Shielding and electrical contact design for devices with two or more read elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10102870-B2
Application number	US-201615383351-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2016
Priority date	Dec 13, 2013
Publication date	Oct 16, 2018
Grant date	Oct 16, 2018

Abstract

A magnetic read head including a first read element magnetically coupled to a bottom shield; a second read element magnetically coupled to a top shield; a magnetic shielding structure that magnetically shields the first read element from the second read element; and a first electrical contact electrically coupled to the bottom shield, a second electrical contact electrically coupled to the top shield and a third electrical contact electrically coupled to the magnetic shielding structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
forming a first read element, the first read element having a first surface which is magnetically coupled to a bottom shield, a second surface which is opposite the first surface, a first side surface between the first and second surfaces and an opposite second side surface between the first and second surfaces of the first read element;
electrically isolating the first side surface and the second side surface of the first read element;
forming a shielding structure on at least the second surface of the first read element;
forming a second read element, the second read element having a first surface which is electrically coupled to a portion of the shielding structure, a second surface of the second read element which is opposite the first surface of the second read element, a first side surface of the second read element between the first and second surfaces of the second read element and an opposite second side surface between the first and second surfaces of the second read element the second side surface of the second read element being adjacent the first side surface of the first read element but not electrically and magnetically coupled thereto;
forming a third read element, the third read element having a first surface which is electrically coupled to a portion of the shielding structure, a second surface which is opposite the first surface of the third read element, a first side surface between the first and second surfaces of the third read element and an opposite second side surface of the third read element between the first and second surfaces of the third read element, the first side surface of the third read element being adjacent the second side surface of the first read element but not electrically and magnetically coupled thereto;
electrically isolating the entire second read element except the first and the second surface of the second read element;
electrically isolating the entire third read element except the first and the second surface of the third read element; and
forming a first and second top shield, the first top shield being magnetically coupled to the second surface of the second read element and the second top shield being magnetically coupled to the second surface of the third read element.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming a first electrical contact to the first top shield and forming a second electrical contact to the second top shield.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming a third electrical contact to the bottom shield.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the third electrical contact was formed before the first read element is formed.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising forming a fourth electrical contact to the shielding structure.

6. A method comprising:
forming a first reader stack on a bottom shield, the first reader stack having a first surface which is magnetically coupled to the bottom shield, a second surface which is opposite the first surface, and a first side surface between the first and second surfaces and a second side surface between the first and second surfaces and opposite the first side surface;
electrically isolating only the first side surface and the second side surfaces of the first reader stack;
forming a magnetic shielding layer on the second surface of the first reader stack;
forming a second electrical isolation region that functions to electrically isolate the magnetic shielding layer on the second surface of the first reader stack;
forming a second reader stack and a third reader stack adjacent to but not over the second isolation region, the second reader stack having a first surface in contact with the magnetic shielding layer, an opposite second surface, a first side surface and an opposing second side surface, the second side surface of the second reader stack in contact with the second isolation region adjacent the first side surface of the first reader stack, and the third reader stack having a first surface in contact with the magnetic shielding layer, an opposite second surface, a first side surface and an opposing second side surface, the first side surface of the third reader stack in contact with the second isolation region adjacent the first side surface of the first reader stack; and
electrically isolating portions of the second reader stack and the third reader stack so that only the second surfaces thereof are exposed.

7. The method according to claim 6 further comprising forming a first and second top shield, the first top shield being magnetically coupled to the second surface of the second reader stack and the second top shield being magnetically coupled to the second surface of the third reader stack.

8. The method according to claim 7 further comprising forming a first electrical contact to the first top shield, forming a second electrical contact to the second top shield and forming a fourth electrical contact to the magnetic shielding layer.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising forming a third electrical contact to the bottom shield.

Assignees

• Seagate Technology Llc

Inventors

• Mastain Steven A

Classifications

• G11B5/112 Primary

  Manufacture of shielding device · CPC title

• Y10T29/49032

  Fabricating head structure or component thereof · CPC title

• G11B5/4886

  relative to rotating disc · CPC title

• G11B5/3958

  the active elements being arranged in a single plane, e.g. "matrix" disposition · CPC title

• G11B5/397

  with a plurality of independent magnetoresistive active read-out elements for respectively transducing from selected components · CPC title