JP4772747B2 - Head, recording / reproducing apparatus, and control method for recording / reproducing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a head, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a control method for the recording / reproducing apparatus, and more particularly to a head, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a control method for the recording / reproducing apparatus that can control the flying height of a slider.

  In a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, when a magnetic disk is used as a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic head on the magnetic disk records or reproduces a signal on a magnetic disk rotated by a spindle motor. The magnetic head has a slider provided at the tip of the suspension as a main body, and has a magnetic recording element or a magnetic reproducing element provided on the slider. In general, an inductive element is used as a magnetic recording element, and a GMR element or a TMR element is used as a magnetic reproducing element.

  When recording or reproducing a signal, the slider floats on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk by an air flow generated as the magnetic disk rotates. In the floating state, the magnetic recording element generates a magnetic field to record a signal, and the magnetic reproducing element measures the magnetic field generated by the signal recorded on the magnetic disk and reproduces the signal.

  With the recent progress of high density magnetic recording, the track width of a magnetic disk is also narrowed. When the track width is narrowed, the recording ability of the signal to the magnetic disk is reduced in the magnetic recording element, and the reproducing ability of the signal from the magnetic disk is lowered in the magnetic reproducing element. Furthermore, since the recording bits recorded on the magnetic disk are miniaturized as the density of magnetic recording increases, a high capability is required for the capability of the magnetic recording element and the magnetic reproducing element.

  Therefore, one means for solving the above problem is to reduce the flying height of the slider with respect to the magnetic disk (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, the slider of the magnetic head is composed of a parent slider and a child slider, and the child slider is displaced by the driving means, so that the distance (flying amount) between the recording / reproducing element and the magnetic disk is increased. Is changing.

  By reducing the flying height, the slider moves closer to the magnetic disk, so that the magnetic field applied when recording a signal on the magnetic disk is increased in the magnetic recording element, and the signal is reproduced from the magnetic disk in the magnetic reproducing element. The measured magnetic field is strengthened. Based on the above, in order to record or reproduce a high-density signal, it is required to keep the flying height of the slider small.

JP 2002-150735 A

  In general, the flying height of the air bearing surface (hereinafter referred to as ABS) of the slider facing the magnetic disk from the magnetic disk is desirably maintained within a certain range.

  If the flying height of the slider from the magnetic disk becomes small, the portion of the magnetic recording element or magnetic reproducing element of the magnetic head that protrudes due to thermal expansion due to Joule heat generated by the current during energization will appear on the surface of the magnetic disk. There is a possibility that a TPTP (Thermal Pole Tip Propulsion) phenomenon will occur. There is a concern that the magnetic recording element or the magnetic reproducing element is damaged by contact and frictional heat generated by the contact, and even the magnetic disk is damaged. In particular, since the magnetic reproducing element is vulnerable to heat and static electricity, it is necessary to prevent any contact with the surface of the magnetic disk, and the flying height assumed when designing the magnetic head is kept within a certain range. There is a need to.

  On the other hand, if the flying height becomes large, as described above, the performance of recording or reproducing signals with respect to the magnetic disk is deteriorated. It is necessary to keep the flying height within a certain range.

  However, when the atmospheric pressure applied to the magnetic head changes, there is a problem that the flying height of the slider changes and it becomes difficult to maintain the flying height of the slider within a certain range.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a head, a recording / reproducing apparatus, and a control method for the recording / reproducing apparatus that can maintain the flying height of the slider within a certain range. And

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention

In order to achieve the above object, a head according to the present invention includes a slider disposed so as to face the disk surface, a recording element provided on the slider, and recording information on the disk and / or information recorded on the disk. A reproducing element for reproducing, a suspension whose front end is movable in the radial direction of the disk, a slider supporting member having the other end attached to the suspension so that the slider is attached to one end and the other end is movable; A slider support member or a support portion supporting the slider is provided on the disk side of the suspension, and is in contact with a point or a surface at a portion opposite to the slider support member or the disk side of the slider. And a portion between a portion of the suspension where the other end of the slider support member is attached and a tip of the suspension, and a portion of the slider support member, and a portion of the slider support member that can expand and contract the length of the suspension. By providing at least one of the slider support member and a telescopic means that can extend and contract , the relative position of the slider with respect to the support portion can be changed .

  According to the above configuration, the relative position of the slider with respect to the support portion attached to the suspension can be changed by changing the length of at least one of the suspension and the slider support member using the expansion / contraction means. As a result, one end of the slider support member to which the slider is attached can move, and the inclination of the slider attached to the one end can be changed, or the distance between the disk and the slider can be changed. For this reason, the atmospheric pressure distribution of the gap existing between the disk and the slider changes, and the buoyancy of the slider also changes due to the change in the atmospheric pressure distribution. Therefore, by changing the length of at least one of the suspension and the slider support member and controlling the magnitude of the buoyancy of the slider, the flying height of the slider that floats on the disk due to the balance between the buoyancy and the force due to the load of the slider Can be controlled. As a result, even if the atmospheric pressure applied to the head changes, the flying height of the slider can be maintained within a certain range.

  In the above head, preferably, when the expansion / contraction means is provided on the suspension, the support portion is provided integrally with the expansion / contraction means. If comprised in this way, the support part integrally provided in the said expansion-contraction means can be moved only by expanding / contracting the expansion-contraction means. That is, the response time required to change the relative position of the slider with respect to the support portion can be shortened as compared with the case where the slider support member and the slider are moved by expanding and contracting the expansion / contraction means.

  In the head, preferably, the expansion / contraction means is a piezoelectric element. If comprised in this way, the expansion-contraction with an exact expansion amount and quick response is realizable.

  In this case, preferably, the initial setting position of the slider is set under a standard atmospheric pressure and in a state where no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element. With this configuration, the slider is placed at the initial installation position even when no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element under standard atmospheric pressure, so that power saving can be expected and the service life of the piezoelectric element is increased. be able to.

  In the head, the expansion / contraction means may be a thermal expansion / contraction element.

  In the head described above, preferably, when the slider support member is provided with expansion / contraction means, the other end of the slider support member is attached to the opposite side of the suspension from the disk side, and the slider support member is formed on the suspension. It is arrange | positioned so that a hole may be penetrated. If comprised in this way, the thickness of an expansion-contraction means can be determined, without making the physical interference of an expansion-contraction means and a disk into a problem.

  The head preferably further includes an atmospheric pressure measuring means capable of measuring the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider. With this configuration, the flying height of the slider can be controlled by changing the buoyancy of the slider based on the change in the air pressure in the vicinity of the slider that affects the flying height of the slider, so the flying height of the slider can be controlled more accurately. it can.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention includes a head including the above-described atmospheric pressure measuring means.

  According to the above configuration, even if the atmospheric pressure applied to the head changes, recording / reproduction is performed while maintaining the flying height of the slider within a certain range by controlling the flying height of the slider by changing the flying force of the slider. be able to.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus, preferably, based on the information obtained by the calculation of the information processing means, the information processing means for calculating the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means, Control means for controlling the expansion / contraction means. If comprised in this way, the information for controlling an expansion-contraction means will be calculated based on the change of the atmospheric | air pressure of the slider vicinity, without providing an information processing means and a control means separately outside an apparatus, and based on the said information The expansion / contraction means can be controlled to maintain the flying height of the slider within a certain range.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus control method according to the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus control method comprising the above-described information processing means and control means, wherein an atmospheric pressure acquisition step for acquiring an atmospheric pressure measured by an atmospheric pressure measuring means, and an atmospheric pressure acquisition An information processing step for calculating information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure acquired in the step, and a control step for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the information obtained by the calculation of the information processing step. is doing.

  According to the above configuration, the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means is calculated based on the change in the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider without separately providing information processing means and control means outside the apparatus, and the expansion / contraction is performed based on the information. By controlling the means, the flying height of the slider can be maintained within a certain range.

  In the recording / reproducing device, preferably, the expansion / contraction means is controlled based on the information storage means for storing the air pressure and the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means in association with each other and the information stored in the information storage means. And a control means.

  According to the above configuration, the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means can be acquired without performing computation by referring to the information storage means. As a result, the time required to control the expansion / contraction means after the atmospheric pressure applied to the head changes is shortened.

  A recording / reproducing apparatus control method according to the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus control method comprising the above-described information storage means and control means, wherein an atmospheric pressure acquisition step for acquiring an atmospheric pressure measured by an atmospheric pressure measurement means, and an information storage The information acquisition step of acquiring information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure acquisition step with reference to the means, and the control step of controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the information acquired in the information acquisition step. Yes.

  According to the above configuration, the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means can be acquired without performing computation by referring to the information storage means. As a result, the time required to control the expansion / contraction means after the atmospheric pressure applied to the head changes is shortened.

  In the recording / reproducing apparatus, preferably, information processing means for calculating information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means, information for controlling the atmospheric pressure and the expansion / contraction means, Are stored in association with each other, and control means for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on information obtained by calculation of the information processing means and / or information related to the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means. It has more.

  According to the above configuration, the flying height of the slider is calculated by calculating the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means even for the atmospheric pressure not recorded in the information recording means. Can be controlled.

  The recording / reproducing apparatus control method according to the present invention is a recording / reproducing apparatus control method comprising the above-described information processing means, information storage means, and control means, and obtains an atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measuring means. And a determination step for determining whether or not information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure acquisition step is stored with reference to the information storage means, and in the determination step, the information storage means acquired in the atmospheric pressure measurement step. When it is determined that the information associated with the atmospheric pressure is stored, the information associated with the atmospheric pressure is acquired, the expansion / contraction means is controlled based on the information, and the atmospheric pressure measurement is performed in the information storage means in the determination step. If it is determined that the information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the step is not stored, the atmospheric pressure By calculating the information for controlling the expansion and contraction means Zui, and a control step of controlling the expansion and contraction means based on the information.

  According to the above configuration, the flying height of the slider is calculated by calculating the information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means even for the atmospheric pressure not recorded in the information recording means. Can be controlled.

(First embodiment)
A magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic head 1 is on a magnetic disk A that is a disk-shaped magnetic recording medium, and when the magnetic disk A rotates so as to have a linear velocity that satisfies a certain condition with respect to the magnetic head 1, the magnetic head 1. Are floating in balance with the force due to the load pressed in the direction of the magnetic disk A and the force due to the air pressure of the air gap existing between the magnetic head 1 and the magnetic disk A.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structural appearance of the magnetic head according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The magnetic head 1 includes at least a piezoelectric element 2, a suspension 3, a slider support member 4, a slider 5, a support unit 6, and a pressure measurement unit 7.

  In the present embodiment, the piezoelectric element 2 expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the suspension 3 by receiving a voltage supply. The right end of the piezoelectric element 2 is fixed to the suspension 3. The piezoelectric element 2 changes the relative position of the slider 5 with respect to the support portion 6 via the slider support member 4 attached to the piezoelectric element 2. The direction in which the relative position is changed is the longitudinal direction of the magnetic head 1 in the present embodiment, but may be a direction having an arbitrary locus according to the requirements in the specifications of the magnetic head 1.

  The suspension 3 can move in the radial direction of the magnetic disk A at the tip portion where the support portion 6 is provided with a holding means (not shown) as a fulcrum. The suspension 3 plays a role of pressing the slider 5 toward the magnetic disk A. In the present embodiment, a thin stainless steel plate is used as the material of the suspension 3 so that the suspension 3 has elasticity.

  The slider support member 4 is a member corresponding to a member called a gimbal in the conventional magnetic head. The slider 5 is fixed to one end 4a of the slider support member 4, and the piezoelectric element 2 is fixed to the other end 4b. The one end 4 a to which the slider 5 is fixed is supported by a support 6 provided on the magnetic disk A side of the suspension 3. Further, the piezoelectric element 2 fixed to the other end 4 b is attached to the suspension 3, and the one end 4 a is movable with respect to the support portion 6.

  The slider 5 has a magnetic recording element that records information on the magnetic disk A and a magnetic reproducing element that is recorded on the magnetic disk A. The slider 5 is disposed so as to face the surface of the magnetic disk A, and is fixed to one end portion 4 a of the slider support member 4. When the magnetic disk A rotates so as to have a linear velocity that satisfies a certain condition with respect to the slider 5, the slider 5 is a gas generated by relative movement with the magnetic disk A at the ABS facing the magnetic disk A. The slider 5 is lifted by the magnetic disk A under the pressure of the flow. In FIG. 2, the right end of the slider 5 is an inflow end of the gas flow, and the left end is an outflow end of the gas flow. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the dimensions of the slider 5 are 1.2 mm in length, 1.0 mm in width, and 0.5 mm in thickness, and AlTiC is used as the material.

  The initial setting position of the slider is set under a standard atmospheric pressure according to the specifications of the magnetic head 1 and in a state where no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 2. The standard atmospheric pressure is an atmospheric pressure used at the stage of designing the ABS of the magnetic head 1, and is 1.0 [atm], which is an atmospheric pressure that is commonly used for a normal hard disk drive or the like. However, the standard atmospheric pressure depends on the atmospheric pressure assumed at the stage of designing the ABS of the magnetic head 1 and can be a value other than 1.0 [atm].

  As shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 6 is provided on the magnetic disk A side of the suspension 3. The support portion 6 supports the slider support member 4 while being in contact with a point or a surface at a portion opposite to the magnetic disk A of the slider support member 4. The support portion 6 has a shape that allows the slider support member 4 to be displaced with respect to the support portion 6. This support portion 6 is formed by a process of projecting a part of the suspension 3 into a hemispherical shape.

  The pressure measurement unit 7 is provided to measure the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider 5. The pressure measuring unit 7 uses a capacitance measuring method, but is not particularly limited in other measuring methods as long as the size and weight do not hinder the magnetic head 1.

  The operation of the mechanism having the above configuration will be described. As described, when the magnetic disk A is rotated so as to have a linear velocity that satisfies a certain condition with respect to the magnetic head 1, the magnetic head 1 is subjected to a force caused by a load pressed toward the magnetic disk A and a magnetic force. It floats while being balanced by the force of the air pressure in the gap existing between the head 1 and the magnetic disk A.

  Since the correspondence between the atmospheric pressure and the flying height of the slider 5 and the correspondence between the relative position of the slider 5 and the support portion 6 and the flying height of the slider 5 vary depending on the shape of the slider 5 in the ABS, the correspondence is grasped in advance. By doing so, it becomes possible to control the flying height of the slider 5 when the atmospheric pressure changes.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the shape of the ABS of the slider used in this embodiment. The shape of the ABS of the slider 5 of the magnetic head 1 is designed so as to maintain a constant flying height against changes in atmospheric pressure within a certain range. Specifically, the ABS region 5a, region 5b, and region 5c shown in FIG. 4 are formed in the order of the region 5a, the region 5b, and the region 5c from the side closer to the magnetic disk A, and the region 5a and the region 5b are separated from each other. There is a height difference of 190 nm between them, and there is a height difference of 2.8 μm between the regions 5a and 5c. Note that the piezoelectric element 2 depicted in FIG. 2 is located on the right side of FIG. Therefore, the right end of the slider 5 in FIG. 5 is the gas flow inflow end, and the left end is the gas flow outflow end.

Referring to the correspondence relationship between the atmospheric pressure and the flying height of the slider 5 shown in Table 1, when the atmospheric pressure is high, the flying height of the slider 5 is large, and when the atmospheric pressure is low, the flying height of the slider 5 is small. Note that the above-described flying height is the flying height at the outflow end of the gas flow (left end of the slider 5). Further, with respect to the relative position between the slider 5 and the support portion 6, the support portion 6 is located at the center of the slider 5.

As shown in Table 2, the relative relationship between the relative position of the slider 5 and the support portion 6 and the flying height of the slider 5 indicates that the slider 5 floats when the support portion 6 is on the inflow end (right end) side of the slider 5. When the amount is large and the support portion 6 is on the outflow end (left end) side of the slider 5, the flying height of the slider 5 is small. The state where the support portion 6 is at the inflow end of the slider 5 is 0.000, and the state where the support portion 6 is at the outflow end of the slider 5 is 1.000.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the correspondence between the relative positions of the slider and the support and the flying height of the slider. For example, when the atmospheric pressure decreases from 1.000 [atm] to 0.900 [atm], the flying height changes from 21.5 [nm] to 20.1 [nm]. In order to return the flying height to 21.5 [nm] while maintaining the atmospheric pressure at 0.900 [atm], the piezoelectric element 2 is expanded and contracted so that the support portion 6 moves to the inflow end (right end) side of the slider 5. As shown in FIG. 5, since the relationship between the relative position of the slider 5 and the support portion 6 and the flying height of the slider 5 is linear, the following approximate expression (1) obtained using the numerical values shown in Table 2 ) Can be used to determine the relative positions of the slider 5 and the support portion 6.
Relative position = (44.6−flying height) /49.5 (1)

  Specifically, 21.5 [nm] is set as the flying height of the approximate expression (1) showing the relationship between the relative position of the slider 5 and the support portion 6 and the flying height of the slider 5 at an atmospheric pressure of 0.900 [atm]. When substituted, 0.467 is obtained as the relative position. Accordingly, in the magnetic head 1, the slider 5 is displaced by the piezoelectric element 2 via the slider support member 4, and the relative position between the slider 5 and the support portion 6 is set to 0.467, so that the flying height is 21.5 [ nm].

  Here, the case where the atmospheric pressure is reduced from 1.000 [atm] to 0.900 [atm] has been described, but the case of other atmospheric pressures can be considered in the same manner, and the description thereof is omitted.

  In the present invention, the flying height of the slider 5 can be controlled while measuring whether the flying height of the slider 5 is accurately controlled by measuring the flying height of the slider 5.

  Hereinafter, an example will be described. The flying height of the slider 5 and the signal / noise ratio at the flying height (ratio of noise when the signal recorded on the magnetic disk A by the magnetic recording element of the magnetic head 1 is reproduced by the magnetic reproducing element of the magnetic head 1) The correspondence relationship with S1 is acquired in advance. When the flying height of the slider 5 as described in the present embodiment is controlled, the same signal as the above signal is recorded by the magnetic recording element of the magnetic head 1 and the magnetic reproducing element of the magnetic head 1 is used. The signal / noise ratio S2 is obtained by reproduction. If the signal / noise ratio S1 stored in advance matches the signal / noise ratio S2 when controlling the flying height, it can be confirmed that the flying height is correctly controlled.

As another method, for example, when the measured atmospheric pressure is 0.900 [atm], the following expression (2) is obtained by modifying the above-described approximate expression (1).
Flying height = −49.5 × relative position + 44.6 (2)
Then, the flying height can be calculated from the relative position.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the relative position of the slider 5 with respect to the support portion 6 attached to the suspension 3 can be changed by changing the length of the piezoelectric element 2. As a result, the one end 4a of the slider support member 4 to which the slider 5 is attached is moved, and the inclination of the slider 5 attached to the one end 4a is changed, or the distance between the magnetic disk A and the slider 5 is changed. You can make it. For this reason, the air pressure distribution of the gap existing between the magnetic disk A and the slider 5 changes, and the buoyancy of the slider 5 also changes due to the change in the air pressure distribution. Therefore, by controlling the magnitude of the buoyancy of the slider 5 by expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element 2, the flying height of the slider 5 that floats on the magnetic disk A is controlled by the balance between the buoyancy and the force due to the load of the slider 5. can do. As a result, even if the atmospheric pressure applied to the magnetic head 1 changes, the flying height of the slider 5 can be maintained within a certain range.

  In the present embodiment, the initial setting position of the slider 5 is set at a standard atmospheric pressure and no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 2, thereby applying a voltage to the piezoelectric element 2 at the standard atmospheric pressure. Even if it is not, since the slider 5 is arranged at the initial installation position, power saving can be expected, and the service life of the piezoelectric element can be increased. For example, when the standard atmospheric pressure is 1.0 [atm], by setting the initial setting position under the standard atmospheric pressure and in a state where no voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element 2, as long as the standard atmospheric pressure is used under the standard atmospheric pressure, There is no need to control the flying height. That is, it is not necessary to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element 2. Therefore, it is possible to save the power that is not necessary to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element 2. Further, the decrease in the service life of the piezoelectric element 2 due to the application of voltage can be reduced, and the service life of the piezoelectric element can be increased.

  In this embodiment, by using the piezoelectric element 2 as an example of the expansion / contraction means, it is possible to realize expansion / contraction with an accurate expansion / contraction amount and quick response.

  Further, in the present embodiment, by providing the atmospheric pressure measurement unit 7 that can measure the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider 5, the slider 5 can be controlled based on the change in the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider that affects the flying height of the slider 5. Since the flying height of the slider 5 can be controlled by changing the buoyancy, the flying height of the slider 5 can be controlled more accurately.

(Second Embodiment)
A magnetic head according to a second embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the second embodiment, unlike the magnetic head according to the first embodiment described above, a magnetic head 11 in which a piezoelectric element is attached to a suspension will be described. Since the configuration other than the location where the piezoelectric element is attached is the same as that of the first embodiment, the tens place is set to 1 and the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are given to the first place and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing the structural appearance of a magnetic head according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the piezoelectric element 12 fixed to the suspension 13 changes the position of the support portion 16 and changes the relative position of the slider 15 and the support portion 16.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the piezoelectric element 12 fixed to the suspension 13 is connected to the support portion 16 via a substrate 18 that is a member having the support portion 16, and changes the position of the support portion 16. be able to. In addition, the shape and quantity of the board | substrate 18 are not specifically limited to this Embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element 12 moves the substrate 18 coupled to the piezoelectric element 12 and the support portion 16 provided on the substrate 18, so that the piezoelectric element as in the first embodiment. Compared with the case where the slider support member 4 and the slider 5 are moved by expanding and contracting 2, the response time required to change the relative position of the slider 15 with respect to the support portion 16 can be shortened. In the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Third embodiment)
A magnetic head according to a third embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the third embodiment, unlike the magnetic head according to the first embodiment described above, a magnetic head 21 in which a piezoelectric element is located on the opposite side of the magnetic disk A across a suspension will be described. Since the configuration other than the location where the piezoelectric element is attached is the same as that of the first embodiment, the tens place is set to 2 and the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment are given to the first place, and the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the structural appearance of a magnetic head according to the third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is an overhead view of the magnetic head according to the third embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the magnetic disk side. In the third embodiment, the piezoelectric element 22 is positioned on the opposite side of the magnetic disk A across the suspension 23, and the right end thereof is fixed to the suspension 23. The slider support member 24 passes through a hole 23 a (see FIG. 8) provided in the suspension 23 and is supported by the support portion 26 while supporting the slider 25. The shape of the slider support member 24 is not particularly limited as long as the piezoelectric element 22 has a shape located on the opposite side of the magnetic disk A with the suspension 23 interposed therebetween.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the other end portion of the slider support member 24 is attached to the opposite side of the suspension 23 from the magnetic disk A side, and the slider support member 24 passes through the hole 23 a formed in the suspension 23. By arranging in such a manner, the thickness of the piezoelectric element 22 can be determined without causing a problem of physical interference between the piezoelectric element 22 and the magnetic disk A. In the second embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the fourth embodiment, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 including the magnetic head according to the first embodiment will be described. Since the configuration of the magnetic head is the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram of each configuration of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. First, the configuration of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 includes a magnetic head 1, a control unit 110, an information processing unit 120, and an information storage unit 130.

  The control unit 110 controls the flying height of the slider of the magnetic head 1 by transmitting a control signal and the like to other constituent blocks and acquiring each information.

  The piezoelectric element 2 is connected to the control unit 110 through a signal conducting wire, and expands and contracts in the longitudinal direction of the suspension by receiving voltage supply, thereby changing the relative position between the slider and the support unit. That is, in this embodiment, the piezoelectric element 2 is expanded and contracted by applying a voltage as a signal for controlling the piezoelectric element 2.

  When the power of the piezoelectric element 2 of the magnetic head 1 is turned off, it is desirable to turn off the power after gradually lowering the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 2 below a certain voltage. The constant voltage varies depending on the withstand voltage of the piezoelectric element 2, but is most preferably zero. By gradually lowering the applied voltage of the piezoelectric element 2 below a certain voltage and then turning off the power, sudden voltage fluctuation can be suppressed and the risk of the piezoelectric element being destroyed can be reduced.

  The atmospheric pressure measurement unit 7 of the magnetic head 1 measures the atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider of the magnetic head 1 and returns an atmospheric pressure value according to the reference from the control unit 110 connected by the signal conductor.

  When the information processing unit 120 controls the flying height of the slider, the information processing unit 120 receives a calculation command from the control unit 110 and returns a voltage value applied to the piezoelectric element 2 obtained by the calculation. The voltage value is information for controlling the piezoelectric element 2. The contents of the calculation performed by the information processing unit 120 are obtained from the pressure measuring unit 7 based on the correspondence between the atmospheric pressure and the flying height of the slider, and the correspondence between the relative position of the slider and the support portion and the flying height of the slider. A voltage value corresponding to the atmospheric pressure is derived.

  The information storage unit 130 records the correspondence between the atmospheric pressure and the flying height of the slider, and the correspondence between the relative position of the slider and the support unit and the flying height of the slider as information. If the corresponding correspondence is recorded, it is returned to the control unit 110 as corresponding data. For the correspondence not recorded in the information storage unit 130, the control unit 110 again issues a calculation command to the information processing unit 120, and the information processing unit executes the calculation. Note that a calculation command may be issued directly from the information storage unit 130 to the information processing unit 120. In addition, the above-described calculation results performed by the information processing unit 120 are also sequentially recorded in the information storage unit 130, so that the correspondence relationship that can be processed only by referring to the information storage unit 130 can be increased.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Next, the operation of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 10, the control unit 110 acquires the atmospheric pressure value from the atmospheric pressure measurement unit 7 at regular time intervals (A1). The operation of acquiring the atmospheric pressure value at regular intervals is obtained by obtaining time information from a timing device provided in the device or a timing device outside the device, and obtaining it at regular time intervals (for example, every 1 second). Alternatively, it may be acquired at regular time intervals (for example, every hour 0 minutes 0 seconds). Alternatively, it may be acquired only when the apparatus is activated.

  Then, it is determined whether or not the acquisition of the atmospheric pressure value by the control unit 110 is the first acquisition after the start of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 (A2). If it is not the first acquisition after startup (A2: No), the acquired atmospheric pressure value is compared with the previously acquired atmospheric pressure value to determine whether the atmospheric pressure value has changed (A3). When the atmospheric pressure value has not changed (A3: No), the process returns to A1.

  And when the atmospheric pressure value has changed (A3: Yes) and in the first acquisition after activation (A2: Yes), the voltage value applied to the piezoelectric element 2 corresponding to the atmospheric pressure value acquired in the information storage unit 130 Refer to whether there is (A4). When the voltage value corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value is stored after referring to the information storage unit 130 (A5: Yes), the voltage value is returned from the information storage unit 130 to the control unit 110.

  On the other hand, if the voltage value corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value is not stored after referring to the information storage unit 130 (A5: No), the information processing unit 120 causes the piezoelectric element corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value. 2 is performed, and the voltage value is returned from the information processing unit 120 to the control unit 110 (A7). Specifically, the relative position of the slider and the support portion is calculated from the correspondence relationship between the atmospheric pressure and the flying height of the slider, and the corresponding relationship between the relative position of the slider and the support portion and the flying height of the slider. Then, a voltage value to be applied to the piezoelectric element 2 is calculated from a relational expression between the relative position of the slider and the support portion and the voltage value to be applied to the piezoelectric element 2 in order to realize the relative position. From the above-described two correspondence relationships, a relational expression between the atmospheric pressure and the voltage value to be applied to the piezoelectric element 2 in order to realize the relative position of the slider and the support portion is obtained in advance, and the piezoelectricity is calculated using the relational expression. A voltage value applied to the element 2 may be obtained. After the calculation, the voltage value obtained by the calculation of the information processing unit 120 is returned to the control unit 110.

  And based on the voltage value acquired in the process of A6 and the process of A7, a voltage is supplied to the piezoelectric element 2 from the control part 110, and the piezoelectric element 2 is expanded and contracted to a predetermined expansion / contraction amount, so that the magnetic The flying height of the slider of the head 1 is controlled (A8).

  In the present embodiment, by providing the information processing unit 120 in the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 as described above, the flying height of the slider of the magnetic head 1 is kept within a certain range without providing an additional information processing unit outside the apparatus. Can be maintained.

  In the present embodiment, by providing the information storage unit 130 in which the correspondence relationship is stored, the information (voltage value) for controlling the piezoelectric element 2 is calculated by referring to the information storage unit 130. You can get it without doing it. As a result, the time required to control the piezoelectric element 2 after the atmospheric pressure applied to the head changes is shortened.

  Further, in the present embodiment, by providing the information processing unit 120 and the information storage unit 130, the piezoelectricity is measured based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement unit 7 even for the atmospheric pressure not recorded in the information storage unit 130. The flying height of the slider can be controlled by calculating information for controlling the element 2.

  With the above configuration, even if the atmospheric pressure applied to the magnetic head 1 changes, recording / reproduction can be performed while maintaining the flying height of the slider within a certain range by controlling the flying height of the slider by changing the flying force of the slider. It can be carried out.

(Fifth embodiment)
A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the fifth embodiment, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 200 that does not include an information storage unit, unlike the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment described above, will be described. Since the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 200 is the same as the fourth embodiment except that the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 200 does not include an information storage unit, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 11 is a block diagram of components of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 200 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 200 includes the magnetic head 1, a control unit 210, and an information processing unit 220.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the fifth embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the control unit 210 acquires the atmospheric pressure value from the atmospheric pressure measurement unit 7 at regular time intervals (B1). The operation of acquiring the atmospheric pressure value at regular intervals is obtained by obtaining time information from a timing device provided in the device or a timing device outside the device, and obtaining it at regular time intervals (for example, every 1 second). Alternatively, it may be acquired at regular time intervals (for example, every hour 0 minutes 0 seconds). Alternatively, it may be acquired only when the apparatus is activated.

  Then, it is determined whether the acquisition of the atmospheric pressure value by the control unit 210 is the first acquisition after the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 200 is activated (B2). If it is not the first acquisition after startup (B2: No), the acquired atmospheric pressure value is compared with the previously acquired atmospheric pressure value to determine whether the atmospheric pressure value has changed (B3). When the atmospheric pressure value has not changed (B3: No), the process returns to B1.

  Then, when the atmospheric pressure value has changed (B3: Yes) and in the first acquisition after startup (B2: Yes), the voltage applied by the information processing unit 220 to the piezoelectric element 2 corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value An operation for obtaining the value is performed, and the voltage value is returned from the information processing unit 220 to the control unit 210 (B4). Specifically, the relative position of the slider and the support portion is calculated from the correspondence relationship between the atmospheric pressure and the flying height of the slider, and the corresponding relationship between the relative position of the slider and the support portion and the flying height of the slider. Then, a voltage value to be applied to the piezoelectric element 2 is calculated from a relational expression between the relative position of the slider and the support portion and the voltage value to be applied to the piezoelectric element 2 in order to realize the relative position. From the above-described two correspondence relationships, a relational expression between the atmospheric pressure and the voltage value to be applied to the piezoelectric element 2 in order to realize the relative position of the slider and the support portion is obtained in advance, and the piezoelectricity is calculated using the relational expression. A voltage value applied to the element 2 may be obtained. After the calculation, the voltage value obtained by the calculation of the information processing unit 220 is returned to the control unit 210.

  Based on the voltage value acquired in the process of B4, a voltage is supplied from the control unit 210 to the piezoelectric element 2, and the piezoelectric element 2 is expanded and contracted to a predetermined expansion / contraction amount, so that the slider of the magnetic head 1 is expanded. Is controlled (B5).

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the flying height of the slider can be controlled without providing an information storage unit. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus can be reduced as compared with the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus of the fourth embodiment including both the information processing unit and the information storage unit.

(Sixth embodiment)
A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the sixth embodiment, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 300 that does not include an information processing unit, unlike the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 100 according to the fourth embodiment described above, will be described. Since the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 300 is the same as the above-described fourth embodiment except that it does not include an information storage unit, the description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 13 is a block diagram of components of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 300 according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 300 includes a magnetic head 1, a control unit 310, and an information storage unit 330.

  FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the operation of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the sixth embodiment. First, as shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 310 acquires the atmospheric pressure value from the atmospheric pressure measurement unit 7 at regular time intervals (C1). The operation of acquiring the atmospheric pressure value at regular intervals is obtained by obtaining time information from a timing device provided in the device or a timing device outside the device, and obtaining it at regular time intervals (for example, every 1 second). Alternatively, it may be acquired at regular time intervals (for example, every hour 0 minutes 0 seconds). Alternatively, it may be acquired only when the apparatus is activated.

  Then, it is determined whether the acquisition of the atmospheric pressure value by the control unit 310 is the first acquisition after the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 300 is started (C2). If it is not the first acquisition after startup (C2: No), the acquired atmospheric pressure value is compared with the previously acquired atmospheric pressure value to determine whether the atmospheric pressure value has changed (C3). When the atmospheric pressure value has not changed (C3: No), the process returns to C1.

  And when the atmospheric pressure value is changing (C3: Yes) and the first acquisition after activation (C2: Yes), the voltage applied to the piezoelectric element 2 corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value in the information storage unit 330 Whether there is a value is referred (C4). In the information storage unit 330, for example, 0.950 [atm], 0.960 [atm], 0.970 [atm], 0. Discretely recorded in the format of 980 [atm], 0.990 [atm], and 1.000 [atm].

When the voltage value corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value is stored after referring to the information storage unit 330 (C5: Yes), the voltage value is returned from the information storage unit 330 to the control unit 310 (C6). ). On the other hand, if the voltage value corresponding to the acquired atmospheric pressure value is not stored after referring to the information storage unit 330 (C5: No), the process returns to C1. In the example of the information storage unit 330 described above, if the acquired atmospheric pressure value is 0.960 [atm], the voltage value corresponding to the atmospheric pressure value is recorded in the information storage unit 130. The voltage value is returned to the control unit 310 as the voltage value to be applied. On the other hand, if the acquired atmospheric pressure value is 0.963 [atm], since the voltage value corresponding to the atmospheric pressure value is not recorded in the information storage unit 130, the process returns to the process of C1, and the atmospheric pressure is measured again.

  Then, based on the voltage value acquired in the process of C6, the control unit 310 supplies a voltage to the piezoelectric element 2, expands and contracts the piezoelectric element 2 to a predetermined expansion / contraction amount, and the slider of the magnetic head 1 Is controlled (C7).

  In this embodiment, by providing the information storage unit 330 in which the correspondence relationship is stored, the information (voltage value) for controlling the piezoelectric element 2 is calculated by referring to the information storage unit 330. You can get it without doing it. As a result, the time required to control the piezoelectric element 2 after the atmospheric pressure applied to the head changes is shortened.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the flying height of the slider can be controlled without providing an information processing unit. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus can be reduced as compared with the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus of the fourth embodiment including both the information processing unit and the information storage unit.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description of the embodiments but by the scope of claims for patent, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of claims for patent.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the magnetic head has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the effects described in the above embodiment are not limited to the recording / reproducing system using only magnetism. In addition, the present invention can be similarly effective in all recording / reproducing systems using a head that floats on the disk, such as an optically assisted magnetic recording / reproducing system and a recording / reproducing system using near-field light.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which a piezoelectric element is used as the expansion / contraction means has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as long as specifications such as dimensions, weight, expansion / contraction resolution, and expansion / contraction speed required for the magnetic head are satisfied. An expansion / contraction means other than the piezoelectric element can also be used. For example, a thermal expansion / contraction element can be cited as a means for using expansion / contraction by heat. In the case of using a thermal expansion / contraction element that expands and contracts due to heat generated by passing an electric current, the flying height of the slider can be controlled by applying an electric current to the thermal expansion / contraction element. That is, the information for controlling the thermal expansion / contraction element is the current value. In the thermal expansion / contraction element, when a material having a small expansion / contraction amount with respect to the applied heat amount, that is, a material having a small thermal expansion coefficient is used for the means, the resolution of the expansion / contraction amount is increased. On the other hand, when a material having a large thermal expansion coefficient is used for the means, the amount of expansion / contraction is larger than the amount of heat applied, so that the amount of heat applied can be reduced when obtaining the same amount of expansion / contraction. In determining the coefficient of thermal expansion of the means, it is determined to be an optimized value according to the required resolution of the amount of expansion and contraction and the necessity to save the amount of heat.

  Moreover, although 1st Embodiment demonstrated the example which a support part supports a slider support member, this invention is not restricted to this, You may make it support a slider directly not via a slider support member. . In the first embodiment, the support portion is formed by a process of projecting a part of the suspension into a hemispherical shape, but the support portion may be formed of a member different from the suspension.

  In the second embodiment, the example in which the substrate having the support portion is moved by the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the magnetic head 111 according to the modification shown in FIG. The support portion 116 may be provided on the piezoelectric element 112 fixed to the suspension 113, and the position of the support portion 116 may be directly changed. In this case, the response time required to change the relative position of the slider 115 with respect to the support portion 116 is larger than in the case where the slider support member 4 and the slider 5 are moved by expanding and contracting the piezoelectric element 2 as in the first embodiment. Can be shortened.

1 is a diagram schematically showing a magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the structural appearance of a magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which showed the shape of the slider of the magnetic head which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed roughly the shape of ABS of the slider used by this embodiment. It is the graph which showed the correspondence of the relative position of a slider and a support part, and the flying height of a slider. It is the figure which showed schematically the structure external appearance of the magnetic head which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed schematically the structure external appearance of the magnetic head which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is the bird's-eye view which looked at the magnetic head which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention from the magnetic disc side. It is a block diagram of each structure of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed operation | movement of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of each structure of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of each structure of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the operation | movement of the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus which concerns on 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed roughly the structure external appearance of the magnetic head which concerns on the modification of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1, 11, 21, 111 Magnetic head 2, 12, 22, 112 Piezoelectric element 3, 13, 23, 113 Suspension 4, 14, 24 Slider support member 4a One end 4b Other end 5, 15, 25, 115 Slider 6 , 16, 26, 116 Support unit 7 Pressure measurement unit 18 Substrate 23a Hole 100, 200, 300 Magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus 110, 210, 310 Control unit 120, 220 Information processing unit 130, 330 Information storage unit A Magnetic disk

Claims (14)

A slider arranged to face the disk surface;
A recording element provided on the slider for recording information on the disk and / or a reproducing element for reproducing information recorded on the disk;
A suspension that is movable in the radial direction of the disk at the tip, and
A slider support member having the other end attached to the suspension such that the slider is attached to one end and the one end is movable;
A support portion that is provided on the disk side of the suspension, and that supports the slider support member or the slider while contacting the slider support member or a portion of the slider opposite to the disk side at a point or a surface. ,
A portion between a portion of the suspension to which the other end portion of the slider support member is attached and a tip portion of the suspension; It is a part, and the relative position of the slider with respect to the support portion can be changed by providing at least one of the extension and contraction means that can extend and contract the length of the slider support member. To head.
  The head according to claim 1, wherein when the expansion / contraction means is provided on the suspension, the support portion is provided integrally with the expansion / contraction means.   The head according to claim 1, wherein the expansion / contraction means is a piezoelectric element.   The head according to claim 3, wherein the initial setting position of the slider is set under a standard atmospheric pressure and a voltage is not applied to the piezoelectric element.   The head according to claim 1, wherein the expansion / contraction means is a thermal expansion / contraction element.   When the expansion / contraction means is provided on the slider support member, the other end of the slider support member is attached to the opposite side of the suspension from the disk side, and the slider support member is formed on the suspension. The head according to claim 1, wherein the head is disposed so as to penetrate the hole.   The head according to claim 1, further comprising an atmospheric pressure measuring unit capable of measuring an atmospheric pressure in the vicinity of the slider.   A recording / reproducing apparatus comprising the head according to claim 7. Information processing means for calculating information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means;
9. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising control means for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on information obtained by calculation of the information processing means. A control method for a recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 9,
An atmospheric pressure acquisition step of acquiring an atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measuring means;
An information processing step for calculating information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure acquisition step;
And a control step of controlling the expansion / contraction means based on information obtained by the calculation of the information processing step. Information storage means for storing the air pressure and information for controlling the expansion and contraction means in association with each other;
9. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising control means for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on information stored in the information storage means. A control method for a recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 11,
An atmospheric pressure acquisition step of acquiring an atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measuring means;
An information acquisition step of acquiring information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure acquisition step with reference to the information storage means;
And a control step of controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the information acquired in the information acquisition step. Information processing means for calculating information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement means;
Information storage means for storing the air pressure and information for controlling the expansion and contraction means in association with each other;
And a control unit that controls the expansion and contraction unit based on information obtained by calculation of the information processing unit and / or information associated with the atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measurement unit. Item 9. The recording / reproducing apparatus according to Item 8. A control method for a recording / reproducing apparatus according to claim 13,
An atmospheric pressure acquisition step of acquiring an atmospheric pressure measured by the atmospheric pressure measuring means;
A determination step of determining whether information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure acquisition step is stored with reference to the information storage means;
In the determination step, when it is determined that information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure measurement step is stored in the information storage unit, information associated with the atmospheric pressure is acquired and the information is stored in the information. Based on the expansion and contraction means,
In the determination step, when it is determined that the information storage means does not store information associated with the atmospheric pressure acquired in the atmospheric pressure measurement step, information for controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the atmospheric pressure And a control step of controlling the expansion / contraction means based on the information.

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