EAMR Head Mirror Well Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment of laser diodes and mirrors in conventional energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) disk drives is complex and prone to errors, affecting manufacturing throughput and performance due to the need for precise positioning and the use of tall heat sinks as pedestals, which can introduce height variations.
Innovation Solution
A system and method where a mirror is integrated into a top layer with a mirror well on an EAMR head, allowing the laser to be coupled externally, with the mirror's reflective surface facing the laser's light-emitting surface, and a heat sink cavity is used to assist cooling without raising the laser significantly, enabling precise alignment within desired tolerances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If tall heat sinks are used as pedestals to raise the laser, then the laser can be positioned at the correct height, but height variations are introduced that affect alignment precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the tall heat sink pedestal from the system and replaces it with a low-profile heat sink combined with an reflective layer positioned on the slider surface. This extraction eliminates the height variation problem caused by tall pedestals while maintaining the necessary optical path length through the reflective layer configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective layer serves multiple functions: it acts as the optical mirror for directing laser light, provides a mounting surface for the low-profile heat sink, and eliminates the need for separate tall pedestal structures. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by achieving height positioning without the precision errors of tall heat sinks.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional separate mounting of laser and mirror is used, then components can be manufactured independently, but alignment is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the mirror function with the slider surface by depositing a reflective layer directly onto the slider, and integrates the heat sink mounting with the optical path configuration. This combining of functions reduces the number of separate alignment operations needed while maintaining independent manufacturability of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The reflective layer is deposited and the heat sink is mounted in advance during slider fabrication, before laser assembly. This preliminary action establishes the optical reference surface early in the manufacturing process, simplifying subsequent laser alignment and reducing overall manufacturing time.
3Measurement precision
If the laser is coupled externally to the top layer, then alignment tolerance is improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The reflective layer acts as an intermediary between the laser and the slider surface, providing a precise optical reference surface that improves alignment tolerance. The low-profile heat sink serves as another intermediary that connects the laser mounting function with the slider surface without requiring complex tall pedestal structures.
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 configuration improves the alignment and optical coupling of the laser and mirror, enhancing the performance and reliability of the EAMR head by reducing variations and the need for tall pedestals, thus improving manufacturing efficiency and reducing errors.
Implementation Method 1
The mirror has a bottom surface and a reflective surface facing the light-emitting surface of the laser
Implementation Method 2
a heat sink cavity is used to assist cooling without raising the laser significantly
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head are described. The method and system include providing a slider, an EAMR transducer coupled with the slider, and a top layer on the slider. The top layer includes a mirror well therein and has a substantially flat top surface. The method and system further includes providing a laser including a light-emitting surface and providing a mirror optically coupled with the laser. The laser is coupled to the top surface of the top layer external to the mirror well. The mirror has a bottom surface and a reflective surface facing the light-emitting surface of the laser. A portion of the bottom surface of the mirror is affixed to the top surface of the top layer. A portion of the mirror resides in the mirror well.