Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.v.

Stefan Seifried

Rainer Klaus Krause

Johannes Paul

Jan Marien

Gunther Wilhelm Sandmann

Gerhard Anton Scherb

Hubert Erwin Schuy

Ashok Lahiri

Markus Schmidt

Wolfgang Egert

Eva Urlaub

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

A method of constructing an air bearing on a single slider used as a support for a magnetic recording head is described. A recessed surface of the air bearing is constructed by: applying a polymerization initiator (preferably azomonochlorsilane), forming a pattern in the initiator, forming a polymer brush, and ion milling. The application of the polymerization initiator may be from solution or by stamping.

Single slider air bearing process using polymer brush formation

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Nidderau, Germany

Stefan Seifried