Thermally-assisted recording (TAR) patterned-media disk drive with optical detection of write synchronization and servo fields
US8355300B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 5, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jan 15, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/0021
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) bit-patterned-media (BPM) magnetic recording disk drive uses optical detection of synchronization fields for write synchronization and optical detection of servo sectors for read/write head positioning. The synchronization fields and servo sectors extend generally radially across the data tracks and are patterned into discrete nondata blocks separated by gaps in the along-the-track direction. A near-field transducer (NFT) directs laser radiation to the disk and generates a power absorption profile on the disk that has a characteristic along-the-track spot size less than the along-the-track length of the gaps between the nondata blocks in the synchronization fields and servo sectors. A sensor provides an output signal in response to radiation from the nondata blocks and gaps in the synchronization fields and servo sectors as the disk rotates to control the timing of the magnetic write field applied to the data islands and to control the positioning of the read/write head on the data tracks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.