Patents by Inventor Michael Allen Seigler

Michael Allen Seigler has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Head gimbal assembly with heat assist laser
    Patent number: 8755254
    Abstract: An apparatus and associated method for a head gimbal assembly for data transduction in a data storage device with a heat assist laser. Various embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a slider supporting at least a transducing element on an air bearing surface (ABS) and a laser assembly directly attached to a top side of the slider opposite the ABS. The laser assembly is positioned on the top side with no portion of the laser assembly extending past a longitudinal centerline of the slider.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Seigler, Edward Charles Gage, Bradley Jay Ver Meer
  • Discrete track media (DTM) design and fabrication for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR)
    Patent number: 8743497
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a recording media including a substrate, a plurality of tracks of magnetic material on the substrate, and a non-magnetic material between the tracks; a recording head having an air bearing surface positioned adjacent to the recording media, and including a magnetic pole, an optical transducer, and a near-field transducer, wherein the near-field transducer directs electromagnetic radiation onto tracks to heat portions of the tracks and a magnetic field from the magnetic pole is used to create magnetic transitions in the heated portions of the tracks; and a plasmonic material positioned adjacent to the magnetic material to increase coupling between the electromagnetic radiation and the magnetic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kaizhong Gao, Michael Allen Seigler, Xuhui Jin, Ganping Ju, Bin Lu
  • Recording head with waveguide
    Patent number: 8659980
    Abstract: An apparatus having a first pole with a first side and a second side opposite from the first side, a second pole positioned on the first side of the first pole, and a waveguide positioned on the second side of the first pole wherein the waveguide has an end adjacent to an air bearing surface. The first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion to the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the waveguide than the first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Leigh Mallary, Hua Zhou
  • RECORDING HEAD WITH NEAR-FIELD ANTENNA AND COMPOSITE POLE
    Publication number: 20140016448
    Abstract: A near field transducer antenna has a first end proximate a media writing surface and a second end proximate a waveguide that delivers light to the antenna. The antenna includes an aperture disposed along a propagation axis that extends from the first end to the second end. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch is facing an opening of the aperture that extends along the propagation axis. A magnetic pole is proximate the antenna, and includes a first portion of magnetic material and a second portion of antenna material. The second portion is disposed over the opening of the aperture and facing the notch of the antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Michael Allen Seigler
  • INTERLAYER FOR DEVICE INCLUDING NFT AND CLADDING LAYERS
    Publication number: 20140004384
    Abstract: A device that includes a near field transducer (NFT); at least one cladding layer adjacent the NFT; and a discontinuous metal layer positioned between the NFT and the at least one cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Michael Allen Seigler, Yongjun Zhao, Jay Jayashankar, Xiaoyue Huang
  • Recording head with near-field antenna and composite pole
    Patent number: 8619513
    Abstract: A near field transducer antenna has a first end proximate a media writing surface and a second end proximate a waveguide that delivers light to the antenna. The antenna includes an aperture disposed along a propagation axis that extends from the first end to the second end. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch is facing an opening of the aperture that extends along the propagation axis. A magnetic pole is proximate the antenna, and includes a first portion of magnetic material and a second portion of antenna material. The second portion is disposed over the opening of the aperture and facing the notch of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Layered Near-field Transducer
    Publication number: 20130330573
    Abstract: A near-field transducer includes a substrate that defines a substrate-parallel plane. The near-field transducer also includes a composite layer deposited on the substrate-parallel plane. The composite layer has a first layer of the plasmonic material and a second layer of an insertion material adjacent the substrate. The insertion material reduces plastic deformation of the near-field transducer at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Amit Itagi, Michael Allen Seigler
  • PLASMONIC TRANSDUCER HAVING TWO METAL ELEMENTS WITH A GAP DISPOSED THEREBETWEEN
    Publication number: 20130294208
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide configured to deliver light to a transducer region. The apparatus also includes a plasmonic transducer that has two metal elements configured as side-by-side plates on a substrate-parallel plane with a gap therebetween. The gap is disposed along the substrate-parallel plane and has an input end disposed proximate the transducer region and an output end. The transducer is configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate the output end in response to the light received by the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Chubing Peng, Kaizhong Gao, Lien Lee, Amit Itagi, Michael Allen Seigler, Yimin Niu, Sethuraman Jayashankar
  • RECORDING HEAD FOR HEAT ASSISTED MAGNETIC RECORDING
    Publication number: 20130258825
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having a core layer and an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles magnetically coupled to each other and positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the core layer of the waveguide than the first portion, and a heat sink positioned adjacent to the second portion of the first pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Seigler, Mark William Covington, Michael Leigh Mallary, Hua Zhou, Amit Vasant Itagi
  • HAMR NFT MATERIALS WITH IMPROVED THERMAL STABILITY
    Publication number: 20130235707
    Abstract: A near field transducer includes gold and at least one dopant. The dopant can include at least one of: Cu, Rh, Ru, Ag, Ta, Cr, Al, Zr, V, Pd, Ir, Co, W, Ti, Mg, Fe, or Mo. The dopant concentration may be in a range from 0.5% and 30%. The dopant can be a nanoparticle oxide of V, Zr, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, Si, Ce, Y, Ta, W, or Th, or a nitride of Ta, Al, Ti, Si, In, Fe, Zr, Cu, W or B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, William Albert Challener, Michael Allen Seigler
  • PLASMONIC FUNNEL FOR FOCUSED OPTICAL DELIVERY TO A METALLIC MEDIUM
    Publication number: 20130223196
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a transducer including a plasmonic funnel having first and second ends with the first end having a smaller cross-sectional area than the second end, and a first section positioned adjacent to the first end of the plasmonic funnel, and a first waveguide having a core, positioned to cause light in the core to excite surface plasmons on the transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Kaizhong Gao, Michael Allen Seigler, Amit Itagi, Jie Zou
  • Layered near-field transducer
    Patent number: 8514673
    Abstract: A near-field transducer includes a substrate that defines a substrate-parallel plane. The near-field transducer also includes a composite layer deposited on the substrate-parallel plane. The composite layer has a first layer of the plasmonic material and a second layer of an insertion material adjacent the substrate. The insertion material reduces plastic deformation of the near-field transducer at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Amit Itagi, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Active Media for Heat Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR)
    Publication number: 20130201805
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a magnetic recording layer and a thermally active material adjacent to and/or embedded in the magnetic recording layer, wherein the thermally active material has a thermal property that changes when the temperature of the thermally active material changes, or undergoes a phase transition in a predetermined temperature range, to reduce a peak temperature or increase a thermal gradient of a heated portion of the magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Applicant: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Seigler, William Challener
  • Heat assisted magnetic recording using surface-emitting distributed feedback laser
    Patent number: 8477571
    Abstract: A device includes a body, a waveguide, and a near field transducer (NFT). The body has opposed first and second surfaces. The waveguide is adapted to receive light and convey the light to a distal end of the waveguide. The NFT is disposed proximate the distal end, and it has an output end proximate the first surface of the body. The device further includes a surface-emitting distributed feedback (SE-DFB) laser that is mounted on and attached to the body and positioned to inject laser light into the waveguide. The device may be a recording head, and the laser, the waveguide, and the NFT may cooperate to provide electromagnetic heating to a substrate for heat assisted magnetic recording.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Delai Zhou, Tim Rausch, Lifu Zhou, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Laser integrated recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 8456969
    Abstract: A magnetic stack includes a self-supporting substrate that carries first and second layer(s). The first layer(s) comprise a magnetic write pole, and the second layer(s) comprise a semiconductor laser. At least one of the second layer(s) is monocrystalline and incompatible with epitaxial growth on the substrate. No support substrate other than the self-supporting substrate attaches to the second layer(s). The magnetic stack may include a near field transducer (NFT) disposed to receive light emitted by the laser. A waveguide may transmit light from the laser to the NFT, or the NFT may couple to the laser without an intervening waveguide. The magnetic stack may be configured for heat assisted magnetic recording (HAMR).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Marcus Benedict Mooney, Mark Anthony Gubbins, Roger Lee Hipwell, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Recording head for heat assisted magnetic recording
    Patent number: 8451555
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide having a core layer and an end adjacent to an air bearing surface, first and second poles magnetically coupled to each other and positioned on opposite sides of the waveguide, wherein the first pole includes a first portion spaced from the waveguide and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the air bearing surface, with the second portion being structured such that an end of the second portion is closer to the core layer of the waveguide than the first portion, and a heat sink positioned adjacent to the second portion of the first pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Allen Seigler, Mark William Covington, Michael Leigh Mallary, Hua Zhou, Amit Vasant Itagi
  • Plasmonic transducer having two metal elements with a gap disposed therebetween
    Patent number: 8451705
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide configured to deliver light to a transducer region. The apparatus also includes a plasmonic transducer that has two metal elements configured as side-by-side plates on a substrate-parallel plane with a gap therebetween. The gap is disposed along the substrate-parallel plane and has an input end disposed proximate the transducer region and an output end. The transducer is configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate the output end in response to the light received by the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Chubing Peng, Kaizhong Gao, Lien Lee, Amit Vasant Itagi, Michael Allen Seigler, Yimin Niu, Sethuraman Jayashankar
  • Grating for VCSEL coupling to a heat assisted magnetic recording head
    Patent number: 8442367
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a waveguide including a core layer having curved edges shaped to reflect light to a focal point, and a grating positioned adjacent to or imbedded in the core layer, wherein at least a portion of the grating is positioned between the curved edges and adjacent to or imbedded in a portion of the core layer that is not traversed by light reflected from the curved edges. A data storage device that includes the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: William Albert Challener, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Transducer assembly having grating slits parallel to longitudinal axis of waveguide
    Patent number: 8437229
    Abstract: An apparatus having a transducer assembly that includes a waveguide having first and second cladding layers and a core layer between the first and second cladding layers, and a grating structured to couple electromagnetic radiation into the waveguide. The grating has a plurality of elongated slits that are substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the waveguide. The apparatus further has a light source mounted adjacent the waveguide to direct light onto the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Michael Allen Seigler
  • HAMR NFT materials with improved thermal stability
    Patent number: 8427925
    Abstract: A near field transducer includes gold and at least one dopant. The dopant can include at least one of: Cu, Rh, Ru, Ag, Ta, Cr, Al, Zr, V, Pd, Ir, Co, W, Ti, Mg, Fe, or Mo. The dopant concentration may be in a range from 0.5% and 30%. The dopant can be a nanoparticle oxide of V, Zr, Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, Si, Ce, Y, Ta, W, or Th, or a nitride of Ta, Al, Ti, Si, In, Fe, Zr, Cu, W or B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, William Albert Challener, Michael Allen Seigler