Dual perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer base structures and mirror imaged asymmetrical magnetic core shapes for reduced writer-writer spacing (WWS)

• US 10,418,054 B1
• Filed: 03/06/2018
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Headway Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Headway Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Yue
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans, Jefferson A
• Application Number:
  US15/913,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20190279664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 360121, 36012504, 36012505, 36012513, 36012515
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1278 specially adapted for magnetisations perpendicular to the surface of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1475 Assembling or shaping of elements G11B5/153 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/265 Structure or manufacture of a head with more than one gap for erasing, recording or reproducing on the same track G11B5/33 takes precedence in thin film structures G11B5/31
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3116 Shaping of layers, poles or gaps for improving the form of the electrical signal transduced, e.g. for shielding, contour effect, equalizing, side flux fringing, cross talk reduction between heads or between heads and information tracks G11B5/3113, G11B5/245 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3123 by using special coil configurations or conductors
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/315 Shield layers on both sides of the main pole, e.g. in perpendicular magnetic heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3153 including at least one magnetic thin film coupled by interfacing to the basic magnetic thin film structure
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3163 Fabrication methods or processes specially adapted for a particular head structure, e.g. using base layers for electroplating, using functional layers for masking, using energy or particle beams for shaping the structure or modifying the properties of the basic layers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3173 Batch fabrication, i.e. producing a plurality of head structures in one batch

Abstract

A dual PMR writer is disclosed wherein a first main pole (MP1) in writer 1 is a mirror image of a second main pole (MP2) in writer 2 with respect to a center plane aligned orthogonal to the air bearing surface (ABS). MP1 and MP2 may have an asymmetrical top-down shape to reduce writer-writer spacing (WWS) and read write offset (RWO) when a single or double reader is positioned down-track at the center plane. Accordingly, there is less track misregistration and better area density capability. Each of MP1 and MP2 as well as a top yoke (TY), and a tapered bottom yoke (tBY) have a rectangular back portion of width “w” from 4 to 10 microns. Spacing between MP1 and MP2 back portions may be ≥4 microns to prevent cross-talk. RWO is reduced from ≥4 microns for symmetrical TY/MP/tBY shapes to 3 microns or less for asymmetrical shapes.

Claims

1. A dual perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer, comprising:

(a) a first main pole layer (MP1) in a first writer on a slider, and having a first main pole tip (T1) at an air bearing surface (ABS) wherein T1 is bisected by a first plane that is at a first cross-track position and orthogonal to the ABS;

(b) a second main pole layer (MP2) in a second writer on the slider and having a second main pole tip (T2) at the ABS wherein T2 is bisected by a second plane that is orthogonal to the ABS and at a second cross-track position that is a writer-writer spacing (WWS) from the first plane, wherein MP1 and MP2 are mirror images with respect to a center plane that separates the first and second writers, and wherein each of MP1 and MP2 comprise;

(1) a triangular shaped front portion having two sides formed at an angle θ

>

0° and

<

90°

with respect to the first plane in MP1 and with respect to the second plane in MP2, and extending to a backside; and

(2) a rectangular shaped back portion with a front side coinciding with the front portion backside and having a width “

w”

, two sides aligned Orthogonal to the ABS and extending from the front side to a backend having the width “

w”

, and wherein the rectangular shaped back portion is bisected by the first plane in MP1 and by the second plane in MP2;

(c) a first top yoke (TY1) formed on MP1, bisected by the first plane, and with a front side recessed from the ABS, and a second top yoke (TY2) formed on MP2, bisected by the second plane and with a front side recessed from the ABS; and

(d) a first tapered bottom yoke (tBY1) adjoining a bottom side of MP1, bisected by the first plane, and having a front side recessed from the ABS, and a second tapered bottom yoke (tBY2) adjoining a bottom side of MP2, bisected by the second plane, and having a front side recessed from the ABS.

2. The dual PMR writer of claim 1 wherein each of TY1, TY2, tBY1, and tBY2 have a rectangular shaped back portion having the width “

w”

.

3. The dual PMR writer of claim 1 wherein a base structure comprises a leading loop for magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to MP1 or MP2 wherein the leading loop is terminated at a leading shield, and comprises a trailing loop that is comprised of a trailing shield structure at the ABS, and a PP3 trailing shield over a driving coil and that adjoins a top surface of one or both of TY1 and TY2.

4. The dual PMR writer of claim 1 wherein a base structure comprises a leading loop for magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to MP1 or MP2 wherein the leading loop is terminated at a return path (RTP), and is comprised of a leading shield, the RTP, and a connection between the leading shield and RTP, and a trailing loop is comprised of a trailing shield structure at the ABS, and a PP3 trailing shield formed over a driving coil and that adjoins a top surface of one or both of TY1 and TY2.

5. The dual PMR writer of claim 1 wherein a base structure comprises a leading loop for magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to MP1 or MP2 wherein the leading loop is comprised of a leading shield, a return path (RTP), a connection between the leading shield and RTP, a lower back gap (LBG) connection on the RTP, and a back gap connection (BGC) on the LBG wherein the BGC adjoins a bottom of one or both of tBY1 or tBY2, and a trailing loop is comprised of a trailing shield structure at the ABS, and a PP3 trailing shield formed over a driving coil, and that adjoins a top surface of one or both of TY1 and TY2.

6. The dual PMR writer of claim 5 wherein the connection between the leading shield and RTP has a front side at the ABS.

7. The dual PMR writer of claim 5 wherein the base structure is formed in the first writer, and an equivalent base structure is formed in the second writer such that each writer has a separate leading loop and trailing loop, and wherein TY1, MP1, and tBY1 are separated from TY2, MP2, and tBY2, respectively.

8. The dual PMR writer of claim 5 wherein the base structure is shared by the first writer and the second writer, and wherein TY1, MP1, and tBY1 are separated from TY2, MP2, and tBY2, respectively.

9. The dual PMR writer of claim 5 wherein the trailing loop and the leading loop except for the LBG and BGC are shared by the first writer and second writer such that the first writer and second writer have separate LBG and BGC, and wherein TY1, MP1, and tBY1 are separated from TY2, MP2, and tBY2, respectively.

10. The dual PMR writer of claim 1 wherein an inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP1, and an inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP2 are separated by a distance “

g”

, and WWS is equal to “

g”

+“

w”

.

11. A head gimbal assembly (HGA), comprising:

(a) the dual PMR writer and slider of claim 1; and

(b) a suspension that elastically supports the slider, wherein the suspension has a flexure to which the slider is joined, a load beam with one end connected to the flexure, and a base plate connected to the other end of the load beam.

12. A magnetic recording apparatus, comprising:

(a) the HGA of claim 11;

(b) a magnetic recording medium positioned opposite to the slider;

(c) a spindle motor that rotates and drives the magnetic recording medium; and

(d) a device that supports the slider, and that positions the slider relative to the magnetic recording medium.

13. A dual perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer, comprising:

(a) a first main pole layer (MP1) in a first writer on a slider, and having a first main pole tip (T1) at an air bearing surface (ABS) wherein T1 is bisected by a first plane that is at a first cross-track position and orthogonal to the ABS;

(b) a second main pole layer (MP2) in a second writer on the slider and having a second main pole tip (T2) at the ABS wherein T2 is bisected by a second plane that is orthogonal to the ABS and at a second cross-track position that is a writer-writer spacing (WWS) from the first plane, wherein MP1 and MP2 are mirror images with respect to a center plane that separates the first and second writers, and wherein each of MP1 and MP2 comprise;

(1) a triangular shaped front portion having first and second sides extending from T1 or T2 to a backside at a first height from the ABS; and

(2) a rectangular shaped back portion having a width “

w”

, an inner side and outer side each aligned orthogonal to the ABS and connecting a front side thereof to a backend, and wherein the rectangular shaped back portion is bisected by a third plane in MP1 that is a first cross-track distance farther from the center plane than the first plane, and is bisected by a fourth plane in MP2 that is the first cross-track distance farther from the center plane than the second plane;

(c) a first top yoke (TY1) formed on MP1, and with a front side recessed from the ABS, and a second top yoke (TY2) formed on MP2, and with a front side recessed from the ABS; and

(d) a first tapered bottom yoke (tBY1) adjoining a bottom side of MP1, and having a front side recessed from the ABS, and a second tapered bottom yoke (tBY2) adjoining a bottom side of MP2, and having a front side recessed from the ABS.

14. The dual PMR writer of claim 13 wherein TY1, and tBY1 comprise a rectangular shaped back portion having the width “

w” and

that is bisected by the third plane, and wherein TY2 and tBY2 comprise a rectangular shaped back portion of width “

w” and

that is bisected by the fourth plane.

15. The dual PMR writer of claim 13 wherein the rectangular shaped back portion front side coincides with the front portion backside in each of MP1 and MP2, and wherein the front portion first side is an inner side formed at angle α

with respect to the first plane, the second side is a front portion outer side formed at angle β

with respect to the first plane where β

>

α

, the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP1, and the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP2 are separated by a cross-track distance “

g”

, the first cross-track distance is s1, and WWS is equal to “

g”

+“

w”

−

2s1.

16. The dual PMR writer of claim 13 further comprising a trapezoidal shaped middle portion in MP1 and MP2 with a front side that coincides with the triangular front portion backside, an outer side formed at angle γ

with respect to the third plane in MP1 and with respect to the fourth plane in MP2, an inner side that is coplanar with the inner side of the rectangular shaped back portion, and a backside that coincides with the rectangular shaped back portion front side.

17. The dual PMR writer of claim 16 wherein each of the first and second sides in the triangular front portion form an angle θ

with respect to the first plane in MP1 and with respect to the second plane in MP2, and wherein the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP1, and the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP2 are separated by a cross-track distance “

g”

, the first cross-track distance is s2, and WWS is equal to “

g”

+“

w”

−

2s2.

18. The dual PMR writer of claim 13 wherein a base structure comprises a leading loop for magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to MP1 or MP2 wherein the leading loop is terminated at a leading shield, and comprises a trailing loop that is comprised of a trailing shield structure at the ABS, and a PP3 trailing shield over a driving coil and that adjoins a top surface of one or both of TY1 and TY2.

19. The dual PMR writer of claim 13 wherein a base structure comprises a leading loop for magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to MP1 or MP2 wherein the leading loop is terminated at a return path (RTP), and is comprised of a leading shield, the RTP, and a connection between the leading shield and RTP, and a trailing loop is comprised of a trailing shield structure at the ABS, and a PP3 trailing shield formed over a driving coil and that adjoins a top surface of one or both of TY1 and TY2.

20. The dual PMR writer of claim 13 wherein a base structure comprises a leading loop for magnetic flux return from a magnetic medium to MP1 or MP2 wherein the leading loop is comprised of a leading shield, a return path (RTP), a connection between the leading shield and RTP, a lower back gap (LBG) connection on the RTP, and a back gap connection (BGC) on the LBG wherein the BGC adjoins a bottom of one or both of tBY1 or tBY2, and a trailing loop is comprised of a trailing shield structure at the ABS, and a PP3 trailing shield formed over a driving coil and that adjoins a top surface of one or both of TY1 and TY2.

21. The dual PMR writer of claim 20 wherein the connection between the leading shield and RTP has a front side at the ABS.

22. The dual PMR writer of claim 20 wherein the base structure is formed in the first writer, and an equivalent base structure is formed in the second writer such that each writer has a separate leading loop and trailing loop, and wherein TY1, MP1, and tBY1 are separated from TY2, MP2, and tBY2, respectively.

23. The dual PMR writer of claim 20 wherein the base structure is shared by the first writer and the second writer such that there is only one leading loop and one trailing loop, and wherein TY1, MP1, and tBY1 are separated from TY2, MP2, and tBY2, respectively.

24. The dual PMR writer of claim 20 wherein the trailing loop and the leading loop except for the LBG and BGC are shared by the first writer and second writer such that the first writer and second writer have separate LBG and BGC, and wherein TY1, MP1, and tBY1 are separated from TY2, MP2, and tBY2, respectively.

25. A head gimbal assembly (HGA), comprising:

(a) the dual PMR writer and slider of claim 13; and

(b) a suspension that elastically supports the slider wherein the suspension has a flexure to which the slider is joined, a load beam with one end connected to the flexure, and a base plate connected to the other end of the load beam.

26. A magnetic recording apparatus, comprising:

(a) the HGA of claim 25;

(b) a magnetic recording medium positioned opposite to the slider;

(c) a spindle motor that rotates and drives the magnetic recording medium; and

(d) a device that supports the slider, and that positions the slider relative to the magnetic recording medium.

27. A method of forming a dual perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer;

comprising;

(a) sequentially depositing a leading shield and a side shield (SS) layer on a substrate, forming a first opening with sides in the SS layer that is bisected by a first plane formed orthogonal to an air bearing surface (ABS) plane, and forming a second opening with sides in the SS layer bisected by a second plane formed parallel to the first plane and a first cross-track width therefrom, wherein the first and second openings expose a top surface of the leading shield;

(b) depositing a gap layer on the leading shield top surface and on the sides of the first and second openings to partially fill said openings;

(c) simultaneously plating a first main pole (MP1) layer to fill the first opening, and a second main pole (MP2) layer to fill the second opening wherein MP1 and MP2 are mirror images with respect to a center plane that separates MP1 and MP2; and

(d) performing a lapping process to generate an ABS at the ABS plane, form a first pole tip (T1) in MP1 and a second pole tip (T2) in MP2 at the ABS, wherein T1 is bisected by the first plane and T2 is bisected by the second plane, and wherein each of MP1 and MP2 comprise;

(1) a triangular shaped front portion having first and second sides extending from T1 or T2 to a backside at a first height from the ABS; and

(2) a rectangular shaped back portion having a width “

w”

, an inner side and outer side each aligned orthogonal to the ABS and connecting a front side thereof to a backend, and wherein the rectangular shaped back portion is bisected by a third plane in MP1 that is a first cross-track distance farther from the center plane than the first plane, and is bisected by a fourth plane in MP2 that is the first cross-track distance farther from the center plane than the second plane.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the rectangular shaped back portion front side coincides with the front portion backside in each of MP1 and MP2, and wherein the front portion first side in each of MP1 and MP2 is an inner side formed at angle α

with respect to the first plane, and the second side is a front portion outer side formed at angle β

with respect to the first plane where β

>

α

, and wherein the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP1, and the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP2 are separated by a cross-track distance “

g”

, the first cross-track distance is s1, and writer-writer spacing (WWS) between T1 and T2 is equal to “

g”

+“

w”

−

2s1.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein each of MP1 and MP2 further comprises a trapezoidal shaped middle portion with a front side that coincides with the triangular front portion backside, an outer side formed at angle γ

with respect to the third plane in MP1 and with respect to the fourth plane in MP2, an inner side that is coplanar with the inner side of the rectangular shaped back portion, and a backside that coincides with the rectangular back portion front side.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein each of the first and second sides in the front triangular portion form an angle θ

with respect to the first plane in MP1 and with respect to the second plane in MP2, and wherein the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP1, and the inner side of the rectangular back portion in MP2 are separated by a cross-track distance “

g”

, the first cross-track distance is s2, and WWS is equal to “

g”

+“

w”

−

2s2.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein the substrate comprises a single reader or two readers at the center plane.