IP Library Granted Patent US 9,099,145
Granted Patent B1
US 9,099,145 · App. 14/216,610 · Granted Aug 4, 2015

High contrast alignment marker

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,099,145
App. No.
14/216,610
Granted
Aug 4, 2015
Kind
B1
Abstract

A slider and method of making same to reduce contrast interference for visual identification of alignment marks on the slider for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) includes a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of a chip on submount assembly (COSA) with respect to the slider, and at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks. A hard disk drive includes a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of a chip on submount assembly (COSA) with respect to the slider, and at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks.

Claims (51)

1. A slider for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), comprising:

a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of a chip on submount assembly (COSA) with respect to the slider; and

at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks, wherein the at least one shield and the plurality of the alignment marks are used for passive alignment, wherein the at least one shield is arranged to shield the plurality of alignment marks from any background features visual interference, and wherein the at least one shield laterally flanks all of the plurality of alignment marks.

2. A slider for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), comprising:

a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of a chip on submount assembly (COSA) with respect to the slider; and

at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks, wherein each of the alignment marks comprises a contrast, and wherein the at least one shield comprises a contrast lower than the contrast of each of the alignment marks.

3. The slider of claim 2 , wherein the at least one shield is darker than each of the alignment marks.

4. The slider of claim 2 , wherein the at least one shield contrasts a brightness of the plurality of alignment marks.

5. The slider of claim 2 ,

further comprising an air bearing surface (ABS), a back surface opposite the ABS, and an edge extending between the ABS and the back surface; and

wherein the plurality of alignment marks are arranged adjacent the edge of the slider.

6. The slider of claim 2 ,

further comprising an air bearing surface (ABS), a back surface opposite the ABS, and an edge extending between the ABS and the back surface,

wherein the at least one shield comprises a plurality of shields, each shield of the plurality of shields being arranged with a respective one of the plurality of alignment marks, and

wherein each of the shields forms a “U” shape surrounding its respective one of the alignment marks on three sides in the plane of the edge of the slider.

7. The slider of claim 2 , wherein the alignment marks include first and second alignment marks, wherein the first alignment mark is a single element and the second alignment mark is two elements.

8. A hard disk drive comprising:

a rotatable magnetic recording disk; and

a slider for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) to the magnetic recording disk, the slider comprising:

a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of a chip on submount assembly (COSA) with respect to the slider; and

at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks, wherein the at least one shield is arranged to shield the plurality of alignment marks from any background features visual interference, and wherein the at least one shield laterally flanks all of the plurality of alignment marks.

9. A hard disk drive comprising:

a rotatable magnetic recording disk; and

a slider for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) to the magnetic recording disk, the slider comprising:

a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of a chip on submount assembly (COSA) with respect to the slider; and

at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks, wherein each of the alignment marks comprises a contrast, and the at least one shield comprises a contrast lower than the contrast of each of the alignment marks.

10. The hard disk drive of claim 9 , wherein the at least one shield is darker than the plurality of alignment marks.

11. The hard disk drive of claim 9 , wherein the at least one shield contrasts a brightness of the plurality of alignment marks.

12. The hard disk drive of claim 9 , wherein the slider further comprises an air bearing surface (ABS), a back surface opposite the ABS, and an edge extending between the ABS and the back surface, and wherein the plurality of alignment marks are arranged adjacent the edge of the slider.

13. The hard disk drive of claim 9 , wherein the slider further comprises an air bearing surface (ABS), a back surface opposite the ABS, and an edge extending between the ABS and the back surface, wherein the at least one shield comprises a plurality of shields, each shield of the plurality of shields being arranged with a respective one of the plurality of alignment marks, and wherein each of the shields forms a “U” shape surrounding its respective one of the alignment marks on three sides in the plane of the edge of the slider.

14. The hard disk drive of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of alignment marks include first and second alignment marks, wherein the first alignment mark is a single element and the second alignment mark is two elements.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of an object with respect to the apparatus;

a component; and

at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks such that the at least one shield blocks light reflecting from the component, and wherein the at least one shield laterally flanks all of the plurality of alignment marks, and wherein the at least one shield and the plurality of the alignment marks are used for passive alignment.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of alignment marks arranged for alignment of an object with respect to the apparatus;

a component; and

at least one shield arranged with the plurality of alignment marks such that the at least one shield blocks light reflecting from the component, wherein each of the alignment marks comprises a contrast, and wherein the at least one shield comprises a contrast lower than the contrast of each of the alignment marks.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one shield is darker than each of the alignment marks.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the at least one shield contrasts a brightness the plurality of alignment marks.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 ,

further comprising a first surface, a back surface opposite the first surface, and an edge extending between the first surface and the back surface; and

wherein the plurality of alignment marks are arranged adjacent the edge of the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 ,

further comprising a first surface, a back surface opposite the first surface, and an edge extending between the first surface and the back surface,

wherein the at least one shield comprises a plurality of shields, each shield of the plurality of shields being arranged with a respective one of the plurality of alignment marks, and

wherein each of the shields forms a “U” shape surrounding its respective one of the alignment marks on three sides in the plane of the edge of the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the alignment marks include first and second alignment marks, wherein the first alignment mark is a single element and the second alignment mark is two elements.

22. The slider of claim 7 , wherein a total width of the at least one shield is longer than the total width of the first and second alignment marks and a width of any gap between the two elements of the second alignment mark.

23. The hard disk drive of claim 14 , wherein a total width of the at least one shield is longer than the total width of the first and second alignment marks and a width of any gap between the two elements of the second alignment mark.

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 038744/0755 →
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 038710/0845 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2015
From: BIN, OUYANG; LIM, CHEE KHENG
To: WESTERN DIGITAL (FREMONT), LLC
Reel/Frame 035548/0775 →