Abstract: An apparatus comprising a phase compensator and an optical condenser in communication with the phase compensator. The phase compensator provides for phase shifting a portion of an electromagnetic wave. The optical condenser is shaped to direct the electromagnetic wave to a focal region of the optical condenser.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a phase compensator and an optical condenser in communication with the phase compensator. The phase compensator provides for phase shifting a portion of an electromagnetic wave. The optical condenser is shaped to direct the electromagnetic wave to a focal region of the optical condenser.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical minor. The light source can include a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method that maps an emulated optical disc file structure to a secure region of a data storage device, and translates cryptographic challenges received from a media player licensed under a digital rights management specification into firmware command sets of the data storage device.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a stationary light source, and a moveable mirror mounted at a pivot axis of the arm for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. An actuator can be provided for rotating the moveable mirror through an angle of about one half of an angle of rotation of the moveable arm.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a recording head, a source of electromagnetic radiation, and a control circuit for modulating the source of electromagnetic radiation in response to a static deviation of a spacing between the recording head and the storage medium. A method of compensating a static deviation of a spacing between a recording head and a storage medium performed by the apparatus, and a method of precompensating for nonlinear transition shifts in a heat assisted magnetic recording system, are also provided.

Abstract: In a recording transducer, radiant energy is incident to be coupled to a recording head via a path defined in the support (e.g., slider) for the head. The radiant energy may be directed via a fiber or lens (e.g., MEMS lens) through a channel defined in the slider. The slider may be keyed to accept the fiber or lens. The process for fabricating the channel in the slider the channel may include wafer level processing to form holes in the slider, to accept the fiber or lens. Wafer level MEM optical processing may be deployed to form integrated MEMS lens structures for an array of sliders.

Abstract: A data recording head having at least two waveguides that are energy-coupled. The first waveguide is end fire coupled to a radiant energy source of a first spot size, and the second waveguide outputs radiant energy of a second spot size onto a recording medium. The width of the first waveguide is larger than the width of the second waveguide, or the first spot size is larger than the second spot size. The recording also includes a cladding layer and/or a diffraction grating for mode index matching between the first and second waveguides. The second waveguide includes a solid immersion optical element to focus the output radiant energy. In one embodiment, the data recording head includes a write element to effect magnetic data recording, and the first and second waveguides are configured relative to the write element and supported relative to the recording medium to effect heat assisted magnetic recording.

Abstract: Diffraction gratings for coupling an electromagnetic wave into a planar waveguide are disclosed. The diffraction grating may include a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating slanted relative to one another. Alternatively, the diffraction grating may include a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating spaced apart to form a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for focusing light within a waveguide is provided. The waveguide includes a curved grating adapted to focus light incident thereon to a focused spot proximate a first end of the waveguide. In another embodiment, the first end of the waveguide has a thickness greater than a portion of the waveguide containing the grating. The waveguide is suitable for focusing light onto a magnetic storage medium and the like, making the waveguide suitable for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) applications.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head comprises a write pole having a pole tip adjacent to an air bearing surface, a return pole, a near field transducer positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface for producing near field radiation for heating a portion of a magnetic storage medium, wherein a thermal profile of the portion of the magnetic storage medium has a maximum gradient at a location subject to a magnetic write field produced by the write pole. A disc drive that includes the magnetic recording head and a method of recording using the magnetic recording head are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a light source, and an elliptical or ellipsoid shaped mirror mounted for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. The elliptical mirror can be positioned on an ellipse, the moveable arm can pivot about an axis passing through a first focus of the ellipse, and the light source can direct light from a point on a second axis passing through a second focus of the ellipse to the elliptical mirror. The light source can comprise a fixed laser and a moveable mirror mounted to pivot about the second axis or a moveable laser mounted to pivot about the second axis. A method performed by the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a moveable arm for positioning an optical transducer adjacent to a storage medium, a stationary light source, and a moveable mirror mounted at a pivot axis of the arm for reflecting light from the light source to the optical transducer. An actuator can be provided for rotating the moveable mirror through an angle of about one half of an angle of rotation of the moveable arm.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical transducer positioned adjacent to a storage medium and including a waveguide and a grating for coupling light into the waveguide, a light source transmitting light to the grating, and a detector for detecting a portion of the light, wherein the detected portion of the light has a magnitude that varies in response to the amount of light coupled into the waveguide.

Abstract: In a recording transducer, radiant energy is incident to be coupled to a recording head via a path defined in the support (e.g., slider) for the head. The radiant energy may be directed via a fiber or lens (e.g., MEMS lens) through a channel defined in the slider. The slider may be keyed to accept the fiber or lens. The process for fabricating the channel in the slider the channel may include wafer level processing to form holes in the slider, to accept the fiber or lens. Wafer level MEM optical processing may be deployed to form integrated MEMS lens structures for an array of sliders.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for focusing light within a waveguide is provided. The waveguide includes a curved grating adapted to focus light incident thereon to a focused spot proximate a first end of the waveguide. In another embodiment, the first end of the waveguide has a thickness greater than a portion of the waveguide containing the grating. The waveguide is suitable for focusing light onto a magnetic storage medium and the like, making the waveguide suitable for heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) applications.

Abstract: A device for writing data to a recording medium and a method for fabricating the device is presented. According to one embodiment, the device includes an electrical conductor having a cross-track portion, wherein the cross-track portion includes first and second opposing surfaces, and wherein the cross-track portion defines an aperture extending from the first surface to the second surface. The device also includes a dielectric portion disposed in the aperture such that the dielectric portion defines a ridge waveguide having a lowest-order mode cut-off frequency that is less than the frequency of incident optical energy used to heat the recording medium.

Abstract: A transducer assembly for a data storage system comprises a first transducer for directing electromagnetic radiation onto a storage medium adjacent to a write pole, and a second transducer for directing electromagnetic radiation onto a storage medium adjacent to a read sensor. A data storage apparatus that includes the transducer assembly is also included.

Abstract: Diffraction gratings for coupling an electromagnetic wave into a planar waveguide are disclosed. The diffraction grating may include a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating slanted relative to one another. Alternatively, the diffraction grating may include a first diffraction grating and a second diffraction grating spaced apart to form a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A data recording head having at least two waveguides that are energy-coupled. The first waveguide is end fire coupled to a radiant energy source of a first spot size, and the second waveguide outputs radiant energy of a second spot size onto a recording medium. The width of the first waveguide is larger than the width of the second waveguide, or the first spot size is larger than the second spot size. The recording also includes a cladding layer and/or a diffraction grating for mode index matching between the first and second waveguides. The second waveguide includes a solid immersion optical element to focus the output radiant energy. In one embodiment, the data recording head includes a write element to effect magnetic data recording, and the first and second waveguides are configured relative to the write element and supported relative to the recording medium to effect heat assisted magnetic recording.