IP Library Granted Patent US 8,934,197
Granted Patent B2
US 8,934,197 · App. 13/550,144 · Granted Jan 13, 2015

Magnetic media access head with metal coating

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,934,197
App. No.
13/550,144
Granted
Jan 13, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein provide magnetic media access heads with metal coatings. In a particular embodiment, a magnetic media head for accessing magnetic media comprises a base substrate configured to support a magnetic head layer. The magnetic head layer is formed on the base substrate and configured to magnetically access the magnetic media. A metallic layer formed over the magnetic head layer and disposed between the magnetic head layer and the magnetic media when the magnetic media is positioned for access by the magnetic head layer.

Claims (23)

1. A magnetic media head for accessing magnetic media, comprising:

a base substrate configured to support a magnetic head layer;

the magnetic head layer formed on the base substrate and configured to magnetically access the magnetic media;

a nonmagnetic metallic layer formed as an outermost layer over the magnetic head layer and disposed between the magnetic head layer and the magnetic media when the magnetic media is positioned for access by the magnetic head layer.

2. The magnetic head of claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer prevents contact between the magnetic head layer and the magnetic media to prevent wear on the magnetic head layer.

3. The magnetic media head of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic media comprises magnetic tape and the magnetic media head is configured to access the magnetic tape.

4. The magnetic media head of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic media comprises a magnetic disk and the magnetic media head is configured to access the magnetic disk.

5. The magnetic media head of claim 1 , further comprising:

an insulator layer formed between the magnetic head layer and the metallic layer.

6. The magnetic media head of claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer is composed of titanium, platinum, tungsten, or any other metal or metal alloy.

7. The magnetic media head of claim 1 , wherein the metallic layer is from 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers in thickness.

8. The magnetic media head of claim 1 , wherein magnetically accessing the magnetic media comprises reading data from or writing data to the magnetic media.

9. A method of operating a magnetic media head for accessing magnetic media, comprising:

providing the magnetic media head comprising a base substrate configured to support a magnetic head layer, the magnetic head layer formed on the base substrate and configured to magnetically access the magnetic media, a nonmagnetic metallic layer formed as an outermost layer over the magnetic head layer and disposed between the magnetic head layer and the magnetic media when the magnetic media is positioned for access by the magnetic head layer;

positioning the magnetic media for access by the magnetic head layer; and

moving the magnetic media relative to the magnetic head layer to magnetically access the magnetic media.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the metallic layer prevents contact between the magnetic head layer and the magnetic media to prevent wear on the magnetic head layer.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic media comprises magnetic tape.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic media comprises a magnetic disk.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the magnetic media head further comprises an insulator layer formed between the magnetic head layer and the metallic layer.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the metallic layer is composed of titanium, platinum, tungsten, or any other metal or metal alloy.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the metallic layer is from 1 nanometer to 20 nanometers in thickness.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein magnetically accessing the magnetic media comprises reading data from or writing data to the magnetic media.

Assignments (11)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2025
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 074024/0084 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME NO. 40473/0378 Recorded Oct 8, 2025
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 073061/0454 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF AMENDED AND RESTATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT AT REEL/FRAME NO. 48029/0525 Recorded Aug 19, 2025
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 072542/0594 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 24, 2025
From: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC, AS AGENT FOR THE SECURED PARTIES
Reel/Frame 071019/0850 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 10, 2021
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION; QUANTUM LTO HOLDINGS, LLC
Reel/Frame 057142/0252 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2021
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION; QUANTUM LTO HOLDINGS, LLC
To: BLUE TORCH FINANCE LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 057107/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 8, 2019
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 048029/0525 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2018
From: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS AGENT
To: QUANTUM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047988/0642 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2018
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION, AS GRANTOR; QUANTUM LTO HOLDINGS, LLC, AS GRANTOR
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 049153/0518 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2016
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 040473/0378 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2016
From: QUANTUM CORPORATION
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 040451/0183 →