DIFFERING MAGNETIC READ SENSORS ON A MAGNETIC HEAD

• US 20160125900A1
• Filed: 10/29/2014
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Biskeborn, Robert G., Koeppe, Peter VanderSalm, Lo, Calvin S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,449,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/3996 large or giant magnetoresistive effects [GMR], e.g. as generated in spin-valve [SV] devices
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/00821 using stationary heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3909 Arrangements using a magnetic tunnel junction
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3945 Heads comprising more than one sensitive element
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3948 the sensitive elements being active read-out elements
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3951 the active elements being arranged on several parallel planes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3958 the active elements being arranged in a single plane, e.g. "matrix" disposition
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3977 from different information tracks
• 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

Abstract

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors,

wherein the read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors,

wherein the head has four modules, wherein a fourth of the modules has read sensors having a greater width in a cross track direction than the read sensors of the other modules.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the read sensors are on a single module.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the read sensors are interleaved.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the read sensors are in stacked arrays.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, wherein the read sensors are in laterally disposed arrays.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the read sensors are formed on a common substrate.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the read sensors are on two different modules of the head.

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein one of the modules has read sensors of at least one of the types, wherein another of the modules has read sensors of at least another of the types.

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 8, wherein at least one of the modules is used only for reading data.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the head is configured for linear magnetic recording.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the read sensors are on at least two of the modules.

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the modules are arranged in a read-while-write configuration.

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein two of the modules are identical, the read sensors being on the two modules.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the read sensors are data sensors of the differing types, and further comprising servo sensors.

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the read sensors include data sensors and servo sensors.

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein at least some of the servo sensors are of differing type than at least some the data sensors.

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the head.

14. (canceled)

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors,

wherein the head is configured for linear magnetic recording,

wherein the read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors,

wherein the read sensors are on a single module,

wherein the head has four modules, wherein a fourth of the modules has read sensors having a greater width in a cross track direction than the read sensors of the other modules.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the head; and

a controller electrically coupled to the head.