Bond Pad Sharing for Magnetic Recording Head Readers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data storage systems face challenges in minimizing the number of bond pads on magnetic recording transducers due to space constraints and increased costs associated with adding additional pads, particularly in heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) heads which require complex electrical bond pad connections and powering strategies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a bond pad sharing configuration between electrical components, where a single bond pad is shared between multiple components, and using a temporary contact sensor during the certification process that becomes inoperable after completion, allowing individual readers to be properly biased with dedicated bond pads during normal operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a temporary contact sensor is coupled between bond pads of multiple readers during certification process, then the number of required bond pads is reduced, but bias contention and degraded performance occur during normal operation
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary contact sensor is electrically disconnected and removed from the circuit after the certification process completes. This extraction eliminates the sensor from the bond pad network, preventing bias contention and performance degradation during normal reader operation while having utilized the shared bond pads during certification.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical state of the temporary contact sensor is changed from conductive during certification to non-conductive after certification. This parameter change (from active to inactive) allows the same physical component to serve different functions at different times, resolving the contradiction between reducing bond pad quantity and maintaining performance reliability.
2Area of stationary object
If bond pads are shared between multiple components, then real estate usage is minimized, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary contact sensor is pre-configured to couple between specific bond pads of multiple readers before the certification process begins. This preliminary configuration simplifies the manufacturing process by establishing a predetermined, standardized bonding pattern that can be automatically implemented, reducing the complexity of manual bond pad configuration despite the sharing arrangement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a temporary contact sensor is used during certification, then certification functionality is enabled, but additional components increase device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The temporary contact sensor is designed as a disposable component that serves its purpose during the certification process and is then electrically disconnected and removed. This approach adds minimal long-term complexity to the device while enabling necessary certification functionality, as the sensor does not need to coexist with the readers during normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A slider of a magnetic recording head includes a plurality of electrical bond pads and a plurality of readers comprising at least a first reader and a second reader. Each of the readers is coupled to a different pair of electrical bond pads. A temporary contact sensor is provided on the slider and coupled between a bond pad of the first reader and a bond pad of the second reader. The temporary contact sensor is configured for operation during a certification process of the apparatus and to become inoperable after completion of the certification process.