US 4,381,966 AGranted

Process for fabricating recording heads for magnetography

AssigneeWang Laboratories, Inc.

InventorsHoushang Rasekhi, Alfred M. Nelson

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Abstract

A method of fabricating from a single piece of copper foil the extremely fragile recording element structure of a multi-channel magnetic recording head having a linear array of bi-metal recording elements, in which the elements are comprised of elongated substantially parallel finger portions terminating in a common return, with each having a minutely thinned down recording zone. For high resolution recording head structures, the dimensions of the elements at the recording zone may typically be as thin as 0.1.times.10.sup.-3 inches with a width of 1.5.times.10.sup.-3 inches and length of 3.5.times.10.sup.-3 inches, where the total length of the recording elements may nevertheless be as long as three inches. The process comprises an etching technique and the application of one or more supports at appropriate times in the fabrication to protect the structure at its most vulnerable times. Full masking and deposition of bi-metal layer areas is accomplished prior to any etching steps to avoid, for example, having to re-register the recording element design on one side of the copper foil relative to the other.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of fabricating from a single piece of foil-thickness, conductive first material the recording element structure of a multi-channel magnetic recording head having a linear array of recording elements, which elements are comprised of elongated substantially parallel conductive finger portions terminating in a common return, with each having a minutely thinned-down recording zone, comprising:

(a) temporarily selectively masking both major sides of the first material in registration with one another and depositing a thin layer of conductive etchant-resistant second material onto the areas of a first of said major sides of the first material exposed by said masking and a thin layer of suitable etchant-resistant third material onto the areas of the second of said major sides of the first material exposed by said masking;
(b) etching the first material on the second side thereof such that the first material between the recording elements at the respective recording zones is completely etched through its thickness;
(c) permanently securing the recording element structure at least in the vicinity of the recording zones to a support with an electrically non-conductive adhesive fourth material, said adhesive fourth material filling the etched areas of said first material in the vicinity of the recording zones;
and
(d) completing the etching of the first material between the finger portions.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.