IP Library Granted Patent US 11,869,548
Granted Patent B1
US 11,869,548 · App. 17/183,161 · Granted Jan 9, 2024

Magnetic recording devices having external alternating current sources

Inventors: Muhammad Asif Bashir (San Jose, CA); Petrus Antonius Van Der Heijden (Cupertino, CA); James Terrence Olson (San Jose, CA); Alexander Goncharov (Morgan Hill, CA); Zhigang Bai (Fremont, CA); Yunfei Ding (Fremont, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G11B5/315G11B5/3116
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,869,548
App. No.
17/183,161
Granted
Jan 9, 2024
Kind
B1
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording head assembly that includes an external alternating current (AC) source. A magnetic recording head of the magnetic recording head assembly includes a conductive structure between a main pole and a trailing shield. The conductive structure includes a conductive layer, and the conductive layer is nonmagnetic. The magnetic recording head assembly also includes an external AC source to supply AC current that flows through the conductive structure. In one aspect, the conductive structure is between a coil structure and the trailing shield, and the external AC source is coupled to the coil structure. The conductive structure and the external AC source facilitate consistently providing an enhanced AC writing field to facilitate effective and reliable writing, high ADC, high SNR, and reduced jitter.

Claims (94)

1. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole, and

a conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, the conductive structure comprising a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is nonmagnetic; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head, wherein the AC source supplies AC current to the main pole and receives AC current returned from the upper pole.

2. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the AC source supplies AC current at a frequency, wherein the frequency is within a range of 10 GHz to 25 GHz.

3. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive structure is of a width along a cross-track direction that is about equal to a trailing width of the main pole along the cross-track direction.

4. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer is formed of one or more of ruthenium (Ru), chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), gold (Au), copper (Cu), nickel-chrome (NiCr), nickel-aluminum (NiAl), nickel-tantalum (NiTa), or nickel-iron-tantalum (NiFeTa).

5. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the AC source is disposed externally to the lower pole, the main pole, and the upper pole.

6. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic recording head further comprises a first side gap disposed on a first side of the main pole and between the main pole and a first side shield, a second side gap disposed on a second side of the main pole and between the main pole and a second side shield, and a leading side gap disposed on a leading side of the main pole and between the main pole and the leading shield.

7. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic recording head further comprises a first side gap layer disposed on a first side of the main pole and between the main pole and a first side shield, a second side gap layer disposed on a second side of the main pole and between the main pole and a second side shield, and a leading gap layer disposed on a leading side of the main pole and between the main pole and the leading shield.

8. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head assembly of claim 1 .

9. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole,

a first conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, and

a second conductive structure between the main pole and the leading shield, wherein each of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure comprises a conductive layer; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the lower pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head.

10. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 9 , wherein the conductive layer of each of the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure is nonmagnetic.

11. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 9 , wherein the AC source supplies AC current to the lower pole and receives AC current returned from the upper pole.

12. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a direct current (DC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head.

13. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 9 , wherein the second conductive structure is of a trailing width along a cross-track direction that is greater than a leading width of the main pole along the cross-track direction.

14. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 13 , wherein the trailing width is within a range of 20 nm to 500 nm.

15. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head assembly of claim 9 .

16. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a conductive structure between the upper pole and the lower pole, the conductive structure comprising a main pole, a first side gap conductive layer, and a second side gap conductive layer, wherein each of the main pole, the first side gap conductive layer, and the second side gap conductive layer is formed of a conductive material;

a leading shield on a leading side of the conductive structure;

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the conductive structure; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to a first outer side of the conductive structure and a second outer side of the conductive structure to supply AC current horizontally through the conductive structure along a cross-track direction, wherein the second outer side opposes the first outer side along the cross-track direction.

17. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 16 , further comprising a trailing insulation layer disposed between the conductive structure and the trailing shield, wherein the trailing insulation layer is of a width along a cross-track direction that is less than a width of the conductive structure along the cross-track direction.

18. The magnetic recording head assembly of claim 16 , wherein the conductive structure further comprises a first side shield and a second side shield, each of the first side shield and the second side shield being formed of a conductive material, and the magnetic recording head assembly further comprises a leading side gap disposed on a leading side of the conductive structure and between a leading portion of the first side shield and a leading portion of the second side shield.

19. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head assembly of claim 16 .

20. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole, and

a conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, the conductive structure comprising a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is nonmagnetic; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head, wherein the AC source supplies AC current at a frequency, wherein the frequency is within a range of 10 GHz to 25 GHz.

21. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole, and

a conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, wherein the conductive structure is of a width along a cross-track direction that is about equal to a trailing width of the main pole along the cross-track direction, the conductive structure comprising a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is nonmagnetic; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head.

22. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole, and

a conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, the conductive structure comprising a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is nonmagnetic, and the conductive layer is formed of one or more of ruthenium (Ru), chromium (Cr), tantalum (Ta), gold (Au), copper (Cu), nickel-chrome (NiCr), nickel-aluminum (NiAl), nickel-tantalum (NiTa), or nickel-iron-tantalum (NiFeTa); and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head.

23. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole,

a conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, the conductive structure comprising a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is nonmagnetic,

a first side gap disposed on a first side of the main pole and between the main pole and a first side shield,

a second side gap disposed on a second side of the main pole and between the main pole and a second side shield, and

a leading side gap disposed on a leading side of the main pole and between the main pole and the leading shield; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head.

24. A magnetic recording head assembly, comprising:

a magnetic recording head, the magnetic recording head comprising:

a lower pole,

an upper pole,

a main pole between the upper pole and the lower pole,

a leading shield on a leading side of the main pole,

a trailing shield on a trailing side of the main pole,

a conductive structure between the main pole and the trailing shield, the conductive structure comprising a conductive layer, wherein the conductive layer is nonmagnetic,

a first side gap layer disposed on a first side of the main pole and between the main pole and a first side shield,

a second side gap layer disposed on a second side of the main pole and between the main pole and a second side shield, and

a leading gap layer disposed on a leading side of the main pole and between the main pole and the leading shield; and

an alternating current (AC) source coupled to the main pole and the upper pole of the magnetic recording head.

Assignments (5)
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 056285 FRAME 0292 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058982/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 19, 2021
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 056285/0292 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: ASIF BASHIR, MUHAMMAD; VAN DER HEIJDEN, PETRUS ANTONIUS; OLSON, JAMES TERRENCE; GONCHAROV, ALEXANDER; BAI, ZHIGANG; DING, YUNFEI
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055607/0521 →