Review of perpendicular magnetic recording research at Fujitsu

Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) research and development (R&D) was carried out at Fujitsu for 32 years from 1978 to 2009, separated into three stages. We developed PMR for use in hard disk drives (HDDs). We sputtered Co–Cr alloy thin film onto a disk substrate and evaluated it using thin-film heads. Some interesting results were obtained at each stage. On the way we fabricated 1.8″ HDDs in 1992 and finally shipped the mass-produced PMR HDDs in 2006. Unfortunately, the HDD business at Fujitsu closed down. I would like to review the exceptional PMR research undertaken at Fujitsu.

Research highlights
► We studied Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) for hard disk drives (HDDs) into three stages.
► We fabricated Thin-film heads which was contact type and flying type for PMR.
► We made up 1.8″HDD using Censtor's technology which was composed contact type head and double layered media in 1996.
► In 2006, we shipped commercial PMR HDDs which were composed flying trailing shield type head and double layered media. It was delayed almost a year at other company. Unfortunately, Fujitsu's top management decided the HDD business at Fujitsu closed down.