Methods of lapping while heating one or more features, and related sliders, row bars, and systems

Abstract

The present disclosure includes methods of lapping that include energizing one or more elements that are located proximal to a first magnetoresistive element in a transducer region and generate heat and cause the first magnetoresistive element to selectively expand in the lapping direction relative to one or more other magnetoresistive elements. The present disclosure also includes methods of lapping that use one or more thermal sensors located proximal to the first magnetoresistive element to help control lapping in the lapping direction. The present disclosure includes related lapping systems and sliders.

1 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A row bar having a plurality of sliders, wherein at least one slider comprises:
 a) an air bearing surface having a transducer region, wherein the transducer region comprises:
 i) a magnetoresistive writer element; 
 ii) a magnetoresistive reader element; 
 iii) at least one electrical resistance heating element and/or at least one thermal sensor located proximal to the magnetoresistive reader element and/or the magnetoresistive writer element; and 
   b) a trailing edge face comprising:
 i) a first row of a plurality of electrical contact pads; and 
 ii) a second row of a plurality of electrical contact pads, wherein the first row of electrical contact pads extends along a crosstrack direction at a first position in a lapping direction, wherein the second row of electrical contact pads extends along the crosstrack direction at a second position in the lapping direction, wherein the at least one electrical resistance heating element and/or at least one thermal sensor is electrically coupled to at least one electrical contact pad in the second row, and wherein the at least one electrical contact pad in the second row is electrically coupled to at least one electrical contact pad in the first row. 
   
     
     
         16 . A lapping system comprising:
 a) a carrier structure;   b) the row bar of  claim 15 , wherein the row bar is removably mounted to the carrier structure,   
       wherein the carrier structure has a mechanical actuator that is configured to physically contact the row bar and actuate a slider in the lapping direction; and
 c) a lapping plate having a lapping surface that is operable to rotate and contact the row bar for lapping the first magnetoresistive element and the second magnetoresistive element. 
 
     
     
         17 . The row bar of  claim 15 , wherein the first row of electrical contact pads comprises a ground contact pad. 
     
     
         18 . The row bar of  claim 15 , wherein the first row of electrical contact pads is electrically connected to one or more elements used during head-gimbal assembly (HGA) operation in a hard disk drive (HDD). 
     
     
         19 . The row bar of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more elements comprise the magnetoresistive writer element and the magnetoresistive reader element. 
     
     
         20 . The row bar of  claim 15 , wherein the first row of electrical contact pads is electrically connected to one or more elements used lapping. 
     
     
         21 . The row bar of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more elements comprise the at least one electrical resistance heating element and/or at least one thermal sensor. 
     
     
         22 . The row bar of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more elements comprise the at least one electrical resistance heating element, and wherein the at least one electrical resistance heating element is positioned between the magnetoresistive writer element and the magnetoresistive reader element in the downtrack direction. 
     
     
         23 . The row bar of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more elements comprise the at least one electrical resistance heating element, and wherein the at least one electrical resistance heating element is electrically coupled to one electrical contact pad in the first row and one electrical contact pad in the second row. 
     
     
         24 . The row bar of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more elements comprise the at least one thermal sensor, and wherein the at least one thermal sensor is positioned between the magnetoresistive writer element and the magnetoresistive reader element in the downtrack direction. 
     
     
         25 . The row bar of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more elements comprise the at least one thermal sensor, and wherein the at least one thermal sensor is electrically coupled to two electrical contact pads in the second row. 
     
     
         26 . The row bar of  claim 25 , wherein each of the two electrical contact pads in the second row are coupled to a contact pad in the first row. 
     
     
         27 . The row bar of  claim 25 , wherein the at least one thermal sensor is a dual-ended temperature coefficient of resistance sensor (DETCR). 
     
     
         28 . The row bar of  claim 15 , further comprising an electronic lapping guide associated with the magnetoresistive writer element and electrically coupled tow two electrical contact pads in the second row. 
     
     
         29 . The row bar of  claim 29 , further comprising an electronic lapping guide associated with the magnetoresistive reader element and electrically coupled tow two electrical contact pads in the second row, wherein the electronic lapping guide associated with the magnetoresistive writer element and the electronic lapping guide associated with the magnetoresistive writer element are electrically coupled to a common electrical contact pad in the second row.