Patent Publication Number: US-11037587-B2

Title: Tunnel magnetoresistive sensor having conductive ceramic layers

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The present invention relates to data storage systems, and more particularly, this invention relates to tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR) sensors having conductive ceramic layers. 
     In magnetic storage systems, magnetic transducers read data from and write data onto magnetic recording media. Data is written on the magnetic recording media by moving a magnetic recording transducer to a position over the media where the data is to be stored. The magnetic recording transducer then generates a magnetic field, which encodes the data into the magnetic media. Data is read from the media by similarly positioning the magnetic read transducer and then sensing the magnetic field of the magnetic media. Read and write operations may be independently synchronized with the movement of the media to ensure that the data can be read from and written to the desired location on the media. 
     An important and continuing goal in the data storage industry is that of increasing the density of data stored on a medium. For tape storage systems, that goal has led to increasing the track and linear bit density on recording tape, and decreasing the thickness of the magnetic tape medium. However, the development of small footprint, higher performance tape drive systems has created various problems in the design of a tape head assembly for use in such systems. 
     In a tape drive system, the drive moves the magnetic tape over the surface of the tape head at high speed. Usually the tape head is designed to minimize the spacing between the head and the tape. The spacing between the magnetic head and the magnetic tape is crucial and so goals in these systems are to have the recording gaps of the transducers, which are the source of the magnetic recording flux in near contact with the tape to effect writing sharp transitions, and to have the read elements in near contact with the tape to provide effective coupling of the magnetic field from the tape to the read elements. 
     Minimization of the spacing between the head and the tape, however, induces frequent contact between the tape and the media facing side of the head, causing tape operations to be deemed a type of contact recording. This contact, in view of the high tape speeds and tape abrasivity, quickly affects the integrity of the materials used to form the media facing surface of the head, e.g., causing wear thereto, smearing which is known to cause shorts, bending ductility, etc. Furthermore, shorting may occur when an asperity of the tape media drags any of the conductive metallic films near the sensor across the tunnel junction. 
     SUMMARY 
     An apparatus, according to one embodiment, includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield on an opposite side of the active region as the magnetic shield, and a second spacer between the active region and the second magnetic shield. Both spacers include an electrically conductive ceramic layer. The sensor is an electronic lapping guide. 
     An apparatus, according to another embodiment, includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, and a capping layer between the active region and the magnetic shield. In addition, the apparatus includes a first spacer between the active region and the capping layer, where the first spacer includes a ceramic layer. The apparatus includes a second spacer between the capping layer and the magnetic shield. The apparatus includes a second magnetic shield on an opposite side of the active region as the magnetic shield, and a third spacer between the active region and the second magnetic shield. The second spacer and/or third spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. 
     An apparatus, according to yet another embodiment, includes an array of sensors sharing a common media-facing surface, where each sensor has an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, a spacer between the active region and the magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield on an opposite side of the active region as the magnetic shield, and a second spacer between the active region and the second magnetic shield. Both spacers include an electrically conductive ceramic layer, where the electrically conductive ceramic layer of the spacer has a different composition than the electrically conductive ceramic layer of the second spacer. 
     An apparatus, according to yet another embodiment, includes a sensor having an active region, a magnetic shield adjacent the active region, a capping layer between the active region and the magnetic shield, and a spacer between the active region and the capping layer. The spacer includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. 
     Any of these embodiments may be implemented in a magnetic data storage system such as a tape drive system, which may include a magnetic head, a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium (e.g., recording tape) over the magnetic head, and a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head. 
     Other aspects and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of a simplified tape drive system according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic diagram of a tape cartridge according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a flat-lapped, bi-directional, two-module magnetic tape head according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2A  is a tape bearing surface view taken from Line  2 A of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 2B  is a detailed view taken from Circle  2 B of  FIG. 2A . 
         FIG. 2C  is a detailed view of a partial tape bearing surface of a pair of modules. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial tape bearing surface view of a magnetic head having a write-read-write configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a partial tape bearing surface view of a magnetic head having a read-write-read configuration. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of a magnetic tape head with three modules according to one embodiment where the modules all generally lie along about parallel planes. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of a magnetic tape head with three modules in a tangent (angled) configuration. 
         FIG. 7  is a side view of a magnetic tape head with three modules in an overwrap configuration. 
         FIG. 8A  is a partial media facing side view of a sensor stack, according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8B  is a partial cross-sectional view taken from Line  8 A- 8 B of  FIG. 8A . 
         FIG. 9  is a partial side view of a sensor stack, according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. 
     Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc. 
     It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless otherwise specified. 
     The following description discloses several preferred embodiments of magnetic storage systems, as well as operation and/or component parts thereof. 
     In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, and spacers between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. At least one of the spacers includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer. The presence of the electrically conductive ceramic layer enables current-perpendicular-to-plane operation, while enhancing wear resistance and resistance to deformities of the thin films. 
     In another general embodiment, an apparatus includes a sensor having an active tunnel magnetoresistive region, magnetic shields flanking the tunnel magnetoresistive region, spacers between the tunnel magnetoresistive region and the magnetic shields, and an electrically conductive ceramic layer between the active tunnel magnetoresistive region and at least one of the spacers. The active tunnel magnetoresistive region includes a free layer, a tunnel barrier layer and a reference layer. The presence of the electrically conductive ceramic layer enables current-perpendicular-to-plane operation, while enhancing wear resistance and resistance to deformities of the thin films. 
       FIG. 1A  illustrates a simplified tape drive  100  of a tape-based data storage system, which may be employed in the context of the present invention. While one specific implementation of a tape drive is shown in  FIG. 1A , it should be noted that the embodiments described herein may be implemented in the context of any type of tape drive system. 
     As shown, a tape supply cartridge  120  and a take-up reel  121  are provided to support a tape  122 . One or more of the reels may form part of a removable cartridge and are not necessarily part of the system  100 . The tape drive, such as that illustrated in  FIG. 1A , may further include drive motor(s) to drive the tape supply cartridge  120  and the take-up reel  121  to move the tape  122  over a tape head  126  of any type. Such head may include an array of readers, writers, or both. 
     Guides  125  guide the tape  122  across the tape head  126 . Such tape head  126  is in turn coupled to a controller  128  via a cable  130 . The controller  128 , may be or include a processor and/or any logic for controlling any subsystem of the drive  100 . For example, the controller  128  typically controls head functions such as servo following, data writing, data reading, etc. The controller  128  may include at least one servo channel and at least one data channel, each of which include data flow processing logic configured to process and/or store information to be written to and/or read from the tape  122 . The controller  128  may operate under logic known in the art, as well as any logic disclosed herein, and thus may be considered as a processor for any of the descriptions of tape drives included herein, in various embodiments. The controller  128  may be coupled to a memory  136  of any known type, which may store instructions executable by the controller  128 . Moreover, the controller  128  may be configured and/or programmable to perform or control some or all of the methodology presented herein. Thus, the controller  128  may be considered to be configured to perform various operations by way of logic programmed into one or more chips, modules, and/or blocks; software, firmware, and/or other instructions being available to one or more processors; etc., and combinations thereof. 
     The cable  130  may include read/write circuits to transmit data to the head  126  to be recorded on the tape  122  and to receive data read by the head  126  from the tape  122 . An actuator  132  controls position of the head  126  relative to the tape  122 . 
     An interface  134  may also be provided for communication between the tape drive  100  and a host (internal or external) to send and receive the data and for controlling the operation of the tape drive  100  and communicating the status of the tape drive  100  to the host, all as will be understood by those of skill in the art. 
       FIG. 1B  illustrates an exemplary tape cartridge  150  according to one embodiment. Such tape cartridge  150  may be used with a system such as that shown in  FIG. 1A . As shown, the tape cartridge  150  includes a housing  152 , a tape  122  in the housing  152 , and a nonvolatile memory  156  coupled to the housing  152 . In some approaches, the nonvolatile memory  156  may be embedded inside the housing  152 , as shown in  FIG. 1B . In more approaches, the nonvolatile memory  156  may be attached to the inside or outside of the housing  152  without modification of the housing  152 . For example, the nonvolatile memory may be embedded in a self-adhesive label  154 . In one preferred embodiment, the nonvolatile memory  156  may be a Flash memory device, ROM device, etc., embedded into or coupled to the inside or outside of the tape cartridge  150 . The nonvolatile memory is accessible by the tape drive and the tape operating software (the driver software), and/or other device. 
     By way of example,  FIG. 2  illustrates a side view of a flat-lapped, bi-directional, two-module magnetic tape head  200  which may be implemented in the context of the present invention. As shown, the head includes a pair of bases  202 , each equipped with a module  204 , and fixed at a small angle α with respect to each other. The bases may be “U-beams” that are adhesively coupled together. Each module  204  includes a substrate  204 A and a closure  204 B with a thin film portion, commonly referred to as a “gap” in which the readers and/or writers  206  are formed. In use, a tape  208  is moved over the modules  204  along a media (tape) bearing surface  209  in the manner shown for reading and writing data on the tape  208  using the readers and writers. The wrap angle θ of the tape  208  at edges going onto and exiting the flat media support surfaces  209  are usually between about 0.1 degree and about 3 degrees. 
     The substrates  204 A are typically constructed of a wear resistant material, such as a ceramic. The closures  204 B may be made of the same or similar ceramic as the substrates  204 A. 
     The readers and writers may be arranged in a piggyback or merged configuration. An illustrative piggybacked configuration comprises a (magnetically inductive) writer transducer on top of (or below) a (magnetically shielded) reader transducer (e.g., a magnetoresistive reader, etc.), wherein the poles of the writer and the shields of the reader are generally separated. An illustrative merged configuration comprises one reader shield in the same physical layer as one writer pole (hence, “merged”). The readers and writers may also be arranged in an interleaved configuration. Alternatively, each array of channels may be readers or writers only. Any of these arrays may contain one or more servo track readers for reading servo data on the medium. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates the tape bearing surface  209  of one of the modules  204  taken from Line  2 A of  FIG. 2 . A representative tape  208  is shown in dashed lines. The module  204  is preferably long enough to be able to support the tape as the head steps between data bands. 
     In this example, the tape  208  includes 4 to 32 data bands, e.g., with 16 data bands and 17 servo tracks  210 , as shown in  FIG. 2A  on a one-half inch wide tape  208 . The data bands are defined between servo tracks  210 . Each data band may include a number of data tracks, for example 1024 data tracks (not shown). During read/write operations, the readers and/or writers  206  are positioned to specific track positions within one of the data bands. Outer readers, sometimes called servo readers, read the servo tracks  210 . The servo signals are in turn used to keep the readers and/or writers  206  aligned with a particular set of tracks during the read/write operations. 
       FIG. 2B  depicts a plurality of readers and/or writers  206  formed in a gap  218  on the module  204  in Circle  2 B of  FIG. 2A . As shown, the array of readers and writers  206  includes, for example, 16 writers  214 , 16 readers  216  and two servo readers  212 , though the number of elements may vary. Illustrative embodiments include 8, 16, 32, 40, and 64 active readers and/or writers  206  per array, and alternatively interleaved designs having odd numbers of reader or writers such as 17, 25, 33, etc. An illustrative embodiment includes 32 readers per array and/or 32 writers per array, where the actual number of transducer elements could be greater, e.g., 33, 34, etc. This allows the tape to travel more slowly, thereby reducing speed-induced tracking and mechanical difficulties and/or execute fewer “wraps” to fill or read the tape. While the readers and writers may be arranged in a piggyback configuration as shown in  FIG. 2B , the readers  216  and writers  214  may also be arranged in an interleaved configuration. Alternatively, each array of readers and/or writers  206  may be readers or writers only, and the arrays may contain one or more servo readers  212 . As noted by considering  FIGS. 2 and 2A -B together, each module  204  may include a complementary set of readers and/or writers  206  for such things as bi-directional reading and writing, read-while-write capability, backward compatibility, etc. 
       FIG. 2C  shows a partial tape bearing surface view of complementary modules of a magnetic tape head  200  according to one embodiment. In this embodiment, each module has a plurality of read/write (R/W) pairs in a piggyback configuration formed on a common substrate  204 A and an optional electrically insulative layer  236 . The writers, exemplified by the write transducer  214  and the readers, exemplified by the read transducer  216 , are aligned parallel to an intended direction of travel of a tape medium thereacross to form an R/W pair, exemplified by the R/W pair  222 . Note that the intended direction of tape travel is sometimes referred to herein as the direction of tape travel, and such terms may be used interchangeably. Such direction of tape travel may be inferred from the design of the system, e.g., by examining the guides; observing the actual direction of tape travel relative to the reference point; etc. Moreover, in a system operable for bi-direction reading and/or writing, the direction of tape travel in both directions is typically parallel and thus both directions may be considered equivalent to each other. 
     Several R/W pairs  222  may be present, such as 8, 16, 32 pairs, etc. The R/W pairs  222  as shown are linearly aligned in a direction generally perpendicular to a direction of tape travel thereacross. However, the pairs may also be aligned diagonally, etc. Servo readers  212  are positioned on the outside of the array of R/W pairs, the function of which is well known. 
     Generally, the magnetic tape medium moves in either a forward or reverse direction as indicated by arrow  220 . The magnetic tape medium and head assembly  200  operate in a transducing relationship in the manner well-known in the art. The piggybacked MR head assembly  200  includes two thin-film modules  224  and  226  of generally identical construction. 
     Modules  224  and  226  are joined together with a space present between closures  204 B thereof (partially shown) to form a single physical unit to provide read-while-write capability by activating the writer of the leading module and reader of the trailing module aligned with the writer of the leading module parallel to the direction of tape travel relative thereto. When a module  224 ,  226  of a piggyback head  200  is constructed, layers are formed in the gap  218  created above an electrically conductive substrate  204 A (partially shown), e.g., of AlTiC, in generally the following order for the R/W pairs  222 : an insulating layer  236 , a first shield  232  typically of an iron alloy such as NiFe (−), cobalt zirconium tantalum (CZT) or Al—Fe—Si (Sendust), a sensor  234  for sensing a data track on a magnetic medium, a second shield  238  typically of a nickel-iron alloy (e.g., ˜80/20 at % NiFe, also known as permalloy), first and second writer pole tips  228 ,  230 , and a coil (not shown). The sensor may be of any known type, including those based on MR, GMR, AMR, tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), etc. 
     The first and second writer poles  228 ,  230  may be fabricated from high magnetic moment materials such as ˜45/55 NiFe. Note that these materials are provided by way of example only, and other materials may be used. Additional layers such as insulation between the shields and/or pole tips and an insulation layer surrounding the sensor may be present. Illustrative materials for the insulation include alumina and other oxides, insulative polymers, etc. 
     The configuration of the tape head  126  according to one embodiment includes multiple modules, preferably three or more. In a write-read-write (W-R-W) head, outer modules for writing flank one or more inner modules for reading. Referring to  FIG. 3 , depicting a W-R-W configuration, the outer modules  252 ,  256  each include one or more arrays of writers  260 . The inner module  254  of  FIG. 3  includes one or more arrays of readers  258  in a similar configuration. Variations of a multi-module head include a R-W-R head ( FIG. 4 ), a R-R-W head, a W-W-R head, etc. In yet other variations, one or more of the modules may have read/write pairs of transducers. Moreover, more than three modules may be present. In further approaches, two outer modules may flank two or more inner modules, e.g., in a W-R-R-W, a R-W-W-R arrangement, etc. For simplicity, a W-R-W head is used primarily herein to exemplify embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the art apprised with the teachings herein will appreciate how permutations of the present invention would apply to configurations other than a W-R-W configuration. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a magnetic head  126  according to one embodiment of the present invention that includes first, second and third modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  each having a tape bearing surface  308 ,  310 ,  312  respectively, which may be flat, contoured, etc. Note that while the term “tape bearing surface” appears to imply that the surface facing the tape  315  is in physical contact with the tape bearing surface, this is not necessarily the case. Rather, only a portion of the tape may be in contact with the tape bearing surface, constantly or intermittently, with other portions of the tape riding (or “flying”) above the tape bearing surface on a layer of air, sometimes referred to as an “air bearing”. The first module  302  will be referred to as the “leading” module as it is the first module encountered by the tape in a three module design for tape moving in the indicated direction. The third module  306  will be referred to as the “trailing” module. The trailing module follows the middle module and is the last module seen by the tape in a three module design. The leading and trailing modules  302 ,  306  are referred to collectively as outer modules. Also note that the outer modules  302 ,  306  will alternate as leading modules, depending on the direction of travel of the tape  315 . 
     In one embodiment, the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  310 ,  312  of the first, second and third modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  lie on about parallel planes (which is meant to include parallel and nearly parallel planes, e.g., between parallel and tangential as in  FIG. 6 ), and the tape bearing surface  310  of the second module  304  is above the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  312  of the first and third modules  302 ,  306 . As described below, this has the effect of creating the desired wrap angle α 2  of the tape relative to the tape bearing surface  310  of the second module  304 . 
     Where the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  310 ,  312  lie along parallel or nearly parallel yet offset planes, intuitively, the tape should peel off of the tape bearing surface  308  of the leading module  302 . However, the vacuum created by the skiving edge  318  of the leading module  302  has been found by experimentation to be sufficient to keep the tape adhered to the tape bearing surface  308  of the leading module  302 . The trailing edge  320  of the leading module  302  (the end from which the tape leaves the leading module  302 ) is the approximate reference point which defines the wrap angle α 2  over the tape bearing surface  310  of the second module  304 . The tape stays in close proximity to the tape bearing surface until close to the trailing edge  320  of the leading module  302 . Accordingly, read and/or write elements  322  may be located near the trailing edges of the outer modules  302 ,  306 . These embodiments are particularly adapted for write-read-write applications. 
     A benefit of this and other embodiments described herein is that, because the outer modules  302 ,  306  are fixed at a determined offset from the second module  304 , the inner wrap angle α 2  is fixed when the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  are coupled together or are otherwise fixed into a head. The inner wrap angle α 2  is approximately tan −1 (δ/W) where δ is the height difference between the planes of the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  310  and W is the width between the opposing ends of the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  310 . An illustrative inner wrap angle α 2  is in a range of about 0.3° to about 1.1°, though can be any angle required by the design. 
     Beneficially, the inner wrap angle α 2  on the side of the module  304  receiving the tape (leading edge) will be larger than the inner wrap angle α 3  on the trailing edge, as the tape  315  rides above the trailing module  306 . This difference is generally beneficial as a smaller α 3  tends to oppose what has heretofore been a steeper exiting effective wrap angle. 
     Note that the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  312  of the outer modules  302 ,  306  are positioned to achieve a negative wrap angle at the trailing edge  320  of the leading module  302 . This is generally beneficial in helping to reduce friction due to contact with the trailing edge  320 , provided that proper consideration is given to the location of the crowbar region that forms in the tape where it peels off the head. This negative wrap angle also reduces flutter and scrubbing damage to the elements on the leading module  302 . Further, at the trailing module  306 , the tape  315  flies over the tape bearing surface  312  so there is virtually no wear on the elements when tape is moving in this direction. Particularly, the tape  315  entrains air and so will not significantly ride on the tape bearing surface  312  of the third module  306  (some contact may occur). This is permissible, because the leading module  302  is writing while the trailing module  306  is idle. 
     Writing and reading functions are performed by different modules at any given time. In one embodiment, the second module  304  includes a plurality of data and optional servo readers  331  and no writers. The first and third modules  302 ,  306  include a plurality of writers  322  and no data readers, with the exception that the outer modules  302 ,  306  may include optional servo readers. The servo readers may be used to position the head during reading and/or writing operations. The servo reader(s) on each module are typically located towards the end of the array of readers or writers. 
     By having only readers or side by side writers and servo readers in the gap between the substrate and closure, the gap length can be substantially reduced. Typical heads have piggybacked readers and writers, where the writer is formed above each reader. A typical gap is 20-35 microns. However, irregularities on the tape may tend to droop into the gap and create gap erosion. Thus, the smaller the gap is the better. The smaller gap enabled herein exhibits fewer wear related problems. 
     In some embodiments, the second module  304  has a closure, while the first and third modules  302 ,  306  do not have a closure. Where there is no closure, preferably a hard coating is added to the module. One preferred coating is diamond-like carbon (DLC). 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the first, second, and third modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  each have a closure  332 ,  334 ,  336 , which extends the tape bearing surface of the associated module, thereby effectively positioning the read/write elements away from the edge of the tape bearing surface. The closure  332  on the second module  304  can be a ceramic closure of a type typically found on tape heads. The closures  334 ,  336  of the first and third modules  302 ,  306 , however, may be shorter than the closure  332  of the second module  304  as measured parallel to a direction of tape travel over the respective module. This enables positioning the modules closer together. One way to produce shorter closures  334 ,  336  is to lap the standard ceramic closures of the second module  304  an additional amount. Another way is to plate or deposit thin film closures above the elements during thin film processing. For example, a thin film closure of a hard material such as Sendust or nickel-iron alloy (e.g., 45/55) can be formed on the module. 
     With reduced-thickness ceramic or thin film closures  334 ,  336  or no closures on the outer modules  302 ,  306 , the write-to-read gap spacing can be reduced to less than about 1 mm, e.g., about 0.75 mm, or 50% less than commonly-used LTO tape head spacing. The open space between the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  can still be set to approximately 0.5 to 0.6 mm, which in some embodiments is ideal for stabilizing tape motion over the second module  304 . 
     Depending on tape tension and stiffness, it may be desirable to angle the tape bearing surfaces of the outer modules relative to the tape bearing surface of the second module.  FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment where the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  are in a tangent or nearly tangent (angled) configuration. Particularly, the tape bearing surfaces of the outer modules  302 ,  306  are about parallel to the tape at the desired wrap angle α 2  of the second module  304 . In other words, the planes of the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  312  of the outer modules  302 ,  306  are oriented at about the desired wrap angle α 2  of the tape  315  relative to the second module  304 . The tape will also pop off of the trailing module  306  in this embodiment, thereby reducing wear on the elements in the trailing module  306 . These embodiments are particularly useful for write-read-write applications. Additional aspects of these embodiments are similar to those given above. 
     Typically, the tape wrap angles may be set about midway between the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates an embodiment where the modules  302 ,  304 ,  306  are in an overwrap configuration. Particularly, the tape bearing surfaces  308 ,  312  of the outer modules  302 ,  306  are angled slightly more than the tape  315  when set at the desired wrap angle α 2  relative to the second module  304 . In this embodiment, the tape does not pop off of the trailing module, allowing it to be used for writing or reading. Accordingly, the leading and middle modules can both perform reading and/or writing functions while the trailing module can read any just-written data. Thus, these embodiments are preferred for write-read-write, read-write-read, and write-write-read applications. In the latter embodiments, closures should be wider than the tape canopies for ensuring read capability. The wider closures may require a wider gap-to-gap separation. Therefore a preferred embodiment has a write-read-write configuration, which may use shortened closures that thus allow closer gap-to-gap separation. 
     Additional aspects of the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  are similar to those given above. 
     A 32 channel version of a multi-module head  126  may use cables  350  having leads on the same or smaller pitch as current 16 channel piggyback LTO modules, or alternatively the connections on the module may be organ-keyboarded for a 50% reduction in cable span. Over-under, writing pair unshielded cables may be used for the writers, which may have integrated servo readers. 
     The outer wrap angles at may be set in the drive, such as by guides of any type known in the art, such as adjustable rollers, slides, etc. or alternatively by outriggers, which are integral to the head. For example, rollers having an offset axis may be used to set the wrap angles. The offset axis creates an orbital arc of rotation, allowing precise alignment of the wrap angle α 1 . 
     To assemble any of the embodiments described above, conventional u-beam assembly can be used. Accordingly, the mass of the resultant head may be maintained or even reduced relative to heads of previous generations. In other approaches, the modules may be constructed as a unitary body. Those skilled in the art, armed with the present teachings, will appreciate that other known methods of manufacturing such heads may be adapted for use in constructing such heads. Moreover, unless otherwise specified, processes and materials of types known in the art may be adapted for use in various embodiments in conformance with the teachings herein, as would become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the present disclosure. 
     Conventional TMR structures have been developed strictly for non-contact recording, such as hard disk drive (HDD) recording. Because the head in non-contact recording flies above the medium, there is no need for measures for protecting the head from effects of head-media contact. However, conventional TMR structures, which implement a current perpendicular to the plane (CPP) configuration, may exhibit propensity to develop electrical shorting when implemented in contact recording environments, such as tape recording environments. Namely, contact between the magnetic medium and the sensor structure during contact recording may deform the sensor layers and/or lead structures, effectively smearing the material of each of these layers across the media facing side of the sensor structure, and thereby resulting in electrical shorting of the TMR device. Once the device has been electrically shorted, it may be rendered non-functional. 
     Moreover, during the lapping that is performed to define the media-facing surface and establish the sensor stripe height, materials may smear, resulting in electrical shorts that may significantly affect yield and even alter the performance of the finished head. 
     Materials, such as refractory metals, used in the non-magnetic portion of the TMR sensor shield-to-shield gap, are less susceptible to deformation and subsequent shorting is decreased compared to materials such as nickel chrome alloys. Other measures to alleviate shorting in such conventional devices rely on increasing magnetic separation between sensor and tape. In contact recording, there may be further increases in head-tape spacing due to accumulations on the head. If large enough, these can lead to diminished signal output, reduced signal-to-noise ratio and/or resulted in otherwise non-optimal performance, ultimately leading to higher error rates, higher write skips and/or more frequent re-writes, loss of throughput and loss of capacity, all of which are highly undesirable. 
     Wear particles, such as AlO 3 , dispersed throughout a magnetic matrix create a highly wear-resistant tape. Similar to small sapphire particles, wear particles reduce friction, thereby promoting durability of the tape. Moreover, wear particles may be intended to clean the head via mild abrasion. 
     However, asperities on the tape surface may be present, e.g., such as a clump formed by an agglomeration of wear particles and binder or other particles. When these particle asperities on the tape pass over the sensor, deformation of the conductive metallic films near the tunnel junction may occur due to the contact with the asperity. Consequently, contact of the asperity on the films of the sensor exerts forces that push the metals sensitive to ductile bending in the direction of the tape movement, thereby causing the films to bend over on either side of the tunnel barrier layer. Iridium or other refractory metal spacer layers are less susceptible to deformation than conventional metals used in TMR heads, such as nickel chrome and permalloy. However, these refractory metals may not be perfect in this respect. 
     In addition, asperities on the tape passing over the sensor may smear material from the conductive metallic films across the tunnel junction, which in turn may cause shorting. Moreover, conductive metallic films near the TMR that are susceptible to smearing may also have bending ductility that would lead to deformation of the head. Furthermore, deformed magnetic films may have a propensity to magnetically shield the sensor from the tape signal. A harder, less-ductile yet conductive metal or non-metallic material would be a desirable choice for the spacer near the TMR. 
     For current-in-plane (CIP) devices such as AMR and GMR sensors, pre-recession processing selectively etches the magnetic shields, thus facilitating formation of protective insulating ‘walls’ that inhibit shorting due to tape-head contact. However, in CPP TMR sensors, there are no insulating films in the sensor stack itself, apart from the tunnel barrier, to allow this methodology to work. Thus, while effective for AMR and GMR sensors, these methods may not adequately protect against shorting for TMR sensors when implemented in contact recording environments. 
     Looking to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , an apparatus  800  is illustrated, in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, the present apparatus  800  may be implemented in conjunction with features from any other embodiment listed herein, such as those described with reference to the other FIGS. Of course, however, such apparatus  800  and others presented herein may be used in various applications and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further, the apparatus  800  presented herein may be used in any desired environment. Thus  FIGS. 8A-8B  (and the other FIGS.) should be deemed to include any and all possible permutations. 
     The apparatus  800  includes a sensor  802  having a media facing side  803 , an active tunnel magnetoresistive region (TMR) region  804 . The sensor  802  also includes magnetic shields  806 ,  808  flanking (sandwiching) the TMR region  804 , and electrically conductive, non-magnetic spacers  810 ,  812  between the TMR region  804  and the magnetic shields  806 ,  808 . In addition, between the non-magnetic spacers  810 ,  812 , the TMR region  804  sits on an antiferromagnetic layer  814  and has a sensor cap  816 . The sensor cap  816  may be comprised of multiple layers of conventional material, for example Ru—Ta—Ru, but could be other materials. Except as otherwise described herein, the various components of the apparatus of  FIGS. 8A-8B  may be of conventional materials and designs, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. Moreover, except as otherwise described herein, conventional processes may be used to form the various components of the various embodiments described herein. 
     Furthermore as shown in  FIG. 8B , the active TMR region  804  includes a free layer  818 , a tunnel barrier layer  820  and a reference layer  822  e.g., of conventional construction. According to various embodiments, the free layer  818 , the tunnel barrier layer  820  and/or the reference layer  822  may include construction parameters, e.g., materials, dimensions, properties, etc., according to any of the embodiments described herein, and/or conventional construction parameters, depending on the desired embodiment. Illustrative materials for the tunnel barrier layer  820  include amorphous and/or crystalline forms of, but are not limited to, TiOx, MgO and Al 2 O 3 . 
     As shown, the apparatus  800  may further include a durable layer  826  above an upper one of the magnetic shields  808 . In other embodiments, a durable layer  824  may additionally and/or alternatively be positioned below a lower one of the magnetic shields  806 . The durable layer(s)  824 ,  826  are preferably harder than the shield nearest thereto. Exemplary materials for the durable layer(s)  824 ,  826  include FeN, laminations of permalloy and FeN, etc. In other approaches, the durable layer(s)  824 ,  826  may include a ferromagnetic layer of any suitable material, such as 45/55 NiFe. Thus, the durable layer(s)  824 ,  826  may provide a wear support structure, which desirably allows for an improved resistance to wear experienced on a media facing side of the sensor  802 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8A , the apparatus  800  may also include insulating layers  828  interposed between hard bias layers  830  and the active TMR region  804  to prevent parasitic current flow parallel to current flow through the sensor. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 8A-8B , at least one of the spacers  810 ,  812  between the sensor and the magnetic shields preferably includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer, which preferably is composed entirely of ceramic material. The other spacer may also have an electrically conductive ceramic layer of the same or different composition, and/or can include a layer of a metal or metallic alloy, can include a layer of a refractory material. In further approaches, the other spacer layer may be metallic or a metallic alloy. It should be noted that the spacers  810 ,  812  shown in the figures are representational, and do not depict the various potential layers therein that may cumulatively form the spacers  810 ,  812  according to various embodiments. Thus, according to some embodiments, one or both of the spacers  810 ,  812  may include layers in addition to the electrically conductive ceramic layer, including, but not limited to seed layers (e.g., Cr, Ta, etc.), nonmagnetic spacer layers, antiferromagnetic layers, etc. For example, a seed layer may be disposed between the ceramic material and a surface underlying the ceramic material. However, in other embodiments, the electrically conductive layer may form the whole of one or both spacers  810 ,  812 . Furthermore, there may be a second electrically conductive ceramic layer between the active TMR and at least one of the spacers that include the first ceramic layer. 
     Depending on the desired embodiment, the electrically conductive layer may be formed using a single ceramic material; however, in other embodiments, the electrically conductive layer may have a layered structure. Thus, an electrically conductive layer may be formed from a number of sublayers, each of which may include a different ceramic material according to any of those listed herein. 
     Illustrative thicknesses for the spacers  810 ,  812  and/or layer of ceramic material therein may be at least 2 nm per film, which may help ensure adequate crystallinity. Preferably, the thicknesses of the spacers  810 ,  812  and/or layer of ceramic material therein are at least 8 nm, and ideally at least 10 nm. 
     Ceramic materials according to some embodiments tend to have high hardness and strength in compression. Illustrative materials for the electrically conductive ceramic layer include ceramic materials that are hard, non-ductile and non-metallic (non-elemental metal), such as metal alloys, e.g. alumina and/or transition metal alloys, e.g., titanium nitride, zirconia, ruthenium oxide, iridium oxide, etc., and/or silicon nitride or silicon carbide, and/or alloys thereof. However in other embodiments, the ceramic material may include, but is not limited to, an electrically conductive oxide, a conductive nitride, and/or a conductive carbide. 
     The hardness of the ceramic material in the layer provides an advantage of reducing susceptibility to conductive bridging and at the same time not requiring excessive head-tape spacing, such as may be needed for coatings and pre-recession. 
     In one embodiment, the ceramic layer between the TMR and the magnetic shields includes ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ). RuO 2  is a surprisingly hard conductive ceramic having a Vickers hardness of 19.2 to 28.6 GPa, which is significantly higher than the Vickers hardness of, for example, iridium (1.76-2.10 GPa). Moreover, as a conductive ceramic, RuO 2  has higher electrical resistivity of ˜35 uohm-cm compared to ˜13 uohm-cm for Tantalum (Ta), for example. 
     In one approach, the ceramic layer of the spacer between the TMR and the magnetic shields is at least partially crystalline. Preferably, the RuO 2  in the ceramic layer is at least partially crystalline. Crystalline RuO 2  may be grown using known techniques, for example, by room temperature DC reactive magnetron sputtering, which does not require post-deposition annealing, and thus is compatible with tape head wafer fabrication processes. 
     Furthermore, there may be a second electrically conductive ceramic layer between the active TMR and at least one of the spacers that include the first ceramic layer. 
     Note that while much of the present description is presented in terms of a data transducer, the teachings herein may be applied to create electronic lapping guides (ELGs), such as TMR ELGs. In one embodiment, the ELG is unconventionally formed with shields, and with a TMR structure that may be otherwise conventional, but modified as taught herein. This provides enhanced immunity to shunting caused by scratching during lapping, which was previously not possible due to smearing of the shield material during lapping. 
     Although the embodiments of  FIGS. 8A-8B  illustrate a single sensor  802 , according to various other embodiments, an apparatus may include an array of the sensors sharing a common media-facing surface. Depending on the desired embodiment, the array of sensors may include any of the designs, e.g., materials, layer combinations, etc., e.g., as described above. 
     Moreover, for embodiments including an array of the sensors sharing a common media-facing surface, the sensors may include any of those described herein, e.g., data readers, data writers, servo readers, etc. However, according to an exemplary embodiment, which is in no way intended to limit the invention, an array of sensors sharing a common media-facing surface may include only readers. In other words, no writers would be present on the common media-facing surface of the array of sensors. For example, there may be no writers on the module at all, e.g., see  254  of  FIG. 3 and 252, 256  of  FIG. 4 . 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus may include a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the sensor e.g. see  100  of  FIG. 1A ; and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor, e.g. see  128  of  FIG. 1A . 
     Looking to  FIG. 9 , an apparatus  900  is illustrated, in accordance with one embodiment. As an option, the present apparatus  900  may be implemented in conjunction with features from any other embodiment listed herein, such as those described with reference to the other FIGS. Of course, however, such apparatus  900  and others presented herein may be used in various applications and/or in permutations which may or may not be specifically described in the illustrative embodiments listed herein. Further, the apparatus  900  presented herein may be used in any desired environment. Thus  FIG. 9  (and the other FIGS.) should be deemed to include any and all possible permutations. 
     The apparatus  900  includes a sensor  902  having a media facing side, and an active tunnel magnetoresistive region (TMR) region  904 . The sensor  902  also includes magnetic shields  906 ,  908  flanking (sandwiching) the TMR region  904 , and electrically conductive, non-magnetic spacers  910 ,  912  between the TMR region  904  and the magnetic shields  906 ,  908 . Except as otherwise described herein, the various components of the apparatus of  FIG. 9  may be of conventional materials and designs, as would be understood by one skilled in the art. Moreover, except as otherwise described herein, conventional fabrication techniques may be used in various embodiments. 
     Furthermore, the active TMR region  904  includes a free layer  918 , a tunnel barrier layer  920  and a reference layer  922  above an antiferromagnetic layer  914 . According to various embodiments, the free layer  918 , the tunnel barrier layer  920  and/or the reference layer  922  may include construction parameters, e.g., materials, dimensions, properties, etc., according to any of the embodiments described herein, and/or conventional construction parameters, depending on the desired embodiment. Illustrative materials for the tunnel barrier layer  920  include amorphous and/or crystalline forms of, but are not limited to, TiOx, MgO and Al 2 O 3 . 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 9 , a preferred embodiment includes an electrically conductive ceramic layer  924  between the active TMR region  904  and at least one of the spacers  910  or  912 . According to some embodiments, ceramic layers may be positioned between the active TMR region  904  and both of the spacers  910 ,  912 . 
     It should be noted that the spacers  910 ,  912  shown in the figures are representational, and do not depict the various potential layers therein that may cumulatively form the spacers  910 ,  912  according to various embodiments. 
     Depending on the desired embodiment, the electrically conductive ceramic layer  924  may be formed using a single ceramic material in one or more layers; however, in other embodiments, the electrically conductive layer may have a layered structure where one or more of the layers is of a ceramic material. Thus, for example, an electrically conductive ceramic layer  924  may be formed from a number of sublayers, each of which may include a different ceramic material according to any of those listed herein. 
     Illustrative materials for the ceramic layer  924  include materials that are hard, non-ductile and non-metallic, such as ruthenium oxide, alumina and/or transition metal ceramics. Additional examples include titanium nitride, zirconia, iridium oxide, etc., and/or combinations of any of the foregoing. However in other embodiments, the ceramic material may include, but is not limited to, an electrically conductive oxide, a conductive nitride, and/or a conductive carbide. 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 9 , at least one of the non-magnetic spacers  910 ,  912  may include an electrically conductive layer which contains a refractory material, for example iridium, but could be other conventional refractory material. It should be noted that the spacers  910 ,  912  shown in the figures are representational, and do not depict the various potential layers therein that may cumulatively form the spacers  910 ,  912  according to various embodiments. Thus, according to some embodiments, one or both of the spacers  910 ,  912  may include layers in addition to the electrically conductive layer, including, but not limited to seed layers (e.g., Cr, Ta, etc.), nonmagnetic spacer layers, antiferromagnetic layers, etc. For example, a seed layer  930  or  932  may be disposed between the refractory material and a surface underlying the refractory material. However, in other embodiments, the electrically conductive layer may form the whole of one or both spacers  910 ,  912 . 
     In one embodiment, the ceramic layer  924  between TMR  904  and spacers  910 ,  912  includes ruthenium oxide (RuO 2 ). The hard, non-ductile properties of RuO 2  may minimize or eliminate bending ductility of the metal spacer layers  910 ,  912  immediately proximate to the TMR region  904 . For example, in  FIG. 9 , the ceramic RuO 2  layer  924  may be placed between the free layer  918  and an iridium spacer layer  912 . Furthermore, the ceramic RuO 2  layer  924  may be sandwiched between ruthenium films such that the RuO 2  interlayer  924  protects the free layer  918  from interdiffusing into a capping layer  928 , e.g., of Ta. 
     Illustrative thicknesses for the ceramic interlayer  924  and/or layer of ceramic material therein may be at least 2 nm per film. 
     In one approach, the ceramic material of the interlayer  924  between the TMR  904  and the spacers is at least partially crystalline. Preferably, the RuO 2  in the ceramic layer is at least partially crystalline. Crystalline RuO 2  can be grown by DC reactive magnetron sputtering at room temperature and does not require post-deposition annealing, and thus is compatible with tape head wafer fabrication processes. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the sensor containing an interlayer of ceramic material  924  in the sensor cap  916 , either one or both of the non-magnetic spacers  910 ,  912  may also be comprised of ceramic material as described in  FIGS. 8A and 8B . If the non-magnetic spacer  910  or  912  is comprised of ceramic layer, the seed layer  930  or  932  is not necessary. 
     Moreover, for embodiments including an array of the sensors sharing a common media-facing surface, the sensors may include any of those described herein, e.g., data readers, data writers, servo readers, etc. However, according to an exemplary embodiment, which is in no way intended to limit the invention, an array of sensors sharing a common media-facing surface may include only readers. In other words, no writers would be present on the common media-facing surface of the array of sensors. For example, there may be no writers on the module at all, e.g., see  254  of  FIG. 3 and 252, 256  of  FIG. 4 . 
     In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a drive mechanism for passing a magnetic medium over the sensor e.g. see  100  of  FIG. 1A ; and a controller electrically coupled to the sensor, e.g. see  128  of  FIG. 1A . 
     It will be clear that the various features of the foregoing systems and/or methodologies may be combined in any way, creating a plurality of combinations from the descriptions presented above. 
     It will be further appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be provided in the form of a service deployed on behalf of a customer. 
     The inventive concepts disclosed herein have been presented by way of example to illustrate the myriad features thereof in a plurality of illustrative scenarios, embodiments, and/or implementations. It should be appreciated that the concepts generally disclosed are to be considered as modular, and may be implemented in any combination, permutation, or synthesis thereof. In addition, any modification, alteration, or equivalent of the presently disclosed features, functions, and concepts that would be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art upon reading the instant descriptions should also be considered within the scope of this disclosure. 
     While various embodiments have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Thus, the breadth and scope of an embodiment of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.