnetic layer or a sublayer. | 02-17-2011 |
20110035634 | STORAGE DEVICE WITH ADAPTIVE ERROR-CORRECTING CODE FOR IMPROVED AREAL EFFICIENCY - A method for adaptively applying an error-correcting code to a storage device is disclosed. A determination is made that a system is in an idle state of input/output requests. First data symbols are copied into a first location within a buffer. First data symbol errors corrected using a first error-correcting code. Second data symbols including corrected bits are written in a second location on the recording media with a second error-correcting code. An error number for the second data symbols in the second location is determined. If the error number is below a first threshold error number, the first data symbols are deleted. If the error number is above the first threshold error number, the second data symbols are deleted. | 02-10-2011 |
20110032640 | MULTI-LAYER, THIN FILM OVERCOAT FOR MAGNETIC MEDIA DISK - A thin film magnetic disk overcoat for perpendicular magnetic recording media comprises three layers. The initial layer comprises a dense mixture of both SiC | 02-10-2011 |
20110032638 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING MEDIUM, MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE SAME, AND MAGNETIC RECORDING/REPRODUCING APPARATUS USING THE SAME - Embodiments of the invention provide a perpendicular magnetic recording medium improved for fly ability, high in read signal quality, and capable of suppressing magnetic decay of recorded magnetization to be caused by stray fields. In one embodiment, a perpendicular recording layer is formed over a substrate with a soft magnetic underlayer therebetween, then an amorphous or nano-crystalline layer is formed between the substrate and the soft magnetic underlayer. The soft magnetic underlayer includes first and second amorphous soft magnetic layers, as well as a nonmagnetic layer formed between those first and second amorphous soft magnetic layers. The first and second amorphous soft magnetic layers are given uniaxial anisotropy in the radial direction of the substrate respectively and coupled with each other antiferromagnetically. | 02-10-2011 |
20110026165 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR VIBRATION DAMPING OF INTEGRATED LEAD SUSPENSIONS IN HIGH DENSITY MAGNETIC STORAGE DEVICES - An integrated lead suspension (ILS) has a constrained layer damper (CLD) that attenuates vibration of the ILS. The CLD may be applied over an already assembled ILS such that the CLD is applied to the cover layer, to the base layer, or to both. Alternatively, the ILS may be encapsulated via a deposition process such that a damping layer is sandwiched between the conductor layer and the cover layer of the ILS, between the conductor layer and the dielectric layer of the ILS, or both. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026161 | PARTIALLY-OXIDIZED CAP LAYER FOR HARD DISK DRIVE MAGNETIC MEDIA - A perpendicular recording magnetic media with a partially-oxidized cap layer combines a second oxide layer with a first cap layer to form the singular, partially-oxidized cap. The oxidized portion and the non-oxidized portion of the partially-oxidized layer are sputtered from a same target and have a same composition of metallic elements. The Ms of the oxidized portion is about twice as high as the non-oxidized portion. The oxidized portion has a thickness in the range of about 5 to 25 angstroms. The layer composition may comprise CoPtCrBTa, with a Cr at % of about 18-24%, Pt at about 13-20%, B at about 4-10%, and Ta at about 0-2%. | 02-03-2011 |
20110026155 | PATTERNED-MEDIA MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH CRYPTOGRAPHICALLY SCRAMBLED PATTERNS AND DISK DRIVE OPERABLE WITH THE DISK - Patterned-media magnetic recording disks are made from a master template that has nondata regions that contain a pattern of one or more discrete nondata islands and discrete gaps, with the pattern representing a scrambled number. All disks made from the master template, or from replica molds made from the master, will have the same patterns. When the disks are DC-magnetized so that all the nondata islands are magnetized in the same direction, these patterns will include one or more of discrete magnetized nondata islands and discrete nonmagnetic gaps that are scrambled in a pseudo-random manner. During operation of the disk drive the patterns are detected by the read head and interpreted within the disk drive using knowledge of the pseudo-random scrambling function, so that reading and writing of data can occur in the conventional manner. If the disks are copied in an attempt to replicate the master template, the resulting disks will be inoperable in a disk drive because of the scrambling. | 02-03-2011 |
20100326819 | METHOD FOR MAKING A PATTERNED PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK - A method for making a patterned-media magnetic recording disk uses nano-imprint lithography (NIL) for patterning a resist layer over the magnetic recording layer. A hard mask layer is located above the magnetic recording layer and an etch stop layer is located above the hard mask layer and below the resist layer. Residual resist material in the recesses of the patterned resist layer is removed by reactive ion etching (RIE) to expose the underlying etch stop layer. The etch stop material in the recesses is then removed by RIE to expose regions of the hard mask layer. A reactive ion milling (RIM) process removes the exposed hard mask material. The RIM process causes no undercutting of the unexposed hard mask material, which allows the very small critical dimensions of the patterned-media disk to be reliably achieved when ion milling is subsequently performed through the hard mask that has been patterned by the RIM process. | 12-30-2010 |
20100321813 | SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING METROLOGY ON PATTERNED MEDIA DISKS WITH TEST PATTERN AREAS - Techniques for performing metrology on magnetic media disk formations that are arranged in curvilinear patterns are disclosed. Small integrated test patterns having rectangular periodicity are integrated among the concentric circles of patterned media formations. The test patterns cover only very small areas of the disk so as to not significantly affect disk capacity. The periodicity of the test patterns allows their formations to be more readily measured by metrology technology than those having a curvilinear periodicity. | 12-23-2010 |
20100309576 | PATTERNED MEDIA MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE WITH WRITE CLOCK PHASE ADJUSTMENT FOR WRITE HEAD TRACK MISREGISTRATION - A patterned-media magnetic recording disk drive has compensation for write head track misregistration (TMR) from the track centerline. As the disk rotates, the read head detects angularly spaced servo sectors and generates a position error signal (PES) which is used by the servo control system to maintain the read head on track. As the disk rotates, the read head also detects angularly spaced synchronization marks, which are used to control the write clock so that magnetization reversal of the magnetic write field from the write head is synchronized with the position of the data islands. If there is TMR of the write head, there will be an effective shift of A(p in the timing of when the center of the data islands pass through the write field. The disk drive includes write clock phase adjustment circuitry that correlates the PES with Δφ to compensate for TMR of the write head. | 12-09-2010 |
20100296193 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WRITE HEAD WITH NOTCHED TRAILING SHIELD - A perpendicular magnetic recording write head has a write pole, a trapezoidal-shaped trailing shield notch, and a gap between the write pole and notch, with the gap being formed of a nonmagnetic mask film, such as alumina, a nonmagnetic metal protective film and a nonmagnetic gap layer. The write pole has a trailing edge that has a width substantially defining the track width and that faces the front edge of the notch but is spaced from it by the gap. The write pole has nonmagnetic filler material, such as alumina, surrounding it except at its trailing edge, where it is in contact with the gap. A reactive ion beam etching (RIBE) process removes the filler material at the side edges of the write pole and thus widens the opening at the side edges. The nonmagnetic metal film protects the underlying mask film and write pole during the widening of the opening. The gap layer and trailing shield notch are deposited into a widened opening above the write pole, so the sides of the notch diverge to cause the generally trapezoidal shape. | 11-25-2010 |
20100259846 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STRAIN-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING FOR CONTROLLING SWITCHING FIELD AND TIGHTENING SWITCHING FIELD DISTRIBUTION IN BIT PATTERNED MEDIA - Multilayer magnetic structures control the switching field and tighten the switching field distribution in bit patterned media. A strain-inducing layer is excited, e.g., by a localized magnetic field or a localized thermal heating or a voltage, and induces a strain on the magnetic layer(s) of the patterned bit to initiate switching of the bit magnetization. The strain induced on the magnetic layer forces a rotation or an amplitude variation of the magnetic layer anisotropy. A localized magnetic field is simultaneously or subsequently applied to complete the switching of the bit magnetization. The invention provides control of switching field and switching field distribution for bit-patterned media devices. | 10-14-2010 |
20100254042 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEM WITH AUXILIARY COIL AND CIRCUITRY FOR FAST SWITCHING OF WRITE POLE MAGNETIZATION - A perpendicular magnetic recording system has a write head having a main coil (the write coil) and main pole (the write pole) that directs write flux in a direction perpendicular to the recording layer in the magnetic recording medium, and an auxiliary coil and auxiliary pole that injects magnetic flux into the write pole at an angle to the primary or perpendicular axis of the write pole. The additional flux from the auxiliary pole, which is injected non-parallel to the primary magnetization of the write pole, exerts a relatively large torque on the magnetization of the write pole, thereby facilitating magnetization reversal of the write pole. Electrical circuitry is connected to the main coil and the auxiliary coil to generate the auxiliary flux simultaneous with the switching of the magnetization of the write pole. | 10-07-2010 |
20100254041 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEM WITH HELICAL WRITE COIL AND AUXILIARY COIL FOR FAST SWITCHING OF WRITE POLE MAGNETIZATION - A perpendicular magnetic recording system has a write head having a main helical coil (the write coil) and main pole (the write pole) that directs write flux in a direction perpendicular to the recording layer in the magnetic recording medium, and an auxiliary coil and auxiliary pole that injects magnetic flux into the write pole at an angle to the primary or perpendicular axis of the write pole. The auxiliary coil is preferably a helical coil wrapped around the auxiliary pole. The additional flux from the auxiliary pole, which is injected non-parallel to the primary magnetization of the write pole, exerts a relatively large torque on the magnetization of the write pole, thereby facilitating magnetization reversal of the write pole. Electrical circuitry is connected to the main coil and the auxiliary coil to generate the auxiliary flux simultaneous with the switching of the magnetization of the write pole. | 10-07-2010 |
20100247969 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTIPLE ANISOTROPY LAYERED MAGNETIC STRUCTURES FOR CONTROLLING REVERSAL MECHANISM AND TIGHTENING OF SWITCHING FIELD DISTRIBUTION IN BIT PATTERNED MEDIA - Multiple anisotropy layered magnetic structures for controlling reversal mechanism and tightening of switching field distribution in bit patterned media are disclosed. The invention extends the exchange spring concept to more variable and sophisticated structures. Three or more layers with different anisotropy or anisotropy gradients increase writeability gains beyond the simple hard/soft bilayer exchange spring concept for BPM. The structures have a thin very hard, high anisotropy center layer that acts as a threshold or pinning layer for domain wall propagation through the entire media structure. In addition or alternatively, a thin very soft, low anisotropy center layer in between the commonly used soft surface layer and hard media layer allows quick initial propagation of the domain wall into the center of the media structure. Various properties of the media structures can be tuned more independently for optimization if using more advanced multi-anisotropy layer stacks. | 09-30-2010 |
20100246062 | PATTERNED-MEDIA PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH SERVO REGIONS HAVING MAGNETIZED SERVO PILLARS AND OPPOSITELY-MAGNETIZED SERVO TRENCHES - A patterned perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a pre-patterned disk substrate with pillars and trenches arranged in data regions and servo regions. In the data regions, the height of the data pillars is equal to or greater than the spacing between the data pillars, while in the servo regions the height of the servo pillars is less than the spacing between the servo pillars. A magnetic recording material with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is deposited over the entire disk substrate, which results in magnetic material on the tops of the data pillars and servo pillars and in the servo trenches. The material in the data trenches is either nonmagnetic or discontinuous. After the application of a high DC magnetic field in one perpendicular direction and a low DC magnetic field in the opposite direction, the resulting disk has patterned servo sectors with servo pillars all magnetized in the same perpendicular direction and servo trenches magnetized in the opposite perpendicular direction. | 09-30-2010 |
20100235718 | Decoding Techniques for Correcting Errors Using Soft Information - Two levels of error correction decoding are performed using first and second level decoders. A composite code formed by combining an inner component code and an outer component code can be used to decode the data and correct any errors. Performing two level decoding using a composite code allows the size of the inner parity block to be reduced to a single Reed-Solomon symbol while keeping a good code rate. The first level decoder generates soft information. The soft information can indicate a most likely error event for each possible syndrome value of the inner component code. The soft information can also include error metric values for each of the most likely error events. The second level decoder generates corrected syndrome values based on the soft information using the outer component code. The most likely trellis path that corresponds to the corrected syndrome values is then selected. | 09-16-2010 |
20100233517 | METHOD FOR MAKING A MASTER DISK FOR NANOIMPRINTING PATTERNED MAGNETIC RECORDING DISKS AND MASTER DISK MADE BY THE METHOD - A method for making a master disk to be used for nanoimprinting patterned-media magnetic recording disks uses sidewall lithography. In one implementation, the master disk substrate has a first pattern of concentric rings formed on it by sidewall lithography, followed by a second pattern of generally radially-directed pairs of parallel lines, also formed by sidewall lithography, with the pairs of parallel lines intersecting the rings. An etching process is then performed, using the upper pattern as an etch mask, to remove unprotected portions of the underlying concentric rings. This leaves a pattern of pillars on the substrate, which then serve as an etch mask for an etching process that etches unprotected portions of the master disk substrate. The resulting master disk then has pillars of substrate material arranged in a pattern of concentric rings and generally radially-directed pairs of parallel lines. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232060 | DISK STACK ASSEMBLY WITH SPINDLE MOTOR HUB HAVING IMPROVED DISK-SUPPORTING FLANGE - An improved disk stack assembly for a hard disk drive (HDD) includes a generally cylindrical hub with flange having a downward sloping conical flange surface. The conical flange surface is defined between a radially inner circular ridge and a radially outer circular edge. The bottom disk in the stack is in contact with the flange inner circular ridge. The disk stack assembly also includes a disk clamp with a contact surface having a contact rim that is in contact with either the radially inner portion of the top disk in the stack or a spacer ring. The clamp contact rim is located at approximately the same radial distance from the hub's central cylindrical axis as the flange circular ridge so that the clamping force is applied to the disks close to the area where the disk stack is supported on the conical flange surface. | 09-16-2010 |
20100232057 | Techniques For Storing Shingle Blocks in a Cache Memory Using a Data Storage Device - A data storage apparatus includes a data storage medium, a write element, a non-volatile cache memory circuit, and a controller circuit. The controller circuit is configured to record data on the data storage medium in groups of overlapping tracks using the write element. The controller circuit is configured to store a shingle block of data from a subset of the overlapping tracks in the non-volatile cache memory circuit, while at least a portion of the data in the shingle block of data is updated. | 09-16-2010 |
20100221416 | SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COMBINING THE PROCESSES OF LUBRICATION AND FINAL TAPE POLISH FOR MAGNETIC MEDIA - The manufacturing processes of lubrication and final tape polish (FTP) for magnetic media are combined into a single operation. A modified disk loading conveyor performs both lubricant dipping and FTP by immersing a cassette of disks in a lube bath. A single disk is lubed as it is unloaded. Upon unload, the lubed disk is put on an FTP spindle for polishing. After FTP, the disk is put in an empty cassette adjacent the lube bath. An automatic lift transports fill or empty cassettes into or out of the lube bath, respectively. | 09-02-2010 |
20100214693 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING SYSTEM WITH MAGNETIC PRECESSION FOR FAST SWITCHING OF PERPENDICULAR WRITE POLE MAGNETIZATION - A perpendicular magnetic recording system has a write head with a main perpendicular write pole connected to a yoke with first and second electrical coils. The first coil is wrapped around the yoke on one side of the main pole, and the second coil is wrapped around the yoke on the other side of the main pole. The first end of each coil is connected to a respective terminal. The second ends of the two coils are connected together and connected to a common terminal. A lead-time circuit is connected between the common terminal and the first end of one of the coils. Immediately after the direction of write current is switched by the write driver, the lead-time circuit causes the current in one of the coils to lead the current in the other coil. The current displacement between the two coils creates a precession of the magnetic flux reversal, thereby reducing the switching time of the write head. | 08-26-2010 |
20100205623 | Techniques For Emulating Sequential Device With Constrained Disk Drive - A disk drive apparatus includes at least one disk, a head-arm assembly, and a controller circuit. The head arm assembly includes at least one read/write head. The head-arm assembly is movable to enable the read/write head to access a writable surface of the disk. The controller circuit also causes the read/write head to record data on the writable surface of the disk in a write append format. | 08-12-2010 |
20100187199 | SELF-ALIGNED COIL PROCESS IN MAGNETIC RECORDING HEADS - In one embodiment of the present invention, a write head includes a first pole P | 07-29-2010 |
20100178529 | PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK WITH ULTRATHIN NUCLEATION FILM FOR IMPROVED CORROSION RESISTANCE AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE DISK - A perpendicular magnetic recording disk has a granular cobalt alloy recording layer (RL) containing an additive oxide or oxides, an intermediate layer (IL) as an exchange-break layer on the “soft” magnetic underlayer (SUL), and an ultrathin nucleation film (NF) between the IL and the RL. In the method of making the disk, the IL is deposited at a relatively low sputtering pressure, to thereby reduce the roughness of the RL and overcoat (OC), while the NF and RL are deposited at substantially higher sputtering pressures. The resulting disk has good recording properties and improved corrosion resistance over a comparable disk made with an IL deposited at high sputtering pressure and without the NF. The NF may be a discontinuous film with an average thickness of less than about 1 nm. | 07-15-2010 |