Patent ID: 9378757
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: G11B

Claim Text:
1. A method of making a plasmonic near-field transducer comprising: providing a substrate at least partially covered with a thin layer of a plasmonic material; overlaying a first mask having a first shape on the plasmonic material; etching the plasmonic material through the first mask to form a first pattern in the plasmonic material; overlaying a second mask having a second shape on the first pattern of plasmonic material; etching the first pattern of plasmonic material through the second mask to form a flared region that narrows towards an output end of the plasmonic near-field transducer, wherein the plasmonic near-field transducer comprises a peg region that extends from the flared region to the output end; and patterning an enlarged region of plasmonic material atop and in contact with the flared region.