IP Library Granted Patent US 8,758,083
Granted Patent B1
US 8,758,083 · App. 12/880,913 · Granted Jun 24, 2014

Method and system for adjusting lapping of a transducer using a disk windage

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,758,083
App. No.
12/880,913
Granted
Jun 24, 2014
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method and system for providing transducer(s) including a disk structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) are described. The disk structure resides a distance from the ABS and has a disk dimension substantially perpendicular to the ABS. Lapping control and disk windage ELGs are provided. The lapping control ELG has first and second edges first and second distances from the ABS. The disk windage ELG has edges different distances from the ABS. A difference between these edges corresponds to the disk dimension. A windage resistance of the disk windage ELG is measured and a disk windage determined. The disk windage corresponds to a difference between designed and actual disk dimensions perpendicular to the ABS. A lapping ELG target resistance is determined based on the disk windage. The transducer is lapped. Lapping is terminated based on a resistance of the lapping control ELG and the lapping ELG target resistance.

Claims (31)

1. A method for providing at least one transducer including a disk structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS), the disk structure residing a distance from the ABS and having a disk dimension substantially perpendicular to the ABS, the method comprising:

providing a lapping control ELG and a disk windage ELG for each of the at least one transducer, the lapping control ELG having a first edge a first distance from the ABS and a second edge a second distance from the ABS, the disk windage ELG having a third edge a third distance from the ABS and a fourth edge a fourth distance from the ABS, a difference between the third edge and the fourth edge corresponding to the disk dimension;

measuring a windage resistance of the disk windage ELG;

determining a disk windage based on the windage resistance, the disk windage corresponding to a difference between a designed disk dimension perpendicular to the ABS and the disk dimension;

determining a lapping ELG target resistance based on the disk windage;

lapping the transducer; and

terminating the lapping based on a resistance of the lapping control ELG and the lapping ELG target resistance.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the disk structure is a disk of a near-field transducer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the lapping control ELG has a first track width and the disk windage ELG has a second track width substantially equal to the first track width.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the lapping control ELG is coupled with a first plurality of leads having a first leads resistance, the disk windage ELG is coupled with a second plurality of leads having a second leads resistance, the first leads resistance being substantially equal to the second leads resistance.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the first plurality of leads and the second plurality of leads include a common ground lead.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the lapping control ELG and the disk windage ELG further includes forming the disk structure and the disk windage ELG using a single mask.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of terminating the lapping further includes:

measuring the resistance of the lapping control ELG during the lapping step;

comparing the resistance to the lapping ELG target resistance; and

terminating the lapping based on the comparing step.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of providing the lapping control ELG and the disk windage ELG further includes:

depositing a resistance sheet; and

defining the lapping control ELG and the disk windage ELG from the resistance sheet.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the fourth distance is substantially equal to the second distance.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

measuring the windage resistance of the disk windage ELG during lapping; and

optionally terminating lapping based on a change in the windage resistance during lapping.

11. A method for providing at least one transducer including a near-field transducer (NFT) having a disk structure and having an air-bearing surface (ABS), the disk structure residing a distance from the ABS and having a disk dimension substantially perpendicular to the ABS, the method comprising:

providing a lapping control ELG and a disk windage ELG for each of the at least one transducer, the lapping control ELG coupled to a lapping ELG lead and a ground lead, the lapping control ELG having a first edge a first distance from the ABS, a second edge a second distance from the ABS, and a track width, the disk windage ELG coupled to a disk windage lead and the ground lead, the disk windage ELG having a third edge a third distance from the ABS, a fourth edge a fourth distance from the ABS, and the track width, a difference between the third edge and the fourth edge corresponding to the disk dimension, the disk windage lead and the lapping ELG lead having substantially the same resistance, the step of providing the disk windage ELG further including defining the disk windage ELG and the disk dimension using a single mask;

measuring a windage resistance of the disk windage ELG;

determining a disk windage based on the windage resistance, the disk windage corresponding to a difference between a designed disk dimension perpendicular to the ABS and the disk dimension;

determining a lapping ELG target resistance based on the disk windage;

lapping the transducer; and

measuring the resistance of the lapping control ELG during the lapping; and

terminating the lapping based on the resistance of the lapping control ELG and the lapping ELG target resistance.

Assignments (9)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038710 FRAME 0845 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC; WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050450/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 045501/0158 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038710/0845 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0675 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 22, 2010
From: RUDY, STEVEN C.; SHI, CHANGQING; HU, YUFENG; MORAVEC, MARK D.; MCKIE, ERIC R.; AMIN, NURUL
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 025393/0936 →