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US 8,619,511 B1Granted
Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with optical spot-size converter fabricated in 2-dimensional waveguide
AssigneeHGST Netherlands B.V.
InventorYasuhiko Iwanabe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In one embodiment, a magnetic recording head includes a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface; a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter; and cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide. Additional systems and heads are also disclosed.
Claims18
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- and
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,
- wherein a thickness of the waveguide is 40 to 120% of a diameter of a spot size of light incident on the waveguide.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- and
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,
- wherein a lower part of the spot size converter positioned between the tapered portion and the air bearing surface has about a constant width therealong.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- and
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,
- wherein a portion of the spot size converter positioned between the tapered portion and an end of the head opposite the air bearing surface has about a constant width therealong.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- and
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,
- wherein the at least one of the width and thickness of the tapered portion of the spot size converter transitions from below a width and/or thickness producing a penetration mode to above the width and/or thickness producing the penetration mode in the direction towards the air bearing surface.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- and
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide,
- further comprising at least one cover layer between the waveguide and the spot size converter, wherein the at least one cover layer has a lower refractive index than the spot size converter and the waveguide.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide;
- and
- at least one core on a side of the spot size converter and separated therefrom by a portion of the waveguide.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide;
- and
- a thin core extending from a side of the head opposite the air bearing surface toward the air bearing surface, the thin core being separated from the spot size converter by a portion of the waveguide, the thin core having a width greater than a maximum width of the spot size converter.
2 more elements
A magnetic recording head, comprising:
- a spot size converter having a tapered portion, the tapered portion having at least one of a width and thickness that increases in a direction towards an air bearing surface;
- a waveguide surrounding the spot size converter, the waveguide having a refractive index that is lower than a refractive index of the spot size converter;
- cladding adjacent the waveguide, the cladding having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the waveguide;
- and
- at least two thin cores each extending from a side of the head opposite the air bearing surface toward the air bearing surface, the thin cores sandwiching the spot size converter therebetween, the thin cores being separated from the spot size converter by portions of the waveguide, the thin cores each having a width greater than a maximum width of the spot size converter.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.