Method of forming magnetic recording head having protected reader sensors and near zero recession writer poles

• US 10,199,058 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2016
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G., Czarnecki, W. Stanley, Herget, Philipp, Lo, Calvin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Thiem
• Application Number:
  US15/133,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20160232927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 2960301, 2960307, 2960311, 2960316, 360121, 360122, 360231, 3602347, 3602357, 3602371, 360315
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00813 magnetic tapes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00821 using stationary heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/187 Structure or manufacture of the surface of the head in physical contact with, or immediately adjacent to the recording medium; Pole pieces; Gap features G11B5/265, G11B5/29 , G11B5/31 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/255 comprising means for protection against wear in thin film structures G11B5/3106
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/29 Structure or manufacture of unitary devices formed of plural heads for more than one track G11B5/33, G11B5/49 and subgroups take precedence; in thin film structure G11B5/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/295 Manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3106 where the integrated or assembled structure comprises means for conditioning against physical detrimental influence, e.g. wear, contamination G11B5/3133 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/40 Protective measures on heads, e.g. against excessive temperature G11B5/31 takes precedence; protection against wear G11B5/255 ; protective structure of the head: see under structures, e.g. G11B5/3106
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/4893 relative to moving tape
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/84 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for manufacturing record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49021 Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.]

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment includes recessing a portion of a media facing side of a module, the module having first and second transducers of different magnetic transducer types positioned towards the media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers; wherein the recess is positioned towards one of the first transducers, wherein the recess forms a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

recessing a portion of a media facing side of a tape head module, the module having first and second transducers of different magnetic transducer types positioned towards the media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers;

wherein the recess is positioned towards the first transducer,

wherein the recess is filled with a layer, thereby forming a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and

wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, comprising applying a coating to the recessed portion of the media facing side of the module, thereby forming at least another portion of the first protection structure.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first protection structure includes a coating on the media facing side of the module adjacent the first transducer.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a coating on another portion of the media facing side that is adjacent the second transducer.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first protection structure is a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the first protection structure includes a coating on the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a coating on another portion of the media facing side that is adjacent the second transducer.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first protection structure includes a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the second transducer, wherein an extent of recession of the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the second transducer is not as great as an extent of recession of the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first transducer is a servo reader.

10. A method, comprising:

recessing a portion of a media facing side of a module, the module having first and second transducers of different magnetic transducer types positioned towards the media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers;

wherein the recess is positioned towards one of the first transducers,

wherein the recess is filled with a layer, thereby forming a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and

wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure,

wherein at least one of the first and the second transducers are present in an array extending along the media facing side of the module.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, comprising applying a coating to the recessed portion of the media facing side of the module, thereby forming at least another portion of the first protection structure.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first protection structure includes a coating on the media facing side of the module adjacent the first transducer.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first protection structure is a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the first protection structure includes a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the second transducer, wherein an extent of recession of the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the second transducer is not as great as an extent of recession of the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

15. A method, comprising:

recessing a portion of a media facing side of a module of a magnetic head, the module having first and second transducers of different magnetic transducer types positioned towards the media facing side of the module, wherein the different transducer types are selected from a group consisting of data reader transducers, servo reader transducers, write transducers, piggyback read-write transducers and merged read-write transducers;

wherein the recess is positioned towards one of the first transducers,

wherein the recess forms a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer; and

wherein the second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure,

wherein the magnetic head includes a second module having a configuration similar or identical to the module, the magnetic head being configured to operate with tape media.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, comprising applying a coating to the recessed portion of the media facing side of the module, thereby forming at least another portion of the first protection structure.

17. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first protection structure includes a coating on the media facing side of the module adjacent the first transducer.

18. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first protection structure is a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

19. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first protection structure includes a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the second transducer, wherein an extent of recession of the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the second transducer is not as great as an extent of recession of the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.