JP2502017B2 - Magnetic disk drive - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic disk device capable of recording / reproducing magnetic signals on / from two types of magnetic disks having different recording densities.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a floppy disk device has been widely used as a magnetic disk which is an external storage device of a personal computer or a word processor.

The floppy disk device is constructed such that a magnetic head records and reproduces magnetic signals on the disk.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the structure of the main part of a magnetic head used in a conventional floppy disk device, and FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6 viewed from the direction of arrow P.

In these drawings, 1 is a slider made of, for example, ceramic, 1a is a slider groove, 2 is a read / write core made of metal, 3 and 4 are erase cores made of the same metal, 5 is a read / write gap, 6 and Reference numeral 7 is an erase gap, 8 is a coil for generating a magnetic field in the read / write gap 5, and 9 and 10 are coils for generating a magnetic field in the erase gaps 6 and 7.

When a magnetic signal is recorded on a disk by a conventional magnetic head whose main part is composed of the above-mentioned parts, a current is passed through the coil 8 and a magnetic field is generated in the read / write gap 5. The magnetic field on the disk is magnetized by this magnetic field, but the read / write gap 5 tends to be in an off-track state, so that the influence on the track adjacent to the track where the magnetic signal is to be recorded is avoided. At the same time, a current is passed through the coils 9 and 10 to generate a magnetic field also in the erase gaps 6 and 7, and this magnetic field erases the magnetic signal recorded in a state deviated from the track to be recorded.

In the magnetic heads generally used, a tunnel erase type head having an erase gap in the erase core itself as described above, and a straddle type head having a gap between the erase core and the read / write core as an erase gap. There is a head.

Further, the tunnel erase type head has a structure in which a read / write core and an erase core are integrated into a laminate type, and a part of the read / write core and the erase core made of single crystal ferrite is cut. Then, it is divided into a read / write gap and a bulk type in which an erase gap is formed. A laminated magnetic head is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

By the way, in recent years, the diversification of floppy disk devices has progressed, and various devices having different performances have been developed. However, the storage capacity of the floppy disk itself is also increasing.

For example, there are 1 Mbyte type and 1.6 Mbyte type storage capacity per floppy disk.

In order to record and reproduce magnetic signals on floppy disks having different storage capacities, that is, recording densities, magnetic heads having different magnetic characteristics must be used.

As is apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7, the magnetic head mounted in the conventional floppy disk device has a read / write gap 5 and erase gaps 6 and 7 for one type of floppy disk. I have only one set.

Therefore, when recording magnetic signals on floppy disks having different storage capacities, it is necessary to use other floppy disk devices equipped with magnetic heads having different magnetic characteristics for recording and reproduction. I had to do it.

Therefore, expectations for the development of a magnetic disk device capable of recording / reproducing a magnetic signal to / from a magnetic disk on which a magnetic signal should be recorded with different storage capacities, that is, different recording densities, have been increasing.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of such a situation, and does not require any complicated operation for two kinds of disks for recording magnetic signals at different recording densities. It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic disk device capable of recording and reproducing a magnetic signal without accompanying it.

[0016]

That is, a first recording / reproducing section for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal on a first magnetic disk at a first recording density and a magnetic field different from the first recording / reproducing section. A magnetic head integrally provided on a slider with a second recording / reproducing section having a magnetic characteristic and recording and reproducing a magnetic signal at a second recording density on the second magnetic disk; The recording / reproducing unit and the second recording / reproducing unit for causing the first recording / reproducing unit to record and reproduce a magnetic signal on the first magnetic disk at the first recording density. And a switching unit for switching the recording and reproducing unit to record and reproduce a magnetic signal on the second magnetic disk at the second recording density.

[0017]

In the magnetic disk device of the present invention, the recording / reproducing operation of the magnetic signal at the first recording density with respect to the first magnetic disk by the first recording / reproducing section and the second recording / reproducing section by the second recording / reproducing section. The switching means switches between recording and reproducing operations of the magnetic signal at the second recording density on the magnetic disk.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the structure of the main part of a magnetic head used in a floppy disk drive which is an embodiment of the magnetic disk drive of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 seen from the direction of arrow P. Is.

In these figures, 11 is, for example, a ceramic slider, 11a is a slider groove, 12A and 12B are metal read / write cores, 13A and 13B, 14A and 14B are erase cores, and 15A and 15B are read / write cores. Gap, 16A and 1
6B, 17A and 17B are erase gaps, 18A
And 18B are coils for generating a magnetic field in each read / write gap, 19A and 19B, 20A and 20.
B indicates a coil for generating a magnetic field in each erase gap.

In the magnetic head of this embodiment, the characteristics of the magnetic fields generated in the read / write gaps 15A and 15B are made different.

In this way, the read / write gap 15
As an example of a specific method for making the characteristics of the magnetic fields generated in A and 15B different, read / write gap 1
5A and 15B different gap widths, read / write gaps 15A and 15B different numbers of coil turns, read / write core 12
There is a method of making magnetic permeability different from A and 12B.

Next, the operation of the magnetic disk device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 3 by taking a floppy disk device as an example.

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram (block diagram) for recording and reproducing magnetic signals on a floppy disk. The floppy disk device 30 is provided with a magnetic head 31 whose main part is shown in FIGS. The controller 32 as recording / reproducing control means for recording / reproducing a magnetic signal records / reproduces a magnetic signal to / from a floppy disk under the control of a host system (personal computer or the like) not shown. To control. The read / write gap 15A is provided for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal on a floppy disk having a storage capacity of 1 Mbyte, and the read / write gap 15B is a magnetic signal for a floppy disk having a storage capacity of 1.6 Mbyte. It is supposed to be provided for recording and reproduction.

Under the control of a host system (not shown) or the type of the floppy disk in which the floppy disk device 30 itself is loaded in the floppy disk device 30 (a floppy disk having a storage capacity of 1 Mbytes or a storage capacity of 1.6 Mbytes). Controller 3 based on the fact that the floppy disk of
By switching and using the read / write gap 15A and the read / write gap 15B, the magnetic recording and reproduction of magnetic signals can be performed without problems on two types of floppy disks having different storage capacities, that is, recording densities. be able to. That is, the read / write coil 18A and the erase coil 1 are controlled by the controller 32.
By operating 9A and 20A, magnetic signals are recorded and reproduced on a floppy disk having a storage capacity of 1 Mbyte. Further, by operating the read / write coil 18B and the erase coils 19B and 20B under the control of the controller 32, magnetic signals are recorded and reproduced on a floppy disk having a storage capacity of 1.6 Mbytes.

In this way, the controller 32 switches and uses the read / write gaps 15A and 15B so that magnetic signals can be recorded and reproduced on two types of disks having different recording densities without any trouble. You can

The magnetic heads shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have read / write gaps 15A and 15B and erase gaps 16A and 16B, 17A and 17B.
Are provided on both sides of the slider groove 11a as a boundary, that is, on both sides of a region which is divided into two substantially equal parts of the slider, and are therefore suitable for a single-sided floppy disk device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of the main portion of another embodiment of the magnetic head used in the magnetic disk drive of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 seen from the arrow P direction. The magnetic head shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has read / write gaps 15A and 15B and an erase gap 16A.
And 16B, 17A and 17B are slider grooves 11a.
Is provided on one side with respect to the boundary, that is, on one side of the region divided into two substantially equal parts of the slider.

Such a structure is convenient when used in a double-sided recording type floppy disk device in which magnetic heads are arranged on both sides of the disk.

That is, in order to avoid mutual interference of magnetic fields on the front side and the back side of the disk, the magnetic head is arranged so that the read / write gap and the erase gap are displaced by several tracks from each other on the front side and the back side of the disk. It is easy to do.

Although any of the magnetic heads described above is a laminate type head, the magnetic head is not limited to this, and the main portion where the read / write gap and the erase gap are integrally provided is not limited to this. A bulk type head may be used as long as another set of read / write gaps and erase gaps having different magnetic characteristics is provided.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the floppy disk device, but can be widely applied to magnetic disk devices such as a hard disk device and a video disk device having no erase gap.

[0032]

As described above, according to the present invention, the first
A first recording / reproducing unit for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal at a first recording density on the second magnetic disk and a second magnetic disk having a magnetic characteristic different from that of the first recording / reproducing unit.
Magnetic recording head for recording and reproducing magnetic signals at a recording density of 1., a magnetic head integrally provided on one slider, the first recording and reproducing section, and the second recording and reproducing section. And the first recording / reproducing unit to record and reproduce a magnetic signal on the first magnetic disk at the first recording density, and the second recording / reproducing unit to the second magnetic disk. Since the switching means for switching the recording and reproducing of the magnetic signal at the second recording density is provided, the recording and reproducing of the magnetic signal can be performed without trouble on two types of magnetic disks having different recording densities. It can be carried out.
Moreover, in the present invention, the switching of the characteristics of the generated magnetic field is performed electrically rather than mechanically, so there are few failures and high reliability.
Further, since the size of the main part of the magnetic head is not so different from that of the conventional magnetic head, there is no fear of increasing the size of the device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main portion of an embodiment of a magnetic head used in a magnetic disk device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 viewed from the direction of arrow P.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a magnetic disk device of the present invention, which is a circuit diagram for recording and reproducing magnetic signals to and from a floppy disk.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main portion of another embodiment of the magnetic head used in the magnetic disk device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 4 viewed from the direction of arrow P.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a main portion of a magnetic head used in a conventional magnetic disk device.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6 viewed from the direction of arrow P.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 11 ... Slider 2, 12A, 12B ... Read / write core 3, 4, 13A, 13B, 14A, 14B ... Erase core 5, 15A, 15B ... Read / write gap 6, 7, 16A, 16B, 17A, 17B ... Erase gap 8, 18A, 18B ... (corresponding to read / write gap) coil 9, 10, 19A, 19B, 20A, 20B ... (corresponding to erase gap) 30 ... Floppy disk device 31 ... Magnetic head 32 ... Controller

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiroshi Ohashi 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome-shi, Tokyo Inside the Ome Plant, Toshiba Corporation (72) Toshiya Saito 2-9 Suehiro-cho, Ome, Tokyo Toshiba Computer Engineering (56) References JP-A-55-64622 (JP, A) JP-A-58-115664 (JP, A)

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first recording / reproducing section for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal at a first recording density on a first magnetic disk and a second recording / reproducing section having different magnetic characteristics from each other. A magnetic head integrally provided on one slider with a second recording / reproducing section for recording and reproducing a magnetic signal at the second recording density on the magnetic disk, the first recording / reproducing section and the A second recording / reproducing unit for causing the first recording / reproducing unit to record and reproduce a magnetic signal on the first magnetic disk at the first recording density; and for the second recording / reproducing unit to record the magnetic signal. A magnetic disk device comprising: a switching means for switching the second magnetic disk so as to record and reproduce a magnetic signal at the second recording density. 2. The first recording / reproducing section and the second recording / reproducing section of the magnetic head are provided in either one of the substantially bisected areas of the slider. Item 1. The magnetic disk device according to item 1. 3. The first recording / reproducing section of the magnetic head is provided in one of the two substantially equal areas of the slider, and the second recording / reproducing section is substantially equally divided into two areas. 2. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic disk drive is provided in the other area of the area.