Preheat feature for thermally assisted recording
View Patent ↗An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus; and at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer. A method according to one embodiment includes heating the near-field transducer by passing a current through the at least one conductor or circuit; and illuminating the near-field transducer during a write operation, wherein the current does not pass through the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of a time of illumination. Additional embodiments are also presented.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus; and
at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer; and
a controller configured to apply the current to the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a portion of the time that the near-field transducer is not illuminated.
2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductor or circuit includes an electrical conductor coupled directly to the near-field transducer, wherein joule heating is generated in the near-field transducer when a current is passed therethrough.
3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a controller for applying the current to the at least one conductor or circuit, wherein a voltage at the near-field transducer is less than 1V.
4. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a controller for applying the current to the at least one conductor or circuit, wherein the current is direct current.
5. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a controller for applying the current to the at least one conductor or circuit, wherein the current is alternating current.
6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 , wherein a frequency period of the alternating current is faster than a thermal expansion time constant of the near-field transducer.
7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one conductor or circuit includes a heating element positioned closer than 400 nm to the near-field transducer.
8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , further comprising a controller for applying the current to the at least one conductor or circuit.
9. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 , wherein the heating element is recessed from the air bearing surface side.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a waveguide for illumination of the near-field transducer.
11. An apparatus comprising:
a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of the apparatus;
at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer; and
a controller configured to apply the current to the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of the time that the near-field transducer is not illuminated.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to apply the current to the at least one conductor or circuit for a portion of the time that the near-field transducer is illuminated.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to apply the current to the at least one conductor or circuit when a servo pattern on a magnetic medium passes by the near-field transducer.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
a magnetic head having the near-field transducer;
a magnetic medium;
a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the magnetic head; and
a controller electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head.
15. A method, comprising:
heating a near-field transducer positioned towards an air bearing surface side of an apparatus having the near-field transducer by passing a current through at least one conductor or circuit for causing heating of the near-field transducer; and
illuminating the near-field transducer during a write operation,
wherein the current does not pass through the at least one conductor or circuit for at least a majority of a time of illumination.
16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the current is not applied when the near-field transducer is illuminated.
17. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the current is applied to the at least one conductor or circuit for a portion of the time that the near-field transducer is illuminated.
18. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the illumination is gradually increased while the current is gradually decreased.
19. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the at least one conductor or circuit includes an electrical conductor coupled directly to the near-field transducer, wherein joule heating is generated in the near-field transducer when a current is passed therethrough.
20. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein a voltage at the near-field transducer is less than 1V.
21. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the current is direct current.
22. The method as recited in claim 19 , wherein the current is alternating current.
23. The method as recited in claim 22 , wherein a frequency period of the alternating current is faster than a thermal expansion time constant of the near-field transducer.
24. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the at least one conductor or circuit includes a heating element positioned closer than 400 nm to the near-field transducer.