Amorphous silicon sensor for slider

Abstract

An apparatus includes a slider including an air bearing surface and a waveguide configured to receive light from a light source, a sensor positioned to receive a portion of light emitted by the light source prior to the light exiting the slider at the air bearing surface, and a controller controlling the light source power in response to a characteristic of the sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a slider;   a sensor disposed within the slider and configured from amorphous silicon.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the slider comprises a recording head. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a photosensor. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is in juxtaposition with a waveguide. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the slider comprises a laser. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the slider is configured to perform heat assisted magnetic recording. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the photosensor comprises a resistivity that changes in response to light. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the photosensor is configured to produce a voltage in response to light. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a solar cell. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a characteristic of the laser. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 fabricating a slider with a sensor disposed within the slider configured from amorphous silicon.   
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 forming a recording head in the slider. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 fabricating the sensor as a photosensor. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 fabricating the sensor so as to be in juxtaposition with a waveguide. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 fabricating a laser in the slider. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 11  and further comprising:
 fabricating the slider to be capable of performing heat assisted magnetic recording. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising:
 fabricating the photosensor to have a resistivity that changes in response to light. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising:
 fabricating the photosensor to produce a voltage in response to light. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising:
 fabricating the sensor as a solar cell. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  and further comprising:
 fabricating the sensor to monitor a characteristic of the laser.