US 12,236,986 B2
Heat-assisted magnetic recording head with an integrated photodiode
Mark Anthony Gubbins, Letterkenny (IE); Christopher Neil Harvey, Springtown (GB); Aidan Dominic Goggin, Redcastle (IE); Fadi El Hallak, Londonderry (GB); Reshma Anamari Mohandas, Londonderry (GB); Bryn John Howells, Londonderry (GB); and Scott Eugene Olson, Eagan, MN (US)
Assigned to Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed by Seagate Technology LLC, Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on Dec. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/537,957.
Application 18/537,957 is a continuation of application No. 17/809,722, filed on Jun. 29, 2022, granted, now 11,908,499.
Prior Publication US 2024/0112696 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
Int. Cl. G11B 5/09 (2006.01); G11B 5/31 (2006.01); G11B 5/48 (2006.01); G11B 5/60 (2006.01); G11B 7/126 (2012.01); G11B 13/08 (2006.01); G11B 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC G11B 5/6088 (2013.01) [G11B 5/314 (2013.01); G11B 5/4866 (2013.01); G11B 7/126 (2013.01); G11B 13/08 (2013.01); G11B 2005/0021 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A heat-assisted magnetic recording head comprising:
a first waveguide configured to propagate light from a laser to a near-field transducer; and
a second waveguide having a middle segment disposed between a first end segment and a second end segment, the second waveguide configured such that (a) the middle segment is substantially parallel with and in close proximity to a portion of the first waveguide to thereby couple a portion of the light propagating in the first waveguide into the middle segment of the second waveguide, (b) the first end segment propagates light coupled into the second waveguide to a photodiode located near a termination point of the first end segment, and (c) the second end segment has a hooked shape that mitigates reflections of light propagating in the second end segment from reaching the photodiode.