Thermally-assisted magnetic recording head having symmetric optical side shields
US10068596B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 2016 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 5, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/0021
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An optically shielded TAMR (thermally assisted magnetic recording) write head has a metal waveguide blocker formed against a distal end of a waveguide and a pair of symmetrically disposed optical side shields formed to either side of a plasmon generator formed above the waveguide. The waveguide focuses optical radiation on the adjacent plasmon generator where it excites plasmon modes that heat the recording medium with near-field energy and the waveguide blocker prevents excess optical radiation from blurring the spot on the recording region. The optical side shields further restrict loosely coupled optical radiation from reaching the recording region and blurring the optical spot and improves down-track and cross-track thermal gradients.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.