Electromagnetic interference (EMI) damage to giant magnetoresistive (GMR) recording heads

Author

Wallash, Al ; Smith, Doug

Author_Institution

Quantum Corp., Milpitas, CA, USA

fYear

1998

fDate

6-8 Oct. 1998

Firstpage

368

Lastpage

374

Abstract

It is shown that giant magnetoresistive (GMR) recording heads can be damaged by electromagnetic interference (EMI) from a remote electrostatic discharge (ESD) event. An EMI test board is described and used to quantify EMI damage thresholds for a dipole or loop antenna attached to a GMR head. A practical example of EMI damage during resistance measurement is studied. SEM failure analysis after EMI testing shows melting damage to the GMR sensor that is similar in appearance to the damage caused by direct-contact ESD damage. It is concluded that it is important to control EMI during handling operations that involve any wires connected to the GMR recording head.

Keywords

dipole antennas; electromagnetic interference; electronic equipment testing; electrostatic discharge; failure analysis; giant magnetoresistance; loop antennas; magnetic heads; magnetic recording; magnetoresistive devices; materials handling; scanning electron microscopy; EMI control; EMI damage; EMI damage thresholds; EMI test board; EMI testing; GMR head; GMR recording head; GMR recording heads; GMR sensor; SEM failure analysis; connected wire handling; dipole antenna; direct-contact ESD damage; electromagnetic interference; electromagnetic interference damage; giant magnetoresistive recording heads; handling operations; loop antenna; melting damage; remote ESD event; remote electrostatic discharge event; resistance measurement; Dipole antennas; Disk recording; Electrical resistance measurement; Electromagnetic interference; Electrostatic discharge; Electrostatic interference; Failure analysis; Giant magnetoresistance; Magnetic heads; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Electrical Overstress/Electrostatic Discharge Symposium Proceedings, 1998

Conference_Location

Reno, NV, USA

Print_ISBN

1-878303-91-0

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/EOSESD.1998.737058

Filename

737058