Patent ID: 9293165
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: G11B

Claim Text:
1. A thermally assisted magnetic recording head, comprising: a near-field light (NF light) generator that includes a generator end surface facing an air bearing surface (ABS), and that generates NF light on the generator end surface and irradiates a magnetic recording medium with the NF light; a main magnetic pole that includes a main magnetic pole end surface facing the ABS and positioned in the vicinity of the generator end surface, and that emits magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium from the main magnetic pole end surface; and a return shield that includes a shield end surface facing the ABS and positioned in the vicinity of the generator end surface, and that is magnetically coupled to the main magnetic pole, and that absorbs the magnetic flux returning from the magnetic recording medium at the shield end surface, wherein the main magnetic pole end surface and the shield end surface are positioned to be on the same side with respect to the generator end surface in the down track direction, and are arranged side-by-side in the cross track direction; a center line of the generator end surface extending in the down track direction extends between opposing sides of the main magnetic pole end surface and the shield end surface.