JPH08161712A - Magnetic head and magnetic disc apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a recording/reproducing function separating type magnetic head which achieves common integration of a magnetic gap for recording and a magnetic gap for reproduction. CONSTITUTION: An MR element 19 is retracted from the surface of a magnetic head opposed to a medium and a flux guide 21 is provided between the element and the surface of the magnetic head opposed to the medium to introduce a magnetic flux from a magnetic recording medium to the MR element 19. A part of the flux guide is made thinner to a reproduction head from the surface opposed to the medium to adjust a magnetic reluctance of the flux guide and the tip of the flux guide 21 of a reproduction head is connected to a yoke 22 of a recording head through a gap of a non-magnetic layer 28. This gap layer 28 allows the adjusting of a magnetic path reluctance of the recording head.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic head and a magnetic disk device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A magnetic disk device is used as an external storage device of a computer, and in recent years, there has been a rapid demand for a large storage capacity. 3 is a schematic plan view of the magnetic disk device, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view thereof. The magnetic disk device has a magnetic recording medium 2 that carries a magnetic film on its surface and rotates around a central axis, a magnetic head 6 that records and reproduces data on and from the magnetic recording medium, and a magnetic head 6 that supports the magnetic recording medium. It mainly comprises a mechanism for positioning at a desired radial position on the recording medium and a signal processing circuit for processing a recording signal and a reproduction signal.

A magnetic recording medium 2 is fixed to a spindle shaft 1 and is rotationally driven by the spindle shaft 1. The magnetic head 6 is supported by the suspension 5 supported by the arm 4, and the arm 4 is fixed to the rotary actuator 3. The magnetic head 6 is positioned at a desired position on the magnetic recording medium 2 by the rotation of the rotary actuator 3. The signal processing circuit applies a recording current to the magnetic head 6 to record data, or processes an electric signal obtained from the magnetic head 6 to convert it into data.
Data recording is performed by reversing the magnetization direction of the magnetic film on the magnetic recording medium by utilizing the change of the recording magnetic field according to the recording current. Data reproduction is performed by detecting a leak magnetic field generated from the magnetic recording medium with a reproducing head and converting it into an electric signal.

The performance of the magnetic disk device is mainly determined by the recording capacity, the data input / output speed, and the reliability. To store more data on the magnetic disk device,
There is a need for a technology for recording data on a magnetic recording medium at high density and a technology for reproducing data recorded at high density without error. When the recording density of the magnetic recording medium is increased, the size of the recording magnetic domain becomes smaller and the reproduction signal also becomes smaller. Therefore, a highly sensitive reproducing head is required. Therefore, an inductive thin film head is used as the recording magnetic head, and a recording / reproducing function separated type magnetic head using a magnetoresistive effect element (MR element) is used as the reproducing magnetic head. In the present specification, all the elements that detect the magnetic field strength by utilizing the magnetoresistive effect including the giant magnetoresistive effect are called magnetoresistive effect elements (MR elements).

As another means for improving the sensitivity of the reproducing head, there is a method of narrowing the distance (spacing) between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium. When the spacing between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium is narrowed, it becomes possible to detect a minute change in the leakage magnetic field on the surface of the magnetic recording medium, and the sensitivity of the reproducing head increases.

[0006]

A conventional recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head is an MR head formed by a thin film forming technique on a substrate.
A reproducing head including an element and an inductive thin film head for recording are formed in layers. That is, the conventional recording / reproducing function separated magnetic head has two magnetic gaps, a recording magnetic gap and a reproducing magnetic gap, and these two magnetic gaps are arranged at a distance in the recording track direction. .

When the magnetic head having two magnetic gaps is attached to the rotary actuator of the head positioning mechanism as described above, a deviation occurs between the tracks of the recording head and the reproducing head depending on the radial position of the magnetic recording medium. Therefore, there is a problem that the track width of the recording medium cannot be narrowed and the track density of the recording medium cannot be increased.

Further, the spacing between the magnetic head and the recording medium is narrowed, for example, an extremely low flying state, or a state in which the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium come into contact with each other via a lubricant,
Alternatively, when the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium are brought into direct contact with each other, the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium are abraded due to stochastic or continuous solid contact between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium. When the tip ends of the magnetic poles of the magnetic head are worn, the depth of the magnetic gap formed by the facing portions of the tip portions of the pair of magnetic poles from the medium facing surface is gradually shortened due to the wear, and the recording / reproducing characteristics are changed. That is, the recording performance is improved by reducing the loss of the recording magnetic field in the magnetic gap as the tip of the magnetic pole is worn and increasing the magnetic field generated by the head. Similarly, the reproducing performance is improved by reducing the loss of the reproducing magnetic flux once absorbed in the magnetic pole in the magnetic gap.

In order to suppress the change in the recording / reproducing characteristics due to wear of the magnetic pole tip and to ensure sufficient recording / reproducing performance even in the initial stage of wear, the magnetic pole length, which is the length of the head magnetic pole in the magnetic recording medium advancing direction. It is effective to use a thick pole head having a large diameter. However, when the thick pole head is used by being attached to the rotary actuator of the head positioning mechanism, the disadvantage caused by having the two magnetic gaps becomes remarkable, and the gap between the tracks of the recording head and the reproducing head is deviated depending on the radial position of the magnetic recording medium. However, it is not suitable for high density recording.

Further, in a reproducing head using an MR element, a thermal output (TA: Thermal Asperity) may occur due to heat generated by the collision between the reproducing head and the magnetic recording medium. The signal generated by this TA has a steep rising edge, but its falling edge is relatively slow due to the diffusion of heat, so the frequency band of the signal is wide, and there is the problem that it is difficult to remove it with a signal processing circuit. It was

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing function separated type magnetic head suitable for a high density magnetic recording medium having a high track density. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head in which the magnetic gap between the recording head and the reproducing head does not deviate even if a thick pole head is prepared in case of wear of the magnetic pole tip. Another object of the present invention is to provide a recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head in which the thermal output TA due to the collision between the reproducing head and the magnetic recording medium is suppressed. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a magnetic disk device having a large recording capacity.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the MR element is retracted from the medium facing surface of the magnetic head, and the magnetic pole and M of the magnetic head facing the medium are formed.
A flux guide made of a magnetic thin film is provided between the R element and the magnetic flux to guide the magnetic flux from the magnetic recording medium to the MR element. At least a part of the flux guide was made thin so that the magnetic resistance could be adjusted. The tip magnetic pole of the reproducing head is connected to the yoke of the recording head through the gap of the non-magnetic layer, and the magnetic resistance of the recording head can be adjusted by this gap.

That is, the recording / reproducing function separated type magnetic head according to the present invention has a first magnetic pole, a yoke magnetically coupled to the first magnetic pole, and a second magnetically coupled to the yoke.
A magnetic pole, a coil interlinking with a magnetic circuit including a first magnetic pole, a yoke and a second magnetic pole, a magnetoresistive effect element, and a first magnetic pole.
A magnetic film for magnetically coupling the magnetic pole with the magnetoresistive effect element, and a magnetic film for magnetically coupling the magnetoresistive effect element with the second magnetic pole, and at the time of recording, the first magnetic pole, the yoke, and the second magnetic pole. Most of the magnetic flux passes through the magnetic circuit including the magnetic poles, and most of the magnetic flux passes through the magnetic circuit including the first magnetic pole, the magnetoresistive effect element, and the second magnetic pole during reproduction, and the magnetic resistance and saturation of each magnetic circuit. The feature is that the magnetic flux density is adjusted.

The recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head according to the present invention has a first magnetic film formed on a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetic film arranged on the first magnetic film via a non-magnetic insulating film. The resistance effect element, the second magnetic film formed on the first magnetic film via the insulating film and facing the magnetic recording medium to one end of the magnetoresistance effect element, and the other end of the magnetoresistance effect element. A third magnetic film for magnetically connecting the first magnetic film and the first magnetic film; a fourth magnetic film formed on the second magnetic film;
A first magnetic film, a yoke formed on the magnetic film via an insulating film, the front end of which is retracted from the surface facing the magnetic recording medium by a predetermined distance, and the rear end of which is magnetically coupled to the first magnetic film. , A yoke and a coil interlinking with the magnetic circuit formed of the fourth magnetic film, and the gap between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film constitutes a magnetic gap, and the second and third magnetic films are formed. The magnetic film has a smaller film thickness than the first and fourth magnetic films and the yoke, and the magnetic resistance from the fourth magnetic film to the first magnetic film via the yoke is from the fourth magnetic film to the fourth magnetic film. The magnetic resistance is larger than the magnetic resistance reaching the first magnetic film through the second magnetic film, the magnetoresistive effect element, and the third magnetic film.

Further, the recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head according to the present invention has a magnetoresistive effect element formed on a non-magnetic substrate and a magnetoresistive effect element between a surface facing the magnetic recording medium and one end of the magnetoresistive effect element. The first magnetic film arranged so as not to overlap the effect element, the surface that passes through the side of the magnetoresistive element and faces the magnetic recording medium, and the other end of the magnetoresistive element do not overlap the magnetoresistive element. Arranged in this manner, a third magnetic film for magnetically connecting the first magnetic film and one end of the magnetoresistive effect element, the other end of the magnetoresistive effect element and the second magnetic film. A fourth magnetic film for magnetically connecting the films, and a second end of the first magnetic film that is retracted by a predetermined distance from a surface of the first magnetic film that is formed via an insulating film and faces the magnetic recording medium. A yoke magnetically coupled to the magnetic film of
A first magnetic film, a yoke, and a coil interlinking with a magnetic circuit formed by the second magnetic film;
The gap between the magnetic films constitutes a magnetic gap, the third and fourth magnetic films have a smaller film thickness than the first and second magnetic films and the yoke, and the yoke is formed from the first magnetic film. The magnetic resistance reaching the second magnetic film is larger than the magnetic resistance reaching the second magnetic film through the first magnetic film, the third magnetic film, the magnetoresistive effect element and the fourth magnetic film. Characterize.

The slider carrying the magnetic head has one or a plurality of protrusions on the surface facing the magnetic recording medium.
It is preferable that one of the protrusions includes a magnetic film forming a magnetic gap. The magnetic disk device according to the present invention is
As the magnetic head for recording / reproducing data on / from the magnetic recording medium, the above-mentioned recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head is used, and the magnetic head is in contact with the magnetic recording medium through a lubricating film and continuously slides. Alternatively, it may float on the surface of the magnetic recording medium.

It is preferable that the magnetic head and the conductor connected to the magnetic head are integrally integrated with a load applying means for bringing the magnetic head into contact with the magnetic recording medium. The diameter of the magnetic recording medium is 6.35 cm (2.5 inches) or less, the effective mass of the magnetic head is 1.5 or more and 2.0 mg or less, and the load applied by the load applying means is 50 mg.
It is preferably 500 mg or less.

[0018]

When recording, a part of the flux guide is magnetically saturated due to its thin film thickness and high magnetic resistance, resulting in MR
It is possible to prevent the magnetic field applied to the element from increasing, and
Disturbance of the magnetic domain structure of the R element can be suppressed. On the other hand, during reproduction, since the magnetic resistance of the gap on the recording head side is large, most of the magnetic flux sucked from the magnetic recording medium to the tip of the magnetic head does not flow to the recording head side and MR
A reproduced signal can be obtained by reaching the element.

The magnetic head according to the present invention has one recording gap and one reproducing gap on the surface facing the magnetic recording medium.
Since there is no track gap between the recording head and the reproducing head due to the distance between the recording gap and the reproducing gap, which is seen in the conventional recording / reproducing function separated magnetic head,
It is suitable for narrow track width magnetic recording media with high track density. The magnetic recording medium of the magnetic disk device using the magnetic head of the present invention is capable of high density recording of 10 Gb / in ² class. Further, since the MR element is inside the head and does not come into contact with the magnetic recording medium, the thermal output T of the MR element is
A can be suppressed.

[0020]

EXAMPLES The present invention will be described in detail below based on examples. Example 1 A magnetic head having a schematic structure shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the main parts of the magnetic head for easy understanding, and FIG. 2 is a cross section of the magnetic head.

A non-magnetic substrate 12 such as ZrO ₂ or Al ₂ O ₃ --TiC in which a groove 11 is previously formed by cutting.
An insulating layer 13 made of alumina or the like was formed thereon, and 2 μm of permalloy was formed as the lower magnetic pole 14 thereon by a sputtering method and patterned into a desired shape by using a photolithography technique. Next, insulator 15 such as alumina
Was filled in the groove 11 and subjected to precision polishing to expose the lower magnetic pole 14, and then an alumina insulating film 16 was formed to a thickness of 0.1 μm.

An MR element, the details of which are shown in FIG. 5, was formed thereon. First, a structure in which a composite system bias including a soft film (SAL) bias system and a shunt bias system is applied to the magnetoresistive effect film (MR film) 19, that is, S
Ni-Fe-Cr alloy is 0.02μ as the AL film 17.
m, and 0.01 μm of Nb was formed as the shunt film 18. On top of that, permalloy having a film thickness of 0.02 μm is formed as an MR film 19 in a direction of 90 degrees with respect to the track width direction.
It was formed by a sputtering method while applying a DC magnetic field of 0 Oe. Using the photolithography technique, first, the bias applying structures 17 and 18 and the MR film 19 are patterned so that the width a (hereinafter referred to as element height) from the medium facing surface 61 side is 3 μm. The alumina film 16 on the lower magnetic pole 14 was patterned. At this time, a hole is made in the alumina film 16 so that a part of the lower magnetic pole 14 is formed at a position opposite to the medium facing surface 61 so as to be magnetically connected to the flux guide 21 and the yoke 22 to be laminated thereafter. It was exposed to form a so-called back gap 23.

As shown in FIG. 5, the antiferromagnetic film 24 made of FeMn is formed at the end of the pattern of the MR film 19, the Nb having a thickness of 0.06 μm, the Au having a thickness of 0.13 μm, and the thickness of 0. A pair of electrodes 25 made of Cr having a thickness of 02 μm were manufactured by a lift-off method. At that time, the distance between the electrodes 25 (the distance between the inner edges) was set to 3.6 μm. Subsequently, the film thickness is 0.
After forming the alumina insulating film 26 of 02 μm, the MR
The MR film 19 is exposed on the medium facing surface 61 side and the back gap 23 side of the element height a of the film 19 so that the MR film 19 is exposed.
It covers the vicinity of the center of the film 19 and its outer shape is the lower magnetic pole 1.
A photoresist pattern having an exposed portion was formed in a shape substantially corresponding to 4. After forming a 0.1 μm-thick permalloy film on this photoresist pattern, the photoresist pattern is used as a lift-off mask to obtain a film thickness of 0.1 μm.
The flux guide film 21 made of μm permalloy was patterned. Next, the flux guide film 21
After the element is completed, the MR film 19 is wider than the element height a of the film 19.
And a portion of the flux guide film 21 which covers only the flux guide film 21 is covered with a photoresist pattern having an exposed portion having a shape substantially corresponding to that of the lower magnetic pole 14. Using this photoresist pattern as a lift-off mask, the film thickness is 2
A magnetic pole 27 made of permalloy having a thickness of μm was formed and patterned.

Through the above steps, the magnetic pole 27 exposed after the medium facing surface 61 is formed is relatively thick, while the flux guide film 21 for guiding the magnetic flux to the MR film 19 is thin, that is, so-called yoke type MR reproduction. The head could be constructed. Next, on the magnetic pole 27, a non-magnetic insulating film 28, a conductor coil 29 for passing a recording current, an insulating film 30 for insulating the conductor coil 29 from other parts, a magnetic film to be the yoke portion 22 of the recording head, and the like are sequentially formed. Then, the recording head portion was formed by stacking while patterning to have a desired shape. At this time, the tip of the yoke portion 22 is laminated on the flux guide 21 exposed on the medium facing surface 61 and the magnetic pole 27 laminated on the flux guide 21 via a non-magnetic insulating film 28 having a thickness of 0.2 μm, Further, it was formed by retreating so as not to be exposed after processing the medium facing surface 61. The distance from the medium facing surface 61 to the tip of the yoke portion 22 was 1 μm.

Then, after laminating an alumina film (not shown) for protecting the magnetic head element formed as described above, the substrate is cut into individual sliders, and the magnetic recording medium is rotated. 2 is processed into a shape suitable for levitating or sliding on the surface 2, and the medium facing surface 61 is polished to adjust the gap depth b so that optimum recording / reproducing performance can be achieved, and the recording / reproducing function is performed. The separated magnetic head 6 was obtained.

The operation of the magnetic head 6 of this embodiment is as follows. During recording, the magnetic flux generated by passing a current through the coil 29 causes the back gap 23 to pass through the upper yoke 2.
2 and then flows into the magnetic pole 27 through the gap 28,
A recording magnetic field is formed in a space from the medium facing surface 61 of the head. The magnetic flux thus generated in the space returns to the back gap 23 via the magnetic pole 14. Since the amount of magnetic flux required for recording is usually extremely large, this magnetic flux is connected to the magnetic pole 27 and guides the magnetic flux to the MR film 19.
1, the flux guide 21 is magnetically saturated, and as a result, the magnetic resistance of the flux guide 21 portion becomes large, preventing the magnetic flux from flowing into the MR film 19, and the coil 29. The generated magnetic flux can be guided to the tips of the magnetic poles 27 and 14 on the medium facing surface 61 side without short-circuiting in the reproducing head portion.

On the other hand, at the time of reproduction, the magnetic flux generated from the magnetic recording medium is absorbed by the magnetic head from the magnetic pole 27, then flows into the MR film 19 via the flux guide 21, passes through the back gap 23, and passes through the magnetic pole 14. Return to the medium side. Since the amount of magnetic flux obtained in the head at the time of reproduction is extremely small, the flux guide 21 is not magnetically saturated. Therefore, since the magnetic resistance is small, the magnetic flux sucked by the magnetic pole 27 is a gap having a high magnetic resistance. Almost everything is guided to the MR film 19 without flowing into the upper yoke 22 via 28.

The recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head 6 of the present embodiment was incorporated in the magnetic disk device shown in FIGS. Co-Ta-C having a coercive force of 1600 Oe, a magnetic film thickness t _mag of 20 nm, and a product of residual magnetic flux density Br and magnetic film thickness (Br × t _mag ) of 80 G · μm.
Recording density of 12k on r-type sputtered magnetic recording medium
When an FCI signal was recorded and then a signal having a recording density of 50 kFCI was recorded over the same portion of the medium, the overwrite (overwriting) performance was about 26 dB or more, and it was found that there was sufficient recording performance. Further, while continuously sliding the magnetic head of this embodiment on the magnetic recording medium thus recorded so as to come into contact with the magnetic head through a lubricant, the sense current density was 7 × 10 ⁶ A / cm ² . When reproduction was performed and the reproduction output was evaluated, an output of about 110 μV was obtained, and thermal asperity noise and Barkhausen noise due to collision heat generation between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium were not observed.

The distance between the head magnetic pole tip and the magnetic film surface of the magnetic recording medium obtained by analyzing the frequency component of the reproduced waveform was about 50 nm. In order to record information at a higher density, it is effective to reduce this spacing, reduce the protective film thickness on the surface of the magnetic recording medium and the magnetic recording head, improve the surface smoothness, and improve the hardness. It was possible to reduce the thickness to about 10 nm by balancing the above and applying a suitable lubricant.

Example 2 A magnetic head having a schematic structure shown in FIGS. FIG. 6 is an exploded view of each of the main layers forming the head in order to make the main part of the magnetic head easier to understand, and FIG. 7 is a yoke forming a recording head from the magnetic head structure of FIG. Is shown by removing. 8 is a plan view of the portion shown in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the magnetic head.

In manufacturing the magnetic head, Zr is formed by forming a thin film of an insulating layer 13 such as alumina and performing precision polishing.
An MR element whose details are shown in FIG. 5 was formed on a non-magnetic substrate 12 such as O ₂ or Al ₂ O ₃ —TiC. First, a structure for applying a combined bias to the MR film, including a soft film (SAL) bias system and a shunt bias system,
That is, the SAL film 17 is made of Ni—Fe—Cr alloy of 0.02 μm, and the shunt film 18 is made of Nb of 0.01 μm.
m was formed. An MR film 19 having a thickness of 0.0
A 2 μm permalloy was produced by a sputtering method while applying a DC magnetic field of 40 Oe in the direction of 90 ° with respect to the track width direction.

The structures 17 and 18 for applying a bias and the MR film 19 were patterned by photolithography so that the width a from the medium facing surface 61 side, that is, the element height was 3 μm. Next, as shown in FIG.
An antiferromagnetic film 24 made of FeMn at the end of the pattern of the film 19, Nb having a thickness of 0.06 μm, and a thickness of 0.13 μm
An electrode 25 made of Au and Cr having a thickness of 0.02 μm was manufactured by a lift-off method. At that time, the distance between the electrodes 25 (the distance between the inner edges) was set to 3.6 μm.

Subsequently, after forming the alumina insulating film 26 with a thickness of 0.02 μm, the MR film 19 is exposed on the medium facing surface 61 side and the back gap 23 side within the element height a of the MR film 19. Then, a photoresist pattern having an exposed portion was formed so as to cover the center of the MR film 19 and to have an outer shape substantially corresponding to the lower magnetic pole 34 to be formed later. After forming a 0.1 μm-thick permalloy film on this photoresist pattern, the flux guide film 21 made of a 0.1 μm-thick permalloy film was patterned using this photoresist pattern as a lift-off mask. Next, the flux guide film 21 covers the MR film 19 and the portion which is only the flux guide film 21 after the element is completed and is larger than the element height a of the MR film 19, and its outer shape is the same as the flux guide film 21. A photoresist pattern having an exposed portion was formed in a shape substantially corresponding thereto. A film thickness of 2 μm using this photoresist pattern as a lift-off mask
The lower magnetic pole 34 made of permalloy was deposited and patterned.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the lower magnetic pole 34
Does not overlap the MR element 19 on the back gap 23 side opposite to the medium facing surface 61 of the MR element 19,
The flux guide film 21 is connected between the MR element 19 and the MR element 19 and has a shape reaching the medium facing surface 61 through the side of the MR element 19. The magnetic pole 3 having a film thickness of 2 μm is formed on the flux guide film 21 on the medium facing surface 61 side of the MR element 19 by the same process as that for forming the lower magnetic pole 34.
6 is formed. The magnetic pole 36 is adjacent to the lower magnetic pole 34 via a magnetic gap 35.

Next, on the lower magnetic pole 34 and the magnetic pole 36, a non-magnetic insulating film 28, a conductor coil 29 for passing a recording current, an insulating film 30 for insulating the conductor coil 29 from other parts, and a magnetic film serving as a yoke 31. A recording head was formed by sequentially stacking the above with patterning so as to have a desired shape. At this time, the tip of the yoke 31 has the medium facing surface 6
1 is exposed on the flux guide film 21 and the magnetic pole 36 laminated on the flux guide film 21 via the non-magnetic insulating film 28 having a thickness of 0.2 μm, and is exposed after the polishing process for forming the medium facing surface 61. It was formed by retracting it so that it would not exist. The distance from the medium facing surface 61 to the tip of the yoke 31 is 1 μm
And

In this embodiment, the track width of the magnetic head can be determined by the film thicknesses of the lower magnetic pole 34, the magnetic pole 36 and the flux guide 21, and the length of the magnetic pole exposed after the medium facing surface 61 is formed in the magnetic recording medium traveling direction. With a long length and a thin film thickness of the flux guide connected to the MR element
It was possible to obtain a recording / reproducing function separated type magnetic head having an R reproducing head.

After that, after laminating an alumina film for protecting the magnetic head element, the substrate is cut into individual sliders and formed into a shape suitable for floating or sliding on the rotating magnetic recording medium. The magnetic head 6 having a separated recording / reproducing function was obtained by processing and polishing the medium facing surface to adjust the gap depth so as to exert the optimum recording / reproducing performance.

The recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head 6 of the present embodiment was incorporated in the magnetic disk device shown in FIGS. Co-Ta-C having a coercive force of 1600 Oe, a magnetic film thickness t _mag of 20 nm, and a product of residual magnetic flux density Br and magnetic film thickness (Br × t _mag ) of 80 G · μm.
Recording density of 12k on r-type sputtered magnetic recording medium
When an FCI signal was recorded and then a signal having a recording density of 50 kFCI was recorded over the same portion of the medium, the overwrite (overwriting) performance was about 26 dB or more, and it was found that there was sufficient recording performance. Further, while continuously sliding the magnetic head of this embodiment on the magnetic recording medium thus recorded so as to come into contact with the magnetic head through a lubricant, the sense current density was 7 × 10 ⁶ A / cm ² . When reproduction was performed and the reproduction output was evaluated, an output of about 110 μV was obtained, and thermal asperity noise and Barkhausen noise due to collision heat generation between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium were not observed.

The distance between the head magnetic pole tip and the magnetic film surface of the magnetic recording medium obtained by analyzing the frequency component of the reproduced waveform was about 50 nm. In order to record information at a higher density, it is effective to reduce this spacing, reduce the protective film thickness on the surface of the magnetic recording medium and the magnetic recording head, improve the surface smoothness, and improve the hardness. It was possible to reduce the thickness to about 10 nm by balancing the above and applying a suitable lubricant.

Example 3 A magnetic head having the appearance shown in FIG. 10 was produced and incorporated into the magnetic disk device shown in FIGS. FIG. 11 shows a cross section of the magnetic head structure for the sake of clarity. In the magnetic head of the present embodiment, the load applying means 42 of the structure cut out in a strip shape after the conductor portion 41 is formed in a non-magnetic insulator such as alumina.
The head element 43 having the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is formed on the end face of the head. As the magnetic head becomes lighter and smaller, the processing margin and connection margin are smaller,
In contrast to this, the load applying means 42 and the connecting conductor portion 41 are integrally integrated in this way, so that the load applying means 42 and the head element 43 for recording and reproduction are mechanically and electrically integrated. The connection process can be shortened and the connection margin can be secured.

At least one, preferably three protrusions 44, 4 are provided on the surface of the magnetic head 43 facing the magnetic recording medium 2.
By providing Nos. 5 and 46, the area in which the magnetic head 43 contacts the magnetic recording medium 2 can be reduced, and as a result,
It is possible to reduce the adhesion between the magnetic head 43 and the magnetic recording medium 2 when the magnetic disk device is started after the stopped period. The shape of the protrusions 44 to 46 is a cylinder, a truncated cone or a trapezoid, and the height thereof is preferably about 20 μm. In this case, the magnetic head 43 contacts and slides on the surface of the magnetic recording medium 2 in which the magnetic film 52, the protective film 53, and the lubricating film 54 are laminated on the substrate 51 to record and reproduce information.

Further, by providing three protrusions and pressing these three protrusions against the surface of the magnetic recording medium 2 using the load applying means 42, the attitude of the magnetic head 43 can be kept constant, and as a result, , The magnetic pole tip 47 of the magnetic head 43
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the spacing of the magnetic recording medium 2 from varying. When the tip of the magnetic head magnetic pole 47 is arranged on one of the three protrusions 46, the spacing between the magnetic head 43 and the magnetic recording medium 2 can be reduced, and the protrusion 46 faces the magnetic recording medium 2. By reducing the area of the surface of the magnetic recording medium 2, it is possible to suppress an increase in the spacing between the tip of the magnetic head 43 and the magnetic recording medium 2 which occurs when the recording medium 2 is placed on the uneven surface.

In the magnetic disk device according to the present embodiment, the magnetic head element 43 is formed by the unevenness of the surface of the medium 2 by reducing the mass of the magnetic head 43 and the load applying means 42 and increasing the applied load. Can be prevented from flying away from the surface of the magnetic recording medium 2.
The head tip 46 can stably follow the surface of the magnetic recording medium 2. However, when the applied load is increased, the load per unit area, that is, the surface pressure is increased because the area of the surfaces of the tips of the protrusions 44, 45, and 46 facing the magnetic recording medium 2 is small, and the protrusions 44, There is a problem that the wear of 45 and 46 becomes large.

On the other hand, in such a load range with less wear, for example, the magnetic head element 43 and the load applying means 42.
Of the three protrusions 44, 45 by solving the one-sided contact state in which only one or two of the three protrusions are in contact with the magnetic recording medium 2 due to an error in the processing of the above and an error in the attachment of the load applying means 42. It was found that the distance between the centers of the three protrusions must be increased in order that all of the projections 46 and 46 contact the surface of the magnetic recording medium 2. Considering these restrictions, the effective mass of the magnetic head 43 and the load applying means 42, that is, the mass of the magnetic head 43 and the load applying means 42 acts on the center of gravity of the triangle formed by the contact point between the magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium. When the mass obtained as a load was examined, it was found to be in the range of 1.5 to 2.0 mg, while the load to be applied was in the range of 50 to 500 mg.

[0045]

According to the present invention, the magnetic gaps for recording and reproduction can be made to be one, and there is a distance between the recording gap and the reproduction gap found in the conventional magnetic head with separated recording and reproduction functions. It is possible to prevent track deviations of the recording head and the reproducing head that operate. Further, since the MR element does not directly contact the magnetic recording medium, the thermal output (TA: Thermal Asperity) of the MR head can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the track density can be increased by using the magnetic head of the present invention, a large-capacity magnetic disk device can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of an embodiment of a magnetic head according to the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the magnetic head shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of a magnetic disk device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a magnetic disk device.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a structure of an MR element.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of another embodiment of the magnetic head according to the present invention.

7 is an explanatory view of the magnetic head shown in FIG.

8 is a plan view of the magnetic head corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the magnetic head according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of another embodiment of the magnetic head according to the present invention.

11 is a cross-sectional explanatory diagram of the magnetic head shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Spindle shaft, 2 ... Magnetic recording medium, 3 ... Rotary actuator, 4 ... Arm, 5 ... Suspension, 6
... magnetic head, 11 ... groove, 12 ... non-magnetic substrate, 13 ... insulating layer, 14 ... lower magnetic pole, 15 ... insulator, 16 ... alumina insulating film, 17 ... SAL film, 18 ... shunt film, 19 ... M
R film, 21 ... Flux guide, 22 ... Yoke part, 23
... back gap, 24 ... antiferromagnetic film, 25 ... electrode, 2
6 ... Insulating film, 27 ... Magnetic pole, 28 ... Non-magnetic insulating film, 29 ...
Conductor coil, 30 ... Insulating film, 31 ... Yoke part, 34 ... Lower magnetic pole, 35 ... Magnetic gap, 36 ... Magnetic pole, 41 ... Conductor, 42 ... Load applying means, 43 ... Magnetic head element, 4
4, 45, 46 ... Protrusion, 47 ... Magnetic head magnetic pole tip,
51 ... Substrate, 52 ... Magnetic film, 53 ... Protective film, 54 ... Lubrication film, 61 ... Medium facing surface, a ... Element height, b ... Gap depth

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first magnetic pole, a yoke magnetically coupled to the first magnetic pole, a second magnetic pole magnetically coupled to the yoke, the first magnetic pole, the yoke and the first magnetic pole. A coil interlinking with a magnetic circuit including two magnetic poles, a magnetoresistive effect element, a magnetic film magnetically coupling the first magnetic pole and the magnetoresistive effect element, the magnetoresistive effect element and the second magnetic field.
Most magnetic flux passes through the magnetic circuit including the first magnetic pole, the yoke and the second magnetic pole during recording, and the first magnetic pole and magnetic resistance during reproduction. A recording / reproducing function separated type magnetic head, wherein the magnetic resistance and saturation magnetic flux density of each magnetic circuit are adjusted so that most of the magnetic flux passes through the magnetic circuit including the effect element and the second magnetic pole. 2. A first magnetic film formed on a non-magnetic substrate, a magnetoresistive effect element arranged on the first magnetic film via a non-magnetic insulating film, and the first magnetic film. A second magnetic film formed on the upper surface of the magnetoresistive effect element from an opposite surface facing the magnetic recording medium to one end of the magnetoresistive effect element; the other end of the magnetoresistive effect element; and the first magnetic film. And a fourth magnetic film formed on the second magnetic film, and a tip portion formed on the fourth magnetic film via an insulating film is magnetic. A magnetic circuit formed by a yoke whose rear end retracted by a predetermined distance from the surface facing the recording medium is magnetically coupled to the first magnetic film, and the first magnetic film, the yoke, and the fourth magnetic film. And a gap between the first magnetic film and the second magnetic film to form a magnetic gap. The second and third magnetic films have a smaller film thickness than the first and fourth magnetic films and the yoke, and the fourth magnetic film passes through the yoke to the first magnetic film. The magnetic resistance reaching the first magnetic film is higher than the magnetic resistance reaching the first magnetic film from the fourth magnetic film through the second magnetic film, the magnetoresistive effect element, and the third magnetic film. Separate recording / playback function type magnetic head. 3. A magnetoresistive effect element formed on a non-magnetic substrate, and a magnetoresistive effect element arranged between a surface facing a magnetic recording medium and one end of the magnetoresistive effect element so as not to overlap the magnetoresistive effect element. No. 1 magnetic film, a second magnetic layer disposed between the surface of the magnetoresistive effect element that is lateral to the magnetoresistive effect element and the other end of the magnetoresistive effect element so as not to overlap the magnetoresistive effect element. A film, a third magnetic film that magnetically connects the first magnetic film and one end of the magnetoresistive effect element, and a magnetic field between the other end of the magnetoresistive effect element and the second magnetic film. Electrically connected to the fourth magnetic film, and the tip end portion formed on the first magnetic film via an insulating film is retracted from the surface facing the magnetic recording medium by a predetermined distance, and the rear end is the second magnetic film.
A magnetically coupled yoke with the first magnetic film, and a coil interlinking with the magnetic circuit formed by the first magnetic film, the yoke and the second magnetic film. The gap between the two magnetic films constitutes a magnetic gap, and the third and fourth magnetic films are thinner than the first and second magnetic films and the yoke, and the first and second magnetic films are thin. The magnetic resistance from the magnetic film to the second magnetic film via the yoke is the second magnetic film from the first magnetic film to the third magnetic film, the magnetoresistive effect element and the fourth magnetic film. A recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head having a magnetic resistance higher than that of a magnetic film. 4. A slider carrying a magnetic head is provided with one or a plurality of protrusions on a surface facing a magnetic recording medium,
4. The recording / reproducing function separated type magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein one of the protrusions includes a magnetic film forming a magnetic gap. 5. A magnetic disk device comprising a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic head for recording and reproducing data on and from the magnetic recording medium, and an actuator for moving the magnetic head on the magnetic recording medium. Items 1 to 4
A magnetic disk drive using the recording / reproducing function-separated type magnetic head described in any one of 1. 6. The magnetic head and the magnetic recording medium are in contact with each other through a lubricating film and continuously slide.
The magnetic disk device described. 7. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 5, wherein the distance between the magnetic pole tip of the magnetic head and the magnetic film surface of the magnetic recording medium is 10 nm or more and 50 nm or less. 8. A magnetic head, a load applying means for bringing the magnetic head into contact with a magnetic recording medium, and a conductor connected to the magnetic head, which are integrated together. The magnetic disk device described. 9. The magnetic recording medium has a diameter of 6.35 cm or less, and the effective mass of the magnetic head is 1.5 or more and 2.0 m.
g or less, and the load applied by the load applying means is 50
7. The magnetic disk device according to claim 6, wherein the amount is not less than mg and not more than 500 mg.