# US 10,482,906 B2 · Near-field transducer with recessed region > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,482,906 B2 - Document ID: US10482906B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/193,351 - Filed: 2018-11-16 - Published: 2019-03-21 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-11-11 - Assignees: Seagate Technology LLC - Applicants: Seagate Technology LLC - Inventors: Weibin Chen; Werner Scholz - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10482906B2 ## CPC - G11B 5/314: {where the layers are extra layers normally not provided in the transducing structure, e.g. optical layers (G11B5/3196 takes precedence)} - G11B 5/012: Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic disks (G11B17/00, G11B19/00 take precedence) - G11B 5/4866: {the arm comprising an optical waveguide, e.g. for thermally-assisted recording} - G11B 5/6088: {Optical waveguide in or on flying head} - G11B 2005/0021: {Thermally assisted recording using an auxiliary energy source for heating the recording layer locally to assist the magnetization reversal} - G11B: INFORMATION STORAGE BASED ON RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN RECORD CARRIER AND TRANSDUCER (recording measured values in a way that does not require playback through a transducer G01D9/00; recording or playback apparatus using mechanically marked tape, e.g. punched paper tape, or using unit records, e.g. punched or magnetically marked cards G06K; transferring data from one type of record carrier to another G06K1/18; circuits for coupling output of reproducer to radio receiver H04B1/20; gramophone pick-ups or like acoustic electromechanical transducers or circuits therefor H04R) ## Abstract A near-field transducer is situated at or proximate an air bearing surface of the apparatus and configured to facilitate heat-assisted magnetic recording on a medium. The near-field transducer includes an enlarged region comprising plasmonic material and having a first end proximate the air bearing surface. The near-field transducer also includes a disk region adjacent the enlarged region and having a first end proximate the air bearing surface. The disk region comprises plasmonic material. A peg region extends from the first end of the disk region and terminates at or proximate the air bearing surface. The near-field transducer further includes a region recessed with respect to the peg region. The recessed region is located between the peg region and the first end of the enlarged region. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a near-field transducer situated at or proximate an air bearing surface of the apparatus and configured to facilitate heat-assisted magnetic recording on a medium comprising: an enlarged region comprising plasmonic material and having a first end proximate the air bearing surface and a second end opposing the first end; a disk region adjacent the enlarged region and having a first end proximate the air bearing surface and a second end opposing the first end, the first end of the disk region comprising a first end portion having a terminus facing the air bearing surface and a projection extending under and beyond the first end portion, the disk region comprising plasmonic material; a peg region extending from the projection of the first end of the disk region and terminating at or proximate the air bearing surface; and a region recessed with respect to the air bearing surface and the peg region, the recessed region comprising an end surface located between the peg region and the first end of the enlarged region, further wherein the recessed region is recessed between about 50 to 200 nm relative to the air bearing surface, wherein the first end of the enlarged region is substantially coextensive with respect to the end surface of the recessed region. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a middle disk region having a first end and an opposing second end, the middle disk region disposed between the disk region and the enlarged region, the second end of the middle disk region defining the end surface of the recessed region; wherein the second end of the middle disk region extends beyond the second end of the enlarged region. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second end of the middle disk region extends about 50 to 150 nm beyond the second end of the enlarged region. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the enlarged region comprises a first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface oriented in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the first planar surface; and the first planar surface is adjacent the disk region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enlarged region has a generally elliptical shape with a major axis oriented toward the air bearing surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the peg region has a thickness between about 30 and 100 nm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the recessed region facilitates an increase in thermal gradient at the peg region of between about 30% and 40% relative to the near-field transducer lacking the recessed region. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the increase in thermal gradient is achieved without an appreciable increase in peg region temperature. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the enlarged region is configured to serve as a heat sink of the near-field transducer. ### Claim 10 An apparatus, comprising: a slider comprising an air bearing surface and configured to facilitate heat-assisted magnetic recording on a medium, the slider comprising; a writer; a reader; an optical waveguide; and a near-field transducer proximate the waveguide and the writer, the near-field transducer comprising: an enlarged region having a first end oriented in a medium-facing direction and an opposing second end, the enlarged region comprising plasmonic material; a disk region adjacent the enlarged region and having a first end oriented in the medium-facing direction and an opposing second end, the first end of the disk region comprising a first end portion having a terminus facing the air bearing surface and a projection extending under and beyond the first end portion, the disk region comprising plasmonic material; a peg region extending from the projection of the first end of the disk region and oriented in the medium-facing direction; and a region recessed with respect to the air bearing surface and the peg region, the recessed region comprising an end surface located between the peg region and the first end of the enlarged region, further wherein the recessed region is recessed between about 50 to 200 nm relative to the air bearing surface, wherein the first end of the enlarged region is substantially coextensive with respect to the end surface of the recessed region. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: a middle disk region having a first end and an opposing second end, the middle disk region disposed between the disk region and the enlarged region, the second end of the middle disk region defining the end surface of the recessed region; wherein the second end of the middle disk region extends beyond the second end of the enlarged region. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second end of the middle disk region extends about 50 to 150 nm beyond the second end of the enlarged region. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: the enlarged region comprises a first planar surface and an opposing second planar surface oriented in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the first planar surface; and the first planar surface is adjacent the disk region. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the enlarged region has a generally elliptical shape with a major axis oriented toward the air bearing surface. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the peg region has a thickness between about 30 and 100 nm. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the recessed region facilitates an increase in thermal gradient at the peg region of between about 30% and 40% relative to the near-field transducer lacking the recessed region. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the increase in thermal gradient is achieved without an appreciable increase in peg region temperature. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the enlarged region is configured to serve as a heat sink of the near-field transducer.