Near-field Transducer Peg Region Heat Sink Thermal Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat buildup in the writing tip of plasmonic near-field transducers for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) devices leads to temperature increases that compromise coupling efficiency and data density, as existing technologies struggle to manage thermal resistance without affecting performance.
Innovation Solution
A near-field transducer design featuring an enlarged region with a peg region and a heat sink, where the heat sink is in thermal contact with both the peg region and the base side of the enlarged region, reducing thermal resistance while maintaining coupling efficiency through optimized geometries and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the near-field transducer operates at high power for heat-assisted magnetic recording, then the heating capability is improved, but the temperature rise in the writing tip increases causing thermal management issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heat sink functionality from the enlarged region by adding a separate heat sink structure. The heat sink is in thermal contact with the base side of the enlarged region, allowing heat to be extracted from the writing tip through the peg region and dissipated through the heat sink, thereby reducing the temperature rise in the writing tip while maintaining high power operation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the peg region as an intermediary thermal pathway between the enlarged region and the heat sink. The peg region provides a controlled thermal conduction path that allows heat to flow from the base side of the enlarged region to the heat sink, enabling effective heat management while maintaining the heating capability of the transducer
2Volume of moving object
If the near-field transducer uses a compact design, then the device size is reduced, but the thermal management capability is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where the heat sink is positioned adjacent to and thermally coupled with the base side of the enlarged region. The peg region extends from the enlarged region towards the heat sink, creating a compact nested arrangement that provides effective thermal management within a small volume, thus maintaining both compact size and thermal management capability
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
The design effectively reduces temperature rise in the peg region, enhancing coupling efficiency and achieving improved areal data density by managing thermal gradients and hotspot size effectively.
Implementation Method 1
The contact side of the heat sink is in thermal contact with both the peg region and at least a portion of the base side of the enlarged region
Data Source
AI summary
A near-field transducer includes an enlarged region having a top side adjacent to a magnetic pole, a base side opposite the top side, and a circumference that extends from proximal to a media-facing surface to distal to a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer includes a peg region in contact with a region of the base side of the enlarged region, the peg region extending from the enlarged region towards the media-facing surface. The near-field transducer also includes a heat sink region having a contact side, a base side, and a circumference that extends from proximal to the media-facing surface to distal from the media-facing surface. The contact side of the heat sink region is in thermal contact with both the peg region and at least a region of the base side of the enlarged region.