Patent · US Active

Magnetic recording disk drive with shingled writing and rectangular optical waveguide for wide-area thermal assistance

US8416646B2 · kind B2 · utility

17Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

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Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 25, 2011
Grant dateApr 9, 2013
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 11, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG11B2005/0021
  • WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A thermally-assisted recording (TAR) disk drive uses “shingled” recording and a rectangular waveguide as a “wide-area” heat source. The waveguide generates a generally elliptically-shaped optical spot that heats an area of the recording layer extending across multiple data tracks. The waveguide core has an aspect ratio (cross-track width to along-the track thickness) that achieves the desired size of the heated area while locating the peak optical intensity close to the trailing edge of the write pole tip where writing occurs. The large cross-track width of the waveguide core increases the volume of recording layer heated by the optical spot, which reduces the rate of cooling. This moves the peak temperature point of the heated area closer to the write pole tip and reduces the temperature drop between the peak temperature and the temperature at the trailing edge of the write pole tip where writing occurs.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.