Magnetic devices with variable overcoats

Abstract

A magnetic device including: a magnetic reader; a magnetic writer; and a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat having an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A magnetic device comprising:
 a magnetic reader;   a magnetic writer; and   a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat positioned over at least the magnetic reader and writer, the variable overcoat comprising:
 an overcoat layer, the overcoat layer having a substantially constant thickness and material; and 
 at least one disparate overcoat portion, the disparate overcoat portion having a different thickness, a different material, or both, than the overcoat layer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one disparate overcoat portion is located over the magnetic writer, and has a greater thickness than the overcoat layer. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic device according to  claim 2 , wherein the disparate overcoat portion is about 50 Å thick and the overcoat layer is about 25 Å thick. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one disparate overcoat portion is located over the magnetic writer and comprises a different material than the overcoat layer. 
     
     
         5 . The magnetic device according to  claim 1 , wherein both the overcoat layer and the at least one disparate overcoat portion comprise diamond like carbon (DLC). 
     
     
         6 . The magnetic device according to  claim 5  wherein the disparate overcoat portion further comprises TaO x . 
     
     
         7 . The magnetic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one disparate overcoat portion is located away from both the magnetic reader and magnetic writer. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic device according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one disparate overcoat portion is thicker than the overcoat layer. 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic device according to  claim 7 , wherein there are at least two disparate overcoat portions and they are both located away from both the magnetic reader and magnetic writer. 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one disparate overcoat portion is designed to protect the magnetic writer. 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic device according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least two disparate overcoat portions are located on either side, in a downtrack direction, of the magnetic writer. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 depositing a first layer over the entire surface of a structure, the structure comprising a magnetic reader and a magnetic writer, wherein the magnetic reader and the magnetic writer are positioned adjacent to each other on a substrate;   removing a portion of the first layer over at least the magnetic reader; and   depositing a second layer over the entire surface of the first layer,   wherein the first layer and the second layer comprise a variable overcoat, the variable overcoat having a disparate overcoat region over the magnetic writer.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the first layer comprises diamond like carbon (DLC). 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12  further comprising forming a protective structure over the magnetic writer before the portion of the first layer was removed. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 depositing a first layer on the entire surface of a structure, the structure comprising a magnetic reader and a magnetic writer, wherein the magnetic reader and the magnetic writer are positioned adjacent to each other on a substrate;   masking regions of the surface to form exposed and unexposed regions;   depositing a second layer on the surface of the exposed and unexposed regions; and   removing the unexposed regions and the second layer on the unexposed regions.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the first layer comprises diamond like carbon (DLC). 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the second layer comprises diamond like carbon (DLC). 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the step of masking regions of the surface to form unexposed and exposed regions is accomplished using photolithography techniques. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the second layer has a thickness from about 40 Å to about 100 Å. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the second layer has a thickness of about 60 Å.