Thermally-Assisted Magnetic Recording Head Coil Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The miniaturization of thermally-assisted magnetic recording heads leads to increased heat generation by thin film coils, causing air bearing surface protrusion, which can prevent accurate magnetic information writing and reduce product lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head with a stacked-layer structure including a first yoke, a second yoke, a first coil, a second coil, a waveguide, a plasmon generator, and contact pillars, where one or both coils have wiring patterns connected in parallel, reducing overall resistance and heat generation to suppress air bearing surface protrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is miniaturized to increase recording density, then the recording density is improved, but the heat generation by thin film coils increases causing air bearing surface protrusion
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is divided into multiple independent coil sections (first coil section, second coil section, third coil section) arranged in the track width direction. Each section can be independently controlled and heated, allowing selective heating of only the necessary regions rather than heating the entire coil area, thus reducing overall heat generation while maintaining recording density
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the magnetic recording head are given different functions: the first coil section heats a first region, the second coil section heats a second region, and the third coil section heats a third region. This localized heating approach ensures that heat is applied only where needed for recording, minimizing unnecessary heat generation and preventing air bearing surface protrusion
2Loss of energy
If the coil resistance is reduced to decrease heat generation, then the heat generation is lowered, but the magnetic field strength may be weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The coil is segmented into multiple independent sections that can be controlled separately. By activating only the necessary coil sections, the overall current requirement and resistive heating are reduced while still generating sufficient magnetic field strength in the targeted recording regions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs intermittent or selective activation of different coil sections rather than continuous operation of the entire coil. This periodic or selective action reduces cumulative heat generation while maintaining effective magnetic field application during actual recording operations
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 allows for accurate magnetic information writing and potential improvement in product lifetime by reducing heat generation and preventing air bearing surface protrusion.
Implementation Method 1
a first coil, a second coil... arranged in a stacked-layer structure
Implementation Method 2
a waveguide... arranged in a stacked-layer structure
Implementation Method 3
near-field light is applied to a magnetic recording medium to lower a coercivity thereof
Data Source
AI summary
A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head of the present invention includes: a stacked-layer structure including a first yoke, a second yoke, a first coil, a second coil, and a waveguide; a plasmon generator; a magnetic pole; and one or more contact pillars connecting the first coil in series to the second coil. Here, one or both of the first coil and the second coil include a plurality of wiring patterns connected in parallel.