Perpendicular magnetic head having modified shaping layer for direct plating of magnetic pole piece
View Patent ↗A magnetic head of the present invention includes a first magnetic pole that is exposed at the air bearing surface of the magnetic head and a second magnetic pole shaping layer that is not exposed at the air bearing surface. A layer of non-magnetic material is fabricated between the air bearing surface and the shaping layer, where the non-magnetic material is also electrically conductive. The pole tip of the magnetic head is electroplated on top of the non-magnetic electrically conductive material subsequent to the fabrication of the shaping layer, and in magnetic flux communication with the shaping layer.
1. A magnetic head comprising:
a first magnetic pole having a portion thereof that is exposed at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head;
a shaping layer portion of a second magnetic pole, said shaping layer being engaged in magnetic flux communication with said first magnetic pole and having no portion thereof that is exposed at said ABS;
a layer of non-magnetic, electrically conductive material being disposed between said shaping layer and said ABS.
2. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 further including a probe layer portion of said second magnetic pole, said probe layer including a pole tip, wherein said pole tip is disposed at least in part upon said non-magnetic material, and wherein portions of said probe layer are disposed in magnetic flux communication with said shaping layer.
3. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said non-magnetic, electrically conductive material is comprised of NiP or NiCr.
4. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said shaping layer is fabricated with sidewalls that are tapered inwardly in a direction towards said ABS.
5. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 , where a seed layer for fabricating said shaping layer is non-magnetic.
6. A magnetic head as described in claim 5 , where said seed layer for fabricating said shaping layer is exposed at said ABS.
7. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said probe layer is electroplated directly onto said shaping layer, and portions of said pole tip are electroplated directly onto said non-magnetic, electrically conductive material.
8. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said non-magnetic, electrically conductive material is formed with a thickness that is approximately equal to a thickness of said shaping layer.
9. A hard disk drive, comprising:
at least one hard disk being adapted for rotary motion upon a disk drive;
at least one slider device having a slider body portion;
a magnetic head being formed on said slider body portion for writing data on said hard disk; said magnetic head including:
a first magnetic pole having a portion thereof that is exposed at an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head;
a shaping layer portion of a second magnetic pole, said shaping layer having no portion thereof that is exposed at said ABS;
a layer of non-magnetic, electrically conductive material being disposed between said shaping layer and said ABS.
10. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 further including a probe layer portion of said second magnetic pole, said probe layer including a pole tip, wherein said pole tip is disposed at least in part upon said non-magnetic material, and wherein portions of said probe layer are disposed in magnetic flux communication with said shaping layer.
11. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said non-magnetic, electrically conductive material is comprised of NiP or NiCr.
12. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said shaping layer is fabricated with sidewalls that are tapered inwardly in a direction towards said ABS.
13. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 , where a seed layer for fabricating said shaping layer is non-magnetic.
14. A hard disk drive as described in claim 13 , where said seed layer for fabricating said shaping layer is exposed at said ABS.
15. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said probe layer is electroplated directly onto said shaping layer, and portions of said pole tip are electroplated directly onto said non-magnetic, electrically conductive material.
16. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said non-magnetic, electrically conductive material is formed with a thickness that is approximately equal to a thickness of said shaping layer.