Thermal protrusion reduction in magnet heads by utilizing heat sink layers

Abstract

A magnetic read / write head and slider assembly and method for forming said magnetic read / write head and slider assembly, wherein said assembly has improved heat spreading and dissipation properties and exhibits significantly reduced thermal protrusion during operation. The method consists of the formation of a heat sink layer on a portion of either the upper pole yoke or the lower magnetic pole of the writer.

Description

Continuation-in-Part [0001] This application is a Continuation-In-Part of Docket No. HT 01-017, application Ser. No. ______ Filing Date Oct. 5, 2001.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates generally to the fabrication of merged magnetic read / write heads and slider assemblies and, more particularly, to the fabrication of such a head and slider assembly with improved heat spreading and dissipation characteristics to eliminate problems associated with thermal expansion and protrusion of head elements during operation. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A merged magnetic read / write head and slider assembly consists essentially of a magnetoresistive read sensor element formed on the pole pieces of an inductively magnetized write element and mounted within, or fabricated as an integral part of, a slider assembly that physically and electrically connects the head to an actuator arm. The read / write head is subjected to complex ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Significantly reduces temperature gradients and heat dissipation issues, minimizing thermal protrusion and maintaining head elements' alignment with the air-bearing surface during operation.

Problems solved by technology

The heat dissipation properties of the read / write head are limited by the thermal conductivity of the protective overcoat material (typically sputtered alumina) that covers the head.

Since alumina is a relatively poor conductor of heat, a temperature buildup occurs in both the head and the overcoat as the overcoat is unable to eliminate the heat produced in the head with sufficient rapidity.

(U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,590) deals with the problem of electrostatic charge buildup on read / write heads, which is another problem associated with rapid relative movement between the head and the recording medium.

With the exception of Ibaraki et al., none of the prior art cited deals with the significant problem of heat buildup in head elements such as write coils, magnetic pole pieces, overcoat regions and magnetoresistive sensing formations.

This heat buildup is not only damaging to the performance of the elements, but differential thermal expansion causes protrusion of elements relative to each other and relative to the air bearing surface, which protrusion can cause damage to the rapidly moving storage medium.

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