US 11,657,837 B2
Magnetic recording head with trailing shield having multiple throat-heights
Quan-Chiu Harry Lam, San Jose, CA (US); Mark H. Burkhardt, San Jose, CA (US); and El-Amine Salhi, Fremont, CA (US)
Assigned to Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on May 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/324,679.
Prior Publication US 2022/0375495 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. G11B 5/31 (2006.01); G11B 5/11 (2006.01); G11B 5/127 (2006.01)
CPC G11B 5/3116 (2013.01) [G11B 5/11 (2013.01); G11B 5/1278 (2013.01); G11B 5/315 (2013.01); G11B 5/3146 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A magnetic recording head, comprising:
a main pole; and
a trailing shield disposed adjacent to the main pole, the trailing shield comprising:
a recessed edge adjacent to the main pole;
a media facing surface disposed opposite the recessed edge, the media facing surface being substantially planar;
a central portion disposed adjacent to the main pole having a first throat height defined between the recessed edge and the media facing surface; and
at least one outer portion disposed adjacent to the central portion, the at least one outer portion having a second throat height defined between the recessed edge and the media facing surface, wherein:
the second throat height is greater than the first throat height such that the trailing shield is tapered along the recessed edge in a cross-track direction from the at least one outer portion towards the central portion,
the recessed edge comprises one or more steps from the central portion to the at least one outer portion,
each of the one or more steps comprises a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of each of the one or more steps having a first length between about 100 nm to about 10,000 nm, and the second surface of each of the one or more steps having a second length between about 50 nm to about 600 nm, the first length being at least twice the second length, and
the first surface of each of the one or more steps is disposed at a first exterior angle with respect to the media facing surface greater than a second exterior angle of the second surface of each of the one or more steps with respect to the media facing surface, the first exterior angle and the second exterior angle each being greater than about 90 degrees.