International Business Machines Corporation

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

Jan Marien

Rainer Klaus Krause

Rolf Schaefer

Hubert Grimm

Johannes Paul

Stefan Seifried

Gunther Wilhelm Sandmann

Gerhard Anton Scherb

Hubert Erwin Schuy

A magnetic sensor having at least a first and at least a second structure of soft-magnetic material that are spatially separated and define a first gap therebetween. The first and second structure of soft-magnetic material are adapted to form a gap magnetic field pointing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the elongation of the first gap in the vicinity of the first gap in response to an external magnetic field. Additionally, the magnetic sensor comprises at least a first magnetoresistive layered structure that is positioned in the vicinity of the first gap including inside the first gap and that is sensitive to the gap magnetic field.

Magnetic sensor

A magnetic recording device makes use of an 'anchored' conductive stud which is securely attached within its surrounding insulator materials. The conductive stud is formed over a conductive layer which is coupled to or part of a read or a write head element of the magnetic recording device. The conductive stud has a top stud portion and a bottom undercut portion formed over the conductive layer. In one illustrated embodiment, the bottom undercut portion has a width that is greater than the width of the top stud portion. Since an insulator is formed around the conductive stud and over its bottom undercut portion, a secure coupling between the conductive stud and the conductive layer is provided. Preferably, the conductive layer is made of copper (Cu), the conductive stud is made of gold (Au), and the insulator is alumina (AlO). A seed layer may be formed between the conductive stud and the conductive layer. A method of making the conductive stud using a photolithography process is also disclosed.

Conductive stud for magnetic recording devices and method of making the same

Methods of making a magnetic recording device with an 'anchored' conductive stud which is securely attached within its surrounding insulator materials. The conductive stud is formed over a conductive layer which is coupled to or part of a read or a write head element of the magnetic recording device. The conductive stud has a top stud portion and a bottom undercut portion formed over the conductive layer. In one illustrated embodiment, the bottom undercut portion has a width that is greater than the width of the top stud portion. Since an insulator is formed around the conductive stud and over its bottom undercut portion, a secure coupling between the conductive stud and the conductive layer is provided. Preferably, the conductive layer is made of copper (Cu), the conductive stud is made of gold (Au), and the insulator is alumina (AlO). A seed layer may be formed between the conductive stud and the conductive layer.

Method of making conductive stud for magnetic recording devices

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Selzen, Germany

Jan Marien