Magnetic head having media heating device that is electrically connected to magnetic pole piece
View Patent ↗An embodiment of a magnetic head of the present invention includes a media heating device that is fabricated within the magnetic head structure following the fabrication of the read head element of the magnetic head. The media heating device is preferably fabricated between the first and second magnetic pole layers and close to the ABS surface of the head. The heating device includes electrical leads and an electrically resistive heating element that is preferably comprised of TaSiN, NiCr or NiFe, and in the present invention one or both of the magnetic poles are utilized as an electrical lead of the heating device. The heating device serves to heat the magnetic media immediately prior to the passage of the magnetic media beneath the pole tip, which lowers the localized coercivity of the media and facilitates the writing of data to the media by the write head element of the magnetic head.
1. A magnetic head, comprising:
a first magnetic pole;
a second magnetic pole;
at least one of said magnetic poles including a magnetic shaping layer;
a media heating device being disposed adjacent to and in electrical connection with said shaping layer;
said media heating device including a heating element and two electrical leads, and where at least one of said magnetic poles is utilized as a said electrical lead of said heating device.
2. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said one of said magnetic poles that includes a shaping layer also includes a probe layer, and wherein said shaping layer is utilized as a said electrical lead of said heating device.
3. A magnetic head as described in claim 2 wherein an electrical insulation layer is disposed between said shaping layer and said probe layer.
4. A magnetic head as described in claim 2 wherein another said electrical lead of said heating device is disposed beneath said shaping layer, and wherein an electrical insulation layer is disposed between said electrical lead and said shaping layer.
5. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said heating element is shaped as a planar member having a lower surface and an upper surface, and wherein electrical current flows through said heating element in a direction that is generally perpendicular to said lower surface and said upper surface.
6. A magnetic head as described in claim 1 wherein said first magnetic pole and said second magnetic pole are utilized as said electrical leads on opposite sides of said heating device.
7. A magnetic head as described in claim 6 wherein said magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole pedestal and said second magnetic pole includes a P 2 pole tip and said shaping layer, and wherein electrical current for said heating device flows through said first magnetic pole and through said first magnetic pole pedestal and through said P 2 pole tip and through said shaping layer.
8. A magnetic head as described in claim 7 wherein said magnetic head further includes a write gap layer that is disposed between said P 1 pole pedestal and said P 2 pole tip, and is comprised of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material.
9. A hard disk drive, comprising:
at least one hard disk being fabricated for rotary motion upon a disk drive;
at least one magnetic head adapted to fly over said hard disk for writing data on said hard disk, said magnetic head including:
a first magnetic pole tip;
a second magnetic pole;
at least one of said magnetic poles including a magnetic shaping layer;
a media heating device being disposed adjacent to and in contact with at least one said shaping layer;
said media heating device including a heating element and two electrical leads, and where at least one of said magnetic poles is utilized as a said electrical lead of said heating device.
10. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said one of said magnetic poles that includes a shaping layer also includes a probe layer, and wherein said shaping layer is utilized as a said electrical lead of said heating device.
11. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein an electrical insulation layer is disposed between said shaping layer and said probe layer.
12. A hard disk drive as described in claim 10 wherein another said electrical lead of said heating device is disposed beneath said shaping layer, and wherein an electrical insulation layer is disposed between said electrical lead and said shaping layer.
13. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said heating element is shaped as a planar member having a lower surface and an upper surface, and wherein electrical current flows through said heating element in a direction that is generally perpendicular to said lower surface and said upper surface.
14. A hard disk drive as described in claim 9 wherein said first magnetic pole and said second magnetic pole are utilized as said electrical leads on opposite sides of said heating device.
15. A hard disk drive as described in claim 14 wherein said magnetic head includes a first magnetic pole pedestal and said second magnetic pole includes a P 2 pole tip and said shaping layer, and wherein electrical current for said heating device flows through said first magnetic pole and through said first magnetic pole pedestal and through said P 2 pole tip and through said shaping layer.
16. A hard disk drive as described in claim 15 wherein said magnetic head further includes a write gap layer that is disposed between said P 1 pole pedestal and said P 2 pole tip, and is comprised of an electrically conductive material.