Write head and method for recording information on a data storage medium

• US 6,714,370 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC (Seagate Technology Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Valet, Thierry R., McDaniel, Terry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sniezek, Andrew L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Colon, Rocio
• Application Number:
  US10/245,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128452A1
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 360/284.5, 360/126, 360/59, 369/121, 369/112-113, 369/13.33, 369/13.02, 398/1, 385/33
• US Class Current: 360/59
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0002 Special dispositions or recording techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0005 Arrangements, methods or circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0021 Thermally assisted recording using an auxiliary energy source for heating the recording layer locally to assist the magnetization reversal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0029 using magnetisation components of the recording layer disposed mainly perpendicularly to the record carrier surface
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/012 Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic disks G11B17/00, G11B19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/02 Recording, reproducing, or erasing methods; Read, write or erase circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/09 Digital recording
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/127 Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/1278 specially adapted for magnetisations perpendicular to the surface of the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/314 where the layers are extra layers normally not provided in the transducing structure, e.g. optical layers G11B5/3196 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/6088 Optical waveguide in or on flying head

Abstract

A recording head for use in conjunction with a magnetic storage medium, comprises a waveguide for providing a path for transmitting radiant energy, a near-field coupling structure positioned in the waveguide and including a plurality of arms, each having a planar section and a bent section, wherein the planar sections are substantially parallel to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, and the bent sections extend toward the magnetic storage medium and are separated to form a gap adjacent to an air bearing surface, and applying a magnetic write field to sections of the magnetic recording medium heated by the radiant energy. A disc drive including the recording head and a method of recording data using the recording head are also provided.

Claims

1. A recording head for use in conjunction with a magnetic storage medium, comprising:

a waveguide for providing a path for transmitting radiant energy;

a near-field coupling structure positioned in the waveguide and including a plurality of arms, each having a planar section and a bent section, wherein the planar sections are substantially parallel to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, and the bent sections extend toward the magnetic storage medium and are separated to form a gap adjacent to an air bearing surface; and

means for applying a magnetic write field to sections of the magnetic recording medium heated by the radiant energy.

2. The recording head of claim 1, further comprising:

a semi-reflective layer positioned in the path to form a resonant optical cavity with a surface of the magnetic storage medium.

3. The recording head of claim 2, wherein the semi-reflective layer is positioned from the magnetic storage medium by a distance substantially equal to an integer times a half wavelength of the radiant energy.

4. The recording head of claim 1, wherein the means for applying a magnetic write field to the magnetic recording medium comprises:

a magnetic yoke having a write pole, a return pole, and a coil for producing magnetic flux in the yoke, wherein the near-field coupling structure is position adjacent to the write pole.

5. The recording head of claim 4, wherein the waveguide comprises a transparent layer mounted adjacent to the write pole.

6. The recording head of claim 4, wherein the write pole is located down track from the near-field coupling structure.

7. The recording head of claim 1, wherein the plurality of arms comprises four arms and wherein the bent sections of the arms form a square opening adjacent to the air bearing surface.

8. The recording head of claim 1, wherein the length of the near-field coupling structure is substantially equal to an integer multiple of half or full wavelengths of the radiant in the waveguide.

9. A magnetic disc drive storage system, comprising:

a housing;

means for supporting a magnetic storage medium positioned in the housing; and

means for positioning a recording head adjacent to the rotatable magnetic storage medium, the recording head including;

a waveguide for providing a path for transmitting radiant energy;

a near-field coupling structure positioned in the waveguide and including a plurality of arms, each having a planar section and a bent section, wherein the planar sections are substantially parallel to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, and the bent sections extend toward the magnetic storage medium and are separated to form a gap adjacent to an air bearing surface; and

means for applying a magnetic write field to sections of the magnetic recording medium heated by the radiant energy.

10. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 9, wherein the recording head further comprises:

a semi-reflective layer positioned in the path to form a resonant cavity with a surface of the magnetic storage medium.

11. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 10, wherein the semi-reflective layer positioned from the magnetic storage medium by a distance substantially equal to an integer times a half wavelength of the radiant energy.

12. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 9, wherein the means for applying a magnetic write field to the magnetic recording medium comprises:

a magnetic yoke having a write pole, a return pole, and a coil for producing magnetic flux in the yoke, wherein the near-field coupling structure is position adjacent to the write pole.

13. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 12, wherein the waveguide comprises a transparent layer mounted adjacent to the write pole.

14. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 12, wherein the write pole is located down track from the near-field coupling structure.

15. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of arms comprises four arms and wherein the bent sections of the arms form a square opening adjacent to the air bearing surface.

16. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 9, wherein the means for applying a magnetic field comprises:

a perpendicular write head.

17. The magnetic disc drive storage system of claim 9, wherein the length of the near-field coupling structure is substantially equal to an integer multiple of half or full wavelengths of the radiant energy in the waveguide.

18. A method of recording data on a magnetic storage medium, comprising:

heating a section of the data storage medium by applying radiant energy to a waveguide including a transparent layer, a semi-reflective layer, and a near-field coupling structure at a frequency such that radiant energy resonates between the semi-reflective layer and a surface of the data storage medium; and

applying a magnetic write field to the section of data storage medium heated by the radiant energy.

19. A method of recording data according to claim 18, wherein the near-field coupling structure is spaced apart from a surface of the data storage medium by a distance of about 2 nm to about 50 nm.

20. A method of recording data according to claim 18, wherein the semi-reflective layer positioned from the magnetic storage medium by a distance substantially equal to an integer times a half wavelength of the radiant energy.