Conductive stud for magnetic recording devices and method of making the same

US7336445B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V. · NL

Inventors

• Rainer Krause · Hochheim, DE
• Jan Marien · Selzen, DE
• Johannes Paul · Mainz, DE
• Gunther Wilhelm Sandmann · Mainz, DE
• Gerhard Anton Scherb · Mainz, DE
• Hubert Schuy · Oppenheim, DE
• Stefan Seifried · Nidderau, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 4, 2006
• Grant date: Feb 26, 2008
• Expiry date: Jan 4, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49155
• WIPO field: Audio-visual technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A magnetic recording device makes use of an “anchored” conductive stud which is securely attached within its surrounding insulator materials. The conductive stud is formed over a conductive layer which is coupled to or part of a read or a write head element of the magnetic recording device. The conductive stud has a top stud portion and a bottom undercut portion formed over the conductive layer. In one illustrated embodiment, the bottom undercut portion has a width that is greater than the width of the top stud portion. Since an insulator is formed around the conductive stud and over its bottom undercut portion, a secure coupling between the conductive stud and the conductive layer is provided. Preferably, the conductive layer is made of copper (Cu), the conductive stud is made of gold (Au), and the insulator is alumina (Al2O3). A seed layer may be formed between the conductive stud and the conductive layer. A method of making the conductive stud using a photolithography process is also disclosed.