Free-Space Laser Coupling for EAMR Slider Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drives face challenges in manufacturing efficiency and light delivery due to misalignments and mechanical instability, leading to increased costs and reduced manufacturing yield.
Innovation Solution
The system includes a slider with an air-bearing surface, coupled with optics and lasers where the optic axis is parallel to the trailing face, using free-space energy delivery and optics to redirect energy to the EAMR transducer, improving alignment accuracy and manufacturing yield through wafer level bonding and adaptable waveguide configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional pick and place system is used to mount laser diode and slider, then manufacturing process is simple, but alignment accuracy deteriorates leading to increased insertion loss
Solution Approach 1:
The laser diode is pre-mounted on the slider assembly before final integration into the disk drive. This preliminary mounting action allows alignment to be established and fixed during the assembly process, ensuring consistent optical coupling between the laser diode optic axis and the transducer grating without requiring complex real-time alignment systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical pick-and-place mounting system with a more precise mounting mechanism that ensures accurate alignment of the laser diode optic axis with the transducer grating. This substitution eliminates the alignment inaccuracies inherent in standard pick-and-place systems while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
2Reliability
If fiber optic cable is used to couple light from laser to transducer, then light delivery is achieved, but mechanical stability deteriorates and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the fiber optic cable from the light delivery path. Instead of using a fiber optic cable to couple light from the laser diode to the transducer, the design allows direct optical coupling through free space, removing the mechanical instability and cost associated with fiber optic components while maintaining effective light delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary structure (such as an optical bench or mounting fixture) that provides stable mechanical support and precise positioning for the laser diode and transducer components. This intermediary structure enables direct optical coupling without requiring fiber optic cables, achieving both mechanical stability and cost-effectiveness.
3Productivity
If conventional EAMR transducer design is used, then basic functionality is achieved, but manufacturing yield deteriorates due to misalignments
Solution Approach 1:
The laser diode is pre-mounted and aligned on the slider assembly before final integration. This preliminary action establishes the optical alignment in advance, ensuring that when the assembly is integrated into the disk drive, the alignment precision is maintained and manufacturing yield is improved by reducing misalignment-related defects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mounting system with an improved mechanical structure that provides inherent alignment features and tolerance compensation. This substitution reduces sensitivity to alignment variations during manufacturing, thereby improving manufacturing yield while maintaining the required alignment precision for optimal optical coupling.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances optical efficiency, reduces insertion loss, and simplifies manufacturing by improving alignment accuracy and yield, resulting in improved performance and cost-effectiveness of EAMR disk drives.
Implementation Method 1
Light from the laser is provided substantially along the optic axis of the laser to the grating of the EAMR transducer
Implementation Method 2
the light is desired to be delivered at a particular angle to the grating. As a result, light from the laser is coupled into the grating of the transducer
Implementation Method 3
The waveguide directs the light toward the media, heating a small region of the media
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drive are described. A media for storing data and a slider are provided. The slider has a back side, a trailing face, and an air-bearing surface (ABS) opposite to the back side. At least one laser is coupled with the trailing face of the slider, and has an optic axis substantially parallel to the trailing face. The laser(s) provide energy substantially along the optic axis. Optics are coupled with the trailing face of the slider and receive the energy from the laser(s) via free space. At least one EAMR transducer coupled with the slider. At least part of the EAMR transducer resides in proximity to the ABS. The optics direct the energy from the laser(s) to the EAMR transducer(s). The EAMR transducer(s) receive the energy from the optics and write to the media using the energy.