Abstract: A plurality of laser diode units is tested in a bar state, each of the laser diode units in which a laser diode that includes a first electrode and a second electrode formed on surfaces facing each other and that is mounted on a mounting surface of a submount such that the first electrode faces the mounting surface of the submount.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes a waveguide and a plasmon generator. The waveguide has a core and a cladding. The core has first and second evanescent light generating surfaces disposed such that the plasmon generator is interposed therebetween. The plasmon generator has an outer surface, the outer surface including: a front end face; a first plasmon exciting part that is opposed to the first evanescent light generating surface with a predetermined spacing therebetween; and a second plasmon exciting part that is opposed to the second evanescent light generating surface with a predetermined spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A system for cooling a semiconductor light source bar during burn-in testing includes a fixture for holding the semiconductor light source bar, and the fixture including a housing having a water inlet channel and a water outlet channel communicated with the water inlet channel; a first water tank with coolant connected with the water inlet channel; a second water tank connected with the water outlet channel; and a pumping device at least connected with the water outlet channel for pumping the coolant from the first water tank to the second water tank, thereby rushing a bottom of the semiconductor light source bar to lower the temperature thereof. The system can disperse the local heat generated during burn-in testing and uniform the local temperature of the semiconductor light source bar, thereby maintaining a proper temperature during burn-in testing and improving the heat stability of the heat assist magnetic recording head.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a highly reliable magnetic head slider, with a simplified manufacturing process which provides reduction in manufacturing time and costs, is provided. The manufacturing method includes a multi-layer forming step for forming a magnetic head section in a multi-layered manner, the magnetic head section including a read element and/or a write element and a magnetic shield for magnetically shielding the read element and/or the write element, and the magnetic head slider is manufactured by being cut off from a multi-layered body having the magnetic head section. The manufacturing method further includes, after the multi-layer forming step, a shield end removing step for removing end portions in a width direction of the magnetic shield located on the flying surface side of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a coil, a main pole, a return path section, a waveguide, and a plasmon generator. The waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The return path section includes: first and second columnar portions located on opposite sides of the core in the track width direction; a coupling portion coupling the first and second columnar portions to each other; and a third columnar portion connected to the coupling portion. The third columnar portion is smaller than the coupling portion in width in the track width direction. The coil includes a winding portion wound around the third columnar portion.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a main pole having an end face located in a medium facing surface; a waveguide; a plasmon generator having a near-field light generating part located in the medium facing surface; and a shield located on the rear side in the direction of travel of a recording medium with respect to the main pole. The shield has an end face located in the medium facing surface and lying on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium with respect to the end face of the main pole. The end face of the main pole and the end face of the shield are at a distance of 50 to 300 nm from each other. The near-field light generating part is located between the end face of the main pole and the end face of the shield in the medium facing surface.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a main pole and a plasmon generator disposed to align along the direction of travel of a recording medium; a first heat sink layer having two portions that are located on opposite sides of the plasmon generator in the track width direction; a second heat sink layer having two portions that are located on opposite sides of the main pole in the track width direction; and a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the plasmon generator and the main pole. The first and second heat sink layers are each made of SiC or AlN. The nonmagnetic layer is made of a material that is lower in thermal conductivity at 25° C. than alumina.

Abstract: A manufacturing method of a light source chip for a thermally assisted head comprises steps of (a) providing a light source bar with a surface coating formed thereon; (b) forming several blind holes on the predetermined positions of the light source bar by etching, the blind hole having a top hollowed on the surface coating and a bottom hollowed on the light source bar, and the blind hole having a first biggest width at its top; (c) cutting the light source bar along every two adjacent blind holes by a cutting machine. The cutting machine has a cutting means with a second biggest width that is smaller than the first biggest width of the blind hole, thereby cutting down an individual light source chip without contacting the side edges of the blind hole.

Abstract: A method of the invention for performing burn-in test includes assembling, on a fixture stand, a plurality of light source elements and a plurality of light detectors for monitoring a light output from a corresponding one of the plurality of light source elements; and electrifying the plurality of light source elements in a state where at least the plurality of light source elements and the plurality of light detectors are immersed in an insulation liquid. Thereby, it is realized to hold a stable temperature in a short period of time, to maintain a temperature that does not deviate from normal load conditions, and to perform a sorting test between defect parts and good part for light source unit chips without causing damage to the elements.

Abstract: A method of the invention for performing burn-in test includes assembling, on a fixture stand, a plurality of light source elements and a plurality of light detectors for monitoring a light output from a corresponding one of the plurality of light source elements; and electrifying the plurality of light source elements in a state where at least the plurality of light source elements and the plurality of light detectors are immersed in an insulation liquid. Thereby, it is realized to hold a stable temperature in a short period of time, to maintain a temperature that does not deviate from normal load conditions, and to perform a sorting test between defect parts and good part for light source unit chips without causing damage to the elements.

Abstract: Provided is a light source unit the weight of which can be reduced while ensuring power supply to the light source. The light source is configured to form a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head by being joined with a slider including an optical system that propagates light for thermal assist. The light source unit comprises: a unit substrate including a joining surface that faces an power-supply electrode of the slider; a first electrode provided on the joining surface; a second electrode provided on a source-installation surface and electrically connected to the first electrode; and a light source that includes two electrode layers and a light-emission center located in a light-emitting surface. The first and second electrodes eliminate the provision of a terminal electrode for light source on the source-integration surface. As a result, the weight of the light source unit can be reduced.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and an adhesion material layer is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; irradiating the adhesion material layer with a light including the predetermined wavelength through the unit substrate; and bonding them. The adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength and transmitted through the unit substrate can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and a unit adhesion material layer that contains Sn, Sn alloy, Pb alloy or Bi alloy is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the unit adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; and causing a light including the predetermined wavelength to enter the unit substrate to melt the unit adhesion material layer. The unit adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time.

Abstract: A plurality of laser diode units is tested in a bar state, each of the laser diode units in which a laser diode that includes a first electrode and a second electrode formed on surfaces facing each other and that is mounted on a mounting surface of a submount such that the first electrode faces the mounting surface of the submount.

Abstract: To provide a manufacturing method which can adjust the lengths of a recording element and a reproducing element for enabling manufacture of high-quality magnetic head sliders. The manufacturing method comprises: a stacked-layer forming step which stacks magnetic heads on a substrate; a lapping step which cuts out a bar block having a plurality of connected magnetic head sliders, and polishes a flying surface; and a slider cutting step which cuts out individual magnetic head sliders from the bar block. The stacked-layer forming step forms a reproducing-element polish amount detecting sensor on a same layer as that of the reproducing element, and forms a recording-element polish amount detecting sensor on a same layer as that of the recording element. The lapping step carries out polishing based on each output value of the reproducing-element polish amount detecting sensor and the recording-element polish amount detecting sensor.

Abstract: Provided is a light source unit that is to be joined to a slider to form a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head. The light source unit comprises: a unit substrate having a source-installation surface; a light source provided in the source-installation surface and emitting thermal-assist light; and a photodetector bonded to a rear joining surface of the unit substrate in such a manner that a rear light-emission center of the light source is covered with a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The photodetector can be sufficiently close to the light source; thus, constant feedback adjustment with high efficiency for the light output of the light source can be performed. This adjustment enables light output from the light source to be controlled in response to changes in light output due to surroundings and to changes with time to stabilize the intensity of light with which a magnetic recording medium is irradiated.

Abstract: A row bar with smart sensor for forming sliders, which comprises a row of slider forming portions, each slider forming portion comprising a slider to be cut from the row bar and a medial region adjacent the slider; each slider comprises a slider body and a magnetic writer disposed in the slider body, with the magnetic writer having a main pole which includes a pole face for being lapped, and all the main poles are arranged in a row; the row bar has at least one smart sensor disposed therein, with the smart sensor having at least three dummy poles, whose structure is identical to that of said main pole, arranged in the row of the main poles, there is a space between every two adjacent dummy poles of said smart sensor, and there is a offset in the direction vertical with the pole face between every two adjacent dummy poles of said smart sensor. The invention also discloses a method of manufacturing the slider.

Abstract: A method for inspecting a slider having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is provided. The method has: a lifting step of lifting said slider upward and stopping said slider at an inspecting position while supporting said slider at an undersurface of said slider, wherein said undersurface is a surface that is other than a first surface, said first surface being an air bearing surface or a surface that is to be formed in said air bearing surface; and an inspection step of simultaneously inspecting said first surface and a second surface of said slider, said second surface being a surface that is other than said first surface and said undersurface, wherein said first surface is inspected by a first camera and said second surface is inspected by a second camera, said first and second cameras being arranged in advance such that an optical axis thereof passes through said inspecting position.

Abstract: Provided is a light source unit that is to be joined to a slider to form a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head. The light source unit comprises: a unit substrate having a source-installation surface; a light source provided in the source-installation surface and emitting thermal-assist light; and a photodetector bonded to a rear joining surface of the unit substrate in such a manner that a rear light-emission center of the light source is covered with a light-receiving surface of the photodetector. The photodetector can be sufficiently close to the light source; thus, constant feedback adjustment with high efficiency for the light output of the light source can be performed. This adjustment enables light output from the light source to be controlled in response to changes in light output due to surroundings and to changes with time to stabilize the intensity of light with which a magnetic recording medium is irradiated.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and an adhesion material layer is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; irradiating the adhesion material layer with a light including the predetermined wavelength through the unit substrate; and bonding them. The adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength and transmitted through the unit substrate can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time.