Magnetic recording head having protected reader sensors and near zero recession writer poles

• US 9,449,620 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2015
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• 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): Renner, Craig A.
• Application Number:
  US14/703,832
• Publication Number:
  US 20150235662A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a module having first and second transducers of different transducer types positioned towards a media facing side of the module, where 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. The apparatus also includes a first protection structure for protecting the first transducer. The second transducer has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure. In one embodiment, the first protection structure includes a coating on the media facing side of the module adjacent the first transducer. In another embodiment, the first protection structure is a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the first transducer.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a module, the module having a linear array of transducers, the transducers including two transducers of a first transducer type, wherein a first of the transducers of the first transducer type is located at a first end of the linear array and a second of the transducers of the first transducer type is located at a second end of the linear array, the linear array of transducers further including at least one transducer of a second transducer type that is different than the first transducer type located between the first and second transducers of the first transducer type, the transducers positioned towards a 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;

a first protection structure protecting the transducers of the first transducer type; and

wherein the at least one transducer of the second transducer type has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure,

wherein the first protection structure includes a coating on the media facing side of the module adjacent the transducers of the first transducer type.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a coating on another portion of the media facing side that is adjacent the at least one transducer of the second transducer type.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the linear array extends along the media facing side of the module.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising a second module having a configuration similar or identical to the module, the apparatus being configured to operate with tape media.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the module is part of a slider.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 1, comprising:

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

a controller electrically coupled to the module.

7. An apparatus, comprising:

a module, the module having a linear array of transducers, the transducers including two transducers of a first transducer type, wherein a first of the transducers of the first transducer type is located at a first end of the linear array and a second of the transducers of the first transducer type is located at a second end of the linear array, the linear array of transducers further including at least one transducer of a second transducer type that is different than the first transducer type located between the first and second transducers of the first transducer type, the transducers positioned towards a 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;

a first protection structure protecting the transducers of the first transducer type; and

wherein the at least one transducer of the second transducer type has either no protection or is protected by a second protection structure that is different than the first protection structure,

wherein the first protection structure is a recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the transducers of the first transducer type.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the first protection structure includes a coating on the recessed portion of the media facing side adjacent the transducers of the first transducer type.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the second protection structure is present and includes a coating on another portion of the media facing side that is adjacent the at least one transducer of the second transducer type.

10. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the linear array extends along the media facing side of the module.

11. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the apparatus includes a second module having a configuration similar or identical to the module, the apparatus being configured to operate with tape media.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, wherein the apparatus includes a slider.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 7, comprising:

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

a controller electrically coupled to the module.