# US 7,609,591 B2 · Heat-assisted magnetic recording head > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,609,591 B2 - Document ID: US7609591B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/508,996 - Filed: 2006-08-24 - Published: 2007-07-05 - Granted: 2009-10-27 - Earliest claimed: 2006-01-04 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Sung-dong Suh; Young-hun Im; Hae-sung Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609591B2 ## CPC - G11B 5/127: Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive - G11B 5/02: Recording, reproducing, or erasing methods; Read, write or erase circuits therefor - 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 2005/001: {Controlling recording characteristics of record carriers or transducing characteristics of transducers by means not being part of their structure} - 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 heat-assisted magnetic recording head mounted on an end of a slider having an Air Bearing Surface (“ABS”) for recording data on a recording medium. The heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a magnetic path forming unit that generates a magnetic field for recording the data, a light source that emits light heating a local region of the recording medium, a waveguide located on a side of the magnet path forming unit to transmit the light emitted from the light source, an optical path conversion unit that changes a direction of the light transmitted from the waveguide to the local region of the recording medium, and a nano-aperture that generates an enhanced near-field effect by converting an energy distribution of the light transmitted via the optical path conversion unit. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heat-assisted magnetic recording head mounted on an end of a slider having an Air Bearing Surface for recording data on a recording medium, the heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a magnetic path forming unit that generates a magnetic field for recording the data; a light source that emits light to heat a local region of the recording medium; a waveguide located on a side of the magnetic path forming unit, the waveguide transmits the light emitted from the light source; an optical path conversion unit that changes a direction of the light transmitted from the waveguide to the local region of the recording medium; and a nano-aperture configured to generate an enhanced near-field effect by converting an energy distribution of the light transmitted via the optical path conversion unit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the optical path conversion unit is a mirror formed on an end of the waveguide and inclined so as to direct light traveling along the waveguide towards the nano-aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the optical path conversion unit is a grating pattern formed on a surface of the waveguide so as to direct light traveling along the waveguide towards the nano-aperture. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 3, wherein spacing of the grating pattern is reduced toward a central portion of the grating pattern. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the magnetic path forming unit comprises: a coil that provides a magnetic field source; a main pole comprising a first end portion that faces the recording medium and is located on a plane of the air bearing surface; a sub-yoke disposed on a side surface of the main pole and comprising a second end portion that faces the recording medium, wherein the first and second end portions are stepped to focus the electric field on the first end portion; and a return yoke forming the magnetic path of the magnetic field together with the main pole and comprising a one end of the return yoke spaced apart from the main pole and another end of the return yoke connected to the main pole. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 5, wherein at least a part of the waveguide, the optical path conversion unit, and the nano-aperture are arranged in a space between the first and second end portions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 5, wherein a saturation magnetization value of the main pole is greater than that of the sub-yoke. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises: a first clad layer; a second clad layer; and a core layer disposed between the first and second clad layers and having a refractive index greater than a refractive index of the first clad layer and greater than a refractive index of the second clad layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 8, wherein the waveguide is a graded index type waveguide having a refractive index that is maximum at a central portion and is gradually reduced toward the first and second clad layers. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, further comprising: a first shield; a second shield spaced apart from the first shield; and a reproduction member disposed between the first and second shields, wherein surfaces of the first shield, the second shield, and the reproduction member opposite to the recording medium are located on a plane of the air bearing surface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 10, wherein the waveguide is formed of polymer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, wherein the light source is butt-coupled to the waveguide. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The heat-assisted magnetic recording head of claim 1, further comprising a prism coupler that couples the light source to the waveguide. ### Claim 14 A heat-assisted magnetic recording head mounted on an end of a slider having an Air Bearing Surface for recording data on a recording medium, the heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a magnetic path forming unit that generates a magnetic field for recording the data; a light source that emits light to heat a local region of the recording medium; a waveguide located on a side of the magnetic path forming unit, the waveguide transmits the light emitted from the light source; and means for generating an enhanced near-field effect by converting an energy distribution of the light source. ### Claim 15 A heat-assisted magnetic recording head for mounting on an end of a slider having an Air Bearing Surface for recording data on a recording medium, the heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprising: a magnetic path forming unit that generates a magnetic field for recording the data and comprising a main pole and a sub-yoke; a light source that emits light to heat a local region of the recording medium; a waveguide that transmits the light emitted from the light source; and a nano-aperture optically coupled to the waveguide; and wherein the waveguide is located in a space between the sub-yoke and the main pole.