HAMR Head Gas Mixture for Erosion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Magnetic storage devices, particularly heat-assisted magnetic storage heads, face challenges in extending operational lifetime without degrading performance due to issues like degradation from intense heat and moisture-related erosion.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic storage device with a housing containing a magnetic disk and a heat-assisted magnetic storage head, sealed within a gas mixture of oxygen and helium, where the oxygen concentration is between 3% to 30% and helium concentration is up to 90%, and the relative humidity is maintained below 5%, reducing pressure to between 10% and 70% of atmospheric pressure to minimize degradation and enhance operational longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If heat-assisted magnetic storage heads are operated for extended periods, then data storage capacity increases, but operational lifetime degrades due to intense heat and moisture-related erosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies an oxygen-enriched atmosphere (contrary to typical inert atmosphere principles) combined with controlled humidity and pressure to create a specific environmental condition that prevents cladding erosion and smear on the heat-assisted magnetic storage head, thereby extending operational lifetime while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the atmospheric parameters within the sealed housing by controlling oxygen concentration (greater than 1%), humidity (less than 5% relative humidity), and pressure (10% to 70% of atmospheric pressure) to optimize the operational lifetime of the HAMR head without degrading performance
2Object-affected harmful factors
If oxygen concentration is increased to prevent erosion, then cladding erosion is reduced, but track misregistration and power consumption may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple atmospheric parameters simultaneously - oxygen concentration greater than 1% (but controlled), humidity less than 5%, and pressure between 10% to 70% of atmospheric pressure - to achieve a balance that prevents cladding erosion while minimizing increases in power consumption and track misregistration
3Duration of action of stationary object
If pressure is reduced to minimize degradation, then operational lifetime is extended, but device performance may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces the pressure within the sealed housing to between 10% and 70% of atmospheric pressure, which minimizes degradation of the heat-assisted magnetic storage head while the patent maintains device performance through optimized oxygen concentration and humidity control
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 significantly prolongs the operational lifetime of the heat-assisted magnetic storage head by reducing track misregistration and electrical power consumption, while preventing cladding erosion and smear, thus maintaining efficient device performance.
Implementation Method 1
A gas, comprising oxygen, sealed in the interior cavity of the housing. A percent concentration of oxygen in the gas is greater than or equal to 3%
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a magnetic storage device that comprises a housing defining an interior cavity. The magnetic storage device also comprises at least one magnetic disk in the interior cavity of the housing. The magnetic storage device further comprises at least one read-write head in the interior cavity and configured to read data from and write data to the magnetic disk. The read-write head comprises a heat-assisted magnetic storage (HAMR) head. The magnetic storage device additionally comprises a gas, comprising oxygen and helium, sealed in the interior cavity of the housing. A percent concentration of oxygen in the gas is greater than or equal to 3%. A pressure of the gas is between 10% and 70%, inclusive, of atmospheric pressure. A relative humidity within the interior cavity is less than 5%, inclusive. A percent concentration of helium in the gas is less than or equal to 90%.