IP Library Granted Patent US 9,064,527
Granted Patent B1
US 9,064,527 · App. 13/919,949 · Granted Jun 23, 2015

High order tapered waveguide for use in a heat assisted magnetic recording head

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,064,527
App. No.
13/919,949
Granted
Jun 23, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer is coupled with a laser for providing energy and has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use. The HAMR transducer includes a write pole, at least one coil, and a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser. The write pole is configured to write to a region of the media. The coil(s) energize the write pole. The tapered waveguide includes an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. At least a portion of the first side and the second side converge in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order greater than one.

Claims (49)

1. A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer coupled with a laser for providing energy and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, the HAMR transducer comprising:

a write pole configured to write to a region of the media;

at least one coil for energizing the write pole;

a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser, the tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order that is at least three;

wherein the waveguide is an interferometric tapered waveguide including a plurality of arms.

2. A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer coupled with a laser for providing energy and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, the HAMR transducer comprising:

a write pole configured to write to a region of the media;

at least one coil for energizing the write pole;

a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser, the tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order greater than one; and

a mode converter optically coupled between the laser and the tapered waveguide,

the mode converter having a mode converter order different from the order of the function for tapered waveguide;

wherein the waveguide is an interferometric tapered waveguide including a plurality of arms.

3. The HAMR transducer of claim 2 wherein the mode converter order is greater than one.

4. The HAMR transducer of claim 3 wherein the mode converter is a quadratic mode converter.

5. The HAMR transducer of claim 2 wherein the mode converter is a linear mode converter.

6. A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer coupled with a laser for providing energy and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, the HAMR transducer comprising:

a write pole configured to write to a region of the media;

at least one coil for energizing the write pole;

a quadratic mode converter optically coupled with the laser; and

a quadratic tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser through the quadratic mode converter, the quadratic tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term of second order, the waveguide being an interferometric tapered waveguide including a plurality of arms.

7. A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) disk drive comprising:

a media for storing data;

a slider having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to the media during use;

a laser coupled with the slider for providing energy;

an HAMR transducer coupled with the slider and including a write pole, at least one coil, and a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser, the tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order greater than one; and

a mode converter optically coupled between the laser and the tapered waveguide,

the mode converter having a mode converter order different from the order of the function for tapered waveguide;

wherein the waveguide is an interferometric tapered waveguide including a plurality of arms.

8. A method for providing a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer coupled with a laser for providing energy and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, the HAMR transducer comprising:

providing a write pole configured to write to a region of the media;

providing at least one coil for energizing the write pole;

providing a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser, the tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order of at least three, wherein the waveguide is an interferometric tapered waveguide including a plurality of arms.

9. A method for providing a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer coupled with a laser for providing energy and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, the HAMR transducer comprising:

providing a write pole configured to write to a region of the media;

providing at least one coil for energizing the write pole;

providing a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser, the tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order, the order being at least two such that at least one term includes a quadratic term; and

providing a mode converter optically coupled between the laser and the tapered waveguide, the mode converter having a mode converter order different from the order of the function for tapered waveguide.

10. A method for providing a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer coupled with a laser for providing energy and having an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use, the HAMR transducer comprising:

providing a write pole configured to write to a region of the media;

providing at least one coil for energizing the write pole;

providing a tapered waveguide optically coupled with the laser, the tapered waveguide including an entrance distal from the ABS, a bottom proximate to the ABS, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side, at least a portion of the first side and at least a portion of the second side converging in accordance with a function having at least one term having an order, the order being at least two such that at least one term includes a quadratic term; and

providing a mode converter optically coupled between the laser and the tapered waveguide, the mode converter having a mode converter order different from the order of the function for tapered waveguide.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the converter order is greater than one.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the mode converter is a quadratic mode converter.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the mode converter is a linear mode converter.

14. The HAMR transducer of claim 1 wherein the interferometric tapered waveguide is an inverse tapered waveguide.

15. The HAMR transducer of claim 6 wherein the interferometric tapered waveguide is an inverse tapered waveguide.

16. The HAMR transducer of claim 7 wherein the interferometric tapered waveguide is an inverse tapered waveguide.

17. The HAMR transducer of claim 8 wherein the interferometric tapered waveguide is an inverse tapered waveguide.

Assignments (9)
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - DDTL LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 067045/0156 →
PATENT COLLATERAL AGREEMENT - A&R LOAN AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 21, 2023
From: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 064715/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST AT REEL 038710 FRAME 0845 Recorded Feb 8, 2022
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC; WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 058965/0445 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 19, 2019
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 050450/0582 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 5, 2018
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 045501/0158 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038710/0845 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0675 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 16, 2016
From: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 038744/0755 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2014
From: SHI, ZHONG; MORELLI, MICHAEL V.; YUAN, HONGXING
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 033442/0362 →