US 12,437,780 B2
DFL TDMR middle shield throat height control for improved stability
Xiaoyong Liu, San Jose, CA (US); Zhanjie Li, Pleasanton, CA (US); Yaguang Wei, Pleasanton, CA (US); Yukimasa Okada, Cupertino, CA (US); and Goncalo Marcos Baião De Albuquerque, San Jose, CA (US)
Assigned to Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Western Digital Technologies, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 6, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/243,053.
Prior Publication US 2025/0078864 A1, Mar. 6, 2025
Int. Cl. G11B 5/39 (2006.01)
CPC G11B 5/3912 (2013.01) [G11B 5/3909 (2013.01); G11B 5/3932 (2013.01); G11B 5/3954 (2013.01); G11B 5/398 (2013.01); G11B 2005/3996 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A read head, comprising:
a lower shield;
a first sensor disposed over the lower shield;
a first upper shield disposed over the first sensor;
a middle shield disposed over the first upper shield, the middle shield comprising a first portion disposed at a media facing surface, a first leg coupled to the first portion, and a second leg coupled to the first portion, wherein a ratio of a width to a throat height of the middle shield is 6:1 or greater, the throat height being defined by a thickness of the first portion from the media facing surface;
a second sensor disposed over the middle shield, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor each individually comprises a first free layer and a second free layer; and
a second upper shield disposed over the second sensor.
 
7. A read head comprising:
a lower shield;
a first sensor disposed over the lower shield at a media facing surface (MFS), the first sensor comprising a first free layer and a second free layer;
a first rear hard bias (RHB) structure recessed from the MFS by the first sensor;
a first upper shield disposed over the first sensor;
a middle shield disposed over the first upper shield, wherein the first RHB has a stripe height about 3 times greater than a stripe height of the middle shield;
a second sensor disposed over the middle shield;
a second RHB structure recessed from the MFS by the second sensor, the second RHB having a stripe height about 3 times greater than the stripe height of the middle shield; and
a second upper shield disposed over the second sensor.