US 8,385,183 B2 · Light delivery waveguide

Abstract

A light source and a waveguide are mounted on a recording head slider. Light rays are emitted from the light source into the waveguide. The waveguide may include two core layers for light ray transmission. The first core layer enhances light coupling efficiency from the light source to the second core layer. The second core layer transforms a profile of the light. The waveguide may include a tapered portion with a narrow opening near the light source and a wider opening near the tapered portion exit. The light rays passing through the waveguide may be directed toward a collimating mirror. The collimating mirror makes the light rays parallel or nearly parallel and re-directs the light rays to a focusing mirror. The focusing mirror focuses the collimated light rays to a spot on a magnetic media disc.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A waveguide comprising:

a first core layer configured to receive light from a light source and transmit the light at a first mode profile associated with the light source;
and
a tapered portion of a second core layer configured to receive the light from the first core layer and transform the light to a second more confined mode profile;
wherein the light transfers from the first core layer to the second core layer along a length of the tapered portion of the second core layer of the waveguide.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Light delivery waveguide

Life of this patent

Light delivery waveguide

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20