JPH0434706A - Magnetic recording and reproducing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve data transfer speed in the device without needing a complicated control for setting simultaneously plural heads on their tracks, etc., by forming a slider with plural magnetic gaps at prescribed track intervals and using simultaneously these magnetic gaps. CONSTITUTION:The device is equipped with the heads 35 and 36 provided with plural magnetic gaps 44 and 45 at a prescribed track intervals, and the recording/reproducing of data is performed by using simultaneously the individual magnetic gaps. For example, a head provided with two magnetic gaps 44 and 45 at a prescribed track intervals on a slider 43 is used. In other words, the head 35 having two magnetic gaps H10 and H11 and similarly, the head 36 having two magnetic gaps H00 and H01 are arranged on both surfaces of a disk, and these are selectively used. By this method, without needing a complicated control for setting simultaneously plural heads on their tracks, etc., the data can be transferred at high speed in the device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a magnetic recording/reproducing device such as a magnetic disk device capable of high-speed data transfer.

(Prior Art) For example, a magnetic disk device generally records/reproduces data by converting parallel data exchanged with a CPU (not shown) into serial data, as shown in FIG. In addition, in FIG. 7, 11 is an encoder/decoder (E/D), and 12 is a read/write circuit (R/W).
), 13 is a head select circuit (H8). Here, in a magnetic disk device, a plurality of heads (here, only heads HO and Hl are shown) are provided on both sides of each of a plurality of disks (recording media), one of which is connected to a head select circuit I3. data is recorded/reproduced through the selected head.

Incidentally, in recent years, as CPU speeds have increased, there has been a demand for faster data transfer in external storage devices such as magnetic disk devices. Generally, there are two ways to increase the data transfer speed of a magnetic disk drive: (1) increase the rotational speed of the disk, and (2) increase the linear recording density. However, in method (1) the driving power increases, and in method (2) the S/N is increased due to air gap loss.
There are disadvantages in that the ratio deteriorates and furthermore, the speed of the data processing LSI cannot keep up.

Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 8, there is a device configured to use a plurality of heads at the same time to increase the data transfer speed. In this device, when parallel data is sent from a CPU (not shown) during data recording, this parallel data is sent to an encoder/decoder (E/
D) At 21, the data is converted into serial data using an appropriate modulation method, and further, as shown in FIG. 9, it is sampled alternately every other bit. Each serial data sampled in this manner is transferred to a read/write circuit (R/W) 22 for the head H1 and a read/write circuit (R/W) 23 for the head HO. The read/write circuits 22 and 23 store the data on the disk by converting this data into NRZ I signals and transferring them to the corresponding heads H1 and HO, respectively.

If such a method is used, the transfer speed of internal serial data will be halved as a result. In this case, there were two heads in the example in Figure 8, but as the number of heads increases, the internal data transfer speed will increase accordingly, and for example, it will be equal to the number of bits of parallel data. If several heads are present, a serial-to-parallel converter is unnecessary. In addition, in the example shown in Figure 8, two heads are placed on both sides of the disk, but in the sense that multiple heads are used, the heads can be placed at different track positions on the same disk surface, for example, on the inner circumference and on the outer circumference. You can also place it.

However, in this method, since a plurality of heads are used at the same time, it is necessary to bring each head on-track at the same time, and there are openings that require difficult control.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, conventionally, when a magnetic disk drive is configured to speed up data transfer, it is necessary to bring each head on-track at the same time, which requires complicated control. There were problems such as the need for

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and provides a magnetic recording/reproducing device that can transfer data at high speed within the device without requiring complicated control such as having multiple heads on track simultaneously. The purpose is to provide

[Structure of the Invention] (Means and Effects for Solving the Problems) That is, a magnetic recording/reproducing device according to the present invention includes a head in which a plurality of magnetic gaps are provided at predetermined track intervals, The first feature is that they can be used simultaneously to record/reproduce data. With such a configuration, it is possible to improve the data transfer speed inside the device without requiring complicated control such as having a plurality of heads on track simultaneously.

A second feature of the present invention is that a recording head and a reproducing head consisting of a magnetoresistive head are separately provided, and these heads are selectively used to record/reproduce data. With such a configuration, it is possible to perform perpendicular recording with a simple configuration by utilizing the characteristics of the magnetoresistive head, thereby increasing the recording density and improving the data transfer speed inside the device.

Furthermore, the present invention separately comprises a recording head consisting of a head provided with a plurality of magnetic gaps at predetermined track intervals, and a reproduction head consisting of a magnetoresistive head, and during recording, each of the magnetic fields of the recording head A third feature is that data is recorded/reproduced by simultaneously using gaps and by using only the reproducing head during reproduction. This configuration enables three-value recording, reduces costs by reducing the number of playback circuits, and, like the above, eliminates the need for complex control such as having multiple heads on track at the same time. Transfer speed can be improved.

(First Embodiment) Hereinafter, a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
An example will be explained.

A head used in a magnetic disk drive or the like generally has only one magnetic gap 42 in a slider 41, as shown in FIG. 2(a). Here, in the first embodiment, the second
As shown in Figure (b), a head is used in which a slider 43 is provided with two magnetic gaps 44 and 45 at a predetermined track interval. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a head 35 having two magnetic gaps HIO1H1l and two magnetic gaps HOO1HOI are provided on both sides of the disk.
The head 36 having the following characteristics is arranged and these are selectively used.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 1, encoder/decoder (E/D)
31 has a function of dividing continuous recording/reproducing data transferred from a CPtJ (not shown) according to the number of heads. A head select circuit (HS) 32 selects a head 35 or a head 36 in response to a head select signal from the CPU.

The read/write circuit (R/W) 33 records/reproduces data through the magnetic gap H11 of the head 35 or the magnetic gap Hot of the head 36 selected by the head select circuit 32. Similarly, the read/write circuit (R/W) 34 records/reproduces data through the magnetic gap HID of the head 35 or the magnetic gap 100 of the head 36 selected by the head select circuit 32.

According to such a configuration, the magnetic gap H of the head 35
IL HOL or magnetic gap HOI of head 36
, HOO can be used simultaneously to speed up data transfer within the device. In this case, the magnetic gap H1l
, HOI or magnetic gap Hot, ROD are arranged at predetermined track intervals on one head, so
They will always be on track at the same time. therefore,
These magnetic gaps can be used simultaneously to record/reproduce data without requiring complicated control to bring multiple heads on track as in the past.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the first embodiment described above, there was one recording and reproducing head, for example, an induced magnetic flux type head. In contrast, the second embodiment is characterized in that a magnetoresistive head is used as the reproducing head. This magnetoresistive head is a head whose resistance value changes depending on the magnetic field, and provides a reproduction output proportional to the magnetic flux generated from the medium. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, in in-plane recording, information is located at the peak point of the waveform, similar to the induced magnetic flux type head.

On the other hand, perpendicular recording, which allows high-density recording, has the advantage that information is stored at zero-crossing points of the waveform, and the conventionally used differentiation circuit for peak detection is not required.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 3, encoder/decoder (E/D)
51 has a function of dividing continuous recording/reproduction data transferred from a CPU (not shown) according to the number of heads. The write circuit (W) 52 is connected to the recording heads H1, H
Data is recorded through O. This head H1, HO
consists of an induced magnetic flux type head, which is arranged on both sides of the disk. Further, the read circuit (R) 53 reproduces data through the reproduction head MRHI or MRHO. This head MRHI SMRHO consists of the above-mentioned magnetoresistive head, and like the heads H1 and HO, it is arranged on both sides of the disk.

A head select circuit (HS) 54 selects head H1 or head HO based on a head select signal from the CPU. Similarly, the head select circuit (HS) 55 selects the head MRH in response to a head select signal from the CPU.
Select I or head MRHO.

According to this configuration, the characteristics of the magnetoresistive head can be utilized by selectively using head Hl or head HO for recording, and selectively using head MRHI or head MRHO for reproducing. It is possible to perform perpendicular recording with a simple configuration, thereby increasing the recording density and improving the data transfer speed inside the device.

(Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

In the first and second embodiments described above, as many recording and reproducing circuits as there are heads that divide serial data are required. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the number of reproducing circuits can be reduced by simultaneously using two magnetic gaps provided in the induced magnetic flux head for recording and using a magnetoresistive head for reproducing. It is characterized by To explain this using FIG. 6, recording is performed simultaneously on two tracks using magnetic gaps 71 and 72 of the induced magnetic flux head.
Reproduction is performed simultaneously across two tracks using a magnetoresistive head 73. This enables three-value recording.

That is, for example, if an N pole is recorded on track n and an S pole is recorded on track n+1, the magnetic fluxes of the two tracks cancel each other out during reproduction. As a result, the magnetic flux becomes zero, and the reproduction output becomes zero. Also, if tracks nSn+l are both poles, the magnetic flux is N pole, and the reproduction output is, for example, a positive voltage. Conversely, if tracks n and n+1 are both S poles, the magnetic flux is S pole, and the reproduction output is a positive voltage. The output is, for example, a negative voltage. In this way, three-value recording of "zero", "minus voltage", and "plus voltage" is possible.

If such a system is used, two recording circuits are required, but only one reproducing circuit is required.

In general, the reproducing circuit is more complex and has more circuit layouts than the recording circuit, so it is possible to significantly reduce costs.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In Figure 5, encoder/decoder (E/D)
lit has a function of dividing continuous recording/reproduction data transferred from a CPU (not shown) according to the number of heads. A head select circuit (H8) 62 selects head 67 or head 68 as a recording head in response to a head select signal from the CPU. Here, the heads 67.6g are composed of induced magnetic flux heads, and are arranged on both sides of the disk. Similar to the first embodiment, this head 67.6B is provided with two magnetic gaps HIO1H1l and HOO1HOI arranged at a predetermined track interval.

The write circuit (w) ea records data through the magnetic gap H1l of the head 67 or the magnetic gap HOI of the head 68 selected by the head select circuit 62. Similarly, the write circuit (W) 84 selects the magnetic gap HIO of the head 67 or the magnetic gap HO of the head 68 selected by the head select circuit 62.
Data is recorded through O.

Further, the read circuit (R) 65 is connected to the read head MRHI.
Alternatively, data is reproduced through MRHO. Here, the heads MRHI and MRHO are magnetoresistive heads, and like the head B7.68, they are arranged on both sides of the disk. Head select circuit (HS) 6 [i is
A head select signal from the CPU selects MRHI or MRHO as a reproduction head.

According to such a configuration, three-value recording is possible by simultaneously using the magnetic gaps H1l and HOI of the head 67 or the magnetic gaps HOI and HOO of the head 68 for recording and using a magnetoresistive head for reproduction. Further, as in the first and second embodiments, the data transfer speed inside the device can be improved without requiring complicated control such as simultaneously on-tracking a plurality of heads.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, by forming a plurality of magnetic gaps in a slider at predetermined track intervals and using these magnetic gaps simultaneously, it is possible to cause a plurality of heads to be on-track at the same time, etc. It is possible to improve the data transfer speed inside the device without requiring complicated control.

In addition, by using a magnetoresistive head for reproduction, the characteristics of this magnetoresistive head can be used to simplify the i11
It is possible to perform perpendicular recording with this configuration, thereby increasing the recording density and improving the data transfer speed inside the device.

Furthermore, by simultaneously using multiple magnetic gaps provided in one head for recording and using a magnetoresistive head for reproduction, three-level recording becomes possible, and costs can be reduced by reducing the number of reproduction circuits. In addition, as described above, it is possible to improve the data transfer speed inside the device without requiring complicated control such as having a plurality of heads on-track at the same time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the head structure of the first embodiment,
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the characteristics of the magnetoresistive head of the second embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the data recording/reproducing operation of the third embodiment. FIGS. 7 to 8 are diagrams showing the conventional configuration. The figure is a diagram for explaining conventional data transfer processing. 31...Encoder/def-! (E/D), 32
...Head select circuit (H8), 33 and 34.
・Read/Write circuit (R/W), 35 and 3
6...Head, 41 and 43...Slider, 42
．． 44 and 45...Magnetic gap◎ Applicant's agent Patent attorney Takehiko Suzue

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A magnetic recording/reproducing device comprising a head provided with a plurality of magnetic gaps at predetermined track intervals, and recording/reproducing data by simultaneously using each of the magnetic gaps. (2) A magnetic recording/reproducing device characterized by separately comprising a recording head and a reproducing head consisting of a magnetoresistive head, and selectively using these heads to record/reproduce data. (3) A recording head consisting of a head with a plurality of magnetic gaps provided at predetermined track intervals and a reproduction head consisting of a magnetoresistive head are separately provided, and during recording, each of the magnetic gaps of the recording head is simultaneously connected. 1. A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, characterized in that during reproduction, data is recorded/reproduced using only the reproducing head.