Half-Side Shield Magnetic Writer Fabrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional magnetic recording heads face performance limitations at higher recording densities, particularly in shingle recording schemes, where they fail to meet design requirements due to inadequate side gap geometry and track edge curvature.
Innovation Solution
The method involves forming a magnetic recording transducer with half side shields by creating an intermediate layer with specific sublayers, etching a trench for the main pole, and depositing magnetic materials, allowing the side shields to terminate between the top and bottom of the main pole, thus simplifying the geometry and enabling shingle recording.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If side shields extend from the top to the bottom of the main pole to provide adequate shielding, then magnetic field control is improved, but device complexity and fabrication difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary portion of the side shield function by implementing half-side shields that extend from the top of the main pole only to a first intermediate position, rather than requiring full-length shields to the bottom. This extraction maintains adequate magnetic field control for shingle recording while simplifying the overall device geometry and reducing fabrication complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The side shield structure is segmented into distinct regions: half-side shields extending to a first intermediate position, and quarter-side shields extending to a second intermediate position. This segmentation allows each shield portion to be optimized for its specific function, achieving effective magnetic field control with reduced overall complexity compared to a single continuous side shield structure.
2Productivity
If main pole size is increased for shingle recording at higher densities, then recording density is improved, but track edge curvature issues worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating non-uniform side gap widths along the main pole: the side gap width varies from the top to the bottom of the main pole, with different widths in different regions. This local variation in gap geometry compensates for the increased main pole size, maintaining proper magnetic field distribution and reducing track edge curvature issues while enabling higher recording densities.
3Manufacturing precision
If side gap width is reduced to mitigate track edge curvature, then track edge quality is improved, but magnetic field strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the trade-off by introducing variation in the side gap width along the vertical dimension of the main pole. Rather than using a uniform narrow gap that would weaken the magnetic field, the side gap width varies from top to bottom, allowing narrow gaps near the top for track edge quality while maintaining wider gaps lower down to preserve magnetic field strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) location. An intermediate is provided. The intermediate layer includes a first sublayer and a second sublayer in at least a side shield region. The first sublayer has a first sublayer top. The second sublayer is on the first sublayer top in the shield region. A trench is formed in the intermediate layer using at least one etch. A main pole is provided in the trench. The main pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom. The first sublayer top is between the top and the bottom of the main pole. At least a portion of the second sublayer is removed in the shield region. At least one half side shield is provided. A bottom of the at least one half side shield being between the top and the bottom of the main pole.