EAMR Write Pole Sloped Surface for Thermal Protrusion Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy-assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducers face challenges in balancing optical energy and magnetic field delivery due to thermal protrusion and inefficient waveguide design, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
The EAMR transducer incorporates a waveguide, near-field transducer (NFT), write pole with a sloped surface, and coils to optimize energy and magnetic field distribution, with the write pole's stitch having an ABS-facing, sloped, and NFT-facing surface, and a yoke to enhance magnetic field propagation and reduce thermal effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the NFT and pole are separated by a particular distance to account for thermal protrusion, then thermal effects are reduced, but optical coupling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The waveguide transitions from a planar configuration to a three-dimensional solid immersion mirror structure, enabling light to be directed at oblique angles and improving coupling efficiency without increasing thermal protrusion. This dimensional change allows the system to achieve better optical performance while maintaining the necessary thermal separation between components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the waveguide, specifically using a solid immersion mirror with a curved reflective surface instead of a planar waveguide. This parameter change enables more efficient light coupling to the NFT while maintaining the separation distance required to account for thermal protrusion effects.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the waveguide is designed for high efficiency light coupling, then optical energy delivery is improved, but magnetic field delivery to media deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The write pole is segmented into a stitch portion and a yoke portion, with the stitch positioned closer to the NFT for optimized magnetic field delivery to the media. This segmentation allows the optical components (waveguide and NFT) to be optimized for light coupling while the magnetic components are independently optimized for field delivery, resolving the contradiction between optical and magnetic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the write pole have different properties: the stitch portion is positioned and dimensioned for optimal magnetic coupling to the media, while the yoke portion provides magnetic flux return path. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization of both optical energy delivery (via NFT positioning) and magnetic field delivery (via pole structure).
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 optical and magnetic efficiencies, allowing for higher data rates and reduced adjacent track interference while maintaining a balanced combination of optical and magnetic performance.
Implementation Method 1
The waveguide 12, which is shown as a planar solid immersion mirror, directs light from the gratings 32A and 32B to the spot 16
Implementation Method 2
The light at the smaller spot 16 is focused by the NFT 40 to magnetic recording media (not shown)
Implementation Method 3
The sloped surface is sloped at an angle of at least twenty-five degrees and not more than sixty-five degrees with respect to the NFT-facing surface
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for providing an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer coupled with a laser are described. The EAMR transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) residing in proximity to a media during use. The method and system include providing waveguide(s), a near-field transducer (NFT), write pole(s), and coil(s). The waveguide(s) direct energy from the laser toward the ABS. The NFT is coupled with the waveguide and focuses the energy onto the media. The write pole(s) include a stitch for providing a magnetic field to the media and a yoke coupled to the stitch. The stitch includes an ABS-facing surface, a sloped surface, and an NFT-facing surface between the ABS-facing and sloped surfaces. The NFT-facing surface is substantially parallel to the NFT. The sloped surface is sloped at least twenty-five and not more than sixty-five degrees with respect to the NFT-facing surface. The coil(s) energize the write pole(s).