Magnetic head having a thermal fly-height control (TFC) structure under a flat lower shield

1. A magnetic head, comprising:

a thermal fly-height control (TFC) structure positioned between insulating films, the TFC structure configured for providing localized thermal protrusion of the magnetic head on a media facing surface thereof, wherein an upper surface of an upper of the insulating films is planar;

a main magnetic pole positioned above the TFC structure, the main magnetic pole being configured for writing data to a magnetic medium, wherein the TFC structure is configured for providing thermal protrusion of at least the main magnetic pole;

a stitch pole positioned above the TFC structure and below the main magnetic pole, wherein the main magnetic pole is coupled to the stitch pole; and

a trailing shield positioned above the main magnetic pole on the media facing surface of the magnetic head,

wherein an end of the TFC structure farthest from the media facing surface of the magnetic head extends beyond an end of the stitch pole farthest from the media facing surface of the magnetic head.

2. A magnetic head, comprising:

a thermal fly-height control (TFC) structure positioned between insulating films, the TFC structure configured for providing localized thermal protrusion of the magnetic head on a media facing surface thereof, wherein an upper surface of an upper of the insulating films is planar;

a current perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) type read sensor positioned above the TFC structure, wherein the TFC structure is configured for providing thermal protrusion of at least the CPP type read sensor;

a lower sensor shield positioned above the TFC structure, wherein the lower sensor shield has a planar lower surface due to the planar upper surface of the upper of the insulating films;

an upper sensor shield positioned above the CPP type read sensor; and

a lower return pole positioned above the upper sensor shield, wherein an end of the TFC structure farthest from the media facing surface of the magnetic head extends beyond an end of the lower sensor shield farthest from the media facing surface of the magnetic head.

3. The magnetic head as recited in claim 2 , wherein a magnetic charge distribution of the lower sensor shield is restricted, and wherein a magnetic domain of the lower sensor shield is stable.

4. A magnetic data system, comprising:

a magnetic disk medium;

at least one magnetic head as recited in claim 2 ;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head.

5. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 ,

wherein the stitch pole is recessed from the media facing surface of the magnetic head.

6. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a magnetic charge distribution of the stitch pole is restricted, and wherein a magnetic domain of the stitch pole is stable.

7. A magnetic data system, comprising:

a magnetic disk medium;

at least one magnetic head as recited in claim 5 ;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head.

8. The magnetic head as recited in claim 2 , further comprising an underlayer positioned below the lower sensor shield.

9. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein a thickness of an insulating film above the TFC structure is at least a thickness sufficient to prevent conduction between a nearest non-insulating layer and the TFC structure.

10. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , wherein the insulating films comprise alumina and the TFC structure comprises NiCr.

11. A magnetic data system, comprising:

a magnetic disk medium;

at least one magnetic head as recited in claim 1 ;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head.

12. A magnetic head, comprising:

a first thermal fly-height control (TFC) structure positioned between first insulating films, wherein an upper surface of an upper of the first insulating films is planar;

a lower sensor shield positioned above the first TFC structure, wherein the lower sensor shield has a planar lower surface due to the planar upper surface of the upper of the first insulating films;

a current perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) type read sensor positioned above the lower sensor shield on a media facing side of the magnetic head, the read sensor being configured for reading data from a magnetic medium;

an upper sensor shield positioned above the read sensor;

a lower return pole positioned above the upper sensor shield;

a second TFC structure positioned between second insulating films, wherein an upper surface of an upper of the second insulating films is planar;

a stitch pole positioned above the second TFC structure, wherein the stitch pole is recessed from the media facing surface of the magnetic head;

a main magnetic pole positioned above and coupled to the stitch pole on the media facing surface of the magnetic head, the main magnetic pole being configured for writing data to the magnetic medium; and

a trailing shield positioned above the main magnetic pole on the media facing surface of the magnetic head,

wherein the first TFC structure is configured for providing thermal protrusion of the read sensor, and

wherein the second TFC structure is configured for providing thermal protrusion of the main magnetic pole.

13. A magnetic data system, comprising:

a magnetic disk medium;

at least one magnetic head as recited in claim 12 ;

a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic disk medium over the at least one magnetic head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the at least one magnetic head for controlling operation of the at least one magnetic head.

14. The magnetic head as recited in claim 12 , wherein a magnetic charge distribution of the lower sensor shield is restricted, and wherein a magnetic domain of the lower sensor shield is stable.

15. The magnetic head as recited in claim 12 , wherein a magnetic charge distribution of the stitch pole is restricted, and wherein a magnetic domain of the stitch pole is stable.

16. The magnetic head as recited in claim 12 , further comprising an underlayer positioned below the lower sensor shield.

17. The magnetic head as recited in claim 12 , wherein a thickness of an insulating film above the TFC structure is at least a thickness sufficient to prevent conduction between a nearest non-insulating layer and the TFC structure.

18. The magnetic head as recited in claim 12 , wherein the first insulating films comprise alumina and the first TFC structure comprises NiCr.

19. The magnetic head as recited in claim 2 , wherein the planar lower surface of the lower sensor shield is uneven, the lower sensor shield having a first portion aligned with the TFC structure in an element height direction that is higher than a second portion not aligned with the TFC structure in the element height direction.

20. The magnetic head as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a coil configured to create magnetic flux in the stitch pole, wherein a turn of the coil closest to the media facing surface of the magnetic head is closer to the media facing surface of the magnetic head than an end of the TFC structure closest to the media facing surface of the magnetic head.