Design and fabrication of thin-film heads based on a dry process (invited)

Abstract

High performance thin-film heads for disk drive systems have been developed based on a dry process. Heads were computer simulated and optimal design was carried out. Relationships among Ni-Fe composition, domain structure and wiggle of the read-write waveform were obtained. Based on these results, optimum Ni-Fe composition range was determined. A planarization procedure for an inbedding insulator of the conductor coil was developed. Also narrow track patterning and gap depth controlling procedures were developed. Using these procedures, a two-layered seventeen-turn thin-film head for a large capacity disk drive system (23 Mb/in.2) has been developed. The head exhibited excellent read-write characteristics.