Maxtor Corporation

Seagate Technology Incorporated

Steven B Marshall

Michael L Mallary

Thao Anh Nguyen

Gang Herbert Lin

Bruce C Schardt

Xiaokun L Chew

Robert McKenzie

Jack Tsai

Mourad Benakli

Richard Edward Martin

Steven E Lambert

Adam F Torabi

Hai Chi Nguy

George H Bellesis

A magnetic head comprises a main pole, a return pole and a magnetic damper. The main pole is configured to emit flux and the return pole is configured to return the flux to the main pole. The magnetic damper is inductively coupled to the return pole and comprises a first conductor spaced from a first side of the return pole, a second conductor spaced from a second side of the return pole and a third conductor connecting the first conductor to the second conductor.

Magnetically damped return pole in a magnetic head

A disk drive includes a slider assembly and a controller that directs current to the slider assembly to dynamically adjust the head-to-disk spacing. In one embodiment, the slider assembly includes a write element having a first end, a second end and an intermediate section, a conductor that is connected to the intermediate section. In this embodiment, the controller directs electrical current through the conductor to heat the write element without writing data to a storage disk. The electrical current can be directed through the conductor at any time prior to data transfer or during data transfer. Heating the write element causes a deformation of the slider assembly to decrease the head-to-disk spacing. In another embodiment, the slider assembly includes a separate slider deformer. Electrical current is selectively directed to the slider deformer to cause a deformation of the slider assembly to obtain a desired head-to-disk spacing. The slider deformer can include electrically conductive material or can be a piezoelectric element. Further, the slider deformer can be serpentine-shaped or substantially planar in shape.

Dynamically adjustable head disk spacing slider using thermal expansion

A magnetic recording device including a longitudinal magnetic recording medium. The longitudinal magnetic recording medium includes a magnetically soft underlayer disposed under a longitudinal recording layer. A perpendicular write head is utilized to write data to the longitudinal magnetic recording medium wherein the longitudinal recording layer is disposed within an effective write gap formed by the perpendicular write head and the underlayer. The longitudinal component of the perpendicular write head is sufficient to switch the magnetic grains in the recording layer in the presence of the perpendicular field. The magnetic recording medium can have a high areal density and improved magnetic properties.

Longitudinal media with soft underlayer and perpendicular write head

Demagnetizing magnetic media for recording data in a data storage device includes placing the magnetic media in a magnetic field at a first strength, and gradually reducing the magnetic field to a second strength to essentially eliminate net magnetization in the magnetic media.

Demagnetization of magnetic media for data storage device using gradually reduced magnetic field

Methods and devices are provided that allow heads for use in disk drives to be tested in a helium environment in a cost-effective way with little or no impact on test time and with minimal consumption of helium.

Method and device for testing disk drive head while directing gas across the head

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Northborough, MA, United States of America

Steven B Marshall