Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080225426 | Magnetic recording device including a thermal proximity sensor - A system includes a magnetic device for writing to and reading from a magnetic medium and a sensor disposed adjacent to the magnetic device and proximate to the magnetic medium. The sensor generates signals related to thermal variations in the sensor caused by changes in a distance between the magnetic device and the magnetic medium. | 09-18-2008 |
20080225584 | Magnetic storage element responsive to spin polarized current - The present invention relates to a memory cell including a first reference layer having a first magnetization with a first magnetization direction and a second reference layer having a second magnetization with a second magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to the first magnetization direction. A storage layer is disposed between the first reference layer and second reference layer and has a third magnetization direction about 45° from the first magnetization direction and about 135° from the second magnetization direction when the memory cell is in a first data state, and a fourth magnetization direction opposite the third magnetization direction when the memory cell is in a second data state. | 09-18-2008 |
20080316631 | Wire-assisted magnetic write device with low power consumption - A magnetic device includes a write element having a write element tip and a conductive coil that carries current to induce a first field in the write element. A first conductor is proximate a leading edge of the write pole tip for carrying current to generate a second field that augments the first field. | 12-25-2008 |
20090002896 | Magnetic writer for patterned media with increased write field - A magnetic writer writes to a magnetic medium including a plurality of tracks that each includes a plurality of isolated magnetic elements for storage of information. The magnetic writer includes a write element having a write element tip having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and first and second side edges extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. A side shield is proximate the first side edge and no shield is proximate the second side edge. | 01-01-2009 |
20090097152 | PATTERNED MEDIA WITH SPACINGS ADJUSTED BY A SKEW FUNCTION - Recording media comprises multiple first and second patterned media islands sequentially placed at different first and second radii along a length of a recording track. A recording head sequentially accesses the first and second islands as the head moves along a length of the recording track. Circumferential spacings between sequential first and second islands along the length of the track vary as a skew function of a track radius. | 04-16-2009 |
20090185315 | MAGNETIC SENSOR INCLUDING A FREE LAYER HAVING PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE ANISOTROPY - A magnetic sensor includes a reference layer having a first magnetization direction and a free layer assembly having an effective magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to the first magnetization direction and substantially perpendicular to a plane of each layer of the free layer assembly. A spacer layer is between the reference layer and the free layer, and a signal enhancement layer is exchange coupled to the free layer assembly on a side opposite the spacer layer. | 07-23-2009 |
20100032777 | MAGNETIC MEMORY CELL CONSTRUCTION - A magnetic tunnel junction cell having a free layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, and a barrier layer therebetween. The free layer has a central ferromagnetic portion and a stabilizing portion radially proximate the central ferromagnetic portion. The construction can be used for both in-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is in the stack film plane and out-of-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is out of the stack film plane, e.g., perpendicular to the stack plane. | 02-11-2010 |
20100033872 | PATTERNED MEDIA BITS WITH CLADDING SHELL - A bit patterned media (BPM) includes many magnetic dots arranged in tracks on a substrate. The magnetic dots each have a hard magnetic core, a soft magnetic cladding surrounding the core and a thin non-magnetic layer that separates the hard magnetic core from the soft magnetic ring. The soft magnetic cladding stabilizes the magnetization at the edges of the hard magnetic core to improve the signal to noise ratio of the magnetic dots. The soft magnetic rings also narrow the magnetic field of the dots which reduces the space requirements and allows more dots to be placed on the substrate. | 02-11-2010 |
20100034011 | Multi-Terminal Resistance Device - Embodiments of the invention provide a multi-terminal resistance device with first and second electrodes, a shared third electrode, and a resistance layer providing first and second current paths between the shared third electrode and the first and second electrodes, respectively. A current state of the device may be programmed by applying one or more electrical signals along the first and/or second current paths to change a resistance of the device. In some embodiments, applying an electrical signal may switch a junction resistance of the first and/or second electrodes and the resistance layer between two or more resistance values. The device may include a shared fourth electrode to provide extra programming capability. In some embodiments, the device may be used to store a data state, to determine a count of multiple electrical signals, or to perform a logic operation between two electrical signals. | 02-11-2010 |
20100067288 | MEMORY DEVICE STRUCTURES INCLUDING PHASE-CHANGE STORAGE CELLS - A conductive write line of a memory device includes a resistive heating portion for setting and resetting a phase-change material (PCM) storage cell of the device. A dielectric interface extends between the resistive heating portion of the write line and a side of the storage cell, and provides electrical insulation while allowing for thermal coupling between the resistive heating portion and the storage cell. A width of the resistive heating portion of the write line may be less than a width of the storage cell and/or may be less than a width of adjacent portions of the write line, between which the resistive heating portion extends. The side of the storage cell may define a channel of the storage cell through which the write line passes, such that the resistive heating portion is located within the channel. | 03-18-2010 |
20100090300 | MRAM CELLS INCLUDING COUPLED FREE FERROMAGNETIC LAYERS FOR STABILIZATION - A free ferromagnetic data storage layer of an MRAM cell is coupled to a free ferromagnetic stabilization layer, which stabilization layer is directly electrically coupled to a contact electrode, on one side, and is separated from the free ferromagnetic data storage layer, on an opposite side, by a spacer layer. The spacer layer provides for the coupling between the two free layers, which coupling is one of: a ferromagnetic coupling and an antiferromagnetic coupling. | 04-15-2010 |
20100109108 | STRAM WITH COMPOSITE FREE MAGNETIC ELEMENT - Spin-transfer torque memory includes a composite free magnetic element, a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction, and an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the composite free magnetic element from the magnetic reference element. The free magnetic element includes a hard magnetic layer exchanged coupled to a soft magnetic layer. The composite free magnetic element has a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110575 | TECHNOLOGY FOR BIT PATTERNED AND TRACK PATTERNED MAGNETIC MEDIA RECORDING - A method of performing information storage comprises the steps of providing a medium comprising a plurality of concentric rings for storage of information. The medium is written to by a process comprising simultaneously writing and erasing elements in at least two adjacent rings, respectively a first ring and a second ring. Subsequent to simultaneously writing and erasing elements in at least the first and second rings, simultaneously writing and erasing elements in a third concentric ring, wherein the third ring is adjacent the second ring. | 05-06-2010 |
20100110758 | STRUCTURES FOR RESISTIVE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY CELLS - A resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell that includes a first electrode having a lower portion, a continuous side portion and an upper portion, the lower portion and the continuous side portion having an outer surface and an inner surface; a resistive layer having a lower portion, a continuous side portion and an upper portion, the lower portion and the continuous side portion having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a second electrode having a lower portion, an upper portion and an outer surface; wherein the outer surface of the resistive layer directly contacts the inner surface of the first electrode. | 05-06-2010 |
20100123965 | Near-Field Transducers For Focusing Light - An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a dielectric component and a metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the dielectric component. An apparatus includes a waveguide shaped to direct light to a focal point, and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes a first metallic component, a first dielectric layer positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first metallic component, and a second metallic component positioned adjacent to at least a portion of the first dielectric component. | 05-20-2010 |
20100135061 | Non-Volatile Memory Cell with Ferroelectric Layer Configurations - In some embodiments of the invention a non-volatile memory cell is provided with a first electrode, a second electrode, and one or more side layers of a ferroelectric metal oxide and a ferroelectric material layer between the first and second electrodes. The ferroelectric material layer may be provided between, e.g., adjacent, two side layers of a ferroelectric metal oxide or between a single layer of a ferroelectric metal oxide and an electrode. The ferroelectric metal oxide may in some cases include a uniform layered structure such as a bismuth layer-structured ferroelectric material like Bi | 06-03-2010 |
20100149696 | MAGNETIC SENSOR INCLUDING AN ELEMENT FOR GENERATING SIGNALS RELATED TO RESISTANCE CHANGES - A magnetic device includes first and second electrodes and a sensor stack connected to the first and second electrodes proximate a sensing surface of the magnetic sensor. A resistive element is connected to the first and second electrodes in parallel or in series with the sensor stack and adjacent the sensing surface. In some embodiments, the resistive element is configured to generate signals related to changes in its resistance. A controller to respond to the resistive element signals can also be included. | 06-17-2010 |
20100182713 | DATA STORAGE DEVICE WITH BOTH BIT PATTERNED AND CONTINUOUS MEDIA - Embodiments of a single data storage device with multiple different data recording media surfaces are disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one of the data recording media surfaces is conventional, such as a continuous or discrete track recording media. Another of the data recording media surfaces is a relatively high areal density, high data rate recording media, such as a bit patterned media (BPM) recording media. | 07-22-2010 |
20100183957 | Method of Patterned Media Template Formation and Templates - Aspects include methods to produce pattern media templates and the templates. A pattern of resist structures is formed on a first material layer. A conformal layer of a second material is deposited on the resist pattern, covering tops and side walls of the resist structures. The first material is more resistant to ion milling than the second material, and less resistant to plasma etching than the second material. The first material can be amorphous carbon and the second material can be aluminum oxide. The second material is removed on the tops, and preserved on the side walls. The resist structures and portions of the first layer not supporting second layer material are removed by plasma. The remaining structure is 2× denser than the resist pattern. Conformal deposition of second material and ion milling can be repeated. CMP removes the second material down to a portion of remaining first material, and remaining first material is removed by plasma, leaving a 4× denser pitch pattern structure formed from the second material. | 07-22-2010 |
20100214684 | Discrete Track Media (DTM) Design and Fabrication for Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR) - An apparatus includes a recording media including a substrate, a plurality of tracks of magnetic material on the substrate, and a non-magnetic material between the tracks; a recording head having an air bearing surface positioned adjacent to the recording media, and including a magnetic pole, an optical transducer, and a near-field transducer, wherein the near-field transducer directs electromagnetic radiation onto tracks to heat portions of the tracks and a magnetic field from the magnetic pole is used to create magnetic transitions in the heated portions of the tracks; and a plasmonic material positioned adjacent to the magnetic material to increase coupling between the electromagnetic radiation and the magnetic material. | 08-26-2010 |
20100226169 | STRAM WITH COMPENSATION ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - Spin-transfer torque memory having a compensation element is disclosed. A spin-transfer torque memory unit includes a free magnetic layer having a magnetic easy axis and a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit; a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction; an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the magnetic reference element; and a compensation element adjacent to the free magnetic layer. The compensation element applies a bias field on the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. The bias field is formed of a first vector component parallel to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer and a second vector component orthogonal to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer. The bias field reduces a write current magnitude required to switch the direction of the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. | 09-09-2010 |
20100227202 | BIT-PATTERNED MEDIA WITH ANTIFERROMAGNETIC SHELL - A method of producing bit-patterned media is provided whereby a shell structure is added on a bit-patterned media dot. The shell may be an antiferromagnetic material that will help stabilize the magnetization configuration at the remanent state due to exchange coupling between the dot and its shell. Therefore, this approach also improves the thermal stability of the media dot and helps each individual media dot maintain a single domain state. | 09-09-2010 |
20100232062 | MAGNETIC RECORDING HEAD WITH MAGNETIC WALL ANGLE - A pole tip shield for a write element of a recording head is disclosed. The pole tip shield is spaced from the pole tip in the leading edge direction to provide a magnetic wall angle to reduce ATI or adjacent track erasure to compensate for the skew angle of the head. In illustrated embodiments, the pole tip shield includes side portions. In illustrated embodiments the pole tip shield is generally “U” shaped and side portions of the pole tip shield include different thickness or width dimensions. In illustrated embodiments, the pole tip shield provides a magnetic wall angle for a rectangular shaped pole tip. Embodiments disclosed in the application include a trailing edge shield separated from the pole tip shield along an air bearing surface of the head by a non-magnetic gap portion. | 09-16-2010 |
20100277969 | STRUCTURES FOR RESISTIVE RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY CELLS - A resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell that includes a first electrode having a lower portion, a continuous side portion and an upper portion, the lower portion and the continuous side portion having an outer surface and an inner surface; a resistive layer having a lower portion, a continuous side portion and an upper portion, the lower portion and the continuous side portion having an outer surface and an inner surface; and a second electrode having a lower portion, an upper portion and an outer surface; wherein the outer surface of the resistive layer directly contacts the inner surface of the first electrode. | 11-04-2010 |
20100302669 | TRANSDUCER DESIGN WITH A SENSOR CLOSE TO WRITE POLE - A magnetic device includes a read sensor, a writer and a synchronization sensor. The magnetic device is configured for writing information to and reading information from a magnetic medium that includes a plurality of discrete magnetic bits. The writer includes a write element, a first return element magnetically coupled to the write element, and a second return element magnetically coupled to the write element. The write element is positioned in between the first and second return elements. The synchronization sensor is located adjacent to the write element of the writer in a closely spaced arrangement, and is configured to generate a signal as a function of a sensed magnetic bit. The signal is used to position the writer element relative to the sensed magnetic bit. | 12-02-2010 |
20100309577 | MICROWAVE-ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH COLLOCATED MICROWAVE AND WRITE FIELDS - Methods and devices are provided for microwave-assisted magnetic recording with collocated microwave and write fields. An illustrative device includes a magnetic write pole and one or more alternating-field components. The magnetic write pole is configured for providing a magnetic write field. The one or more alternating-field components are disposed to at least partially coincide with the magnetic write pole. The one or more alternating-field components are configured to provide an alternating magnetic field having a microwave frequency and an orientation that is at least partially transverse to the magnetic write field. | 12-09-2010 |
20100328817 | MAGNETIC MAIN WRITE POLE - A magnetic writer includes a write pole configured such that the easy magnetic axis is parallel to the vertical length direction of the write pole tip and to the ABS of the recording media. The write pole tip can be a multilayer structure comprising alternating magnetic and nonmagnetic layers with a planar orientation substantially perpendicular to the ABS and with magnetic anisotropy parallel to the vertical length direction of the write pole tip. The alternating magnetic and nonmagnetic layers may be formed by electroplating on a conformal seedlayer in a trench, or by static off axis physical vapor deposition. | 12-30-2010 |
20100328823 | MAGNETORESISTIVE READER WITH DEMAGNETIZATION FLUX GUIDE - A magnetic reader comprises first and second shields oriented transversely to a media-facing surface, a magnetoresistive stack located between the first and second shields, and a flux guide. The magnetoresistive stack extends from a proximal end oriented toward the media-facing surface to a distal end oriented away from the media-facing surface. The flux guide extends from the first shield toward the second shield, and is spaced from the magnetoresistive stack at the distal end. The flux guide magnetically couples the distal end of the magnetoresistive stack to the first shield. | 12-30-2010 |
20110007422 | Protected Transducer for Dead Layer Reduction - A transducer includes magnetic material formed on a substrate that is shaped to include a trailing edge, a leading edge and a pair of opposing sidewalls extending between the trailing edge and the leading edge. A layer of protective material is positioned in contact with each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material. Backfill material surrounds the protective material on each of the pair of sidewalls of the shaped magnetic material. | 01-13-2011 |
20110007426 | TRAPEZOIDAL BACK BIAS AND TRILAYER READER GEOMETRY TO ENHANCE DEVICE PERFORMANCE - A magnetoresistive sensor having a trilayer sensor stack with two ferromagnetic freelayers separated by a nonmagnetic spacer layer is disclosed. The sensor is biased with a back biasing magnet adjacent a back of the trilayer sensor. The back biasing magnet, the trilayer sensor stack, or both have substantially trapezoidal shapes to enhance the biasing field and to minimize noise. In some embodiments, the trilayer sensor or back bias magnet have a shape designed to stabilize a micromagnetic “C” shape or concentrate magnetic flux in the trilayer sensor stack. | 01-13-2011 |
20110019300 | PULSE WRITING FOR BIT PATTERNED AND CONTINUOUS MEDIA RECORDING - Data storage systems are provided. Data storage systems illustratively include a writing element and a recording medium. In some embodiments, the writing element generates first and second magnetization fields that respectively record first and second magnetization patterns to the recording medium. In some embodiments, the writing element is de-saturated between recording the first and second magnetization patterns. | 01-27-2011 |
20110038072 | BPM RECORDING WITH MORE THAN ONE DOT PER BIT - Data storage systems are provided. Data storage systems illustratively include a recording head having a writing element and a bit patterned medium having a plurality of media dots. In some embodiments, the plurality of media dots pass the recording head at a media dot frequency. In some embodiments, the writing element writes data to the bit patterned media at a writing frequency that is less than the media dot frequency. | 02-17-2011 |
20110050211 | TRAPEZOIDAL READER FOR ULTRA HIGH DENSITY MAGNETIC RECORDING - A magnetic sensor comprises a sensor stack and magnetic bias elements positioned adjacent each side of the sensor stack. The sensor stack and bias elements have substantially trapezoidal shapes. | 03-03-2011 |
20110051294 | NON RECTANGULAR READER FOR ULTRA HIGH DENSITY MAGNETIC RECORDING - A magnetic sensor or magnetoresistive read head comprises a sensor stack and magnetic bias elements positioned adjacent each side of the sensor stack. The sensor stack and bias elements have non-rectangular shapes, such as substantially trapezoidal or parallelogram shapes having non-perpendicular corners. In some embodiments, the sensor stack and bias elements have a shape that stabilizes a “C” state or “S” state magnetization pattern. | 03-03-2011 |
20110069537 | Magnetic Storage Element Responsive to Spin Polarized Current - The present invention relates to a memory cell including a first reference layer having a first magnetization with a first magnetization direction and a second reference layer having a second magnetization with a second magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to the first magnetization direction. A storage layer is disposed between the first reference layer and second reference layer and has a third magnetization direction about 45° from the first magnetization direction and about 135° from the second magnetization direction when the memory cell is in a first data state, and a fourth magnetization direction opposite the third magnetization direction when the memory cell is in a second data state. | 03-24-2011 |
20110076516 | Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Media with Magnetic Anisotropy Gradient and Local Exchange Coupling - A perpendicular magnetic recording medium adapted for high recording density and high data recording rate comprises a non-magnetic substrate having at least one surface with a layer stack formed thereon, the layer stack including a perpendicular recording layer containing a plurality of columnar-shaped magnetic grains extending perpendicularly to the substrate surface for a length, with a first end distal the surface and a second end proximal the surface, wherein each of the magnetic grains has: (1) a gradient of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy field H | 03-31-2011 |
20110089510 | MAGNETIC MEMORY CELL CONSTRUCTION - A magnetic tunnel junction cell having a free layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, and a barrier layer therebetween. The free layer has a central ferromagnetic portion and a stabilizing portion radially proximate the central ferromagnetic portion. The construction can be used for both in-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is in the stack film plane and out-of-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is out of the stack film plane, e.g., perpendicular to the stack plane. | 04-21-2011 |
20110090588 | WRITE HEAD WITH BEVEL STRUCTURE AND REVERSE NFT FOR HAMR - A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole tip adjacent to an air bearing surface and a return pole. In addition, a near field transducer is positioned adjacent the write pole in order to produce near field radiation to heat a portion of a recording medium to facilitate switching by the magnetic write pole. The near field transducer is a reverse optical near field transducer with internal bevel structures that enhance the magnetic write field intensity. | 04-21-2011 |
20110109999 | MAGNETIC SHIELD STRUCTURE - An apparatus and associated method for a magnetic shield structure for data transduction from a recordable media in a data storage device. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a data transducer and a magnetic shield structure comprising a write shield magnetic material constructed of exchange decoupled material. | 05-12-2011 |
20110121418 | MRAM Cells Including Coupled Free Ferromagnetic Layers for Stabilization - A free ferromagnetic data storage layer of an MRAM cell is coupled to a free ferromagnetic stabilization layer, which stabilization layer is directly electrically coupled to a contact electrode, on one side, and is separated from the free ferromagnetic data storage layer, on an opposite side, by a spacer layer. The spacer layer provides for the coupling between the two free layers, which coupling is one of: a ferromagnetic coupling and an antiferromagnetic coupling. | 05-26-2011 |
20110134572 | DOUBLE BIASING FOR TRILAYER MR SENSORS - A trilayer magnetoresistive sensor includes first and second ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic layer. A high coercivity permanent magnet bias element biases the first ferromagnetic layer in a first direction. A high moment permanent magnet bias element biases the second ferromagnetic layer in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction. | 06-09-2011 |
20110164335 | MAGNETIC SENSOR INCLUDING A FREE LAYER HAVING PERPENDICULAR TO THE PLANE ANISOTROPY - A magnetic sensor includes a reference layer having a first magnetization direction and a free layer assembly having an effective magnetization direction substantially perpendicular to the first magnetization direction and substantially perpendicular to a plane of each layer of the free layer assembly. A spacer layer is between the reference layer and the free layer, and a signal enhancement layer is exchange coupled to the free layer assembly on a side opposite the spacer layer. | 07-07-2011 |
20110177621 | MAGNETIC MEMORY CELL CONSTRUCTION - A magnetic tunnel junction cell having a free layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, and a barrier layer therebetween. The free layer has a central ferromagnetic portion and a stabilizing portion radially proximate the central ferromagnetic portion. The construction can be used for both in-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is in the stack film plane and out-of-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is out of the stack film plane, e.g., perpendicular to the stack plane. | 07-21-2011 |
20110194213 | MAGNETIC READ HEAD - In some examples, a system comprising a data storage member including a magnetic storage medium, the magnetic storage medium having a plurality of magnetic bit domains aligned on at least one data track, where a transition boundary between respective magnetic bit domains defines a transition curvature. The system may further comprise a magnetic read head including a first shield layer, a second shield layer, and a read sensor stack provided proximate to the first and second shield layers, where the magnetic read head senses a magnetic field of each of the plurality of magnetic bit domains according to a read playback sensitivity function. In some examples, the shield layers and read sensor stack may be configured to provide a reader playback sensitivity function that substantially corresponds to the shape of the respective magnetic bit domains. | 08-11-2011 |
20110194343 | STRAM WITH COMPENSATION ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - Spin-transfer torque memory having a compensation element is disclosed. A spin-transfer torque memory unit includes a free magnetic layer having a magnetic easy axis and a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit; a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction; an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the magnetic reference element; and a compensation element adjacent to the free magnetic layer. The compensation element applies a bias field on the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. The bias field is formed of a first vector component parallel to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer and a second vector component orthogonal to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer. The bias field reduces a write current magnitude required to switch the direction of the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. | 08-11-2011 |
20110205861 | LIGHT SOURCE POWER CONTROL FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING (HAMR) - Apparatus and method for light source power control during the writing of data to a storage medium. In accordance with various embodiments, a data recording head is provided having a magnetic transducer and a light source. The light source is driven at a first power level to irradiate an adjacent storage medium prior to the writing if data to the medium using the magnetic transducer. The first power level is insufficient to alter a magnetization state of the medium. The light source is subsequently transitioned to a higher, second power level to irradiate the storage medium during the writing of data to said medium using the magnetic transducer, the second power level being sufficient to alter said magnetization state of the medium. | 08-25-2011 |
20110228651 | Slider For Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording Including A Thermal Sensor For Monitoring Laser Power - An apparatus includes a light source, a slider including a sensor having a resistance or voltage that varies with the temperature of the sensor, the sensor being mounted to be heated by a portion of light emitted by the light source, and a controller controlling the light source power in response to the resistance or voltage of the sensor. | 09-22-2011 |
20110235480 | DIRECT WAVEGUIDE LIGHT DELIVERY TO NFT FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING - A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a pole tip adjacent to an air bearing surface, a return pole, an optical near field transducer positioned adjacent the pole tip and an air bearing surface for exposing a portion of a magnetic storage medium to high energy radiation. The energy is directly provided to the near field transducer by a ridge waveguide with tapered coupling elements, by a two dimensional straight or curved waveguide with a beveled end with a metal/dielectric coating for delivering energy to the near field transducer, or by a curved waveguide. The waveguide with tapered coupling elements or with beveled end can be fabricated by means of conventional wafer processing. | 09-29-2011 |
20110241666 | MAGNETIC ELEMENT WITH IMPROVED AREAL RESOLUTION - An apparatus and associated method for a magnetic element capable of detecting changes in magnetic states. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a free layer that has a first areal extent that is sensitive to a magnetic field and a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) layer adjacent to the free layer and has a second areal extent that is greater than the first areal extent. | 10-06-2011 |
20110277316 | SELF-ALIGNED BEVELS FOR WRITE POLES - A method, including depositing a layer of material onto a base portion of a wafer, is disclosed. The layer of material has a first surface adjacent the base portion. The method also includes depositing a pattern of masking material onto a portion of a second surface of the layer. Material from the layer of material that is unprotected by the pattern of masking material is removed from the layer of material. By removing such material a portion of the layer of material is suspended from the base portion. | 11-17-2011 |
20110286127 | NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER WITH SHAPED ENERGY RADIATING END - A magnetic recording head consists of a write pole and a near field transducer close to the write pole that focuses light energy to a focal point. A near field transducer is positioned to receive light energy from a waveguide. The near field transducer comprises an energy-receiving end and an energy-radiating end. The energy-receiving end is located near the focal point of the waveguide and the energy-radiating end is shaped such that it is narrower closer to the write pole and wider farther from the write pole. | 11-24-2011 |
20120039115 | STRAM WITH COMPOSITE FREE MAGNETIC ELEMENT - Spin-transfer torque memory includes a composite free magnetic element, a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction, and an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the composite free magnetic element from the magnetic reference element. The free magnetic element includes a hard magnetic layer exchanged coupled to a soft magnetic layer. The composite free magnetic element has a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit. | 02-16-2012 |
20120039155 | Hybrid Near-Field Transducer For Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording - An apparatus includes a planar waveguide having a core layer and a cladding layer adjacent to the core layer, the waveguide being shaped to direct light to a focal point; a magnetic pole adjacent to the cladding layer; and a near-field transducer positioned adjacent to the focal point, wherein the near-field transducer includes an enlarged portion and a peg having a first end positioned adjacent to an end of the waveguide and a second end positioned adjacent to a side of the enlarged portion. A data storage device that includes the apparatus is also provided. | 02-16-2012 |
20120045662 | Recording Head For Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording With Diffusion Barrier Surrounding A Near Field Transducer - An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer. | 02-23-2012 |
20120075748 | PERPENDICULAR WRITE HEAD WITH LAMINATED SIDE SHIELDS - A perpendicular write head, the write head having an air bearing surface, the write head including a magnetic write pole, wherein at the air bearing surface, the write pole has a trailing side, a leading side that is opposite the trailing side, and first and second sides; side gaps, wherein the side gaps are proximate the write pole along the first and second side edges; and side shields proximate the side gaps, wherein the side shields have gap facing surfaces and include at least one set of alternating layers of magnetic and non-magnetic materials, wherein only one kind of material makes up the gap facing surfaces at the air bearing surfaces. | 03-29-2012 |
20120082866 | PATTERNED TEMPLATE WITH 1xN NUCLEATION SITE TO GRAIN GROWTH FOR UNIFORM GRAIN SIZE RECORDING MEDIA - A perpendicular magnetic media includes a substrate, a patterned template, a seed layer and a magnetic layer. The patterned template is formed on the substrate and includes a plurality of growth sites that are evenly spaced apart from each other. The seed layer is formed over the patterned template and the exposed areas of the substrate. Magnetic material is sputter deposited onto the seed layer with one grain of the magnetic material nucleated over each of the growth sites. The grain size distribution of the magnetic material is reduced by controlling the locations of the growth sites which optimizes the performance of the perpendicular magnetic media. | 04-05-2012 |
20120106001 | SHIELD WITH WINE GLASS SHAPED CAVITY - A write element for magnetic recording includes a main pole and a shield. The main pole has first and second sides with respect to a down-track direction. The shield at least partially surrounds the main pole with a continuously concave inner sidewall. The angle between the inner sidewall of the shield and the direction of motion of the write element is greater than the angle between the sides of the main pole and the direction of motion. | 05-03-2012 |
20120111952 | Field Assisted Switching of a Magnetic Memory Element - Method and apparatus for writing data to a magnetic memory element, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM) memory cell. In accordance with various embodiments, a write current is applied through a magnetic memory element to initiate magnetic precession of the element to a desired magnetic state. A flow of a field assist current is subsequently initiated adjacent the magnetic memory element during continued application of the write current to induce a magnetic field upon the element. The field assist current persists after the write current is terminated to provide field assisted precession to the desired magnetic state. | 05-10-2012 |
20120163139 | HEAT-SINKS FOR OPTICAL NEAR-FIELD TRANSDUCERS - Thermal energy is generated within an optical NFT when in operation within a HAMR head. A heat-sink assembly within the HAMR head extracts thermal energy from the optical NFT and transmits the thermal energy via convection to air surrounding the HAMR head, radiation to surfaces adjacent to the HAMR head, and/or conduction to other parts of the HAMR head. The thermal energy generated within the optical NFT is conducted to the heat-sink. An air-bearing surface of the heat-sink convectively transfers at least some of the thermal energy to air passing between the air-bearing surface and a surface of an adjacent magnetic medium. Further, some of the thermal energy may also radiatively transfer from the air-bearing surface to the magnetic medium. | 06-28-2012 |
20120194945 | COMPENSATION FOR CROSS-TRACK DEVIATION - Cross-track deviation of a writer from a predetermined track on a recording medium is detected. A write current is adjusted based on the cross-track deviation of the writer from the predetermined track. The adjusted write current is applied to the writer to compensate for the cross-track deviation of the writer from the predetermined track. | 08-02-2012 |
20120201108 | TRANSDUCER HEAD TEMPERATURE MONITORING - Changes in the thermal boundary condition near a close point of an ABS to a media indicate proximity of the ABS with the media. Before contact, heat conduction from the ABS is primarily through convective and/or ballistic heat transfer to air between the ABS and the media. After contact, heat flux primarily flows from the ABS to the media through solid-solid conductive contact. Further, a light source within a HAMR transducer head may create additional thermal variations within the transducer head. These thermal variations create temperature variations within the transducer head. Two resistance temperature sensors on the transducer head at varying distances from the close point and/or light source measure these temperature variations. A temperature difference between the two resistance temperature sensors indicates proximity of the close point to the media and/or light output. | 08-09-2012 |
20120206830 | TRANSDUCER HEAD WITH MULTIPLE READ SENSORS - In order to improve a consistent data track during writing to a storage medium, a plurality of read sensors are affixed to a transducer head. In one implementation, the transducer head includes multiple read sensors placed up-track of the write pole. In another implementation, the transducer head includes at least one read sensor placed up-track of the write pole and at least one read sensor placed down-track of the write pole. Each position of the multiple read sensors relative to the write pole may be unique. One or more read signals of selected read sensors are used to determine the read location and therefore the write pole location relative to the storage medium. | 08-16-2012 |
20120248558 | STRAM WITH COMPENSATION ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME - A spin-transfer torque memory unit includes a free magnetic layer having a magnetic easy axis; a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction; an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the magnetic reference element; and a compensation element adjacent to the free magnetic layer. The compensation element applies a bias field on the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. The bias field is formed of a first vector component parallel to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer and a second vector component orthogonal to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer. The bias field reduces a write current magnitude required to switch the direction of the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. | 10-04-2012 |
20120250404 | MAGNETIC TUNNEL JUNCTION WITH FREE LAYER HAVING EXCHANGE COUPLED MAGNETIC ELEMENTS - A magnetic tunnel junction device includes a reference magnetic layer and a magnetic free layer including first and second magnetic elements that are magnetically exchange coupled. The magnetic exchange coupling between the first and second magnetic elements is configured to achieve a switching current distribution less than about 200% and a long term thermal stability criterion of greater than about 60 k | 10-04-2012 |
20120251845 | EXCHANGE COUPLED MAGNETIC ELEMENTS - Approaches to reduce switching field distribution in energy assisted magnetic storage devices involve first and second exchange coupled magnetic elements. The first magnetic elements have anisotropy, H | 10-04-2012 |
20120275062 | Magnetic Element With Varying Stripe Heights - A magnetically responsive magnetic stack with a first stripe height is positioned laterally adjacent first and second side stacks that respectively extend a second and third distance from an air bearing surface (ABS). The second distance is greater than the third distance capable of biasing the magnetic stack to a predetermined magnetization. | 11-01-2012 |
20120281319 | Magnetoresistive Shield - A magnetic shield that is capable of enhancing magnetic reading. In accordance with various embodiments, a magnetic element has a magnetically responsive stack shielded from magnetic flux and biased to a predetermined default magnetization by at least one lateral side shield that has a transition metal layer disposed between first and second ferromagnetic layers. | 11-08-2012 |
20130015543 | MAGNETIC MEMORY CELL CONSTRUCTION - A magnetic tunnel junction cell having a free layer, a ferromagnetic pinned layer, and a barrier layer therebetween. The free layer has a central ferromagnetic portion and a stabilizing portion radially proximate the central ferromagnetic portion. The construction can be used for both in-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is in the stack film plane and out-of-plane magnetic memory cells where the magnetization orientation of the magnetic layer is out of the stack film plane, e.g., perpendicular to the stack plane. | 01-17-2013 |
20130022841 | POLE TIP SHIELD SHAPED TO PROVIDE A DIFFERENTIAL SHIELDING EFFECT ALONGSIDE THE MAGNETIC POLE TIP - The application discloses a magnetic pole assembly having a pole tip arranged in a magnetic flux path and side shields separated from the pole tip by non-magnetic gap regions. The side shields are shaped to provide a differential shielding effect alongside the pole tip. As described, the sides shields are shaped to provide a non-magnetic gap region having a width that increases in the downtrack direction along a length of the pole tip. The increasing non-magnetic gap region alongside the pole tip provides a smaller non-magnetic gap region separating the pole tip from the side shields at the leading edge than the non-magnetic gap region separating the pole tip from the side shields at the trailing edge of the pole tip. | 01-24-2013 |
20130038965 | SELF-ALIGNED BEVELS FOR WRITE POLES - A method, including depositing a layer of material onto a base portion of a wafer, is disclosed. The layer of material has a first surface adjacent the base portion. The method also includes depositing a pattern of masking material onto a portion of a second surface of the layer. Material from the layer of material that is unprotected by the pattern of masking material is removed from the layer of material. By removing such material a portion of the layer of material is suspended from the base portion. | 02-14-2013 |
20130070576 | RECORDING HEAD FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH DIFFUSION BARRIER SURROUNDING A NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER - An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer. | 03-21-2013 |
20130100783 | Recording Head for Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording with a Side Lobe Blocker - An apparatus includes a waveguide having a core layer, a near field transducer having an end positioned adjacent to a first surface, a first magnetic pole having an end positioned adjacent to the first surface, and a side lobe blocker adjacent to the first surface and having portions on opposite sides of the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, wherein the side lobe blocker forms an aperture at an end of the core layer adjacent to the first surface. | 04-25-2013 |
20130141819 | MAGNETIC WRITER FOR PATTERNED MEDIA WITH INCREASED WRITE FIELD - A magnetic writer writes to a magnetic medium including a plurality of tracks that each includes a plurality of isolated magnetic elements for storage of information. The magnetic writer includes a write element having a write element tip having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and first and second side edges extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. A side shield is proximate the first side edge and no shield is proximate the second side edge. | 06-06-2013 |
20130170332 | NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER WITH SHAPED ENERGY RADIATING END - A magnetic recording head consists of a write pole and a near field transducer close to the write pole that focuses light energy to a focal point. A near field transducer is positioned to receive light energy from a waveguide. The near field transducer comprises an energy-receiving end and an energy-radiating end. The energy-receiving end is located near the focal point of the waveguide and the energy-radiating end is shaped such that it is narrower closer to the write pole and wider farther from the write pole. | 07-04-2013 |
20130206722 | BIT-PATTERNED MEDIA WITH ANTIFERROMAGNETIC SHELL - A method of producing bit-patterned media is provided whereby a shell structure is added on a bit-patterned media dot. The shell may be an antiferromagnetic material that will help stabilize the magnetization configuration at the remanent state due to exchange coupling between the dot and its shell. Therefore, this approach also improves the thermal stability of the media dot and helps each individual media dot maintain a single domain state. | 08-15-2013 |
20130229862 | STRAM WITH COMPOSITE FREE MAGNETIC ELEMENT - Spin-transfer torque memory includes a composite free magnetic element, a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction, and an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the composite free magnetic element from the magnetic reference element. The free magnetic element includes a hard magnetic layer exchanged coupled to a soft magnetic layer. The composite free magnetic element has a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit. | 09-05-2013 |
20130314816 | TRANSDUCER HEAD WITH MULTIPLE READ SENSORS - In order to improve a consistent data track during writing to a storage medium, a plurality of read sensors are affixed to a transducer head. In one implementation, the transducer head includes multiple read sensors placed up-track of the write pole. In another implementation, the transducer head includes at least one read sensor placed up-track of the write pole and at least one read sensor placed down-track of the write pole. Each position of the multiple read sensors relative to the write pole may be unique. One or more read signals of selected read sensors are used to determine the read location and therefore the write pole location relative to the storage medium. | 11-28-2013 |
20130343167 | RECORDING HEAD FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING WITH DIFFUSION BARRIER SURROUNDING A NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER - An apparatus includes a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, a first magnetic pole, a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, and a diffusion barrier positioned between the near field transducer and the first magnetic pole. The diffusion barrier can be positioned adjacent to the magnetic pole or the near field transducer. | 12-26-2013 |
20140050057 | RECORDING HEAD INCLUDING NFT AND HEATSINK - An apparatus including a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, the near field transducer comprising silver (Ag) and at least one other element or compound; a first magnetic pole; and a heat sink positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, wherein the heat sink includes: rhodium (Rh) or an alloy thereof; ruthenium (Ru) or an alloy thereof; titanium (Ti) or an alloy thereof; tantalum (Ta) or an alloy thereof; tungsten (W) or an alloy thereof; borides; nitrides; transition metal oxides; or palladium (Pd) or an alloy thereof. | 02-20-2014 |
20140050058 | RECORDING HEAD INCLUDING A NEAR FIELD TRANSDUCER - An apparatus including a near field transducer positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface, the near field transducer including an electrically conductive nitride; a first magnetic pole; and a heat sink, a diffusion barrier layer, or both positioned between the first magnetic pole and the near field transducer, wherein the heat sink, the diffusion barrier or both include rhodium (Rh) or an alloy thereof; ruthenium (Ru) or an alloy thereof titanium (Ti) or an alloy thereof tantalum (Ta) or an alloy thereof tungsten (W) or an alloy thereof borides; nitrides; transition metal oxides; or palladium (Pd) or an alloy thereof. | 02-20-2014 |
20150016234 | PLASMONIC FUNNEL FOR FOCUSED OPTICAL DELIVERY TO A METALLIC MEDIUM - An apparatus includes a transducer including a plasmonic funnel having first and second ends with the first end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end, and a first section positioned adjacent to the first end of the plasmonic funnel, and a first waveguide having a core, positioned to cause light in the core to excite surface plasmons on the transducer. | 01-15-2015 |