Side-by-Side MIMO Read Head with Flared Electrical Leads
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of read heads in magnetic hard disk drives, particularly the narrowing gap between side-by-side read sensors in MIMO recording, makes it challenging to fabricate and economically connect lead structures without creating short circuits and maintaining acceptable resistance levels.
Innovation Solution
A side-by-side magnetic MIMO read head is designed with a pair of MIMO read sensors between shields, and electrical leads extending away from the air bearing surface, featuring flared portions with increasing lateral separation to facilitate lead stitching and avoid short circuits, using a method that includes depositing sensor and lead layers, hard mask layers, and etching to form the read head structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the gap between lead structures is narrowed to improve areal density, then the read head size is reduced, but the risk of short circuits increases and manufacturing difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension by extending electrical leads away from the air bearing surface in a direction perpendicular to the disk surface. This three-dimensional lead arrangement allows the leads to connect sensors while avoiding lateral proximity issues that would cause short circuits in a two-dimensional planar configuration, thus enabling miniaturization without compromising reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the lead structure into multiple segments: sensor contact regions, vertical extension regions, and connection regions. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized independently - the vertical extension separates the sensor connection from the signal output path, reducing the risk of short circuits while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
2Volume of moving object
If the gap between lead structures is narrowed to improve areal density, then the read head size is reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning from lateral lead placement to vertical lead extension, the patent eliminates the need for ultra-precise lateral positioning of leads. The vertical extension can be formed using standard deposition and etching processes with relaxed precision requirements, while still achieving the desired compact read head footprint.
3Ease of manufacture
If lead structures are connected economically to maintain low cost, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but electrical resistance may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the vertical lead dimensions (length, width, thickness) to achieve a balance between manufacturing ease and electrical resistance. By controlling the cross-sectional area and length of the vertical lead extensions, the design maintains low resistance while using standard, cost-effective fabrication processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A side-by-side magnetic multi-input multi-output (MIMO) read head is provided. The read head may include a pair of side-by-side MIMO read sensors disposed between a bottom shield, a top shield and between a pair of side shields. The read head may also include a pair of electrical leads, each of which is coupled with one of the MIMO read sensors. The electrical leads extend away from an air bearing surface.