Gradient-index lens with tilted sidewall
AssigneeSeagate Technology LLC
InventorsReyad Mehfuz, Aidan Dominic Goggin, Kelly Elizabeth Hamilton, John Bernard McGurk
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gradient-index lens couples light from a laser active region to a waveguide core. The gradient-index lens includes a plurality of bilayers, each of the bilayers having first and second material of respective first and second refractive indices. The bilayers conform to a planar base of the gradient-index lens and further conform to input and output sidewalls of the gradient-index lens. The input sidewall faces the laser active region and the output sidewall faces away from the laser active region. The input and output sidewalls are tilted at respective acute angles relative to the planar base.
Claims20
A recording head, comprising:
- a laser active region formed on a non-self-supporting structure and bonded to a substrate of the recording head;
- a waveguide core that delivers light to a near-field transducer;
- and
- a gradient-index lens coupling the light from the laser active region to the waveguide core, the gradient-index lens comprising a plurality of bilayers, each of the bilayers comprising first and second material of respective first and second refractive indices, wherein the bilayers conform to a planar base of the gradient-index lens and further conform to input and output sidewalls of the gradient-index lens, the input sidewall facing the laser active region and the output sidewall facing away from the laser active region, the input and output sidewalls tilted at respective acute angles relative to the planar base.
A method comprising:
- emitting light from a laser active region formed on a non-self-supporting structure and bonded to a substrate of a recording head;
- coupling the light to a waveguide core via a gradient-index lens, the gradient-index lens comprising a plurality of bilayers, each of the bilayers comprising first and second material of respective first and second refractive indices, wherein the bilayers conform to a planar base of the gradient-index lens and further conform to a tilted input and output sidewalls of the gradient-index lens, the input sidewall facing the laser active region and the output sidewall facing away from the laser active region, the input and output sidewalls tilted at respective acute angles relative to the planar base;
- and
- delivering the light via the waveguide core to a near-field transducer of the recording head, the near-field transducer heating a magnetic recording medium in response thereto.
A recording head, comprising:
- a laser located on a substrate of the recording head;
- a waveguide core that delivers light to a near-field transducer;
- a gradient-index lens coupling the light from the laser to the waveguide core, the gradient-index lens comprising a plurality of bilayers, each of the bilayers comprising first and second material of respective first and second refractive indices, wherein the bilayers conform to a planar base of the gradient-index lens and further conform to a tilted input and output sidewalls of the gradient-index lens, the tilted input sidewall facing the laser and the output sidewall facing away from the laser, the tilted input and output sidewalls tilted at respective acute angles relative to the planar base;
- a coupling layer between the gradient-index lens and the waveguide core;
- and
- a top cladding layer deposited over a side of the waveguide core layer facing away from the gradient-index lens, the coupling layer having third index of refraction between that of the core and the top cladding layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.