Thermally Assisted Magnetic Head Near-Field Light Scatter Plate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally assisted magnetic heads face challenges in selectively heating desired points on a magnetic medium due to near-field light generation from parts other than the cusp portion of the near-field light generator plate, which affects recording density and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A thermally assisted magnetic head design featuring an electroconductive near-field light generator plate with a cusp portion and a wider near-field light scatter plate positioned opposite to suppress near-field light generation from the plate's other end, ensuring focused heating on the desired area by absorbing or scattering unwanted light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a near-field light generator plate with a cusp portion is used to generate near-field light for thermal assisted magnetic recording, then heating capability is improved, but near-field light is generated from parts other than the cusp portion causing unwanted heating and reduced recording precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of near-field light generation from unwanted portions of the plate into a beneficial effect by placing a scatter plate at the other end of the near-field light generator plate. This scatter plate reflects or scatters the near-field light generated from its surface back toward the cusp portion, where it can be effectively utilized for heating. This transforms the harmful stray light into useful heating energy, improving both heating capability and recording precision simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The scatter plate acts as an intermediary element between the near-field light generator plate and the magnetic medium. It intercepts near-field light generated from unwanted portions of the generator plate and redirects it toward the cusp portion, mediating the light's path to ensure it contributes to the desired heating effect rather than causing unwanted heating elsewhere.
2Temperature
If light is guided onto the near-field light generator plate from the back side, then near-field light is generated for heating, but it is difficult to intensively heat only the desired point due to emission from other parts
Solution Approach 1:
The scatter plate converts the harmful near-field light emitted from unwanted portions of the generator plate into a beneficial resource by reflecting it back toward the cusp portion. This ensures that all near-field light, including that from undesired locations, contributes to intensive heating at the desired point, thereby improving both heating intensity and location precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The scatter plate is strategically positioned at the other end of the near-field light generator plate to specifically address light emission from that localized region. By targeting the scatter plate's placement and function to the specific problem area (the other end of the plate), the patent achieves local quality control over near-field light distribution, ensuring intensive heating only at the desired cusp portion location.
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 effectively restricts near-field light emission from the non-cusp portion, enabling precise heating and enhancing recording density by ensuring that only the intended area is heated, thus improving high-density recording capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
an electroconductive near-field light generator plate disposed on a medium-facing surface of the waveguide so that a principal face thereof faces the medium... light is guided onto the near-field light generator plate from the back side to generate near-field light
Implementation Method 2
an electroconductive near-field light scatter plate disposed on the medium-facing surface of the thermally assisted magnetic head... the near-field light scatter plate suppresses generation of near-field light from the other end of the near-filed light generator plate
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally assisted magnetic head has a medium-facing surface facing a medium, and comprises: a waveguide an end face of which is exposed in the medium-facing surface; an electroconductive near-field light generator plate disposed on a medium-facing surface of the waveguide so that a principal face thereof faces the medium; and an electroconductive near-field light scatter plate disposed on the medium-facing surface of the thermally assisted magnetic head so that a principal face thereof faces the medium; when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the medium-facing surface, the near-field light generator plate has a cusp portion at an end; when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the medium-facing surface, the near-field light scatter plate is arranged along the other end opposite to the cusp portion of the near-field light generator plate; when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the medium-facing surface, a width of the near-field light scatter plate in a first direction perpendicular to a direction connecting the cusp portion and the other end of the near-field light generator plate is larger than a width in the first direction of the near-field light generator plate.