US 2010/0061018 A1 · MAGNETIC RECORDING DISK DRIVE WITH PATTERNED MEDIA AND OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR CLOCKING WRITE DATA

Abstract

A patterned-media magnetic recording disk drive uses an optical system for accurately clocking the write data. The disk has concentric data tracks patterned into discrete magnetizable data islands with nonmagnetic spaces between the islands. As the disk rotates, a radiation source directs near-field radiation to the islands and spaces, and a radiation detector receives reflected radiation. The radiation is directed from the source through an optical channel or waveguide on the air-bearing slider that supports the read and write heads. The optical channel or waveguide has a near-field transducer at the disk-facing surface of the slider where the near-field radiation exits and reflected radiation returns. The reflected optical power varies depending on whether the near-field transducer couples to an island or a space, so the radiation detector output signal represents the frequency and phase of the islands as the disk rotates. The write clock that controls write pulses to the write head is responsive to the radiation detector output signal, so the frequency and phase of the write clock signal can be matched to the frequency and phase of the islands as the disk rotates.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A patterned-media magnetic recording disk drive comprising:

a rotatable magnetic recording disk having a plurality of data tracks, each data track patterned into discrete magnetizable data islands separated by nonmagnetic spaces;
a radiation source for directing radiation to the islands and spaces as the disk rotates;
a radiation detector for detection of reflected radiation and providing an output signal that varies in response to whether the radiation is directed to an island or a space;
a write head for generating write pulses to magnetize the islands as the disk rotates;
and
a write clock responsive to the radiation detector output signal and coupled to the write head for controlling the write pulses generated by the write head.

3 more elements

A perpendicular magnetic recording disk drive comprising:

a rotatable patterned-media perpendicular magnetic recording disk comprising a substrate, a plurality of discrete pillars patterned on the substrate and separated by recesses, the pillars containing perpendicularly magnetizable magnetic recording material and arranged in generally circular data tracks;
a head carrier having a disk-facing surface;
an optical channel and near-field transducer coupled to the optical channel for the transmission of radiation to the pillars and recesses, the optical channel and near-field transducer being located on the head carrier, the near-field transducer having a radiation exit face located substantially at the disk-facing surface and the spacing between the pillars and the exit face being less than the wavelength of the radiation;
a radiation source for directing radiation through the optical channel and near-field transducer to the pillars and recesses as the disk rotates;
a radiation detector providing an output signal in response to detection of radiation reflected from the near-field transducer and through the optical channel, the radiation detector output signal being representative of variations in reflected radiation as pillars and recesses pass the radiation exit face as the disk rotates;
a perpendicular recording write head comprising an electrically conductive coil and a write pole, the coil generating write pulses to cause the write pole to magnetize the pillars as the disk rotates;
and
write clock control circuitry responsive to the radiation detector output signal and coupled to the write head for generating a write clock signal for controlling the write pulses generated by the coil.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic recording disk drive with patterned media and optical system for clocking write data

Life of this patent

Magnetic recording disk drive with patterned media and optical system for clocking write data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20