Leading Shield Configuration for TAMR Head Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally assisted magnetic recording (TAMR) heads face challenges in detecting write touchdowns due to small touchdown areas, leading to unreliable head wear and potential damage to the magnetic pole and near-field transducer, as prior art designs lack consistent shield configurations and effective protection during thermal-mechanical interactions.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves repositioning the write heater (Hw) to the top of the write coil and using a leading shield configuration with adjustable widths and thicknesses, eliminating exposed metal shields at the air-bearing surface, and forming shields in sections to create a consistent touchdown location and area, thereby protecting the magnetic pole and near-field transducer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the write heater is repositioned to the top of the write coil and leading shield configuration is used, then touchdown detection reliability is improved and component protection is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to adjustable shield widths and thicknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The shield structure is divided into multiple sections with different widths and thicknesses, allowing each segment to serve specific protective functions. The leading shield configuration segments the protective barrier to optimize both touchdown detection and component protection while managing structural complexity through modular design
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the shield structure have locally optimized properties - the leading shields have specific width and thickness variations tailored to their protective function. This local quality optimization ensures reliable touchdown detection and component protection without requiring the entire shield structure to be overly complex
2Strength
If leading shield configuration with multiple sections is used, then protection of magnetic pole and near-field transducer is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is segmented into multiple sections with defined widths and thicknesses, where each segment provides specific protective coverage. This segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual sections that can be assembled to provide comprehensive protection for the magnetic pole and near-field transducer
Solution Approach 2:
Each shield section has locally optimized dimensions - the leading shields have specific width and thickness variations designed to protect particular vulnerable components. This local quality approach ensures adequate protection while allowing for practical manufacturing tolerances in each individual section
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 design ensures consistent touchdown location and area, enhances detection reliability, reduces wear, and maintains the integrity of the write head components during both pre-heat and write operations, allowing for sharper touchdown detection and improved operational stability.
Implementation Method 1
a laser diode is typically used to provide optical energy in the form of optical radiation, an optical waveguide then transfers that radiation towards the ABS of the head where it's main pole (MP) is close to the recording surface and where a plasmon near-field transducer (NFT) is also located
Implementation Method 2
The NFT utilizes a plasmon generator, which is a device that receives the optical radiation from the waveguide, converts it to plasmon modes by electromagnetic coupling and then transfers energy in the form of plasmon near-fields to a small region of the recording media at the write-gap (WG) portion of the PMR read/write head
Implementation Method 3
This tiny near field spot, which, being non-radiative, is not subject to diffraction effects, induces a very localized temperature rise in the recording media to lower its coercivity and assist the magnetic writing
Implementation Method 4
The purpose of these heaters is to produce local thermal protrusions of the slider air-bearing surface (ABS) which serve to control the distance (flying height) between the ABS and the recording disk surface
Data Source
AI summary
A Perpendicular Magnetic Recording (PMR) head is configured for use in Thermally Assisted Magnetic Recording (TAMR). Two or three contiguous write shields, of various widths and thicknesses, formed on a leading edge side of the write gap (WG), main pole (MP) and near-field transducer (NFT), protect the head during write touchdowns (TD) and signal the approach of such a touchdown. Moreover during a write touchdown the contact with the head is restricted to the large write shields, producing a large touchdown area (TDA) and insuring the lifetime of the head.