Influence of Parasitic Capacitance on Single

and Dual TDMR Read Head Performance

MMM | Intermag 2016 San Diego

Ekaterina Auerbach1,2, Savas Gider1,
Goncalo Albuquerque1, Daniele Mauri1
1

Magnetic Head Operations, WD, A Western Digital Company

Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Tufts University

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

Shield 2

TMR

C
Shield 1

Disk

Crosstalk
Shield 2

TMR

C
Shield 1

Reader has resistive and

capacitive elements
C parallel with the reader
reduces bandwidth
C between readers
causes crosstalk

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Single Read Head

The shield capacitance in parallel with the TMR sensor limits the
reader bandwidth and influences the SNR system response.
The shield capacitance calculated from cross-sectional geometries
is no greater than 0.5 pF.
Actual measured value of parasitic capacitance is around 1.5 pF.
3

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Single Read Head: Design Considerations

ABS
S1

S2
S1

S2
S1

Lea

S2
Lea
d

S2 Lead

S2
S1
S1 Lead

Shield-to-shield capacitance is only a small portion (33%)

of the total parasitic capacitance.
Main source of extra parasitic capacitance is
the smaller separation between shields and sputtered leads.
Overlap between plated leads and pads
also contributes to the total parasitic capacitance.
4

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Single Read Head: Design Considerations

Design A

Design B

Design C

Both leads can be fabricated

at the same process step

Yes

No

Yes

Area of overlap is reduced

Yes

No

Yes

Parasitic capacitance is
increased

Yes

No

No*

Shield sizes are matched**

No

Yes

No

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

* Spacing leads farther apart may

compensate partially for lead-to-shield
spacing.
** Different sizes may balance coupling to
substrate, but may not be ideal for magnetics.

Single Read Head: Experiments & Models

2T

3 dB

1T

The 3 dB bandwidth is between 250 MHz and 500 MHz,

which are typical recording frequencies.
The parasitic capacitance should be reduced
to minimize the read signal attenuation at high frequencies.
6

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Single Read Head: SNR Analysis

Noise density is calculated from a micromagnetic reader

on a magnetostatic media pattern with jitter.
Final SNR considers the effect of different parasitic capacitances
on the various harmonic components.
Impact of stray capacitance is not uniform across the reader spectrum.
7

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Dual TDMR Read Head

C

R2-

R2+

R1-

R1+

Future TDMR readers require greater number of interconnecting lines

and reduced spacing between the readers and reader paths.
Shield-to-shield capacitance is the most obvious source of parasitic
capacitance in each TDMR reader.
Total parasitic capacitance in TDMR reader will include
also cross-coupling due to the overlap between inner shields.
8

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Dual TDMR Read Head

C1 = 1 pF
C1 = 0.25 pF

1 pF

C1 = 0 pF

1 pF

0.4 GHz

1 pF

For C1 = 1 pF,
crosstalk is less than -20 dB for <0.4 GHz.
Maximum recording frequency (1T) is
typically >0.5 GHz.

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Dual TDMR Read Head: Crosstalk

Reference

1.2 pF

0.8 pF

1.9 pF

1.3 pF

Extra capacitance C1 is required to match the measurements.

Parasitic capacitance C1 is the primary reason
why TDMR readers may be susceptible to crosstalk.
10

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Dual TDMR Read Head: Crosstalk

Design A

Design B

Cross-coupling capacitance C1 may occur due to the overlap between

leads corresponding to R1(-) and R2(+) pads.
Compared to Design A,
Design B should significantly reduce coupling between the readers.
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Summary
Shield-to-shield spacing is a small part
of the total parasitic capacitance of the reader.
Lead-to-shield spacing is the most significant part.
Lead-to-pad spacing may be important too.
Crosstalk in dual readers is due to coupling
between outer shields as well as inner shields.
Further reduction in crosstalk may be possible
with careful design considerations.

12

2015 Western Digital Corporation. All Rights Reserved.