BACKGROUND

Magnetic storage systems, such as a hard disk drive (HDD), are utilized in a wide variety of devices in both stationary and mobile computing environments. Examples of devices that incorporate magnetic storage systems include desktop computers, portable notebook computers, portable hard disk drives, digital versatile disc (DVD) players, high definition television (HDTV) receivers, vehicle control systems, cellular or mobile telephones, television set top boxes, digital cameras, digital video cameras, video game consoles, and portable media players.

A typical disk drive includes magnetic storage media in the form of one or more flat disks or platters. The disks are generally formed of two main substances, namely, a substrate material that gives it structure and rigidity, and a magnetic media coating that holds the magnetic impulses or moments that represent data. Such typical disk drives also typically include a read head and a write head, generally in the form of a magnetic transducer, which can sense and/or change the magnetic fields stored on the disks or media. Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) involves recorded bits that are stored in a generally planar recording layer, but in a generally perpendicular or out-of-plane orientation with respect to the recording layer. A PMR read head (reader) and a PMR write head (writer) are usually formed as an integrated read/write head along an air-bearing surface (ABS). In a PMR reader, a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor or transducer is frequently employed in the read head, and the write head includes a write pole for directing a magnetic field to the recording layer of a magnetic recording medium or stack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of a disk drive including a slider with an integrated read/write head in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the slider of FIG. 1 with an integrated magnetic recording head in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a magnetic recording head.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating a side view of a magnetic transducer main pole having two distinct portions with different magnetic properties in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a side view of a magnetic transducer main pole having two distinct portions with different magnetic properties in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating a side view of a magnetic transducer main pole having three portions with different magnetic properties in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a magnetic recording head fabrication method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a magnetic recording head fabrication method in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these specific details need not be employed to practice various embodiments of the present invention. In other instances, well-known components or methods have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring various embodiments of the present invention.

A perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) writer with a short yoke length can enable a hard drive to achieve higher data rate, for example, 2500 megabit per second (Mb/s) and beyond. Aspects of the present disclosure provide apparatuses, systems and methods of utilizing a PMR writer with a main pole design that realizes a shorter yoke writer as compared to the related art. The disclosed PMR writer design may be characterized by a main pole made of a composite magnetic material having different magnetic properties. In one aspect of the disclosure, the PMR writer is a component of a magnetic recording head and may have a first portion and a second portion, where the first portion is along an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic recording head and the second portion is spaced apart from the ABS. In one aspect of the disclosure, the first portion has a different magnetic property than that of the second portion. In one aspect of the disclosure, the different magnetic property may be different materials, different magnetic moments, and/or different magnetic stress. In one aspect, the PMR writers disclosed herein may provide higher magnetic moment and/or magnetic stress at the writer pole tip, in the ABS vicinity, so as to enable sufficient write field and field gradient at the ABS than related art writers.

FIG. 1 is a top schematic view of a disk drive 100 including a slider 108 with an integrated read/write head (e.g., a magnetic transducer) in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The slider 108 is a magnetic recording device. Disk drive 100 may include one or more of the disks/media 102 to store data. Disks/media 102 reside on a spindle assembly 104 that is mounted to drive housing 106. Data may be stored along tracks 107 in the magnetic recording layer of disk 102. The reading and writing of data is accomplished with the slider 108 that can have an integrated read/write head or magnetic transducer. The write head (e.g., a magnetic writer 108a in FIG. 2) is used to alter the properties of the magnetic recording layer of disk 102 and thereby write information thereto. The read head (e.g., a magnetic reader 108b in FIG. 2) is used to read information stored on the magnetic recording layer of disk 102. In operation, a spindle motor (not shown) rotates the spindle assembly 104, and thereby rotates disk 102 to position head 108 at a particular location along a desired disk track 107. The position of the slider 108 relative to the disk 102 may be controlled by position control circuitry 110.

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of the slider 108 of FIG. 1 with the writer 108a and reader 108b in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. The slider 108 includes both the writer 108a and the reader 108b disposed along an air bearing surface (ABS) 108c of the slider. The ABS 108c is the bottom surface of the slider 108 and is the slider surface that is closest to the media 102. However, it should be appreciated that the present disclosure is not limited to the fabrication of slider or similar devices. To the contrary, the concept and technique described in various aspects of the disclosure may be applied in the fabrication of other apparatuses or devices.

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view illustrating an embodiment of a magnetic recording head 200. For clarity, FIG. 3 is not drawn to scale. In addition, some components and layers may not be shown in FIG. 3. The magnetic recording head 200 may be the writer 108a and reader 108b included in the slider 108 of FIG. 2. The magnetic recording head 200 includes a read transducer 202 (read head) and a write transducer 204 (write head). In other embodiments, the magnetic recording head 200 may include only the read transducer 202 or the write transducer 204. The read transducer 202 includes first and second shields 206 and 208 as well as a read sensor 210 between the first and second shields. The write transducer 204 may be a PMR transducer and include a first pole 212, coils 214, write gap 216, return shield 218, and main pole 220. The main pole 220 resides on an underlayer 222. In some embodiments, some portions of the write transducer 204 may be omitted. For example, the return shield 218 may be omitted. In some embodiments, different portions of the main pole 220 may have different magnetic properties (e.g., magnetic moment, magnetic stress, and magnetic materials) so as to improve Wide Area Track Erasure (WATER) performance.

FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing illustrating a side view of a main pole 300 having two distinct portions with different magnetic properties in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The main pole 300 may be utilized as the main pole 220 of FIG. 3. The main pole 300 may be designed such that it can mitigate excessive writer flux leakage away from the writer pole in near and far track regions, which can reduce distortions on the writer shields and thus improve Wide Area Track Erasure margin resulting in improved reliability performance.

The main pole 300 is generally shaped with a first bevel angle θ₁ with respect to a plane perpendicular to an air bearing surface (ABS) at the trailing edge side. In some embodiments, the main pole 300 may be shaped with a leading side bevel angle θ_L (same or different from the first bevel angle θ₁) with respect to the ABS at the leading edge side. The main pole 300 has different magnetic properties in at least two different portions thereof. In some embodiments, the magnetic properties include a magnetic moment and a magnetic stress of the material.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the main pole 300 includes a first portion 304 and a second portion 306. The first portion 304 and second portion 306 may have the same length or different lengths in a direction normal to the ABS. In some embodiments, for example, the length of the second portion 306 may be dependent on its thickness (t₂ in FIG. 4). The first and second portions are configured to generate a magnetic field or flux for writing information to a magnetic medium (e.g., media 102 of FIG. 1). The magnetic property of the first and second portions may be different. The first and second portions may be made of different magnetic materials or a composite material. The main pole 300 also may include a trailing shield 308 along a trailing side of the main pole and a leading shield 310 along a leading side of the main pole. In some embodiments, one of the trailing shield 308 or leading shield 310 may be omitted. Between the trailing shield 308 and the main pole 300, and/or between the leading shield 310 and the main pole 300, may be one or more layers of non-magnetic material such as Ru, Al2O3, NiCr, Ta, or other suitable non-magnetic materials.

In one embodiment, the first portion 304 may include a first magnetic material, and has a first side forming at least a portion 305 of the ABS of the main pole. The second portion 306 may include a second magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and is spaced apart or recessed from the ABS. In FIG. 4, the second portion 306 is positioned at a distance d from the ABS. In some embodiments, for example, the distance d and the thickness of the second portion 306 may be inversely proportional. In several embodiments, for example, the distance d may be equal to or less than about 150 nanometers (nm). In one particular example, the distance d may be between about 80 nm and about 130 nm. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, a thickness t1 of the first portion 304 is greater than a thickness t2 of the second portion 306. In one example, the combined thickness (t1+t2) is about 310 nm. In one particular example, the thickness t1 of the first portion 304 is about 250 nm, and the thickness t2 of the second portion 306 is about 60 nm. In other embodiments, the first portion 304 and second portion 306 may have other suitable thicknesses so long as the thickness t1 is greater than the thickness t2.

In some embodiments, a first magnetic moment of the first portion 304 is greater than a second magnetic moment of the second portion 306. In one particular example, the first magnetic moment may be about 2.35 Tesla (T), and the second magnetic moment may be about 2.0 T. In some embodiments, a first magnetic stress of the first portion 304 is greater than a second magnetic stress of the second portion 306. In some examples, at least one of the first magnetic moment and first magnetic stress of the first portion 304 is greater than the same magnetic property of the second portion 306. In one embodiment, the magnetic property of the first portion 304 and second portion 306 may be realized by utilizing a pulse plating process that adjusts a plating current so as to plate different magnetic materials in the same plating bath. For example, the different portions may be different in iron (Fe) weight or atomic percentage.

In some embodiments, the first portion 304 includes a first magnetic alloy that includes a first magnetic material, and the second portion 306 includes a second magnetic alloy that includes a second magnetic material. The second magnetic material of the second magnetic alloy is different from the first magnetic material of the first magnetic alloy. In one embodiment, the first portion 304 has at least one material that is not included in the second portion 306. In one embodiment, the second portion 306 has at least one material that is not included in the first portion 304. In one embodiment, the first portion 304 and the second portion 306 are formed of completely different materials. In some embodiments, the first portion 304 and the second portion 306 are formed of the same materials but at different percentages (weight or atomic percentage) of the same materials. In some examples, the first magnetic alloy and the second magnetic alloy may be any of the alloys illustrated in table 1 and combinations thereof.

TABLE 1

X and Y values

Composition

in weight percentage

Co(x)Fe(1-x)

25 < x < 35

Fe(x)Ni(1-x)

65 < x < 75

Co(x)Ni(y)Fe(1-x-y)

65 < x < 75; 10 < y < 20

Fe(x)Ni(1-x)

45 < x < 55

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the first portion 304 has a first beveled side forming the first angle θ₁ with respect to a plane perpendicular to the ABS, and the second portion 306 has a second beveled side forming a second angle θ₂ with respect to the plane perpendicular to the ABS. In various embodiments, the first angle 302 and second angle 312 may be substantially the same or different. In some embodiments, the first bevel angle θ₁ and the second angle θ₂ may be substantially the same and are between about 20 degrees and about 35 degrees, and in one particular example between about 22 degrees and about 28 degrees. In some embodiments, the first angle θ₁ is greater than the second angle θ₂, and are between about 20 degrees and about 35 degrees.

The above described writer main pole 300 may have a higher magnetic moment and/or magnetic stress at the writer pole tip (first portion 304) in the ABS vicinity so as to enable sufficient write field and field gradient at the ABS. The second portion 306, which may have a lower magnetic moment and/or magnetic stress at a distance d behind the ABS, can mitigate excessive writer flux leakage away from the writer pole in near and far track regions. Therefore, distortions on the writer shields may be reduced, and the Wide Area Track Erasure reliability margin may be improved as compared to related art writers.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating a side view of a main pole 400 having portions with different magnetic properties in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The main pole 400 may be utilized as the main pole 220 of FIG. 3. The main pole 400 is similar to the main pole 300. Therefore, description of similar features presented in both embodiments that have been described above may be omitted. Similar to the main pole 300, the main pole 400 also has different magnetic properties in at least two different portions. In some embodiments, the magnetic properties include a magnetic moment, a magnetic stress, and materials of the main pole 400.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the main pole 400 includes a first portion 404 and a second portion 406. The first portion 404 and second portion 406 may have the same length or different lengths in a direction normal to the ABS. In some embodiments, for example, the length of the second portion 406 may be dependent on its thickness (t₂ in FIG. 5). The first and second portions are configured to generate a magnetic field or flux for writing information to a magnetic medium (e.g., media 102 of FIG. 1). The magnetic property of the first and second portions may be different. The first and second portions may be made of different magnetic materials or a composite material. The main pole 400 also includes a trailing shield 408 along a trailing side of the main pole and a leading shield 410 along a leading side of the main pole. In some embodiments, one of the trailing shield 408 or leading shield 410 may be omitted. Between the trailing shield 408 and the main pole 400, and/or between the leading shield 410 and the main pole 400, may be one or more layers of non-magnetic material such as Ru, Al2O3, NiCr, Ta, or other suitable non-magnetic materials.

In one embodiment, the first portion 404 includes a first magnetic material, and has a first side forming at least a portion 407 of the ABS of the main pole. The second portion 406 includes a second magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and is spaced apart from the ABS. In FIG. 5, the second portion 406 is positioned at a distance d from the ABS. In some embodiments, for example, the distance d and the thickness of the second portion 406 may be inversely proportional. In several embodiments, for example, the distance d may be equal to or less than about 150 nm. In one particular example, the distance d may be between about 80 nm and about 130 nm. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, a thickness t1 of the first portion 404 is greater than a thickness t2 of the second portion 406. In one example, the combined thickness (t1+t2) is about 310 nm. In one particular example, the thickness t1 of the first portion 404 is about 250 nm, and the thickness t2 of the second portion 406 is about 60 nm. In other embodiments, the first portion 404 and the second portion 406 may have other suitable thicknesses as long as the first thickness t1 is greater than the second thickness t2.

In some embodiments, a first magnetic moment of the first portion 404 is greater than a second magnetic moment of the second portion 406. In one particular example, the first magnetic moment may be about 2.35 T, and the second magnetic moment may be about 2.0 T. In some embodiments, a first magnetic stress of the first portion 404 is greater than a second magnetic stress of the second portion 406. In some examples, at least one of the first magnetic moment and first magnetic stress of the first portion 404 is greater than the same magnetic property of the second portion 406. The magnetic property of the first portion 404 and second portion 406 may be realized by a pulse plating process that adjusts a plating current so as to plate different magnetic materials in the same plating bath. In some examples, the first portion 404 and second portion 406 may be different in iron (Fe) weight or atomic percentage.

In some embodiments, the first portion 404 includes a first magnetic alloy that includes a first magnetic material, and the second portion 406 includes a second magnetic alloy that includes a second magnetic material. The second magnetic material of the second magnetic alloy is different from the first magnetic material of the first magnetic alloy. In one embodiment, the first portion 404 has at least one material that is not included in the second portion 406. In one embodiment, the second portion 406 has at least one material that is not included in the first portion 404. In one embodiment, the first portion 404 and the second portion 406 are formed of completely different materials. In some embodiments, the first portion 404 and the second portion 406 are formed of the same materials but at different percentages (weight or atomic percentage) of the same materials. In some examples, the first magnetic alloy and the second magnetic alloy may be any of the alloys illustrated in table 1 above and combinations thereof.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the first portion 404 has a first beveled side forming a first angle θ₁ with respect to a plane perpendicular to the ABS, and the second portion 406 has a second beveled side forming a second angle θ₂ with respect to the plane perpendicular to the ABS. In various embodiments, the first angle θ₁ and second angle θ₂ may be substantially the same or different. In some embodiments, the first angle θ₁ and the second angle θ₂ may be between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees.

The above described writer main pole 400 may have a higher magnetic moment and/or magnetic stress at the writer pole tip in the ABS vicinity so as to enable sufficient write field and field gradient at the ABS. The second portion 406, which may have a lower magnetic moment and/or magnetic stress at a distance d behind the ABS, can mitigate excessive writer flux leakage away from the writer pole in near and far track regions. Therefore, distortions on the writer shields may be reduced, and the Wide Area Track Erasure reliability margin may be improved as compared to related art writers.

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing illustrating a side view of a main pole 500 having portions with different magnetic properties in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The main pole 500 may be utilized as the main pole 220 of FIG. 3. The main pole 500 is similar to the main poles 300 and 400. Therefore, description of similar features that have been described above may be omitted. Similar to the main poles 300 and 400 of FIGS. 4 and 5, the main pole 500 also has different magnetic properties in different portions. In some embodiments, the magnetic properties include a magnetic moment, a magnetic stress, and materials of the main pole.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the main pole 500 includes at least a first portion 504, a second portion 506, and a third portion 508. The first portion 504, second portion 506 and third portion 508 may have the same length or different lengths in a direction normal to the ABS. In some embodiments, for example, the length of the second portion 506 may be dependent on its thickness (t₂ in FIG. 6), and the length of the third portion 508 may be dependent on its thickness (t₃ in FIG. 6). The first, second and third portions are configured to generate a magnetic field or flux for writing information to a magnetic medium (e.g., media 102 of FIG. 2). The magnetic property of the first, second, and third portions may be different. The first, second and third portions may be made of different magnetic materials or a composite material. The main pole 500 also includes a trailing shield 510 along a trailing side of the main pole and a leading shield 512 along a leading side of the main pole. In some embodiments, one of the trailing shield or leading shield may be omitted. Between the trailing shield 510 and the main pole 500, and/or between the leading shield 512 and the main pole 500, may be one or more layers of non-magnetic material such as Ru, Al2O3, NiCr, Ta, or other suitable non-magnetic materials.

In one embodiment, the first portion 504 includes a first magnetic material, and has a first side forming at least a portion 507 of the ABS of the main pole 500. The second portion 506 includes a second magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and the second portion 506 is spaced apart from the ABS. The third portion 508 includes a third magnetic material that is different from the first and/or second magnetic material, and the third portion 508 is spaced apart from the ABS. In FIG. 6, the second portion 506 is positioned at a distance d1 from the ABS, and the third portion 508 is positioned at a distance d2 from the ABS. In some embodiments, for example, the distance d1 and the thickness of the second portion 506 may be inversely proportional, and the distance d2 and the thickness of the third portion 508 may be inversely proportional. In several embodiments, for example, the distances d1 and d2 may be equal to or less than about 150 nanometers (nm). In one particular example, the distances d1 and d2 may be between about 80 nm and about 130 nm. In various embodiments, the distances d1 and d2 may be the same or different. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, a thickness t1 of the first portion 504 is greater than a thickness t2 of the second portion 506 and a thickness t3 of the third portion 508. In one example, the combined thickness (t1+t2+t3) is about 310 nm. In other embodiments, the thicknesses (t1, t2 and t3) may have other suitable thicknesses as long as the thickness t1 is greater than the thicknesses t2 and t3. In some embodiments, the thicknesses t2 and t3 may be the same or different.

In some embodiments, a first magnetic moment of the first portion 504 is greater than a second magnetic moment of the second portion 506 and a third magnetic moment of the third portion 508. The magnetic moments of the second portion 506 and third portion 508 may be the same or different. In one particular example, the first magnetic moment may be about 2.35 T, and the second and third magnetic moments may be about 2.0 T. In some embodiments, a first magnetic stress of the first portion 504 is greater than a second magnetic stress of the second portion 506 and a third magnetic stress of the third portion 508. The second and third magnetic stresses may be the same or different. In some examples, at least one of the first magnetic moment and first magnetic stress of the first portion 504 is greater than the same magnetic property of the second portion 506 and third portion 508. The magnetic property of the first portion 504, second portion 506 and third portion 508 may be realized by a pulse plating process that adjusts a plating current so as to plate different magnetic materials in the same plating bath. For example, the first portion 504, second portion 506 and third portion 508 may be different in iron (Fe) weight or atomic percentage.

In some embodiments, the first portion 504 includes a first magnetic alloy that includes a first magnetic material, the second portion 506 includes a second magnetic alloy that includes a second magnetic material, and the third portion 508 includes a third magnetic alloy that includes a third magnetic material. The second magnetic material of the second magnetic alloy is different from the first magnetic material of the first magnetic alloy. The third magnetic material of the third magnetic alloy is different from the first magnetic material of the first magnetic alloy. In various embodiments, the second magnetic material of the second magnetic alloy may be different or the same as the third magnetic material of the third magnetic alloy. In one embodiment, the first portion 504 has at least one material that is not included in the second portion 506 and/or third portion 508. In one embodiment, the second portion 506 has at least one material that is not included in the first portion 504 and/or third portion 508. In one embodiment, the third portion 508 has at least one material that is not included in the first portion 504 and/or second portion 506. In one embodiment, the first portion 504, second portion 506 and third portion 508 are formed of completely different materials. In some embodiments, the first portion 504, second portion 506 and third portion 508 are formed of the same materials but at different percentages (weight or atomic percentage) of the same materials. In some examples, the first magnetic alloy, second magnetic alloy and third magnetic alloy may be any of the alloys illustrated in table 1 above, and combinations thereof.

In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the first portion 504 has a first beveled side forming a first angle θ₁ with respect to a plane perpendicular to the ABS, and the second portion 506 has a second beveled side forming a second angle θ₂ with respect to the plane perpendicular to the ABS. In various embodiments, the first angle θ₁ and second angle θ₂ may be substantially the same or different. In some embodiments, the first angle θ₁ and the second angle θ₂ may be between about 20 degrees and about 35 degrees. In some embodiments, the first angle θ₁ is greater than the second angle θ₂.

The third portion 508 has a third beveled side forming a third angle θ₃ with respect to the plane perpendicular to the ABS. The first portion 504 also has a fourth beveled side forming a fourth angle θ₄ with respect to the plane perpendicular to the ABS. In some embodiments, the fourth angle θ₄ and the third angle θ₃ may be between about 30 degrees and about 60 degrees. In various embodiments, the fourth angle θ₄ and third angle θ₃ may be substantially the same or different. In various embodiments, the second angle θ₂ and third angle θ₃ may be substantially the same or different. In various embodiments, the first angle θ₁ and fourth angle θ₄ may be substantially the same or different.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a magnetic recording head fabrication method 700 in accordance with an embodiment. The method 700 may be utilized to fabricate a magnetic recording head including any of the main pole designs described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. For reasons of clarity, some generally known steps may be omitted. For example, the method 700 may omit steps or processes for forming other layers of a magnetic recording read or transducer. At block 602, the process forms a main pole including a first portion and a second portion. For example, the main pole may be the main pole 220 formed on an underlayer 222. The first portion includes a first magnetic material and has a first side forming at least a portion of an ABS of the main pole. The second portion includes a second magnetic material that is different from the first material, and is spaced apart from the ABS. At block 604, the process forms at least one of a trailing shield along a trailing side of the main pole or a leading shield along a leading side of the main pole. The second portion may be formed on the trailing edge side or leading edge side of the main pole.

In some embodiments, the process may form additional components. For example, the main pole may further include a third portion, and the second portion and the third portion are each located at one of the trailing edge side or the leading edge side of the main pole. The third portion includes a third magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and the third portion is spaced apart from the ABS.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a magnetic recording head fabrication method 800 in accordance with an embodiment. The method 800 may be utilized to fabricate a magnetic recording head including any of the main pole designs described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3-6. For reasons of clarity, some generally known steps may be omitted. For example, the method 800 may omit steps or processes for forming other layers of a magnetic recording reader or transducer. At block 702, the process forms a main pole including a first portion and a second portion. For example, the main pole may be the main pole 220 formed on an underlayer 222. A magnetic property of the first portion is different from a magnetic property of the second portion. The first portion has a first side forming at least a portion of an ABS of the main pole, and the second portion is spaced apart from the ABS. At block 704, the process forms at least one of a trailing shield along a trailing side of the main pole or a leading shield along a leading side of the main pole. The second portion may be formed on the trailing edge side or leading edge side of the main pole.

In some embodiments, the process may form additional components. For example, the main pole may further include a third portion, and the second portion and the third portion are each located at one of the trailing edge side or the leading edge side of the main pole. The third portion includes a third magnetic material that is different from the first magnetic material, and the third portion is spaced apart from the ABS.

In some embodiments, the processes illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 can perform sequence of actions in a different order than depicted. In another embodiment, the process can skip one or more of the actions. In other embodiments, one or more of the actions may be performed simultaneously. In some embodiments, additional actions can be performed.

The terms “on,” “above,” “below,” and “between” as used herein refer to a relative position of one layer with respect to other layers. As such, one layer deposited or disposed above or below another layer may be directly in contact with the other layer or may have one or more intervening layers. Moreover, one layer deposited or disposed between layers may be directly in contact with the layers or may have one or more intervening layers.

It shall be appreciated by those skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure that although various exemplary fabrication methods are discussed herein with reference to magnetic read heads. In several embodiments, the deposition of such layers can be performed using a variety of deposition sub-processes, including, but not limited to plating, pulse current plating, physical vapor deposition (PVD), sputter deposition and ion beam deposition, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) including plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) and atomic layer chemical vapor deposition (ALCVD). In other embodiments, other suitable deposition techniques known in the art may also be used.

While the above description contains many specific embodiments of the invention, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of specific embodiments thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their equivalents.

The various features and processes described above may be used independently of one another, or may be combined in various ways. All possible combinations and sub-combinations are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. In addition, certain method, event, state or process blocks may be omitted in some implementations. The methods and processes described herein are also not limited to any particular sequence, and the blocks or states relating thereto can be performed in other sequences that are appropriate. For example, described tasks or events may be performed in an order other than that specifically disclosed, or multiple may be combined in a single block or state. The example tasks or events may be performed in serial, in parallel, or in some other suitable manner. Tasks or events may be added to or removed from the disclosed example embodiments. The example systems and components described herein may be configured differently than described. For example, elements may be added to, removed from, or rearranged compared to the disclosed example embodiments.