Heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk drive with fly-height sensing
US8842506B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 27, 2013 |
| Grant date | Sep 23, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 27, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG11B2005/0021
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk drive with a primary waveguide that directs laser light from a laser diode to a near-field transducer includes a second waveguide for sensing the head-disk spacing or fly-height. The second waveguide has a sensor portion that senses the spacing and directs light representative of the spacing to the second waveguide's output end. The second waveguide may include a second or reference portion that is connected to the sensor portion and directs light representative of light input from the laser diode. The combined light from the two portions is directed to the second waveguide's output end. A detector, which may be a photo-diode, is located at the second waveguide's output end and provides a signal that may be coupled to a thermal fly-height controller to increase or decrease the fly-height.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.