# US 7,609,488 B2 · Fly height actuator/void region in basecoat

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- Number: US 7,609,488 B2
- Document ID: US7609488B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/585,584
- Filed: 2006-10-24
- Published: 2008-04-24
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-10-24
- Assignees: Seagate Technology LLC
- Inventors: Wayne A. Bonin; Michael T. Johnson; Dion Song
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609488B2

## CPC

- G11B 5/3133: {including layers not usually being a part of the electromagnetic transducer structure and providing additional features, e.g. for improving heat radiation, reduction of power dissipation, adaptations for measurement or indication of gap depth or other properties of the structure (G11B5/3106 takes precedence)}
- G11B 5/3136: {for reducing the pole-tip-protrusion at the head transducing surface, e.g. caused by thermal expansion of dissimilar materials}
- G11B 5/6064: {using air pressure}
- G11B 5/607: {using thermal means}
- G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R)

## Abstract

A transducing device responsive to magnetic fields includes a writer, a reader, an actuator, and a void. The actuator is positioned proximate the writer and reader. The void is positioned between at least one of the reader and writer and a substrate of a sensing device. The void is also positioned proximate an external surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transducing device responsive to magnetic fields, the transducing device comprising:
a substrate;
a writer;
a reader;
an actuator positioned proximate the writer and the reader; and
a void region positioned between at least one of the reader and the writer and the substrate and proximate an external surface.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transducing device of claim 1, wherein the void region contains a vacuum.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transducing device of claim 1, wherein the void region is filled with a gas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The transducing device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a heater.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The transducing device of claim 1, wherein the void region has a thickness of between about 1 micron and about 5 microns.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The transducing device of claim 1, wherein the void region mechanically decouples the reader and the writer from the substrate.

### Claim 7

A magnetic head comprising:
a transducer;
a substrate positioned adjacent the transducer;
an actuator positioned proximate the transducer; and
at least one void region positioned between the transducer and the substrate and proximate a first external surface of the transducer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The magnetic head of claim 7, wherein the void region contains a vacuum.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The magnetic head of claim 7, wherein the void region is filled with a gas.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The magnetic head of claim 7, wherein the actuator is positioned behind the transducer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The magnetic head of claim 7, wherein the void region mechanically decouples the transducer from the substrate.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The magnetic head of claim 7, wherein the void region has a thickness of between about 1 micron and about 5 microns.

### Claim 13

A transducer positioned adjacent a substrate, the transducer comprising:
a plurality of metallic layers;
an actuator positioned adjacent the substrate; and
a void region positioned between at least one of the plurality of metallic layers and the substrate.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the void region has a thickness of between about 1 micron and about 5 microns.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the void region is positioned proximate an external surface of the transducer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the actuator is a heater.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the actuator is selected from the group consisting of: a thermal actuator, a piezoelectric actuator, and a magnetostrictive actuator.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the void region comprises a hinge that acts as a lever for the actuator.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the void region contains a vacuum.

### Claim 20 (depends on 13)

The transducer of claim 13, wherein the actuator is positioned behind the plurality of thin film layers.