International Business Machines Corporation

Globalfoundries Inc.

Calvin S Lo

Robert G Biskeborn

Jason Liang

Robert Fontana

Andrew C Ting

Teya Topuria

W Stanley Czarnecki

Cherngye Hwang

Philipp Herget

Philip M Rice

Kevin Thuy Luong

Annayya P Deshpande

Gary Decad

David John Seagle

Xu Yan

Artemio Juan Torres

Gary Miles McClelland

Tak H Wong

Hugo Eric Rothuizen

Peter VanderSalm Koeppe

Wayne Isami Imaino

Charles Thomas Rettner

Hoodin Hamidi

Kumar R Virwani

Sassan K Shahidi

Tak Fuk Wong

Abel J Taina

Luis Hector Palacios Borja

Artemio-Juan Torres

A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above an underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A protective layer is formed above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to another embodiment includes forming a first nonmagnetic layer above a base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is formed above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is formed above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.

Protective layer for mitigating protruding defects in magnetic tape recording media

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes a base film and a first nonmagnetic layer above the base film. The first nonmagnetic layer has first nonmagnetic particles. A second nonmagnetic layer is positioned above the first nonmagnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic layer having second nonmagnetic particles. A magnetic layer is positioned above the second nonmagnetic layer, the magnetic layer including a magnetic material.

A magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes an underlayer and a magnetic layer above the underlayer. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic material and particulates. A solid protective layer is positioned above the magnetic layer, the protective layer including a second material. At least some of the particulates of the magnetic layer protrude completely through the protective layer. A method for forming a magnetic recording medium according to one embodiment includes forming a magnetic layer above a substrate, the magnetic layer including a first magnetic material and particulates, and forming a solid protective layer above the magnetic layer to a thickness whereby some of the particulates protrude through the protective layer and are exposed along an upper surface of the protective layer.

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes at least one reading die coupled to a pedestal of an associated read beam, each reading die having an array of read transducers extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the reading die. At least one writing die is coupled to a pedestal of an associated write beam, each writing die having an array of write transducers extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the writing die. The read and write beams are coupled together thereby forming a head. At least one region of at least one of the dice is cantilevered over the associated beam. Widths of the reading and writing dice measured in a direction of tape travel thereover are substantially the same. Widths of the pedestals of the read and write beams measured in the direction of tape travel thereover are substantially the same.

Reduced-stress tape head module

A method, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes forming various layers of a data read transducer structure and of a lower shield layer of a servo read transducer structure in an array with the data read transducer structure in common fabrication steps. The formed dielectric layers of both read transducer structures, coupled with the unique shield structure of the data read transducer structure, work in concert to provide robust resistance to asperity-induced shorting while also lower smaller read gap thickness.

Process for manufacturing magnetic head having a servo read transducer structure with dielectric gap liner and a data read transducer structure with an embedded wear layer between thin and thick shield portions

In one general approach, an apparatus includes a read transducer structure having a media facing surface. The read transducer structure has a lower shield, and an upper shield formed above the lower shield. The upper and lower shields providing magnetic shielding. A current-perpendicular-to-plane sensor is positioned between the upper and lower shields. A dielectric layer extends into one of the shields from the media facing surface. The dielectric layer extends into the one of the shields for a distance that is less than a height of the one of the shields. Preferably, a first dielectric layer extends into the lower shield from the media facing surface, and a second dielectric layer extends into the upper shield from the media facing surface.

Read transducer structure having an embedded wear layer between thin and thick shield portions

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a module having a substrate and a closure, an array of transducers in a thin film structure on the substrate, the array being positioned along a tape bearing surface of the module, and a heating element positioned in the thin film structure and recessed from the tape bearing surface, and a controller electrically coupled to the heating element. The controller is configured to apply a current pulse of size, shape and duration sufficient to induce a permanent expansion of the array of transducers.

Multichannel tape head module having thermally settable transducer pitch and method of setting pitch thereof

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield on an opposite side of the active region as the magnetic shield, and a second spacer between the active region and the second magnetic shield. Both spacers include an electrically conductive ceramic layer. The sensor is an electronic lapping guide.

Tunnel magnetoresistive sensor having conductive ceramic layers

Provided is a method for forming a tape head module having recessed portion to provide air bearing between a tape medium and a tape bearing surface of the tape head module. A module of the tape head has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, between the first and the second ends, a tape bearing surface and a second surface, opposite the tape bearing surface, between the first end, the second end, the first side, and the second side. Material is removed from the tape bearing surface of the module to form a first recessed portion between the first end and before a region of the tape bearing surface having an array of transducers, and between the first side and the second side.

Forming recessed portions in a tape head module to provide an air bearing between a tape medium and a tape bearing surface of the tape head module

An apparatus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, includes a module having a media facing surface. The module comprises the following components. A sensor is recessed from the media facing surface. A flux guide extends from the media facing surface toward the sensor. A soft bias layer is positioned on opposite sides of the sensor in a cross-track direction. A stabilization layer is located above the sensor, flux guide and soft bias layer for stabilizing the soft bias layer. A nonmagnetic exchange break layer is positioned above the sensor and the flux guide for magnetically decoupling the sensor and the flux guide from the stabilization layer.

Current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) read transducer structure having flux guide and pinned soft bias layer for stabilizing sensor and flux guide

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes: an array of write transducers. Each of the write transducers include: a first write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the first write pole, and a second write pole having a pole tip extending from a media facing side of the second write pole. Each of the write transducers also include a nonmagnetic write gap between the pole tips of the write poles, and a first high moment layer between the write gap and the pole tip of the second write pole. The first high moment layer further includes a higher magnetic moment than a magnetic moment of the pole tip of the second write pole. Other systems, methods, and computer program products are described in additional embodiments.

Write transducers having high moment layer

In one general approach, an apparatus includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the active tunnel magnetoresistive region, and gaps between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the gaps includes a seed layer of a chromium alloy and an electrically conductive layer having a refractory material formed on the seed layer. The seed layer in this configuration is more resistant to corrosion than elemental chromium when used in a magnetic recording head and/or in a structure exposed to even trace amounts of fluorine.

Tunnel magnetoresistive sensor with adjacent gap having chromium alloy seed layer and refractory material layer

An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes at least two write transducers positioned a predefined distance apart in a first direction. Outer surfaces of pole tips of the write transducers are substantially coplanar. Write gaps are defined between the pole tips of the write transducers. Planes of the write gaps are oriented substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Coils are positioned to create flux in a magnetic yoke of each write transducer upon energization thereof. The apparatus also includes a mechanism for assisting in orienting a module having two or more sensors of interest relative to the write gaps.

Magnetic measurement of head span spacing

An approach to forming an electronic device assembly that includes a plurality of interconnect pads on an electronic device, an interconnect die with a first set of interconnect pads adjacent to a first edge of the interconnect die connecting to a second set of interconnect pads adjacent to a second edge of the interconnect die, where a first set of connections between the plurality of interconnects on the electronic device and the first set of interconnect pads on the interconnect die occurs. Furthermore, the electronic assembly includes a second set of connections between the second set of interconnects on the interconnect die and a set of interconnect pads on a flex cable.

Interconnect die for multichannel tape head assembly

Provided are a tape head module, tape drive, and method for moving a tape medium over a tape head having a recessed portion to provide air bearing between a tape medium and a tape bearing surface of the module. The tape head includes a tape bearing surface, an array of transducers, including read and/or write transducers, on the tape bearing surface, and a recessed portion formed on the tape bearing surface, wherein the array of transducers is located on the tape bearing surface between the recessed portion and an end of the module to perform read and/or write operations with respect to the tape medium.

Growing community of inventors

Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Calvin S Lo