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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9449620-B2
Application number	US-201514703832-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 4, 2015
Priority date	Aug 31, 2012
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Biskeborn Robert G
• Czarnecki W Stanley
• Herget Philipp
• Lo Calvin S

Classifications

• Y10T29/49021

  Magnetic recording reproducing transducer [e.g., tape head, core, etc.] · CPC title

• G11B5/00821 Primary

  using stationary heads · CPC title

• G11B5/187

  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 title

• G11B5/4893

  relative to moving tape · CPC title

• G11B5/40

  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 title