IP Library Granted Patent US 11,676,627
Granted Patent B2
US 11,676,627 · App. 17/396,234 · Granted Jun 13, 2023

Magnetic recording head with stable magnetization of shields

Inventor: Quan-Chiu Harry Lam (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Western Digital Technologies, Inc.
G11B5/315G11B5/11G11B5/1276G11B5/187G11B5/3153G11B5/484
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,676,627
App. No.
17/396,234
Granted
Jun 13, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to a magnetic recording head that includes a main pole, a leading shield, a first side shield disposed on a first side of the main pole, a second side shield disposed on a second side of the main pole, and a trailing shield. The trailing shield is disposed on a trailing side of the main pole. One or more approaches are disclosed to control return-fluxes. In some embodiments, at least one of the upper return pole, the leading shield, the trailing shield, the first side shield, and the second side shield includes a laminate structure having at least a pair of ferromagnetic layers, and a non-magnetic spacer layer disposed between adjacent ferromagnetic layers. In some embodiments, one or more shunts are positioned, such as connecting the leading shield to the upper return pole in order to create circuits to control magnetic flux.

Claims (40)

1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole;

a leading shield;

an upper return pole;

a first side shield disposed on a first side of the main pole;

a second side shield disposed on a second side of the main pole; and

a trailing shield disposed between the upper return pole and a trailing side of the main pole,

wherein at least one of the leading shield, the trailing shield, and the upper return pole comprises:

a laminate structure comprising at least a pair of magnetic layers and a non-magnetic spacer disposed between each pair of magnetic layers,

wherein a first magnetic layer of the pair of magnetic layers has a larger magnetic moment than a second magnetic layer of the pair of magnetic layers,

wherein the first magnetic layer has a thickness that is between about 5 percent and about 10 percent thicker than the second magnetic layer.

2. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the upper return pole comprises the laminate structure.

3. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the trailing shield comprises the laminate structure.

4. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the leading shield comprises the laminate structure.

5. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic spacer comprises one or more of ruthenium, chromium, iridium, rhodium, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, copper, and combinations thereof.

6. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic spacer has a thickness of between about 5 Angstroms and about 50 Angstroms.

7. The magnetic recording head of claim 1 , wherein the first magnetic layer comprises NiFe, CoFe, CoFeNi, CoTaZr, CoFeTaZr, or combinations thereof.

8. The magnetic recording head of claim 7 , wherein the second magnetic layer comprises NiFe, CoFe, CoFeNi, CoTaZr, CoFeTaZr, or combinations thereof.

9. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 1 .

10. A magnetic recording head, comprising:

a main pole;

a leading shield;

an upper return pole;

a first side shield disposed on a first side of the main pole;

a second side shield disposed on a second side of the main pole;

a trailing shield disposed between the upper return pole and a trailing side of the main pole;

a write assist element disposed between the main pole and at least one of: the trailing shield, the leading shield, the first side shield, and the second side shield;

an insulation layer disposed between the trailing shield and at least one of the first and second side shields; and

wherein at least one of the leading shield, the trailing shield, the upper return pole, the first side shield, and the second side shield comprises a laminate structure comprising at least a pair of magnetic layers and a non-magnetic spacer disposed between each pair of magnetic layers,

wherein a first magnetic layer of the pair of magnetic layers has a larger magnetic moment than a second magnetic layer of the pair of magnetic layers,

wherein the first magnetic layer has a thickness that is between about 5 percent and about 10 percent thicker than the second magnetic layer.

11. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the upper return pole comprises the laminate structure.

12. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the trailing shield comprises the laminate structure.

13. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the leading shield comprises the laminate structure.

14. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the first side shield comprises the laminate structure.

15. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein at least two magnetic layers of the laminate structure comprise opposing magnetic polarities.

16. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the trailing shield and the leading shield each comprise the laminate structure.

17. A magnetic recording device comprising the magnetic recording head of claim 10 .

18. The magnetic recording head of claim 10 , wherein the first magnetic layer comprises NiFe, CoFe, CoFeNi, CoTaZr, CoFeTaZr, or combinations thereof.

19. The magnetic recording head of claim 18 , wherein the second magnetic layer comprises NiFe, CoFe, CoFeNi, CoTaZr, CoFeTaZr, or combinations thereof.

Assignments (5)
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 →
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 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 058426 FRAME 0815 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0679 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 058426/0815 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2021
From: LAM, QUAN-CHIU HARRY
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 057107/0720 →