JPH03209683A - Magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain high density recording, high speed accessing and crash prevention and to improve durability and a floating property by providing recessed parts along a longitudinal direction at the both edges of the cross direction of the medium facing face of a slider and providing a reading and writing element between the recessed parts of the one end of the slider. CONSTITUTION:At the both edge of the cross direction of a medium facing face 211 of a slider 21 of a magnetic head, recessed parts 213 and 214 along a longitudinal direction are provided and a part between the concave parts 213 and 214 becomes an air bearing face 215 which does not have a stage part. A reading and writing element 22 is arranged so that a gap may be positioned at the air bearing face 215 between the recessed parts 213 and 214 in the one end of the slider 21.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention provides a method for rotating a hard magnetic disk at high speed.
Regarding a magnetic recording and reproducing device that performs magnetic recording and reproducing using a magnetic head arranged to face a magnetic disk, recesses are provided at both widthwise edges of the medium facing surface of the slider,
By using a magnetic head that uses the space between the recesses as an air bearing surface, it has become possible to provide a magnetic recording and reproducing device that is extremely effective in high-density recording, high-speed access, crash prevention, improved durability, and improved flying characteristics. It is something.

<Prior Art> As is well known, this type of magnetic recording/reproducing device uses a hard magnetic material in which a magnetic thin film is formed on a rigid substrate made of aluminum by means such as magnetic fine particle coating method, plating method, or sputtering method. Rotate the disc at high speed (e.g. 3600 rpm)
pm), dynamic pressure is generated between the magnetic disk and the floating magnetic head, and magnetic recording and reproduction are performed while the magnetic head is kept floating while maintaining the flying height due to the minute air bearing.

Conventionally, this type of magnetic head has a slider made of a ceramic structure, on the side facing the medium, which faces the magnetic disk.
The rail sections of the book are provided at intervals, and the surface of the rail section acts as an air bearing surface, and a tapered section is provided at one end of the rail section that becomes the air inflow end in combination with a magnetic disk. It had a structure. The read/write element is attached to the air outflow end side opposite to the tapered portion.

By the way, in order to achieve high-density magnetic recording in this type of magnetic recording/reproducing device, it is necessary to reduce the flying height of the magnetic head as much as possible to reduce spacing loss. When attempting to reduce spacing loss by lowering the flying height, there are two problems that must be solved. One is a problem that occurs with magnetic disks, and the other is a problem that occurs with magnetic heads.

First, due to the surface properties of magnetic disks and the effects of vibrations during high-speed rotation, the magnetic head collides with the surface of the magnetic disk, which can easily cause problems such as damage to the magnetic disk and head crashes. We must solve the problem of declining sexuality. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-55072 is known as a conventional technique aimed at solving this problem. In this conventional technology, the surface roughness RMAx of the magnetic disk is set to 100 Å or less, and the flying height at the start of flying of the magnetic head is set in the range of 0.01 μm to 0.04 μm. This prevents the magnetic head from coming into contact with the surface of the magnetic disk during high-speed rotation, improving durability and reducing spacing loss.

Next, magnetic heads are compatible with high-density recording mainly through miniaturization. Miniaturization is effective in reducing flying height and spacing loss, and when combined with a gimbal, it increases the resonance frequency, prevents crashes, and improves durability. Moreover, it reduces dynamic pressure and support spring pressure. This is because it is possible to maintain an appropriate balance between the two, maintain a good flight attitude, and obtain stable levitation characteristics. Furthermore,
The reduction in mass of the head due to miniaturization results in faster access movement of the arm supporting the gimbal.

However, the conventional magnetic head has a complicated structure having a rail portion and a tapered portion on the medium facing surface side, and there is a limit to miniaturization. As a means to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-21713 discloses a magnetic head in which the medium facing surface of the slider is made flat without a rail portion.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an example of such a magnetic head;
1 is a slider, 22 is a read/write element, and 23 and 24 are extraction electrodes.

The slider 21 has a medium facing surface 211 that is flat without a rail portion or a tapered surface, and the entire surface 211 functions as an air bearing surface.

The read/write element 22 is attached to the end surface that is the air outflow end side in combination with the magnetic disk. The read/write element 22 is arranged approximately in the middle in the width direction.

The power outputs 8i23 and 24 are connected to both ends of the conductor coil film that constitutes the read/write element 22.

When used as a magnetic disk device, the medium facing surface 2
The surface 212 opposite to 11 is adhered to a head support device (gimbal) (not shown), and the medium facing surface 211 is brought into spring contact with the surface of the magnetic disk, and startup and stop are performed in this state. , driven by stop method. When the magnetic disk is stationary, the medium facing surface 211 is moved by the spring pressure of the head support device.
is pressed against the surface of the magnetic disk, but when the magnetic disk rotates, lift dynamic pressure is generated on the medium facing surface 211 of the slider 1, and the slider operates with a flying height that balances this dynamic pressure with the spring pressure of the head support device. .

In the magnetic head shown in FIG. 15, since the medium facing surface 2!1 of the slider 21 has a simple planar shape without a rail portion, it is easy to downsize, and the above-mentioned advantages of downsizing can be secured.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, in the above-described magnetic head, the medium facing surface 211 becomes concave in the middle part in the width direction due to the influence of processing distortion and the like, as shown exaggeratedly in FIG. It may become. When the medium facing surface 211 is concave, in combination with a magnetic disk, head touch becomes poor, spacing loss increases, head crashes are more likely to occur, and durability decreases. For this reason, JP-A-64-5507
Even in combination with the magnetic disk disclosed in Publication No. 2, sufficient results could not be achieved in terms of minimum flying height, reduction in spacing loss, prevention of crashes, and improvement in durability.

Furthermore, since the overall shape is cubic, the medium facing surface 21
1, the area of the surface 212 opposite to the medium facing surface 211 is also reduced. Since the surface 212 is a portion to which the head support device is attached, the reduction in the area of the surface 212 reduces the area to which the head support device is attached. For this reason, the smaller the head support device is, the smaller the area required to install the head support device becomes, and the more difficult it becomes to install it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and provide a magnetic recording/reproducing device that is extremely effective in high-density recording, high-speed access, crash prevention, improved durability, and improved flying characteristics.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, and a head support device that supports the magnetic head. A magnetic recording and reproducing device that performs magnetic recording and reproducing between a magnetic head and the magnetic disk, the magnetic disk having a magnetic recording layer on a rigid base, and the magnetic head reading and writing on a slider. The slider has recesses extending in the length direction at both ends of the medium facing surface in the width direction, when the medium facing surface is assumed to have a longitudinal direction and a width direction, and the recesses are spaced apart from each other. It is an air bearing surface, and the read/write element is arranged between the recesses on one end side in the length direction.

<Function> When the length and width directions are assumed to be on the medium facing surface, the slider has recesses along the length at both ends of the medium facing surface in the width direction, so the recesses eliminate machining distortion. The concavity of the medium facing surface is corrected. Therefore, a magnetic head with good head touch, small spacing loss, and high durability that is resistant to head crashes and the like can be obtained.

In particular, in combination with a magnetic disk with a surface roughness RMAX of 100 Å or less, the starting point of levitation should be set at a relative speed of 2
m/s or less, CSS (contact, start, stop) durability can be improved to over 100,000 passes. This means that even in low flying height areas, the magnetic head will not come into contact with the surface of the magnetic disk.
This means increased durability.

The slider has concave portions extending along the length at both +4 edges in the width direction of the medium facing surface, and the width of the intermediate portion constituting the air bearing surface is narrowed to reduce the area. Therefore, a magnetic head with a low flying height, little spacing loss, and suitable for high-density recording can be obtained.

Since the surface of the slider opposite to the medium facing surface is not affected by the reduction in size of the air bearing surface, a sufficient adhesive area can be secured between the slider and the head support device, and adhesive strength can be increased.

<Example> FIG. 1 is a front view of a magnetic recording and reproducing device according to the present invention, and FIG.
The figure is also a plan view thereof, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged views showing the assembled structure of the magnetic head and head support device.

In the figure, 1 is a magnetic disk, 2 is a magnetic head, 3 is a gimbal type head support device, and 4 is a positioning device.

The magnetic disk 1 is rotationally driven in the direction of arrow a by a rotational drive mechanism (not shown). The magnetic head 2 is supported by a head support device 3, and is driven and positioned by a positioning device 4 in the direction of arrow b1 or b2 on a rotational diameter 01, and magnetic recording is performed in a predetermined cylinder. As a driving method for the magnetic head 2, in addition to the above-mentioned linear drive, rotational drive can also be adopted.

The magnetic disk 1 is a medium with good surface roughness, with a surface roughness RMAx of 100 Å or less, preferably 50 Å or less. As shown in FIG. 5, the magnetic disk 1 has a rigid base 1010.
A magnetic recording layer 102 is formed on the surface by a vacuum film forming method. The magnetic recording layer 102 is made of y-Fe203 or Co-
It is formed as a magnetic thin film of Ni, Go-Cr, etc. Since the thickness of the magnetic recording layer 102 formed by the vacuum deposition method is about 0.5 μm or less, the surface properties of the rigid base 101 are directly reflected as the surface properties of the recording layer 102.

Therefore, the rigid base 102 used has a surface roughness R and AX of 100 Å or less. Specific examples of such rigid substrates include rigid substrates whose main component is glass, chemically strengthened soda aluminosilicate glass, or ceramic.

The magnetic recording layer 102 can be made of magnetic iron oxide or magnetic nitride such as γ-Fe2O3. When the magnetic layer is made of metal or alloy, an oxide layer or a nitride layer 102a is provided on the surface as shown in FIG. 5, or the surface is coated with an oxidation degree [ 102b is desirable. By doing this, the durability of the magnetic recording layer 102 is improved, and when recording and reproducing at a low flying height, or when contacting.

Damage to the magnetic disk 1 can be prevented even when starting and stopping. The oxide layer and nitride layer 102a can be formed by reactive sputtering, reactive vapor deposition, or the like. Further, the oxide film 102b is made of Go-Ni or Go-Cr.
The magnetic recording layer 102 can be formed by intentionally oxidizing the surface of the magnetic recording layer 102 made of a metal or alloy containing at least one of iron, cobalt, and nickel by reactive plasma treatment or the like. The magnetic disk 1 may be of either perpendicular recording, in which the recorded residual magnetization of the magnetic recording layer 102 has a component perpendicular to the film surface as its main component, or in-plane recording, in which the main component is a film-plane component. . Although not shown, the magnetic recording layer 1
A lubricant may be applied to the surface of 02.

FIG. 7 shows an enlarged perspective view of the magnetic head 2. As shown in FIG. In the figure, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 15 indicate the same components. The slider 21 has recesses 213 and 214 along the length direction at both ends of the medium facing surface 211 in the width direction.
The space between the recesses 213 and 214 forms an air bearing surface 215 without a step. The depth hs and width d of the recesses 213 and 214 are such that the total width W2 of the slider 21 is 1.
In a specific example where the length is 2 mm, the total length is 1.1 mm, and the thickness is 0.55 mm, approximately 0.1 mm is appropriate.

The read/write element 22 has a recess 2 at one end in the length direction.
13-214 with a gap located at the air bearing surface 215. The read/write element 22 is
It may be a metal, in, gap type, or thin film element. This embodiment shows an example of a thin film magnetic head using a thin film element. Although not shown, a recess can also be provided on the other end face side facing the end face where the read/write element 22 is provided.

In the medium facing surface 211 of the slider 21, the recess 213-
Magnetic recording and reproducing is performed between the read/write element 22 disposed on one end side of the air bearing surface 215 between the magnetic disks 214 and the magnetic disk. Here, the width w of the air bearing surface 215 at the intermediate portion is the total width w2 of the medium facing surface 211.
Since it is narrower compared to , its area is reduced. Therefore, a magnetic head with a low flying height, little spacing loss, and capable of high-density recording can be obtained.

In addition, recesses 213 and 214 are provided along the length direction at both edges in the width direction where machining strain tends to remain, and the machining strain portion is removed. Therefore, a magnetic head with good head touch, small spacing loss, and high durability that is resistant to head crashes and the like can be obtained. Surface roughness RM
In combination with a magnetic disk with AX of 100 Å or less, as will be demonstrated later, the starting point of levitation is set at a relative velocity of 2.
By setting the speed below m/s, we were able to improve the CSS shu durability to over 100,000 passes.

Furthermore, the surface 212 of the slider 21 opposite to the medium facing surface 211 has an area corresponding to the full width W2 of the slider 21, and is not affected by the reduction of the air bearing surface 215. It is possible to secure a sufficient bonding area between the two and increase the bonding strength.

The air bearing surface 215 has both edges in the length direction, both edges in the width direction, and corners, which are the air inflow and outflow ends, formed in an arc shape in order to eliminate hooking with the surface of the magnetic disk at the time of contact and start. It is desirable to do so.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view centered on the thin film read/write element 22, and FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view thereof. In the figure,
221 is a lower magnetic film, 222 is a gap film made of alumina or the like, 223 is an upper magnetic film, 224 is a conductor coil film, 2
25 is an insulating film made of organic resin such as novolac resin, 226 and 227 are lead electrodes, and 228 is a protective film.

The tips of the lower magnetic film 221 and the upper magnetic film 223 are ball portions that face each other with a gap film 222 of very small thickness in between, and a conversion gap formed by the gap film 222 is formed in the ball portion. Further, the lower magnetic film 221 and the upper magnetic film 223 are coupled to each other by a rear gap closing portion to form a required magnetic circuit.

The insulating film 225 has a plurality of layers, and a conductive coil film 224 is formed therein so as to spiral around the rear gap closing portions of the lower magnetic film 221 and the upper magnetic film 223. The lead electrodes 226 and 227 have one end electrically connected to both ends of the conductor coil film 224, respectively, and
Extracting electrodes 23 and 24 are formed on the other end side.

10 to 12 show different embodiments of the magnetic head according to the present invention. First, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the recesses 213 and 214 are composed of an inclined surface and a step surface that are connected to the air bearing surface 215.

In the embodiment of FIG. 11, the recesses 213, 214 are comprised of convex arcuate surfaces and step surfaces that are continuous with the air bearing surface 215.

In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the recesses 213, 214 are concavely curved.

In either embodiment, the same effects as the magnetic head shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained.

In each of the above embodiments, a magnetic head for in-plane recording/reproduction is shown, but the present invention can also be applied to a magnetic head for perpendicular magnetic recording/reproduction. Furthermore, the invention is not limited to the two-terminal magnetic head shown in the embodiment, but can also be applied to a three-terminal magnetic head having a center tap, a Wenchester type magnetic head, or a composite type magnetic head.

Next, the assembly structure of the magnetic head 2 and head support device 3 is as follows.
This is shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. magnetic head 2
The head support device 3 driven by the positioning device 4 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) applies a load to the surface 212 opposite to the medium facing surface 211 to allow pitch and roll motion. support.

In the head support device 3, one end of a support body 32 made of an elastic thin metal plate is attached and fixed to a rigid arm portion 31 attached to a positioning device using connectors 311 and 312, and one end of the support body 32 in the longitudinal direction is fixed. A flexible body 33 made of a thin metal plate is attached to a certain free end, and this flexible body 33
It has a structure in which a magnetic head 2 is attached to the bottom surface of the magnetic head.

The support body 32 has an elastic spring section 321 at a portion attached to the rigid arm section 31, and a rigid beam section 322 is formed continuously to the elastic spring section 321. The rigid beam portion 322 has flanges 322a bent on both sides,
322b. The flexible body 33 has two outer flexible frames 33 extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support body 32.
1.332, a horizontal frame 333 that connects the outer flexible frame portion 331.332 at the end remote from the support body 32, and a horizontal frame 333 that connects the outer flexible frame portion 331.332 from approximately the center of the horizontal frame 333 to approximately parallel to the outer flexible frame portion 331.332. The structure has a central tongue-shaped part 334 that extends in the direction of the horizontal frame 333 and has a free end. By means of installation.

A loading protrusion 335 having a hemispherical shape, for example, is provided on the upper surface of the central tongue 334 of the flexible body 33, and this loading protrusion 335 allows the support 32 to be moved from the free end of the support body 32 to the central tongue 334. It is designed to transmit the load. Central tongue 33
The surface 212 of the magnetic head 2 is fixed to the lower surface of the magnetic head 4 by adhesive or other means.

Next, refer to specific data regarding a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus including a combination of a magnetic disk 1 having a surface roughness RMAX of 100, and the magnetic head and head support device shown in FIGS. 7 to 12. and explain. FIG. 13 shows data showing the relationship between the surface roughness of the magnetic disk and the relative speed at which the magnetic head starts flying. As shown in this data, in a region where the surface roughness of the magnetic disk is 100 Å or less, the relative speed at which the magnetic disk starts flying is around 11/s. This means that when driving using the contact, start, and stop method, in the region where the circumferential speed is low at the initial stage of startup,
This means that the magnetic head begins to fly, and a crash between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk becomes much less likely to occur. This point is also supported by the data shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 shows measured data showing the relationship between the relative speed at which levitation begins and C5S durability. Samples that completed the 100,000-cycle C5S test without crashing are marked with a circle, and samples that did experience a crash are marked with an x.

As is clear from Fig. 14, in the region where the relative speed is lower than the relative speed of 2 rn/s at which levitation starts, the number of samples of the 100,000-cycle C3S test bus increases significantly, and the number of samples of the 2Lo It is understood that there is a critical value of relative velocity around /s that dramatically improves durability. Therefore, by setting the relative speed at which levitation starts to 2 m/s or less, a highly durable magnetic recording/reproducing device can be realized.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(a) The slider has recesses along the length direction on both edges in the width direction of the medium facing surface, and the space between the recesses is an air bearing surface, and the read/write element is located between the recesses at one end side in the length direction. This reduces the area of the air bearing surface, resulting in a low flying height and low spacing loss, making it suitable for high-density recording.When combined with a gimbal, it increases the resonant frequency and prevents crashes. A magnetic head with improved durability can be provided. In addition, in combination with a gimbal, we provide a magnetic head that can maintain an appropriate balance between dynamic pressure and support spring pressure, maintain a good flight attitude, stabilize flying characteristics, and further speed up access movements. can.

(b) It is possible to correct the concavity of the medium-facing surface of the slider caused by processing distortion, etc., and provide a highly durable magnetic head with good head touch, low spacing loss, and less tendency to cause head crashes.

(C) The surface of the slider opposite to the medium facing surface is not affected by the reduction of the air bearing surface, so a sufficient adhesive area is secured between it and the head support device, improving adhesive strength. We can provide magnetic heads.

(d) The magnetic disk has a surface roughness RMAX of 100 Å or less, and the starting point of the magnetic head's levitation is within a range where the relative speed of the magnetic head to the magnetic disk is 2 m/s or less, so crashes can occur even in low-flying areas. less likely to cause
A highly durable magnetic recording/reproducing device can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a magnetic recording/reproducing device according to the present invention, and FIG.
3 and 4 are views showing the assembled structure between the magnetic head and the head support device, and FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged sectional view of another embodiment, FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a magnetic head constituting a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged sectional view of another embodiment. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view centered on the thin film read/write element of such a magnetic head, FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view thereof, FIGS. 10 to 12 are views showing separate embodiments of the magnetic head according to the present invention, and FIG. Figure 14 shows the relationship between the medium surface roughness and the relative speed at which levitation starts, Figure 14 shows the relationship between the relative speed at which levitation starts and CSS durability, and Figure 15 shows a conventional magnetic recording/reproducing device. A perspective view of the magnetic head used in
FIG. 16 is a diagram similarly showing the problem. 1...Magnetic disk 2...Magnetic head 21...
・Slider 22...Read/write element 211...Medium facing surface 213.214...Concavity 215...Air bearing surface No.飄ρ 00 沫体面绋之R□. 8, λ] Fig. 4 Sat ta 4 fitj 6 Kakimori return [m/sec]

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) A magnetic recording and reproducing device that includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, and a head support device that supports the magnetic head, and performs magnetic recording and reproducing between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk while rotating the magnetic disk. In the apparatus, the magnetic disk has a magnetic recording layer on a rigid substrate, the magnetic head includes a read/write element on a slider, and the slider has a length and width on a surface facing the medium. When the direction is assumed, the medium facing surface has recesses along the length direction at both ends in the width direction, the space between the recesses is an air bearing surface, and the read/write element is located at one end side in the length direction. A magnetic recording and reproducing device, characterized in that it is disposed between the recesses. (2) The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic disk has a surface roughness R_M_A_X of 100 Å or less. (3) The magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flying start point of the magnetic head is within a range where the relative velocity of the magnetic head with respect to the magnetic disk is 2 m/s or less. (4) The magnetic recording/reproducing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the base body is mainly composed of glass. (5) The magnetic recording/reproducing device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the base is made of ceramic. (6) Claim 1, wherein at least a surface layer of the magnetic recording layer is an oxide layer or a nitride layer.
, 2, 3, 4 or 5. (7) The magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, wherein the magnetic head is a thin film magnetic head.