Patents by Inventor Michael Christopher Kautzky

Michael Christopher Kautzky 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).

  • Patent number: 12057147
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film structure involves performing one or more repetitions to form a template on a wafer. The repetitions include: depositing a layer of a template material to a first thickness T1; and ion beam milling the layer of the template material to remove thickness T2, where T2<T1, resulting in a layer of the template material with thickness T1?T2. The ion beam milling is performed at a channeling angle relative to a deposition plane of the wafer, the channeling angle defined relative to a channeling direction of a crystalline microstructure of the template material. After the repetitions, additional material is deposited on the template to form a final structure. The additional material has a same crystalline microstructure as the template material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Publication number: 20240185882
    Abstract: A method involves forming a metal layer on a metal seed layer, the metal seed layer formed on a carrier wafer. A surface of the metal layer defines a first metal bonding layer. A second metal bonding layer is provided on a target substrate having recording head subassemblies. Mating surfaces of the first and second metal bonding layers are activated and the carrier wafer is flipped and joined with the target substrate such that the first and second metal bonding layers are bonded and the metal layer is integrated with the recording head as a near-field transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Kautzky, Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Xiaolu Kou
  • Patent number: 11935567
    Abstract: A method comprises forming a single-crystal-like metal layer on a metal seed layer, the metal seed layer formed on a carrier wafer. The method comprises forming a first bonding layer on the single-crystal-like metal layer. The method also comprises forming a second bonding layer on a dielectric layer of a target substrate, the target substrate comprising one or more recording head subassemblies. The bonding layers may include diffusion layers or dielectric bonding layers. The method further comprises flipping and joining the carrier wafer with the target substrate such that the first and second diffusion layers are bonded and the single-crystal-like metal layer is integrated with the recording head as a near-field transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Kautzky, Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Xiaolu Kou
  • Patent number: 11587581
    Abstract: A near-field transducer or heat sink is formed via a first process. The near-field transducer or heat sink is transfer-printed to a read/write head via a second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gubbins, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Marcus B. Mooney, Mark Ostrowski, Tong Zhao, Michael J. Hardy, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Neil Zuckerman, Declan Macken, Francis A. McGinnity
  • Publication number: 20220366934
    Abstract: A method comprises forming a single-crystal-like metal layer on a metal seed layer, the metal seed layer formed on a carrier wafer. The method comprises forming a first bonding layer on the single-crystal-like metal layer. The method also comprises forming a second bonding layer on a dielectric layer of a target substrate, the target substrate comprising one or more recording head subassemblies. The bonding layers may include diffusion layers or dielectric bonding layers. The method further comprises flipping and joining the carrier wafer with the target substrate such that the first and second diffusion layers are bonded and the single-crystal-like metal layer is integrated with the recording head as a near-field transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Kautzky, Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Xiaolu Kou
  • Patent number: 11423928
    Abstract: A method includes forming a single-crystal-like metal layer on a metal seed layer, the metal seed layer formed on a sacrificial wafer. An anchor layer is formed on the single-crystal-like metal layer. The single-crystal-like metal layer is separated from the sacrificial wafer via the anchor layer. The single-crystal-like metal layer is transported via the anchor layer to a target substrate having one or more recording head subassemblies. The single-crystal-like metal layer is joined with the recording head, the single-crystal-like metal layer being integrated with the recording head as a near-field transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Michael Christopher Kautzky, Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Xiaolu Kou
  • Publication number: 20220051694
    Abstract: A method of forming a thin film structure involves performing one or more repetitions to form a template on a wafer. The repetitions include: depositing a layer of a template material to a first thickness T1; and ion beam milling the layer of the template material to remove thickness T2, where T2<T1, resulting in a layer of the template material with thickness T1?T2. The ion beam milling is performed at a channeling angle relative to a deposition plane of the wafer, the channeling angle defined relative to a channeling direction of a crystalline microstructure of the template material. After the repetitions, additional material is deposited on the template to form a final structure. The additional material has a same crystalline microstructure as the template material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: February 17, 2022
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 11183215
    Abstract: A thin film structure (e.g., a near-field transducer), includes a first surface parallel to a substrate on which the thin film structure is deposited and two other surfaces orthogonal to the first surface. The first surface and the two other surfaces have respective first, second, and third selected plane orientations with respective first, second, and third atomic packing factors. The first, second, and third selected plane orientations are selected to maximize an average of the first, second, and third atomic packing factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Li Wan, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 10984821
    Abstract: A near-field transducer or heat sink is formed via a first process. The near-field transducer or heat sink is transfer-printed to a read/write head via a second process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Mark Gubbins, Roger L. Hipwell, Jr., Marcus B. Mooney, Mark Ostrowski, Tong Zhao, Michael J. Hardy, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Neil Zuckerman, Declan Macken, Francis A. McGinnity
  • Patent number: 10510365
    Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer comprises an aperture portion surrounded by walls of plasmonic material, the walls oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch comprises at least one of Rh and Ir. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Martin Giles Blaber, Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Publication number: 20190214041
    Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer comprises an aperture portion surrounded by walls of plasmonic material, the walls oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch comprises at least one of Rh and Ir. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Martin Giles Blaber, Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 10236020
    Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer comprises an aperture portion surrounded by walls of plasmonic material, the walls oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch comprises at least one of Rh and Ir. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Martin Giles Blaber, Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Publication number: 20180261240
    Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer comprises an aperture portion surrounded by walls of plasmonic material, the walls oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch comprises at least one of Rh and Ir. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Inventors: Martin Giles Blaber, Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9972346
    Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer comprises an aperture portion surrounded by walls of plasmonic material, the walls oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch comprises at least one of Rh and Ir. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Martin Giles Blaber, Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9805757
    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: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, William Albert Challener, Michael Allen Seigler
  • Publication number: 20170249958
    Abstract: A recording head includes a near-field transducer proximate a media-facing surface. The near-field transducer comprises an aperture portion surrounded by walls of plasmonic material, the walls oriented normal to the media-facing surface. A notch protrudes within the aperture. The notch comprises at least one of Rh and Ir. A write pole is proximate the near-field transducer. The write pole has a back surface facing away from the media-facing surface and an aperture-facing surface proximate the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventors: Martin Giles Blaber, Michael Allen Seigler, Michael Christopher Kautzky
  • Patent number: 9728209
    Abstract: A near-field transducer includes first and second stacked base portions having a common outline shape. The second base portion is proximate alight delivery structure. A peg extends from the first base portion towards a media-facing surface. The peg includes a material that is more thermally robust than a plasmonic material of the base portion. The peg has a peg thickness that is less than a thickness of the first base portion. The first base portion has a first recess proximate the peg. The first recess separates the first base portion from the media-facing surface and exposes at least a top side of the peg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Weibin Chen, Martin Blaber, Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, John Charles Duda
  • Patent number: 9601135
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Michael Allen Seigler, Yongjun Zhao, Jay Jayashankar, Xiaoyue Huang
  • Publication number: 20160351209
    Abstract: A near-field transducer includes first and second stacked base portions having a common outline shape. The second base portion is proximate alight delivery structure. A peg extends from the first base portion towards a media-facing surface. The peg includes a material that is more thermally robust than a plasmonic material of the base portion. The peg has a peg thickness that is less than a thickness of the first base portion. The first base portion has a first recess proximate the peg. The first recess separates the first base portion from the media-facing surface and exposes at least a top side of the peg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventors: Weibin Chen, Martin Blaber, Tong Zhao, Michael Christopher Kautzky, John Charles Duda
  • Patent number: 9431036
    Abstract: Thermal energy is generated within an optical NFT when in operation within a HAMR head. A heat-sink assembly within the HAMR head extracts thermal energy from the optical NFT and transmits the thermal energy via convection to air surrounding the HAMR head, radiation to surfaces adjacent to the HAMR head, and/or conduction to other parts of the HAMR head. The thermal energy generated within the optical NFT is conducted to the heat-sink. An air-bearing surface of the heat-sink convectively transfers at least some of the thermal energy to air passing between the air-bearing surface and a surface of an adjacent magnetic medium. Further, some of the thermal energy may also radiatively transfer from the air-bearing surface to the magnetic medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SEAGATE TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: William Paul Vavra, Xiaoyue Huang, Michael Christopher Kautzky, Kaizhong Gao