WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150194168 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF ADJUSTING TILT USING MAGNETIC ERASE WIDTH FEEDBACK - Systems and methods are provided for manufacturing magneto-resistive devices utilized in magneto-resistive read elements by depositing a plurality of rows of magnetic transducers on a wafer. The wafer may then be diced/cut into bars of active device regions for incorporation into a magnetic recording head. Sampling of a subset of bars from one or more bar sections of the wafer may be processed to obtain feedback associated with magnetic erase width (MEW). An air bearing surface (ABS) tilt angle based on the MEW feedback may then be applied to the one or more bar sections of the water during subsequent processing to optimize the magnetic performance of each resulting magneto-resistive device. | 07-09-2015 |
20150109702 | MAGNETIC READ HEAD WITH ANTIFERROMAGNETIC LAYER - A tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) read sensor having a tabbed AFM layer and an extended pinned layer and methods for making the same are provided. The TMR read sensor has an AFM layer recessed from the air bearing surface, providing a reduced shield-to-shield distance. | 04-23-2015 |
20150049400 | GRADIENT WRITE GAP FOR PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WRITER - The present disclosure provides for a magnetic writer pole for use in a hard drive. The magnetic writer pole comprises a first bevel formed by a non-magnetic layer, the first bevel formed at a first angle and extending to a first throat height. The magnetic writer pole further comprises a second bevel formed by the non-magnetic layer and extending distally from the first bevel at a second angle that is greater than the first angle and extending to a second throat height. The magnetic writer pole further comprises a third bevel formed by the non-magnetic layer and extending distally from the second bevel at a third angle that is greater than the second angle. | 02-19-2015 |
20140269236 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING THE POWER OF A LIGHT SOURCE UTILIZED IN ENERGY-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING - Aspects of the present invention relate to energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR), an EAMR assembly, and methods for fabricating the same. In several embodiments, an EAMR head includes a sub-mount on a slider that has a waveguide configured to receive light from a light source attached to a surface of the sub-mount. The waveguide receives the light at a top surface of the slider and routes the light to be near an air bearing surface (ABS) of the slider where energy of the light can be used to heat up a spot on a recording media disk that is proximate the ABS. The waveguide also routes a portion of the light back to the top surface of the slider where the light exits the waveguide and is detected by a light detector located along the surface of the sub-mount. | 09-18-2014 |
20140175050 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING A MAGNETIC RECORDING TRANSDUCER INCLUDING A WRAPAROUND SHIELD AND A RECTANGULAR POLE - A method fabricates a magnetic transducer having an ABS location. Etch stop and nonmagnetic etchable layers are provided. A side shield layer is provided between the ABS location and the etch stop and etchable layers. Part of the side shield and etchable layers are removed using a first removal process. This portion of the pole trench formed has a top wider than the bottom in the side shield layer. Part of the etchable layer is removed using a second removal process, thereby forming the pole trench. The pole trench has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom in the side shield layer and substantially perpendicular sidewalls in the etchable layer. A nonmagnetic side gap layer is provided. A remaining portion of the pole trench has a location and profile for a pole. At least part of the pole is in the pole trench. | 06-26-2014 |
20140154529 | MAGNETORESISTIVE SENSOR FOR A MAGNETIC STORAGE SYSTEM READ HEAD, AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF - A magnetic read transducer including a magnetoresistive sensor is described, as well as a fabrication method thereof. The magnetoresistive sensor includes a cap layer overlaying a free layer. The cap layer is situated with a first thickness to absorb boron from the free layer. The magnetoresistive sensor is annealed, and boron is diffused from the free layer and absorbed by the cap layer, improving the magnetic performance of the free layer. The cap layer thickness is then reduced to a second thickness, thereby reducing the shield-to-shield (SS) stack spacing of the magnetoresistive sensor and allowing for increased areal recording density. | 06-05-2014 |
20140092715 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING LASER ALIGNMENT AND OPTICAL TRANSMISSION EFFICIENCY OF AN ENERGY ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD - An EAMR disk drive includes a media, a laser, and a slider coupled with the laser. The laser for provides energy. The slider has an air-bearing surface, a laser input side, an EAMR transducer and an antireflective coating (ARC) layer occupying a portion of the laser input side. The ARC layer is configured to reduce back reflections of the energy. The EAMR transducer includes a write pole, a waveguide optically coupled with the laser and at least one coil. The waveguide has a waveguide input. A portion of the ARC layer resides between the laser and the waveguide input. A method aligns the laser to the ARC layer, and then aligns the laser to the waveguide input. The laser may then be coupled to the slider. | 04-03-2014 |
20130257421 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING ON-WAFER TESTING OF HEADS - A method and system for testing a read transducer are described. The read transducer includes a read sensor fabricated on a wafer. A system includes a test structure that resides on the wafer. The test structure includes a test device and a heater. The test device corresponds to the read sensor. The heater is in proximity to the test device and is configured to heat the test device substantially without heating the read sensor. Thus, the test structure allows for on-wafer testing of the test device at a plurality of temperatures above an ambient temperature. | 10-03-2013 |
20130216863 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DEFINING A MAGNETORESISTIVE JUNCTION - A method and system define a magnetoresistive junction in a magnetic recording transducer. The method and system include performing a first mill at a first angle from a normal to the surface of the magnetic recording transducer. A second mill is performed at a second angle from the normal to the surface. The second angle is larger than the first angle. A third mill is performed at a third angle from the normal to the surface. The third angle is not larger than the first angle. | 08-22-2013 |
20130216702 | METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING A MAGNETORESISTIVE STRUCTURE UTILIZING HEATING AND COOLING - This invention describes a novel tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) deposition process that can enhance the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a TMR reader. A method of manufacturing a tunnel magnetoresistive sensor includes providing a substrate; forming a first portion of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure on the substrate; forming a second portion of the MTJ structure on the substrate; forming a tunnel barrier layer of the MTJ structure between the first portion and the second portion; heating the first portion of the MTJ structure before forming the tunnel barrier layer or after forming at least a portion of the tunnel barrier layer; and cooling the tunnel barrier layer. | 08-22-2013 |
20120304454 | PROCESS FOR FABRICATING A MAGNETIC POLE AND SHIELDS - A process for fabricating a magnetic recording transducer for use in a data storage system comprises providing a substrate, an underlayer and a first nonmagnetic intermediate layer deposited to a first thickness on and in contact with the underlayer, performing a first scanning polishing on a first section of the first intermediate layer to planarize the first section of the first intermediate layer to a second thickness, providing a main pole in the planarized first section of the first intermediate layer, providing a first pattern of photoresist on and in contact with the first section of the first intermediate layer, the pattern comprising an aperture to define a side shield trench, performing a wet etch to remove at least a portion of the first intermediate layer thereby exposing at least one of the plurality of main pole sides, and depositing side shield material in the side shield trench. | 12-06-2012 |
20120298621 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FABRICATING A NARROW LINE STRUCTURE IN A MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD - A method for fabricating a structure in magnetic recording head is described. First and second hard mask layers are provided on the layer(s) for the structure. A BARC layer and photoresist mask having a pattern are provided on the second hard mask layer. The pattern includes a line corresponding to the structure. The pattern is transferred to the BARC layer and the second hard mask layer in a single etch using an etch chemistry. At least the second hard mask layer is trimmed using substantially the same first etch chemistry. A mask including a hard mask line corresponding to the line and less than thirty nanometers wide is thus formed. The pattern of the second hard mask is transferred to the first hard mask layer. The pattern of the first hard mask layer is transferred to the layer(s) such that the structure has substantially the width. | 11-29-2012 |
20120237878 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SIDE SHIELD FOR A PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING POLE - A method for fabricating a magnetic transducer having a nonmagnetic intermediate layer is described. A pole is provided on the intermediate layer. The pole has sides, a bottom, a top wider than the bottom and a leading bevel proximate to an ABS location. A side gap is provided adjacent to at least the sides of the pole. A bottom antireflective coating (BARC) layer is provided on the intermediate layer. The BARC layer is removable using a wet etchant and is adjacent to at least a portion of the side gap. A mask layer is provided on the BARC layer. A pattern is photolithographically transferred into the mask layer, forming a shield mask. Part of the BARC layer is exposed to the wet etchant such that the sides of the pole and the side gap are free of the BARC layer. At least a magnetic side shield is provided. | 09-20-2012 |
20120235434 | VACUUM PICKUP ASSEMBLIES FOR PICKING UP ARTICLES AND MINIMIZING CONTAMINATION THEREOF - Vacuum pickup assemblies for picking up articles and minimizing contamination of the articles are described. One such vacuum pick up assembly includes an end effector configured to contact the article, the end effector coupled to a vacuum section and a purge section, the vacuum section including a vacuum filter pneumatically coupled to the end effector, and a vacuum source pneumatically coupled to the first filter and, in a pick up mode, configured to generate vacuum pressure at the end effector at a preselected vacuum pressure to pick up and retain the article, the purge section including a purge filter pneumatically coupled to the end effector, and a purge source pneumatically coupled to the second filter and, in a release mode, configured to expel a purge gas at the end effector at a preselected purge pressure to release the article. | 09-20-2012 |
20120163137 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPTICALLY COUPLING A LASER WITH A TRANSDUCER IN AN ENERGY ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE - A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head are described. The EAMR head includes a laser, a slider, and an EAMR transducer. The laser has a main emitter and at least one alignment emitter. The slider includes at least one alignment waveguide, at least one output device, and an air-bearing surface (ABS). The alignment waveguide(s) are aligned with the alignment emitter(s). The EAMR transducer is coupled with the slider and includes a waveguide aligned with main emitter. The waveguide is for directing energy from the main emitter toward the ABS. | 06-28-2012 |
20120141243 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REPOSITIONING ROW BARS USED FOR MANUFACTURING MAGNETIC HEADS - A system for repositioning row bars includes a base support including a top surface, and a support arm positioned on the top surface and configured to rotate from a first position to a second position, a tray assembly coupled to the support arm, the tray assembly including a first tray including a plurality of first channels, each configured to retain one of the row bars in an initial position, a transfer substrate including a plurality of transfer channels, each configured to receive one of the row bars from the first tray as the support arm moves from the first position to the second position, and a second tray including a plurality of second channels, each configured to retain the one of the row bars in a final position, where the row bars in the final position are rotated by a preselected number of degrees from the initial position. | 06-07-2012 |
20120111826 | DAMASCENE PROCESS USING PVD SPUTTER CARBON FILM AS CMP STOP LAYER FOR FORMING A MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD - Damascene processes using physical vapor deposition (PVD) sputter carbon film as a chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) stop layer for forming a magnetic recording head are provided. In one embodiment, one such process includes providing an insulator, removing a portion of the insulator to form a trench within the insulator, depositing a carbon material on first portions of the insulator using a physical vapor deposition process, disposing at least one ferromagnetic material on second portions of the insulator to form a pole including a portion of the ferromagnetic material within the trench, and performing a chemical mechanical planarization on the at least one ferromagnetic material using at least a portion of the carbon material as a stop for the chemical mechanical planarization. | 05-10-2012 |
20120002329 | SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAVING A MICROACTUATOR GROUNDED TO A FLEXURE - Disclosed is a suspension assembly for a disk drive that includes: a mounting plate having a through-hole extending from a top-side of the mounting plate to a bottom-side of the mounting plate; a microactuator mounting structure formed in the mounting plate; a microactuator mounted in the microactuator mounting structure; and a flexure attached to the bottom-side of the of mounting plate. The flexure includes: a metal layer; an insulator layer; a trace layer that includes a ground trace; and an opening, wherein the opening extends through the metal layer and the insulator layer to a gold-plated ground trace. A conductive epoxy is bonded to the microactuator and extends through the through-hole to bond to the flexure, wherein the epoxy extends through the opening of the flexure to the gold-plated ground trace of the flexure such that the microactuator is grounded to the flexure. | 01-05-2012 |
20110317527 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN AN ENERGY ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD - A method and system for providing energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) heads are described. The method and system include providing a substrate, at least one EAMR transducer, an overcoat layer and at least one laser. The substrate has a leading edge and a substrate trailing edge. The EAMR transducer(s) reside in a device layer and on the substrate trailing edge. The overcoat layer includes a plurality of contacts. The device layer is between the overcoat layer and the substrate trailing edge. The laser(s) provide energy to the EAMR transducer. The overcoat layer is between the substrate trailing edge and the laser(s). The laser(s) are electrically coupled to at least a first portion of the contacts. The contacts provide thermal connection through the overcoat layer and the device layer. At least a second portion of the contacts is electrically insulated from the substrate. | 12-29-2011 |
20110294398 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRONIC LAPPING GUIDE CORRESPONDING TO A NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCER OF AN ENERGY ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING TRANSDUCER - A method and system for fabricating transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) is described. The method and system include providing at least one near-field transducer (NFT) film and providing an electronic lapping guide (ELG) film substantially coplanar with a portion of the at least one NFT film. The method and system also include defining a disk portion of an NFT from the portion of the at least one NFT film and at least one ELG from the ELG film. The disk portion corresponds to a critical dimension of the NFT from an ABS location. The method and system also include lapping the at least one transducer. The lapping is terminated based on a signal from the ELG. | 12-01-2011 |
20110286129 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAPPING THE SHAPE OF A HEAD UNDER OPERATING CONDITIONS - A method and system for determining a shape of a portion of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of a head residing on a slider are described. The ABS is configured to fly at a fly height from and with a velocity with respect to a disk during normal operating conditions. The method and system include driving at least one heater residing in the head while the slider is substantially at the normal operating conditions with respect to the disk and the fly height. The shape of the portion of the ABS changes in response to the heater(s) being driven. The method and system also include performing Doppler measurements on the slider while the heater is driven. The shape may then be determined based on the Doppler measurements. | 11-24-2011 |
20110279926 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING TRANSDUCER USING A LOW ENERGY MILL - A method and system for fabricating magnetic transducer are described. The method and system include providing a main pole having a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The method and system further include performing a high energy ion mill at an angle from a normal to the top of the main pole and at a first energy. The high energy ion mill removes a portion of the top of the main pole and exposes a top bevel surface for the main pole. The method and system also include performing a low energy ion mill at second energy and a glancing angle from the top bevel surface. The glancing angle is not more than fifteen degrees. The second energy is less than the first energy. The method and system also include depositing a nonmagnetic gap. | 11-17-2011 |
20110222180 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERROGATING THE THICKNESS OF A CARBON LAYER - A method and system for interrogating a thickness of a carbon layer are described. The carbon layer resides on at least one of a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording disk. The method and system include providing an enhancement film on the carbon layer. The enhancement film is continuous across a portion of the carbon layer. The method and system also include exposing the enhancement film to light from a light source and detecting scattered light from the carbon layer to provide a surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) spectrum. The enhancement film resides between the light source and the carbon layer. The method and system also include determining the thickness of the carbon layer based on the SERS spectrum. | 09-15-2011 |
20110149439 | HEAD GIMBAL ASSEMBLY HAVING A RADIAL ROTARY PIEZOELECTRIC MICROACTUATOR BETWEEN A READ HEAD AND A FLEXURE TONGUE - A novel head gimbal assembly (HGA) includes a piezoelectric microactuator having a first side and an opposing second side. The first side includes a plurality of anchor regions that extend radially from a center point and are bonded to the gimbal tongue. The first side also includes a first plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the anchor regions. The second side includes a plurality of link regions that extend radially from the center point and are bonded to a top surface of the read head. The second side also includes a second plurality of non-bonded regions lying between the link regions. Each of the plurality of link regions is angularly spaced between two of the plurality of anchor regions. | 06-23-2011 |
20110135961 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A MAGNETIC TRANSDUCER HAVING AN IMPROVED READ SENSOR - A method and system for providing a magnetic structure in magnetic transducer is described. The method and system include providing a pinning layer, a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) adjacent to the pinning layer, a nonmagnetic layer, and a sensor layer. The SAF resides between the nonmagnetic and pinning layers. The nonmagnetic layer is between the SAF and the sensor layer. The SAF includes a pinned layer, a reference layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the pinned and reference layers. The pinned layer is magnetically coupled with the reference layer and includes sublayers. A first sublayer has a first blocking temperature distribution (T | 06-09-2011 |
20110102949 | METHOD TO IMPROVE READER STABILITY AND WRITER OVERWRITE BY PATTERNED WAFER ANNEALING - A method of fabricating a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) reader is disclosed. A TMR structure comprising at least one ferromagnetic layer and at least one nonmagnetic insulating layer is provided. A first thermal annealing process on the TMR structure is performed. A reader pattern definition process performed on the TMR structure to obtain a patterned TMR reader. A second thermal annealing process is performed on the patterned TMR reader. | 05-05-2011 |
20110086240 | DOUBLE PATTERNING HARD MASK FOR DAMASCENE PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING (PMR) WRITER - Various embodiments of the subject disclosure provide a double patterning process that uses two patterning steps to produce a write structure having a nose shape with sharp corners. In one embodiment, a method for forming a write structure on a multi-layer structure comprising a substrate and an insulator layer on the substrate is provided. The method comprises forming a hard mask layer over the insulator layer, performing a first patterning process to form a pole and yoke opening in the hard mask layer, performing a second patterning process to remove rounded corners of the pole and yoke opening in the hard mask layer, removing a portion of the insulator layer corresponding to the pole and yoke opening in the hard mask layer to form a trench in the insulator layer, and filling the trench with a magnetic material. | 04-14-2011 |
20110056839 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CORROSION PROTECTION OF LAYERS IN A STRUCTURE OF A MAGNETIC RECORDING TRANSDUCER - A method for providing a structure in a magnetic recording transducer is described. The method includes plating a first layer in a plating bath using a first plurality of plating conditions. The first layer has a first galvanic potential. The method also includes modifying the plating bath and/or the first plurality of plating conditions to provide a modified plating bath and/or a second plurality of plating conditions. The method further includes plating a second layer using the modified plating bath and/or the second plurality of plating conditions. The second layer has a second galvanic potential. The first galvanic potential is between the second galvanic potential and a third galvanic potential of a third layer if the third layer adjoins the first layer. The second galvanic potential is between the first galvanic potential and the third galvanic potential of the third layer if the third layer adjoins the second layer. | 03-10-2011 |
20110042349 | DAMASCENE WRITE POLES PRODUCED VIA FULL FILM PLATING - A method for forming a write pole comprises forming a stop layer over a substrate layer of a wafer, the stop layer having an opening above a damascene trench in the substrate layer, and forming a buffer layer over the stop layer, the buffer layer having an opening above the opening of the stop layer. The method further comprises plating a layer of magnetic material over the wafer, disposing a first sacrificial material over a region of the magnetic material above the damascene trench, performing a milling or etching operation over the wafer to remove the magnetic material not covered by the first sacrificial material and to remove the first sacrificial material, disposing a second sacrificial material over the wafer, and performing a polishing operation over the wafer to remove the region of the magnetic material above the damascene trench, the second sacrificial material, and the buffer layer. | 02-24-2011 |
20110013317 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FABRICATING MAGNETIC TRANSDUCERS WITH IMPROVED PINNING - A method and system for providing a magnetic transducer are disclosed. The method and system include providing a magnetic element that includes a free layer, a pinned layer, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer between the free layer and the pinned layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is a tunneling barrier layer. The free layer is configured to be biased in a first direction. The pinned layer has a pinned layer magnetization configured to be pinned in a second direction that is at a first angle from perpendicular to the ABS. The first angle is nonzero and different from ninety degrees. The second direction and the first direction form a second angle that is different from ninety degrees. | 01-20-2011 |
20100328822 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A BARRIER FOR A MAGNETORESISTIVE STRUCTURE UTILIZING HEATING - A method and system for providing a magnetic recording transducer is described. The method and system include providing a pinned layer for a magnetic element. In one aspect, a portion of a tunneling barrier layer for the magnetic element is provided. The magnetic recording transducer annealed is after the portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided. The annealing is at a temperature higher than room temperature. A remaining portion of the tunneling barrier layer is provided after the annealing. In another aspect, the magnetic transducer is transferred to a high vacuum annealing apparatus before annealing the magnetic transducer. In this aspect, the magnetic transducer may be annealed before any portion of the tunneling barrier is provided or after at least a portion of the tunneling barrier is provided. The annealing is performed in the high vacuum annealing apparatus. A free layer for the magnetic element is also provided. | 12-30-2010 |
20100290157 | Damascene coil processes and structures - A magnetic recording head is provided. The magnetic recording head comprises a write pole and a write coil structure configured to generate a magnetic field in the write pole. The write coil structure comprises a substrate layer and a coil material disposed within the substrate layer. The write coil structure is substantially free of photoresist. A method for forming a write coil structure is also provided. The method comprises the steps of providing a substrate layer, forming a photoresist pattern mask over the substrate layer, opening a damascene trench in the substrate layer by reactive ion etching, and disposing a coil material into the damascene trench in the substrate layer. | 11-18-2010 |
20100226038 | SERVO DESIGN IN DATA STORAGE MEDIA - A data storage medium comprises a plurality of data regions, and a plurality of servo regions configured to provide positioning information to a reading device. Each of the plurality of data regions corresponds to more than one of the plurality of servo regions. The more than one of the plurality of servo regions are configured to provide positioning information to the reading device at discrete times corresponding to a data operation of a corresponding data region. | 09-09-2010 |
20100112486 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD - A method and system for providing a PMR pole in a magnetic recording transducer including an intermediate layer are disclosed. The method and system include providing a mask on the intermediate layer. The mask includes a line having at least one side. A hard mask layer is provided on the mask. At least a portion of the hard mask layer resides on the side(s) of the line. At least part of the hard mask layer on the side(s) of the line is removed. Thus, at least a portion of the line is exposed. The line is then removed, providing an aperture in the hard mask corresponding to the line. The method also includes forming a trench in the intermediate layer under the aperture. The trench top is wider than its bottom. The method further includes providing a PMR pole, at least a portion of which resides in the trench. | 05-06-2010 |
20090141403 | HEAD WITH AN AIR BEARING SURFACE HAVING LEFT AND RIGHT LEADING PRESSURIZING STEPS, EACH WITH SHORT AND LONG REGIONS - A head has an air bearing surface with left and right leading pressurizing steps. The left and right leading pressurizing steps are each partially surrounded by left and right leading pads, respectively. The left leading pressurizing step includes a left short region that extends for a first distance (measured parallel to the slider longitudinal axis) from the leading face of the slider to the left leading pad. The left leading pressurizing step also includes a left long region that extends for a second distance (measured parallel to the longitudinal axis) from the leading face to the left leading pad. The second distance is at least 25% greater than the first distance. The left short region is disposed closer to the left lateral face than is the left long region. The left long region is disposed closer to the longitudinal axis than is the left short region. | 06-04-2009 |
20090128947 | DISK DRIVE DETERMINING OPERATING FLY HEIGHT BY DETECTING HEAD DISK CONTACT FROM DISK ROTATION TIME - A disk drive is disclosed including a disk having a plurality of tracks, wherein each track comprises a plurality of data sectors and a plurality of servo sectors. The disk drive further comprises a spindle motor for rotating the disk, and a head actuated radially over the disk, wherein the head comprises a dynamic fly height (DFH) heater. Control circuitry within the disk drive is operable to select an operating control setting for the DFH heater by positioning the head over one of the tracks, measuring a first rotation time of the disk in response to at least one of the servo sectors, adjusting the control setting for the DFH heater, measuring a second rotation time of the disk in response to at least one of the servo sectors, and detecting whether the head has contacted the disk in response to the first and second rotation times. | 05-21-2009 |
20080259499 | HEAD WITH A TRANSDUCER OVERCOAT HAVING A TRAILING AIR FLOW DAM THAT IS SHALLOWLY RECESSED FROM AN AIR BEARING SURFACE - A head includes a transducer and a slider having an air bearing surface (ABS) and a trailing face. The slider has an overcoat layer that includes the trailing face and that overcoats the transducer. The ABS includes a trailing pad having a major surface adjacent the transducer, with the major surface lying in a primary plane. The ABS also includes a sub-ambient pressure cavity disposed upstream of the overcoat layer and being recessed from the primary plane by a cavity depth in the range 0.8 to 2 microns. The overcoat layer includes a trailing air flow dam being recessed from the primary plane by a step depth in the range 0.05 to 0.5 microns. The overcoat layer also includes a corner region recessed from the primary plane by at least the cavity depth. | 10-23-2008 |