Touchdown sensor having a more stable crystal structure for use in hard disk drives
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A touchdown sensor comprising:
- a seed layer consisting of Ta;
a sensor layer including Ni on the seed layer, the sensor layer being temperature sensitive and adjoining the seed layer, the sensor layer being configured to determine touchdown based on a change in a temperature of the sensor layer; and
a capping layer on the sensor layer, the capping layer adjoining the sensor layer, consisting of Ta;
wherein at least a portion of at least one of the seed layer and the capping layer is amorphous.
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Abstract
A method and system for providing a touchdown sensor for use in disk drive is described. The touchdown sensor includes a seed layer, a sensor layer on the seed layer, and a capping layer. The sensor layer includes NiFe. In some embodiments, at least one of the seed layer and the capping layer promote stability and performance of the sensor layer.
23 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A touchdown sensor comprising:
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a seed layer consisting of Ta; a sensor layer including Ni on the seed layer, the sensor layer being temperature sensitive and adjoining the seed layer, the sensor layer being configured to determine touchdown based on a change in a temperature of the sensor layer; and a capping layer on the sensor layer, the capping layer adjoining the sensor layer, consisting of Ta; wherein at least a portion of at least one of the seed layer and the capping layer is amorphous. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A touchdown sensor comprising:
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a Ta seed layer having a thickness of not more than forty Angstroms; a sensor layer on the seed layer, the sensor layer including Ni and Fe, the sensor layer including at least eighteen and not more than twenty atomic percent Fe, the sensor layer being temperature sensitive and adjoining the Ta seed layer, the sensor layer being configured to determine touchdown based on a change in a temperature of the sensor layer; and a Ta capping layer on the sensor layer, the Ta capping layer being not more than forty Angstroms thick, the Ta capping layer adjoining the sensor layer, wherein at least one of the Ta seed layer and the Ta capping layer are amorphous. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A disk drive comprising:
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a slider; media; a head residing on the slider and having an air-bearing surface (ABS), the head further including a touchdown sensor proximate to the ABS and residing on an amorphous insulating underlayer, the touchdown sensor including a seed layer consisting of Ta, a sensor layer including Ni on the seed layer, the sensor layer being temperature sensitive and adjoining the seed layer, the sensor layer being configured to determine touchdown based on a change in a temperature of the sensor layer, and a capping layer on the sensor layer, the capping layer adjoining the sensor layer and consisting of Ta; wherein at least a portion of at least one of the seed layer and the capping layer is amorphous; and touchdown sensor control circuitry coupled with the touchdown sensor, the touchdown sensor control circuitry for driving a current through the touchdown sensor and converting a signal from the touchdown sensor into an indication of whether touchdown has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification