Preheat feature for thermally assisted recording
AssigneeHGST Netherlands B.V.
InventorsJohn Contreras, Lidu Huang, Erhard Schreck, Barry C. Stipe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus; and at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer. A method according to one embodiment includes heating the near-field transducer by passing a current through the at least one conductor or circuit; and illuminating the near-field transducer during a write operation, wherein the current does not pass through the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of a time of illumination. Additional embodiments are also presented.
Claims24
An apparatus, comprising:
- a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus;
- and
- at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer;
- and
- a controller configured to apply the current to the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a portion of the time that the near-field transducer is not illuminated.
An apparatus comprising:
- a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus;
- at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer;
- and
- a controller configured to apply the current to the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of the time that the near-field transducer is not illuminated.
A method, comprising:
- heating a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of an apparatus having the near-field transducer by passing a current through at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer;
- and
- illuminating the near-field transducer during a write operation,
- wherein the current does not pass through the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of a time of illumination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.