Laser mounting for a thermally assisted GMR head
AssigneeRead-Rite Corporation
InventorsRoss W Stovall, Yugang Wang, Carl J Carlson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A head gimbal assembly includes a magneto-resistive read element integrated with a thermally assisted write element. The head gimbal assembly includes an optical waveguide positioned between two write poles to transmit a laser beam to a recording medium. The laser beam heats the medium sufficiently and lowers its coercivity in order to facilitate writing. A laser assembly is attached to a suspension for achieving direct coupling of the laser beam to an input end of the optical waveguide. The laser assembly is produced using cost effective wafer processing techniques. The use of silicon for the mounting block allows it to be used as a heat sink, for conducting heat away from the laser diode and into the suspension.
Claims24
A head gimbal assembly including a suspension, comprising:
- a thermally assisted inductive write section for writing data onto a data storage medium;
- a magnetic read section integrated with said write section for reading data from said data storage medium;
- a laser assembly for providing a laser beam;
- said write section including an optical waveguide core between a first write pole and a second write pole to conduct said laser beam for heating said medium;
- said laser assembly being mounted on the suspension in optical alignment with said write section, so that optical coupling occurs between said laser assembly and said optical waveguide;
- wherein said laser assembly includes a mounting block;
- wherein said laser assembly includes an electrically conductive layer which is deposited on one surface of said mounting block;
- wherein said laser assembly includes a laser diode having an anode and a cathode;
- and
- wherein said electrically conductive layer is connected to said anode.
A head gimbal assembly including a suspension, comprising:
- a thermally assisted inductive write section for writing data onto a data storage medium;
- a magnetic read section integrated with said write section for reading data from said data storage medium:
- a laser assembly for providing a laser beam;
- said write section including an optical waveguide core between a first write pole and a second write pole to conduct said laser beam for heating said medium;
- said laser assembly being mounted on the suspension in optical alignment with said write section, so that optical coupling occurs between said laser assembly and said optical waveguide;
- wherein said laser assembly includes a mounting block;
- wherein said loser assembly includes an electrically conductive layer which is deposited on one surface of said mounting block;
- wherein said laser assembly includes a laser diode having an anode and a cathode;
- and
- wherein said electrically conductive layer is connected to said cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.