Differing magnetic read sensors on a magnetic head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9449622-B2
Application number	US-201414527707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2014
Priority date	Oct 29, 2014
Publication date	Sep 20, 2016
Grant date	Sep 20, 2016

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

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

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

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 15 , wherein at least some of the servo sensors are of differing type than at least some the data sensors.

17. 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.

18. 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.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18 , further comprising:
a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the head; and
a controller electrically coupled to the head.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Biskeborn Robert G
• Koeppe Peter Vandersalm
• Lo Calvin S

Classifications

• G11B2005/3996

  large or giant magnetoresistive effects [GMR], e.g. as generated in spin-valve [SV] devices · CPC title

• G11B5/3948 Primary

  the sensitive elements being active read-out elements · CPC title

• G11B5/3909

  Arrangements using a magnetic tunnel junction · CPC title

• G11B5/3958 Primary

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

• G11B5/3945 Primary

  Heads comprising more than one sensitive element · CPC title