Patents Assigned to Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
  • Near field transducer driven by a transverse electric waveguide for energy assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 8976635
    Abstract: An apparatus includes dielectric waveguide cores operating in transverse electric (TE) mode configured to receive incident light energy from an energy source and direct the incident light energy to a target. A near field transducer (NFT) is configured to focus the light energy received from the waveguide cores and to transmit the focused light energy onto a storage disk surface to generate a heating spot. The NFT includes propagating surface plasmon polariton (PSPP) elements that are energized by the light energy from the waveguide cores. Each PSPP element has a plasmonic metal bar disposed above a surface of a single waveguide core in a longitudinal alignment with the waveguide core, a first end that receives the light energy from the waveguide core, and a second end exposed to the air bearing surface. The width of each metal bar tapers toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Jiangrong Cao, Michael V. Morelli, Peng Zhang, Brad V. Johnson
  • Electric gaps and method for making electric gaps for multiple sensor arrays
    Patent number: 8970988
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and at least two read sensors. The magnetic transducer also includes a first read shield, a first read sensor, a middle shield, a second read sensor, a second read shield, a first electric gap and a second electric gap. The first read sensor is in a down track direction from the first read shield. The middle shield is in a down track direction from the first read sensor. The middle shield is between the first read sensor and the second read sensor. A first portion of the first electric gap is in a direction opposite to the down track direction from the first read sensor. The first read sensor and the second read sensor are between the first electric gap and the second electric gap in a cross-track direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Changhe Shang, Ge Yi, Steven C. Rudy, Guolun Hao, Qunwen Leng, Shihai He, Yingbo Zhang, Ming Mao, Lien-Chang Wang
  • Near field transducer with high refractive index pin for heat assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 8971160
    Abstract: An HAMR NFT pin and main body structure comprising a pin material with high index of refraction and low absorption coefficient is disclosed. The disclosed NFT pin provides a comparable media absorption efficiency to the conventional Au pin while improving on overall NFT reliability. The protrusion of the NFT pin is reduced and overall life of the writer is prolonged. The main body may comprise any noble metal or metal alloy suitable for achieving optical resonance in an HAMR NFT. The cladding material may be selected such that its coefficient of thermal expansion closely matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of the pin material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Hongxing Yuan, Michael V. Morelli, Jiangrong Cao, Brad V. Johnson, Rabee M. Ikkawi
  • Energy assisted magnetic recording transducer having an electronic lapping guide corresponding to a near-field transducer
    Patent number: 8964333
    Abstract: An energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) is described. The EAMR transducer includes at least one near-field transducer (NFT) and an electronic lapping guide (ELG) substantially coplanar with a portion of the at least one film. In some aspects, the NFT includes a disk portion and a pin portion. The pin is between the disk portion and the ABS. The pin portion corresponds to a critical dimension of the NFT from an ABS location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Yufeng Hu, Zhongyan Wang, Jinshan Li
  • GRADIENT WRITE GAP FOR PERPENDICULAR MAGNETIC RECORDING WRITER
    Publication number: 20150049400
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a magnetic writer pole for use in a hard drive. The magnetic writer pole comprises a first bevel formed by a non-magnetic layer, the first bevel formed at a first angle and extending to a first throat height. The magnetic writer pole further comprises a second bevel formed by the non-magnetic layer and extending distally from the first bevel at a second angle that is greater than the first angle and extending to a second throat height. The magnetic writer pole further comprises a third bevel formed by the non-magnetic layer and extending distally from the second bevel at a third angle that is greater than the second angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: LI ZENG, DEHUA HAN, ZHIGANG BAI, LISHA WANG
  • Method and system for providing an NFT having improved mechanical stability
    Patent number: 8958168
    Abstract: A method and system provides an EAMR transducer. The 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 EAMR transducer includes a composite near field transducer (NFT), a write pole and at least one coil for energizing the write pole. The write pole is configured to write to a region of the media. The composite NFT is for focusing the energy onto the region of the media. The composite NFT includes at least one metal and at least one insulator therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Hongxing Yuan, Zhongyan Wang, Michael V. Morelli, Ronald L. Allen
  • Interfering near field transducer for energy assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 8958272
    Abstract: An apparatus for energy assisted magnetic recording of a storage disk includes a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores configured to receive incident light energy from an energy source and direct the incident light energy to a target, and a near field transducer (NFT) formed at an air bearing surface of a magnetic recording device. The NFT is configured to focus the light energy received from the plurality of waveguide cores and to transmit the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot on the storage disk. The NFT includes a plurality of propagating surface plasmon polariton (PSPP) elements configured as plasmonic metal ridges. Each of the PSPP elements has a width approximately equivalent to the width of the heating spot and is disposed above a surface of a single waveguide core in a longitudinal alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Jiangrong Cao, Michael V. Morelli, Brad V. Johnson, Matthew R. Gibbons
  • Near field transducer using dielectric waveguide core with fine ridge feature
    Patent number: 8953422
    Abstract: An apparatus for energy assisted magnetic recording of a storage disk includes a plurality of dielectric waveguide cores disposed near an air bearing surface of a magnetic recording device. Each waveguide core has a fine ridge feature on a first surface of the waveguide core and configured to receive incident light energy from an energy source. A near field transducer (NFT) is formed at the air bearing surface for focusing light energy received from the waveguide core and transmitting the focused light energy onto the storage disk surface to generate a heating spot. The NFT includes at least one plasmonic metal element disposed above the fine ridge features of the waveguide cores to form an interface for delivering propagating surface plasmon polaritons (PSPPs) to the air bearing surface. Each fine ridge feature is configured with a width approximately equivalent to a width of the heating spot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Jiangrong Cao, Michael V. Morelli, Hongxing Yuan, Peng Zhang, Brad V. Johnson, Matthew R. Gibbons
  • Heat assisted magnetic recording transducers having a recessed pole
    Patent number: 8947985
    Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) write transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS) configured to reside in proximity to a media during use and is coupled with a laser that provides energy. The HAMR transducer includes a main pole, at least one additional pole adjacent to the main pole in a down track direction, a waveguide and at least one coil for energizing the main pole. The main pole is configured to write to a region of the media and is recessed from the ABS by a first distance. The additional pole(s) are recessed from the ABS by a second distance greater than the first distance. The waveguide is optically coupled with the laser and directs a portion of the energy toward the ABS at an acute angle from the ABS. A portion of the waveguide resides between the additional pole(s) and the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Michael V. Morelli, Lisha Wang, Zhigang Bai, Hongxing Yuan, Yunfei Li, Zhanjie Li, Matthew R. Gibbons, Samuel W. Yuan
  • Optical grating coupling for interferometric waveguides in heat assisted magnetic recording heads
    Patent number: 8923102
    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, a waveguide optically coupled with the laser and a grating. The write pole is configured to write to a region of the media. The coil(s) energize the write pole. The waveguide includes arms that have an optical path difference. The grating is optically coupled with the laser. The waveguide is optically coupled with the grating and receives light from the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Zhong Shi, Michael L. Mallary
  • Method for providing a monolithic shield for a magnetic recording transducer
    Patent number: 8914969
    Abstract: A method fabricates a magnetic transducer. A sacrificial leading shield is provided on an etch stop layer. A nonmagnetic layer is provided on the sacrificial leading shield. A pole trench is formed in the nonmagnetic layer and on the sacrificial leading shield. A pole is formed. The pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom in a pole tip region. Part of the pole in the pole tip region is in the pole trench and at the ABS location. The sacrificial leading shield and part of the nonmagnetic layer adjacent to the pole are removed. An air bridge thus resides in place of the sacrificial leading shield between the portion of the pole and the etch stop layer. As least one shield layer is provided. The at least one shield layer substantially fills the air bridge and form a monolithic shield including a leading and side shields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Xiaotian Zhou, Hongzhou Jiang, Donghong Li, Lien-Chang Wang, Ching-Huang Lu, Wencheng Su, Lieping Zhong, Tao Pan
  • Magnetic recording transducers having slim shaped additional poles
    Patent number: 8917480
    Abstract: A magnetic transducer has an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic transducer has a main pole, at least one coil for energizing the main pole and at least one additional pole. The main pole has a yoke and a pole tip having an ABS facing surface. The at least one additional pole is adjacent to the main pole in a down track direction. The additional pole is recessed from the ABS, has a front surface facing the ABS, has at least one side surface, and has at least one flare angle between the front surface and the at least one side surface. The at least one flare angle is measured from the ABS to the at least one side surface and is at least fifty degrees and less than ninety degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Feng Liu, Zhanjie Li, Zhigang Bai
  • Shield designed for middle shields in a multiple sensor array
    Patent number: 8908333
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS) and including first and second read sensors and a shield. The shield is in a down track direction from the first read sensor and between the first and second read sensors. The shield includes a first shield layer, a second shield layer and an insulating layer between the first and second shield layers. The first shield layer is between the first read sensor and the second shield layer. The second shield layer is between the first shield layer and the second read sensor. The first shield layer has a first footprint. The second shield layer has a second footprint. The second shield layer overlaps the first shield layer in the down track direction. The overlap is not more than fifty percent of the first footprint and not more than fifty percent of the second footprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Steven C. Rudy, Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Michael L. Mallary, Donghong Li, Yingbo Zhang
  • Method of forming a straight top main pole for PMR bevel writer
    Patent number: 8893376
    Abstract: A method of forming a magnetic recording head is provided. The method comprises the steps of forming a damascene trench comprising a lower region having a substantially trapezoidal cross-section and an upper region having a substantially rectangular cross-section, and providing a magnetic material within the damascene trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital(Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Changqing Shi, Ming Jiang
  • Method and system for performing off-disk measurements of laser-induced NFT protrusion in a heat assisted magnetic recording transducer
    Patent number: 8897104
    Abstract: A method and system test a heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer. The HAMR transducer is optically coupled to at least one laser and has an air-bearing surface. The HAMR transducer includes at least one waveguide, at least one near-field transducer (NFT) and a pole. A portion of the NFT(s) resides at the ABS. The laser(s) are optically coupled to the NFT(s). The method and system include energizing the laser(s) at power(s) while the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to a media. The method and system also include measuring an off-disk protrusion of the portion of the NFT(s) at the ABS while the laser(s) are energized and the HAMR transducer is not in proximity to the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Wentao Yan, Yu Lo
  • Method and system for measuring light delivery offsets in a heat assisted magnetic recording head
    Patent number: 8897102
    Abstract: A heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) transducer resides on a slider, has an air-bearing surface (ABS) and has a back side. The HAMR transducer includes a target waveguide, a plurality of assistant cores and a plurality of output devices. The target waveguide has an entrance at the back side and directs energy provided by a laser from the entrance at the back side toward the ABS. The assistant cores have a plurality of assistant core entrances at the back side. The assistant cores direct energy from the assistant core entrances to the output devices. In some aspects, the assistant cores and output devices may be used in aligning the laser and the target waveguide or checking the alignment of the laser and the target waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Paul Lin, Zhong Shi, Lei Wang
  • Connection schemes for a multiple sensor array usable in two-dimensional magnetic recording
    Patent number: 8891207
    Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer including first and second read sensors, a shield and a conductive via. The shield is between the first and second read sensors. In one aspect, the magnetic transducer also includes first and second read shields. In this aspect, the first read shield has a read shield aperture. The conductive via extends through the read shield aperture, provides electrical contact to the shield and is insulated from the first read shield. In another aspect, the shield has first and second shield layers separated by an insulating layer. In this aspect, the second shield layer has an aperture therein. The conductive via extends through this aperture, provides electrical contact to the first shield layer and is insulated from the second shield layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Shaoping Li, Gerardo A. Bertero, Michael L. Mallary, Ge Yi, Steven C. Rudy
  • Method and system for providing a read transducer having seamless interfaces
    Patent number: 8883017
    Abstract: A method and system provide a substantially seamless interface in a magnetic transducer. The magnetic recording transducer includes a first layer and a second layer on the first layer. The second layer is different from the first layer. The first layer consists of at least one material. The method includes removing at least the second layer using a first removal process. A residue of the second layer and a first portion of the first layer remain after the first removal process. A first sacrificial layer consists of the at least one material on the first portion of the first layer. At least the first sacrificial layer is removed using a second removal process. A second portion of the first layer remains after completion of the second removal process. An additional structure is provided. The seamless interface is between the second portion of the first layer and the additional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Zhihong Zhang, Guanxiong Li, Ming Mao
  • Method and system for providing a laser cavity for an energy assisted magnetic recording head
    Patent number: 8877358
    Abstract: A method for providing a capping layer configured for an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) head including at least one slider. The method comprises etching a substrate having a top surface using an etch to form a trench in the substrate, the trench having a first surface at a first angle from the top surface and a second surface having a second angle from the top surface. The method further comprises providing a protective coating exposing the second surface and covering the first surface, removing a portion of the substrate including the second surface to form a laser cavity within the substrate configured to fit a laser therein, and providing a reflective layer on the first surface to form a mirror, the cavity and mirror being configured for alignment of the laser to the laser cavity and to the mirror and for bonding the laser to the laser cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Lei Wang, Pezhman Monadgemi
  • Method for providing a side shield for a magnetic recording transducer using an air bridge
    Patent number: 8879207
    Abstract: A method fabricates a side shield for a magnetic transducer having a nonmagnetic layer and an ABS location corresponding to an ABS. The nonmagnetic layer has a pole trench therein. The pole trench has a shape and location corresponding to the pole. A wet etchable layer is deposited. Part of the wet etchable layer resides in the pole trench. A pole is formed. The pole has a bottom and a top wider than the bottom in the pole tip region. Part of the pole in the pole tip region is in the pole trench on at least part of the wet etchable layer. At least parts of the wet etchable layer and the nonmagnetic layer are removed, forming an air bridge. The air bridge is between part of the pole at the ABS location and an underlying layer. Side shield layer(s) that substantially fill the air bridge are deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Western Digital (Fremont), LLC
    Inventors: Jinqiu Zhang, Feng Liu, Shaoping Li, Ming Sun