Dual gap horizontal thin film inductive head

A dual gap horizontal thin film inductive head comprising:

• first and second pole pieces each pole piece formed from a material having a first magnetic moment;
• the pole pieces having first and second pole tips respectively;
• the first and second pole tips being separated by a gap;
• the gap comprising first and second gap layers;
• the first gap layer being made of a material which is a magnetic insulator;
• the second gap layer formed from a material having a second magnetic moment which is less than the first magnetic moment;
• a portion of the first Ran layer making direct contact with each of the first and second pole tips and the second gap layer making direct contact with the first gap layer and only one of the pole tips;
• the magnetic head having a head surface;
• the gap having a length which extends between the pole tips and parallel to the head surface;
• the first gap layer having an L shape in a plane perpendicular to the air bearing surface and along said length, the L shape having a base portion and an upright portion;
• and
• said base portion of the L shape of the first gap layer making said direct contact between the first and second pole tips and the upright portion of the L shape making direct contact with one of the pole tips and the second gap layer.

A horizontal inductive head comprising:

• first and second pole pieces, each pole piece being made of material which has a first magnetic moment;
• the pole pieces having first and second pole tips respectively;
• each pole tip having a vertical edge;
• the vertical edges of the first and second pole tips being separated by a gap;
• the gap comprising first and second vertically extending gap layers, each gap layer having oppositely facing first and second vertically extending surfaces;
• the first and second surfaces of the first gap layer making direct contact with the vertical edge of the first pole tip and the first surface of the second gap layer respectively and the second surface of the second gap layer making direct contact with the vertical edge of the second pole tip;
• the first gap layer being made of a material which is a magnetic insulator;
• the second gap layer being made of a material which has a second magnetic moment which is less than the first magnetic moment;
• an insulation stack located between the first and second pole pieces;
• and
• at least one coil embedded in the insulation stack for inducing a field in the first and second pole pieces which fringes across said gap.

A horizontal inductive head comprising:

• first and second pole pieces, each pole piece being made of material which has a first magnetic moment;
• the pole pieces having first and second pole tips respectively;
• each pole tip having a vertical edge;
• the vertical edges of the first and second pole tips being separated by a gap;
• the zap comprising first and second vertically extending gap layers each gap layer having oppositely facing first and second vertically extending surfaces;
• the first and second surfaces of the first gap layer making direct contact with the vertical edge of the first pole tip and the first surface of the second gap layer respectively and the second surface of the second gap layer making direct contact with the vertical edge of the second pole tip;
• the first gap layer being made of a material which is a magnetic insulator;
• the second gap layer being made of a material which has a second magnetic moment which is less than the first magnetic moment;
• the first gap layer having a portion which makes direct contact with each vertical edge of the first and second zap layers;
• an insulation stack located between the first and second pole pieces;
• at least one coil embedded in the insulation stack for inducing a field in the first and second pole pieces which fringes across said gap;
• and
• said portion of the first gap layer making direct contact with said insulation stack.

A magnetic media drive comprising:

• a housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting a dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write magnetic head;
• medium moving means mounted in the housing for moving a magnetic medium past the head in a transducing relationship therewith;
• positioning means connected to the support for moving the inductive head to multiple positions with respect to a moving magnetic medium so as to process signals with respect to multiple tracks on the magnetic medium;
• control means connected to the inductive head, the magnetic medium moving means and the positioning means for controlling and processing signals with respect to the inductive head, for controlling movement of the magnetic medium and for controlling the position of the inductive head;
• and
• said dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write magnetic head including:
• at least first and second pole piece layers and at least one gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by only said at least one gap layer at a head surface and connected at a back gap that is recessed from the head surface;
• a portion of at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers for inducing write fields into the first and second pole piece layers and for receiving read fields from the first and second pole piece layers;
• said at least one gap layer comprising first and second films;
• the first film being a magnetic insulator;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a respective magnetic moment;
• the magnetic moment of the second film being less than the magnetic moment of each of the first and second pole piece layers;
• an insulation stack located between the first and second pole pieces;
• and
• at least one coil embedded in the insulation stack for inducing a field in the first and second pole pieces which fringes across said gap.

A dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write head apparatus comprising:

• at least first and second pole piece layers and at least one gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by only said at least one gap layer at a head surface and connected at a back gap that is recessed from the head surface;
• a portion of at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers for inducing write fields into the first and second pole piece layers and for receiving read fields from the first and second pole piece layers;
• said at least one gap layer comprising first and second films;
• the first film being a magnetic insulator;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a respective magnetic moment;
• and
• the magnetic moment of the second film being less than the magnetic moment of each of the first and second pole piece layers.

A dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write head apparatus comprising:

• at least first and second pole piece layers and at least one gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by only said at least one gap layer at a head surface and connected at a back gap that recessed from the head surface;
• a portion of at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers for inducing write fields into the first and second pole piece layers and for receiving read fields from the first and second pole piece layers;
• said at least one gap layer comprising first and second film the first film being a magnetic insulator;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a respective magnetic moment
• the magnetic moment of the second film being less than the magnetic moment of each of the first and second pole piece layers;
• and
• a portion of the first film making direct contract with each of the first and second pole piece layers and the second film making direct contact with the first film and only one of the pole piece layers.

A magnetic media drive comprising:

• a housing;
• a support mounted in the housing for supporting a dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write magnetic head;
• medium moving means mounted in the housing for moving a magnetic medium past the magnetic head in a transducing relationship therewith;
• positioning means connected to the support for moving the magnetic head to multiple positions with respect to a moving magnetic medium so as to process signals with respect to multiple tracks on the magnetic medium;
• control means connected to the magnetic head, the magnetic medium moving means and the positioning means for controlling and processing signals with respect to the magnetic head, for controlling movement of the magnetic medium and for controlling the position of the magnetic head;
• and
• said dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write magnetic head including:
• at least first and second pole piece layers and at least one gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by only said at least one gap layer at a head surface and connected at a back gap that is recessed from the head surface;
• a portion of at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers for inducing write fields into the first and second pole piece layers and for receiving read fields from the first and second pole piece layers;
• said at least one gap layer comprising first and second films;
• the first film being a magnetic insulator;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a respective magnetic moment;
• the magnetic moment of the second film being less than the magnetic moment of each of the first and second pole piece layers;
• a portion of the first film making direct contact with each of the first and second pole piece layers and the second film making direct contact with the first film and only one of the pole piece layers;
• the gap having a length which extends between the pole piece layers at the head surface and parallel to the head surface;
• the first film layer having an L shape in a plane perpendicular to the head surface and along said length, the L shape having a base portion and an upright portion;
• and
• said base portion of the L shape of the first film making said direct contact between the first and second pole piece layers and the upright portion of the L shape making direct contact with one of the pole piece layers and the second film;
• and
• drive electronics connected to said at least one coil layer for inducing electrical signals into said at least one coil layer for causing said at least one coil layer to induce said write fields into the first and second pole piece layers and for receiving said read fields from said at least one coil layer.

A dual gap horizontal thin film inductive read and write head apparatus comprising:

• at least first and second pole piece layers and at least one gap layer;
• the first and second pole piece layers being separated by only said at least one gap layer at a head surface and connected at a back gap that is recessed from the head surface;
• a portion of at least one coil layer being located between the first and second pole piece layers for inducing write fields into the first and second pole piece layers and for receiving read fields from the first and second pole piece layers;
• said at least one gap layer comprising first and second films;
• the first film being a magnetic insulator;
• each of the first and second pole piece layers having a respective magnetic moment;
• the magnetic moment of the second film being less than the magnetic moment of each of the first and second pole piece layers;
• a portion of the first film making direct contact with each of the first and second pole piece layers and the second film making direct contact with the first film and only one of the pole piece layers;
• the gap layer having a length which extends between the pole piece layers at the head surface and parallel to the head surface;
• the first film having an L shape in a plane perpendicular to the head surface and along said length, the L shape having a base portion and an upright portion;
• and
• said base portion of the L shape of the first film making said direct contact between the first and second pole piece layers and the upright portion of the L shape making direct contact with one of the pole piece layers and the second film.