Patent ID: 7327639

Claim:
A hybrid head to record data on and reproduce data from a recording medium, the hybrid head comprising an element to record data on and reproduce data from the recording medium, the element being disposed on a back surface of a slider adjoining an air bearing surface of the slider, the element comprising: a data reproducer to reproduce data from the recording medium; an energy source to supply energy to heat a region of the recording medium on which data is to be recorded; and a magnetic field applier to apply a magnetic field to the region of the recording medium heated by the energy supplied by the energy source, the magnetic field applier comprising: a waveguide layer to transmit the energy supplied by the energy source to the region of the recording medium, the waveguide layer having a first surface facing toward the energy source and a second surface facing away from the energy source; a reflection layer to reflect the energy transmitted by the waveguide layer back into the waveguide layer, the reflection layer having a first surface aligned with the first surface of the waveguide layer and a second surface aligned with the second surface of the waveguide layer, the reflection layer completely enclosing the waveguide layer except for the first surface of the waveguide layer and the second surface of the waveguide layer; a heat shield member to prevent heat from being transmitted from the waveguide layer and the reflection layer to any other element of the hybrid head, the heat shield member having a first surface aligned with the first surface of the waveguide layer and a second surface aligned with the second surface of the waveguide layer, the heat shield member completely enclosing the reflection layer except for the first surface of the reflection layer and the second surface of the reflection layer; a single write pole having a first surface aligned with the first surface of the waveguide layer and a second surface aligned with the second surface of the waveguide layer, the single write pole completely enclosing the heat shield member except for the first surface of the heat shield member and the second surface of the heat shield member; and a magnetic field generator to generate a magnetic field and apply the magnetic field to the write pole.