Magnetic writer for patterned media with increased write field

Abstract

A magnetic writer writes to a magnetic medium including a plurality of tracks that each includes a plurality of isolated magnetic elements for storage of information. The magnetic writer includes a write element having a write element tip having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and first and second side edges extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge. A side shield is proximate the first side edge and no shield is proximate the second side edge.

1 . A magnetic writer for writing to a magnetic medium including a plurality of tracks that each includes a plurality of isolated magnetic elements for storage of information, the magnetic writer comprising:
 a write element including a write element tip having a leading edge, a trailing edge, and first and second side edges connecting the leading edge to the trailing edge; and   a first shield proximate a first side edge and no shield proximate the second side edge.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic write of  claim 1 , wherein the write element has a write element tip length extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and wherein the first shield has a down-track length less than or equal to the write element tip length. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic writer of  claim 1 , wherein the leading edge, the trailing edge, and the first and second side edges define a medium confronting surface having a substantially trapezoidal profile with a maximum width at the trailing edge. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic writer of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second shield proximate the trailing edge of the write element tip.   
     
     
         5 . The magnetic writer of  claim 4 , wherein the second shield is integral with the first shield. 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic writer of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the trailing edge is greater than each isolated magnetic element. 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic writer of  claim 1 , wherein at least one surface of the write element that extends in a cross-track direction has no line of symmetry. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic writer of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one surface of the write element is selected from the group consisting of a medium confronting surface, a trailing surface, and a leading surface. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic writer of  claim 1 , wherein a first angle defined by the first side edge and the trailing edge is different than a second angle defined by the second side edge and the trailing edge. 
     
     
         10 . A magnetic recording system for writing to and reading from a magnetic medium including a plurality of tracks that each includes a plurality of isolated magnetic elements for storage of information, the magnetic recording system comprising:
 a write element including a write element tip including a leading edge and a trailing edge, wherein a width of the trailing edge is greater than a width of an isolated magnetic element on the magnetic medium, and wherein at least one surface of the write element that extends in a cross-track direction has no line of symmetry.   
     
     
         11 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one surface of the write element is selected from the group consisting of a medium confronting surface, a trailing surface, and a leading surface of the write element. 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 10 , wherein first and second side edges extend between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and wherein a first angle formed between the first side edge and the trailing edge is different than a second angle formed between the second side edge and the trailing edge. 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 12 , wherein the difference between the first angle and the second angle is about 5°. 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 a reader assembly, wherein at least a portion of the reader assembly is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the trailing edge of the write element.   
     
     
         15 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 10 , wherein the write element tip further includes first and second side edges extending between the leading edge and the trailing edge, and wherein the magnetic recording system further comprises:
 a first shield proximate the first side edge and no shield proximate the second side edge.   
     
     
         16 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 15 , wherein the write element has a write element tip length extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and wherein the first shield has a down-track length less than or equal to the write element tip length. 
     
     
         17 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 15 , and further comprising:
 a second shield adjacent to a trailing edge of the write element, wherein the first shield is integral with the second shield.   
     
     
         18 . A magnetic recording system comprising:
 a magnetic medium including a plurality of tracks that each includes a plurality of isolated magnetic elements for storage of information;   a write element including a write element tip having a medium confronting surface defined by a leading edge, a trailing edge, and first and second side edges connecting the leading edge to the trailing edge, wherein a width of the trailing edge is greater than a width of an isolated magnetic element on the magnetic medium, and wherein at least one surface of the write element that extends in a cross-track direction has no line of symmetry; and   a first shield proximate the first side edge and no shield proximate the second side edge.   
     
     
         19 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 18 , wherein the write element has a write element length extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge, and wherein the first shield has a down-track length less than or equal to the write element length. 
     
     
         20 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 18 , wherein the medium confronting surface has a substantially trapezoidal profile with a maximum width at the trailing edge. 
     
     
         21 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 18 , wherein a first angle defined by the first side edge and the trailing edge is different than a second angle defined by the second side edge and the trailing edge. 
     
     
         22 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 21 , wherein the difference between the first angle and the second angle is about 5°. 
     
     
         23 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 18 , and further comprising:
 a reader assembly, wherein at least a portion of the reader assembly is disposed at a non-zero angle relative to the trailing edge of the write element.   
     
     
         24 . The magnetic recording system of  claim 18 , and further comprising:
 a second shield adjacent to a trailing edge of the write element, wherein the first shield is integral with the second shield.