Optical recording using a waveguide structure and a phase change medium
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsDorothea Buechel, Dieter Klaus Weller, Edward Charles Gage, William Albert Challener, Christophe Daniel Mihalcea
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus comprises a slider having an air bearing surface, a first waveguide for directing electromagnetic radiation to a focal point adjacent to the air bearing surface, a storage medium position adjacent to the air bearing surface, a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected from the storage medium, and a structure positioned adjacent to the focal point for collecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation and for transmitted the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector.
Claims12
An apparatus comprising:
- a component having a first surface;
- a first waveguide for directing electromagnetic radiation to a focal point adjacent to the first surface, the first waveguide being a planar waveguide and having an end positioned adjacent to the first surface;
- a storage medium positioned adjacent to the first surface;
- a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected from the storage medium;
- and
- a cavity in the first surface around the end of the first waveguide and adjacent to the focal point for collecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation and for transmitting the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector, the cavity including a surface shaped to reflect the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector, wherein a portion of the first waveguide is positioned within the cavity.
An apparatus for inspecting a sample, the apparatus comprising:
- a component having a first surface configured to be positioned adjacent to the sample;
- a first waveguide for directing electromagnetic radiation to a focal point adjacent to the first surface, the first waveguide being a planar waveguide and having an end positioned adjacent to the first surface;
- a detector for detecting electromagnetic radiation reflected from the sample or a contaminant on the sample;
- and
- a cavity in the first surface positioned around the end of the first waveguide and adjacent to the focal point for collecting the reflected electromagnetic radiation and for transmitting the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector, the cavity including a surface shaped to reflect the reflected electromagnetic radiation toward the detector, wherein a portion of the first waveguide is positioned within the cavity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.