HAMR read-write head with coupler and waveguide

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12087338-B1
Application number	US-202217851159-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2022
Priority date	Jun 28, 2021
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

Described are heat assisted magnetic read-write heads that include a coupler, a waveguide, a transducer, and appurtenant structures.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
an optical coupler that receives light from a light source at a coupler input facet, the optical coupler having a length that extends from the coupler input facet in a direction of light propagation through the optical coupler,
a waveguide coupled to the optical coupler along the length of the optical coupler at a coupler-waveguide interface, wherein the coupler-waveguide interface is spaced a distance in a range from 1 to 30 microns from the coupler input facet, and
a near-field transducer coupled to the waveguide, that provides electromagnetic heating for a heat assisted magnetic recording write head.

2. An apparatus of claim 1 , the optical coupler having a straight portion that has a length in a range from 40 to 120 microns.

3. An apparatus of claim 1 , the optical coupler having
a thickness in a range from 0.5 to 2 microns, and
a width in a range from 2 to 6 microns.

4. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a refractive index of the waveguide is greater than a refractive index of the optical coupler.

5. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the waveguide is made of NbOx.

6. An apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the optical coupler is made of SiON.

7. An apparatus of claim 1 , comprising cladding that surrounds the optical coupler, wherein the cladding is made of SiO 2 .

8. A method of recording data using an apparatus of claim 1 .

9. A method of preparing a light guidance system comprising an apparatus of claim 1 , the apparatus comprising:
a light source,
an optical coupler that receives light excited by a light source at a coupler input facet, the optical coupler having a length extending from the input facet in a direction of a light propagation through the optical coupler,
a waveguide coupled to the optical coupler along the length of the optical coupler at a coupler-waveguide interface, wherein the coupler-waveguide interface is spaced a distance in a range from 1 to 30 microns from the coupler input facet, and
a near-field transducer coupled to the waveguide, that provides electromagnetic heating for a heat assisted magnetic recording write head,

the method comprising forming the waveguide to form the coupler-waveguide interface spaced from the coupler input facet.

10. An apparatus comprising:
an optical coupler that receives light from a light source at a coupler input facet, the optical coupler having a length that extends from the coupler input facet in a direction of light propagation through the optical coupler, wherein the optical coupler has a straight portion having a length in a range from 40 to 120 microns,
a waveguide coupled to the optical coupler along the length of the optical coupler at a coupler-waveguide interface, the coupler-waveguide interface being spaced from the coupler input facet, and
a near-field transducer coupled to the waveguide, that provides electromagnetic heating for a heat assisted magnetic recording write head.

11. An apparatus of claim 10 , the optical coupler having
a thickness in a range from 0.5 to 2 microns, and
a width in a range from 2 to 6 microns.

12. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a refractive index of the waveguide is greater than a refractive index of the optical coupler.

13. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the waveguide is made of NbOx.

14. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the optical coupler is made of SiON.

15. An apparatus of claim 10 , comprising cladding that surrounds the optical coupler, wherein the cladding is made of SiO 2 .

16. An apparatus comprising:
an optical coupler that receives light from a light source at a coupler input facet, the optical coupler having a length that extends from the coupler input facet in a direction of light propagation through the optical coupler, wherein the optical coupler comprises:
a thickness in a range from 0.5 to 2 microns, and
a width in a range from 2 to 6 microns,

a waveguide coupled to the optical coupler along the length of the optical coupler at a coupler-waveguide interface, the coupler-waveguide interface being spaced from the coupler input facet, and
a near-field transducer coupled to the waveguide, that provides electromagnetic heating for a heat assisted magnetic recording write head.

17. An apparatus of claim 16 , the optical coupler having a straight portion that has a length in a range from 40 to 120 microns.

18. An apparatus of claim 16 , wherein a refractive index of the waveguide is greater than a refractive index of the optical coupler.

19. An apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the waveguide is made of NbOx.

20. An apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the optical coupler is made of SiON.

Assignees

• Seagate Technology Llc

Inventors

• Harvey Christopher Neil
• Goggin Aidan Dominic
• Zhong Chuan

Classifications

• G11B5/6052

  using optical means · CPC title

• G11B5/4866

  the arm comprising an optical waveguide, e.g. for thermally-assisted recording · CPC title

• G11B5/3967

  Composite structural arrangements of transducers, e.g. inductive write and magnetoresistive read (G11B5/3906 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G11B5/7375 Primary

  for heat-assisted or thermally-assisted magnetic recording [HAMR, TAMR] · CPC title

• G02B6/4206

  Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence) · CPC title