Electrically conductive overlay for head-medium contact sensor
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsGary Joseph Kunkel, Jin Fang, Erik J. Hutchinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contact sensor is provided at or near an air bearing surface of a slider and having a temperature coefficient of resistance. The contact sensor is coupled to a lead arrangement comprising a first lead and a second lead. The contact sensor comprises a sensor element, a first peripheral wing comprising an inner wing connected to the sensor element and an outer wing connected to the first lead, and a second peripheral wing comprising an inner wing connected to the sensor element and an outer wing connected to the second lead. An electrically conductive overlay covers at least the outer wings of the first and second peripheral wings and some or all of the first and second electrical leads.
Claims23
An apparatus, comprising:
- a contact sensor provided at or near an air bearing surface of a slider and having a temperature coefficient of resistance, the contact sensor comprising a sensor element disposed between a pair of peripheral wings, the peripheral wings having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the sensor element and comprising the same material as the sensor element;
- electrically conductive leads connected to the peripheral wings, the leads having a cross-sectional area larger than that of the peripheral wings;
- and
- an electrically conductive overlay covering and contacting a portion of the peripheral wings and at least a portion of the leads.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a contact sensor provided at or near an air bearing surface of a slider and having a temperature coefficient of resistance, the contact sensor coupled to an electrical lead arrangement comprising a first lead and a second lead, the contact sensor comprising:
- a sensor element;
- a first peripheral wing comprising an inner wing connected to the sensor element and an outer wing connected to the first lead;
- and
- a second peripheral wing comprising an inner wing connected to the sensor element and an outer wing connected to the second lead, the first and second peripheral wings comprising the same material as the sensor element;
- and
- an electrically conductive overlay covering and contacting at least the outer wings of the first and second peripheral wings and some or all of the first and second leads.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.