Magnetic Recording Head with Alloyed Oxide Waveguide for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current thermally assisted recording (TAR) systems face limitations in achieving higher storage densities due to the superparamagnetic limit, where data stability is compromised by random thermal fluctuations, and existing methods for enhancing coercivity or using heat are not practical for commercial hard disk drives.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a near field transducer system with a primary waveguide and a secondary waveguide, where the secondary waveguide includes oxides of Ta, Ti, Zr, or Nb alloyed with Si or Al, and a gap layer, to efficiently deliver light and confine heat to a localized area on the magnetic media, enhancing data stability and storage density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the size of data cells is reduced to increase storage density, then storage density is improved, but data thermal stability deteriorates due to random thermal fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the temperature parameter locally by applying thermal assistance only to the specific region where data writing is needed. By controlling the temperature increase in a localized manner, the system can write data to smaller cells without causing thermal fluctuations that would destabilize data elsewhere on the disk, thus resolving the contradiction between increased storage density and data thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using a localized heater that provides thermal assistance only to the specific track or region where data writing is required. This localized heating approach allows the system to write data to smaller, denser cells without heating the entire disk surface, thereby maintaining data stability in unheated regions while enabling higher storage density in the heated region.
2Quantity of substance
If the coercivity of magnetic media is increased to raise storage density, then storage density is improved, but the complexity of write head materials and techniques increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces thermal assistance as an intermediary mechanism between the write head and the magnetic media. Instead of directly increasing coercivity through complex write head materials, the system uses a localized heater to temporarily reduce coercivity in the writing region, allowing standard write head materials to effectively write to high-density media without requiring complex material changes in the write head itself.
3Quantity of substance
If heat is applied to lower effective coercivity for thermally assisted recording, then storage density is improved, but heat confinement precision must be increased to avoid affecting adjacent tracks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs local quality by designing a localized heating system that applies heat only to the specific track or region where data writing is required. The heater is positioned and sized to create a thermal zone that is precise enough to confine heat to the target track, preventing thermal diffusion to adjacent tracks. This localized approach enables high storage density while maintaining manufacturing precision in heat confinement.
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 thermal stability of data storage by efficiently confining heat to a single data track, thereby increasing storage density beyond the superparamagnetic limit, making it suitable for commercial hard disk drives.
Implementation Method 1
a secondary waveguide positioned near the primary waveguide and configured for receiving light from a light source and transferring at least some of the light received thereby to the primary waveguide
Implementation Method 2
a primary waveguide for delivering light to the near field transducer
Implementation Method 3
U.S. Pat. No. 6,999,384 to Stancil et al., which is herein incorporated by reference, discloses near field heating of a magnetic medium.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near field transducer positioned towards a media-facing surface side, a primary waveguide for delivering light to the near field transducer, a secondary waveguide positioned near the primary waveguide and configured for receiving light from a light source and transferring at least some of the light received thereby to the primary waveguide, and a gap layer positioned between the primary waveguide and the secondary waveguide, wherein the secondary waveguide includes an oxide of at least one of Ta, Ti, Zr, and Nb alloyed with an oxide of at least one of Si and Al. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.