WO2000000977A1

WO2000000977A1 - Flying head slider and disk drive

Info

Publication number: WO2000000977A1
Application number: PCT/JP1999/003537
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michio Yotsuya; Kazushige Kawazoe
Original assignee: Sony Corporation
Priority date: 1998-06-30
Filing date: 1999-06-30
Publication date: 2000-01-06

Abstract

A flying head slider (20) is used in a disk drive device that uses a removable disk-recording medium. A step (25) of 0.4 - 1.2 microns in depth is formed at the edge on the air inlet side. This structure suppresses the decrease in flying height of the head slider (20) in the event of dust deposited on it, and keeps a stable posture in the lengthwise direction, thus keeping the spacing from changing.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention uses a disk-shaped recording medium such as a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a magneto-optical disk as a recording medium, and uses the recording medium as a main body of the disk drive apparatus. The present invention relates to a floating head slider used in a so-called rim-bubble type disk drive device which can be exchanged with respect to a disk drive, and a removable disk drive device using the floating head slider. BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, as a floating type head slider, for example, there is a type used for a built-in type or an external type hard disk drive device connected to a computer or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hard disk drive includes a magnetic disk 1 that is driven to rotate at a constant angular velocity by a spindle motor, a swing arm 2 that is swingably arranged with respect to the main body of the device, and a swing arm 2. A floating head slider 3 and the like provided at the swing end of the moving arm 2 are provided. The flying head slider 3 incorporates a magnetic head element 4 for writing and reading signals to and from the magnetic disk 1. In this hard disk drive, the swing arm 2 is swung, and a floating head slider 3 provided at the swing end of the swing arm 2 is moved in the radial direction of the magnetic disk 1. As a result, a seek operation is performed, and a magnetic head element 4 incorporated in the flying head slider 3 writes and reads a signal to and from a predetermined recording track of the magnetic disk 1.

Here, when the magnetic disk 1 is rotated by the spindle motor, an air flow is generated on the disk surface la of the magnetic disk 1. This air flow enters between the disk surface 1 a of the magnetic disk 1 and the surface 3 a of the flying head slider 3 facing the magnetic disk 1, so that the flying head slider 3 is configured as shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the magnetic disk 1 floats on the disk surface 1a with a predetermined flying height. At this time, in the flying head slider 3, the distance between the surface 3 a facing the magnetic disk 1 and the disk surface 1 a of the magnetic disk 1 is such that the end on the air inflow side where the air flow flows in has more air. The magnetic disk 1 is stably levitated above the magnetic disk 1 by keeping the posture slightly larger than the end on the air outflow side where the flow flows out.

In the hard disk drive, as described above, the flying type head slider 3 is floated on the magnetic disk 1 at a predetermined flying height by receiving the airflow generated by the rotation of the magnetic disk 1 and is moved to the floating type. A magnetic head element 4 incorporated in the head slider 3 performs writing and reading of signals to and from the magnetic disk 1.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the flying head slider 3 used in the hard disk drive device described above. The floating head shown in Fig. 3 The slider 3 is a so-called catamaran-type floating head slider, and air flows into both sides in the width direction of the facing surface 3a facing the magnetic disk 1 (both sides in the radial direction of the magnetic disk 1). Two rails 5 and 6 functioning as an air bearing surface are provided from the side end to the air outflow side end. The flying head slider 3 incorporates a magnetic head element 4 at the end on the air outflow side.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the flying head slider 3 approaches the disk surface 1a of the magnetic disk 1 rotating in the direction of arrow X, it receives the airflow generated by the rotation of the magnetic disk 1, A positive pressure is generated between the two rails 5 and 6 and the disk surface 1a of the magnetic disk 1 to obtain a levitation force. The flying head slider 3 is magnetically moved by the magnetic head element 4 incorporated at the end on the air outflow side while flying above the disk surface 1a of the magnetic disk 1 by a predetermined flying height. Writes and reads signals to and from disk 1.

In this flying head slider 3, the rails 5 and 6 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the surface 3a facing the magnetic disk 1, respectively, because the rails 5 and 6 are provided on both sides in the width direction of the flying head slider 3. This is because it is more advantageous to generate a levitation force in stabilizing the flying head slider 3 in the width direction (roll direction).

The flying head slider 3 is formed at the end of the rails 5 and 6 on the air inflow side so as to be depressed at a predetermined depth from the surface of the rails 5 and 6 (the surface facing the magnetic disk 1). Step portions (hereinafter, referred to as steps) 7 and 8 are provided.

As described above, the floating type head slider 3 is provided with the rails 5 and 6. By providing steps 7 and 8 at the end on the air inflow side, the posture in the length direction (pitch direction) is stabilized.

That is, if the flying head slider 3 does not have the steps 7 and 8 at the ends of the rails 5 and 6 on the air inflow side, the distance between the rails 5 and 6 and the disk surface la of the magnetic disk 1 is increased. The peak of the positive pressure (buoyancy) generated at one point in the lengthwise direction of the rail 5 and one point in the lengthwise direction of the rail 6 is generated. Then, the flying head slider 3 swings in a seesaw shape with the portion where the positive pressure peak occurs as a fulcrum, and the posture in the length direction (pitch direction) is not stable.

On the other hand, when steps 7 and 8 are provided at the ends of the rails 5 and 6 on the air inflow side, the positive pressure (levitation) generated between the rails 5 and 6 and the disk surface la of the magnetic disk 1 Force peaks at two points, the rear end of step 7 and the air outlet end of rail 5, and at the two points of the rear end of step 8 and the air outlet end of rail 6, respectively. As a result, fulcrums are formed at both ends of the rails 5 and 6 in the length direction. Thus, the attitude of the flying head slider 3 in the length direction (pitch direction) is stabilized.

By the way, in the flying head slider 3 described above, the steps 7 and 8 are generally formed as relatively shallow steps having a depth of about 0.1 to 0.3 μm. This is because peaks of positive pressure (levitation force) generated between the rails 5 and 6 and the disk surface 1a of the magnetic disk 1 are generated at two positions in the longitudinal direction of the rails 5 and 6, respectively. In steps 7 and 8, if the depth is about 0.1 to 0.3 m Because it is enough.

Also, if the depth of steps 7 and 8 is made too deep, the flying head slider 3 will be in the position shown in FIG. 2 earlier, that is, the end on the air inflow side will be closer to the air outflow side. This is because the posture in which the distance between the magnetic disk 1 and the magnetic disk 1 is larger than that of the end cannot be maintained, and the posture in the longitudinal direction may be rather unstable. More specifically, when the angle (pitch angle) between the disk surface 1a of the magnetic disk 1 and the facing surface 3a of the flying head slider 3 facing the magnetic disk 1 is less than 20〃rad, the floating type The head slider 3 has very low flying stability.

However, in the flying head slider 3 described above, if the depth of the steps 7 and 8 is small, if the dust or the like adheres to the steps 7 and 8, the flying height may be reduced. I have understood that.

In recent years, in hard disk drive devices, the flying height of the floating head slider 3 has tended to be small in order to achieve high-density recording while minimizing the spacing opening. The flying height of the head slider 3 is set to a very small value of 20 nm.

Under these circumstances, if the flying height of the flying head slider 3 is extremely reduced due to the attachment of dust or the like, the flying head slider 3 comes into contact with the magnetic disk 1 and the flying head slider 3 or The magnetic disk 1 may be damaged.

In particular, in recent years, a so-called removable hard disk, which has made it possible to replace a magnetic disk as a recording medium with the disk drive unit itself. Disk drive devices have been proposed and put into practical use. In the removable type hard disk drive, there is a high possibility that dust and the like in the air may enter the disk drive when the magnetic disk is replaced.

Further, in a disk drive device using a magneto-optical disk or the like as a recording medium, a magneto-optical disk or the like as a recording medium is generally replaceable with the disk drive device body. In recent years, hard disk drive technology has been introduced into disk drive devices that use this magneto-optical disk or the like as a recording medium, and signals are written to and read from a magneto-optical disk or the like using a floating head slider. It is considered to do.

Also in such a disk drive device, when exchanging a magneto-optical disk or the like, there is a high possibility that dust or the like enters the disk drive device body.

Assuming that a flying head slider is used in an environment where dust and the like easily enter as described above, the flying head slider can reduce the flying height sharply even if dust etc. adhere. It is desirable not to invite. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described conventional situation, and is used in a disk drive device in which a disk-shaped recording medium can be exchanged with a disk drive device body. Even when dust is attached to the floating head slider, the amount of sudden floating It is an object of the present invention to provide a flying head slider which does not cause a decrease in the disk drive and a disk drive device using the same.

In the case where dust or the like adheres to the flying head slider, it is effective to increase the depth of the step called “step” to some extent in order to suppress the sudden drop in the flying height of the flying head slider. I understand that. It has also been found that if the depth of the step called a step is made too deep, the attitude of the flying head slider becomes unstable.

It can be seen that the optimal value of the depth of the step called this step does not depend much on the size and shape of the flying head slider, and is almost constant for all types of flying head slider. I made it.

Based on the above findings, the present invention optimizes the depth of a step called a step of a flying head slider, and even if the flying head slider is attached with dust and the like, the flying height of the flying head slider is reduced. In addition to suppressing the sharp drop, the attitude of the flying head slider is stabilized.

That is, the floating head slider according to the present invention is used in a disk drive device in which a disk-shaped recording medium is replaceable with respect to the disk drive device main body, and a disk mounted in the disk drive device main body. Floating from the disc-shaped recording medium with a flying height of 100 nm or less by air flow generated by rotation of the disc-shaped recording medium, and write and / or read signals to and from the disc-shaped recording medium In the flying head slider, a step is formed at an end of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium on the air inflow side, and the step is formed. Is characterized by a depth of 0.4 / m to l.2 mm.

In this flying head slider, the depth of the step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 0.4 jum or more, so that dust and the like are removed. Even if it adheres, a decrease in the flying height is suppressed.

Also, in this flying head slider, the depth of the step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 1.2 m or less, so that the disk-shaped recording slider can be used. The pitch angle, which is the angle formed between the surface facing the medium and the disk-shaped recording medium, is 20 rad or more, and the attitude when flying is stabilized.

Another floating head slider according to the present invention is used in a disk drive device in which a disk-shaped recording medium is replaceable with respect to the disk drive device main body, and is mounted in the disk drive device main body. The air flow generated by the rotation of the disk-shaped recording medium causes the disk-shaped recording medium to float from the disk-shaped recording medium with a flying height of 20 nm to 100 nm, and writes and / or writes a signal on the disk-shaped recording medium. In the flying head slider that performs reading, a step is formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium, and the depth of the step is from 0.3 μm to l.2. 〃M.

In this flying head slider, the depth of the step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 0.3 μm or more. Even if the flying height is reduced, the rapid decrease in the flying height is suppressed, and However, since the amount of the decrease is slight, it falls within the allowable range of a flying head slider that flies at a flying height of 20 nm or more.

Also, in this flying head slider, the pitch angle is formed by setting the depth of the step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium to 1.2 m or less. It becomes 20 zrad or more, and the posture when ascending is stabilized.

Further, the disk drive device according to the present invention is a disk drive device in which a disk-shaped recording medium is replaceable with respect to the disk drive device main body, wherein the disk-shaped recording medium mounted in the disk drive device main body is provided. A disk rotation driving means for rotating the disk-shaped recording medium; and an airflow generated by the rotation of the disk-shaped recording medium. A flying head slider for writing and / or reading signals through the disk, and an actuator for moving the flying head slider in the radial direction of the disk-shaped recording medium. A step is formed at an end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium, and the step Saga 0. 4〃M～ l. It that features a being in the range of 2〃M.

In this disk drive device, the depth of the step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface of the flying head slider facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 0.4 m or more. Even when dust or the like adheres to the floating head slider, a decrease in the floating amount of the floating head slider is suppressed.

Therefore, in this disk drive device, It is possible to effectively avoid the inconvenience of collision between the slider and the disk-shaped recording medium, and to prevent damage to the floating head slider / disk-shaped recording medium.

In this disk drive device, the depth of a step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface of the floating head slider facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 1.2 m or less. Therefore, the pitch angle becomes 20 rad or more, and the attitude when the flying head slider is flying above the disk-shaped recording medium is stabilized.

Therefore, in this disk drive device, it is possible to stably record and reproduce signals with respect to the disk-shaped recording medium while suppressing the fluctuation of the spacing.

Another disk drive device according to the present invention is a disk drive device in which a disk-shaped recording medium is replaceable with respect to the disk drive device main body, and is mounted inside the disk drive device main body. Means for rotating and driving the disc-shaped recording medium, and 20 ηπ! From the disc-shaped recording medium by an air flow generated by the rotation of the disc-shaped recording medium. A flying head slider that flies at a flying height of about 100 nm to write and / or read signals to and from the disk-shaped recording medium; The floating head slider has a step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium, and the depth of the step is increased. 0.3〃rr! It is characterized by being within the range of ~ 1.2〜 m.

In this disk drive, the floating head slider is The depth of the step formed at the end of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium on the air inflow side is set to 0.3 m or more, so that dust or the like may adhere to the floating head slider. However, if the flying height of the floating type head slider is suddenly reduced, even if the flying height is reduced, the amount of the decrease is slight, so it is more than 20 nm. This is within the allowable range for a flying head slider that flies at a flying height of.

Therefore, in this disk drive device, it is possible to effectively avoid the inconvenience of collision between the flying head slider and the disk-shaped recording medium, and to prevent damage to the flying head slider / disk-shaped recording medium. Can be prevented.

In this disk drive device, the depth of a step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface of the floating head slider facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 1.2 m or less. Therefore, the pitch angle becomes 20 rad or more, and the attitude of the flying head slider when flying above the disk-shaped recording medium is stabilized.

Therefore, in this disk drive device, it is possible to stably record and reproduce signals with respect to the disk-shaped recording medium while suppressing the fluctuation of the spacing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a main part of a conventional hard disk drive device.

FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a main part of a conventional hard disk drive. FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a flying head slider used in a conventional hard disk drive device, and is a perspective view showing the flying head slider viewed obliquely from below and forward.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing an example of a flying head slider used in a conventional hard disk drive.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a flying head slider used in a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied, and is a perspective view showing the flying head slider viewed from obliquely downward and forward.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of a flying head slider used in a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a bottom view showing an example of a flying head slider used in a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied, showing an example of specific dimensions.

FIG. 9 is a side view showing an example of a flying head slider used in a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied, with specific examples of dimensions.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the relationship between the step depth and the flying height of a flying head slider.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view showing the flying head slider in a state where dust adheres to the center of the step in the width direction (state A).

FIG. 12 is a side view showing the flying head slider in a state where dust adheres to the center of the step in the width direction (state A).

Fig. 13 shows a state where dust adheres to the entire area in the width direction of the step. FIG. 4 is a bottom view showing the flying head slider in the (B state).

FIG. 14 is a side view showing the flying head slider in a state where dust adheres over the entire area in the width direction of the step (state B).

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the relationship between the step depth of the flying head slider and the amount of change in the flying height.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the relationship between the step depth and the pitch angle of the flying head slider.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another example of a flying head slider used in a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing this flying head slider as viewed obliquely from below and forward. is there. FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining a change in the skew angle.

FIG. 19 is a view showing still another example of the flying head slider used in the hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied. FIG. FIG. FIG. 20 is a view showing still another example of the flying head slider, and is a perspective view showing the flying head slider viewed obliquely from below and forward. .

FIG. 21 is a side view showing still another example of the flying head slider.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the relationship between the taper inclination angle of the flying head slider and the flying height. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. This will be described in detail.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a hard disk drive device to which the present invention is applied. The hard disk drive 10 shown in FIG. 5 is a so-called removable hard disk drive in which the magnetic disk 30 is replaceable with respect to the hard disk drive main body 11.

In this hard disk drive device 10, the hard disk drive device main body 11 includes a housing 12 formed of an aluminum alloy or the like, and a magnetic disk 3 is mounted on a disk mounting portion 13 provided inside the housing 12. 0 is attached.

The housing 12 is provided with a spindle motor 14 which is located substantially at the center of the disk mounting portion 13 and rotates the magnetic disk 30 at a constant angular velocity.

Further, a swing arm 15 is attached to the housing 12 so as to be swingable about a vertical axis 15a as a swing center. A voice coil 16 is mounted near a portion supported by the vertical axis 15a of the swing arm 15. Further, a floating head slider 20 is attached to the swing end of the swing arm 15.

Further, a pair of magnets 17 are provided in the housing 12 so as to sandwich the voice coil 16 attached to the swing arm 15 (only one of the magnets is shown in FIG. 1). A voice coil motor 18 is formed by the pair of magnets 17 and voice coil 16.

A ramp 19 is provided in the vicinity of the side wall of the housing 12 along the swing trajectory of the swing arm 15. When the disk 30 is not mounted, the floating head slider 20 attached to the swing end of the swing arm 15 is supported by the ramp 19.

Further, in the hard disk drive 10, the magnetic disk 30 is housed in a cartridge 31, and is configured as a disk force cartridge 32.

The cartridge 31 for accommodating the magnetic disk 30 has, on one side surface, a floating type attached to the swing end of the swing arm 15 and the swing end of the swing arm 15. An opening 33 is provided for letting the head slider 20 enter the inside of the force cartridge 31. The force cartridge 31 is provided with a shirt 34 for opening and closing the opening 33, and the disk cartridge 32 is attached to the hard disk drive device body 11. If not, the opening 33 is closed by the shutter 34.

When the disk cartridge 3 2 is mounted on the disk mounting portion 13 of the main disk drive main body 11, the hard disk drive 10 configured as described above is mounted in the cartridge 3 1. The magnetic disk 30 is checked by the spindle motor 14 and the shirt motor 34 is moved by a shirt moving mechanism (not shown). When current is externally supplied to the voice coil motor 18, the swing arm 15 is driven by the force generated by the current flowing through the voice coil motor 18 and the magnetic field of the magnet 17. And the floating head slider 20 attached to the swinging end side of the swinging arm 15 and the swinging end thereof passes through an opening 33 provided in the cartridge 31. Into the power cartridge 31 and onto the magnetic disk 30 Loaded.

When the flying head slider 20 is loaded on the magnetic disk 30, the flying head slider 20 reads a servo signal previously recorded on the magnetic disk 30, and the result is read. The current value fed back to the voice coil module 18 is controlled. Then, the swing arm 17 is swung in accordance with the current value to perform a seek operation, and the flying head slider 20 is moved to a predetermined recording track, so that the flying head is moved. Signal writing and reading by the slider 20 are performed, and tracking control is performed. An example of the flying head slider 20 used in the hard disk drive 10 is shown in FIGS. The floating head slider 20 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is a so-called negative pressure utilizing type.

The flying type head slider 20 is entirely formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a lower surface (a surface facing the magnetic disk 30) on both sides in a width direction (a direction along a radial direction of the magnetic disk 30). On both sides), two rails 21 and 22 functioning as an air bearing surface are provided from the end on the air inflow side to the end on the air outflow side. On the lower surface of the flying head slider 20, a rail (hereinafter referred to as a cross rail 23) formed at the end on the air inflow side so as to connect the two rails 21 and 22 is formed. ) Is provided. The portion surrounded by these two rails 21 and 22 and the cross rail 23 is the surface of the two rails 21 and 22 and the cross rail 23 (for the magnetic disk 30). The area is recessed from the opposite surface (hereinafter, this area is referred to as cavity 24). In the flying head slider 20, the cavities 24 function as a negative pressure generating zone for generating a negative pressure by releasing the positive pressure generated in the cross rail 23. That is, when an air flow flows between the flying head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30, the air flow first collides with the cross rail 23 and is compressed to generate a positive pressure. As a result, a floating force is applied to the flying head slider 20.

The air flow compressed by the cross rails 23 is rapidly expanded when flowing into the cavity 24 and becomes a negative pressure. The negative pressure causes the floating head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 to move. A suction force is generated between and.

The levitating head slider 20 is stably levitated on the magnetic disk 30 with a predetermined flying height by the levitating force and the attractive force.

This floating head slider 20 utilizing a negative pressure is known to suppress linear velocity dependence. That is, since the magnetic disk 30 is rotated at a constant angular velocity by the spindle motor 14, the linear velocity is different between the outer peripheral side and the inner peripheral side. The airflow flowing between the flying head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 is larger than when the flying head slider 20 is flying on the inner peripheral side of the magnetic disk 30. It is faster when the flying head slider 20 is flying on the outer peripheral side of the magnetic disk 30. For this reason, in the case of a flying head slider that does not use a negative pressure, when flying on the outer peripheral side of the magnetic disk 30, it may sometimes fly on the inner peripheral side of the magnetic disk 30. The flying height increases.

On the other hand, in the case of the floating head slider 20 using negative pressure, The levitation force is higher when the magnetic disk 30 is levitating on the outer peripheral side, but the higher the linear velocity, the greater the negative pressure generated in the negative pressure zone. Is offset by the generation of the negative pressure, and the linear velocity dependency is suppressed.

The end of the lower surface of the flying head slider 20 on the air inflow side, that is, the end of the cross rail 23 on the air flow side is cut out at a predetermined depth in the height direction of the cross rail 23. In addition, a step portion (hereinafter, referred to as step 25) having a shape depressed by one step from the surface of the cross rail 23 is formed. In this step 25, peaks of positive pressure (lifting force) generated between the flying head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 are generated at two positions in the longitudinal direction of the flying head slider 20. In addition, it has a function of stabilizing the attitude in the length direction (pitch direction) of the flying head slider 20. The above-described cavity 24 has a shape that is further depressed than in step 25.

A magnetic head element 26 is incorporated at the end of the floating head slider 20 on the air outflow side. Although FIG. 7 shows an example in which the magnetic head element 26 is incorporated into the rear end surface of the flying head slider 20, the place where the magnetic head element 26 is incorporated is as follows. The present invention is not limited to this example, and may be provided, for example, at the end of the surface of one rail 21 or the other rail 22 on the air outflow side.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show examples of specific dimensions of the flying head slider 20 configured as described above. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the floating head slider 20 as viewed from below, and FIG. 9 is a side view of the floating head slider 20. In FIG. 9, the cavities 2 4 And the shape of step 25 is exaggerated than the actual size. The flying head slider 20 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a length L = 2050 en in the front-rear direction, a width W = 1600 m, and a thickness T = 430 m. By cutting the cavity 24, two rails 21 and 22 and a cross rail 23 are formed.

The cavity 24 has a front-rear length L = 164 5 m, a width W = 1200 m, and a depth D 24 m, and is located after the entire length of the floating head slider 20. It is formed on the end side and at the center in the width direction. Therefore, each of the two rails 21 and 22 has a length L of 1645 m and a width W of 200 m in the front-rear direction. The cross rail 23 has a length in the front-rear direction 1 ^ = 405 4111 and a width W = 1600 1m.

In addition, at the end of the cross rail 23 on the air inflow side, the length L 205 mm, the width W = 1600 m and the depth D are set to predetermined values in the front-rear direction. 5 are formed.

Here, as a result of considering the depth D of step 25, assuming that the flying head slider 20 is used for the removable hard disk drive 10, the depth D of step 25 is 0.3. 〃Π! It was clarified that the range of 1.1.2〃m is effective, and the more preferable range is 0.4〃m〜1.2〃m.

When the floating head slider 20 is used in a rim-bubble type hard disk drive device 10, dust or the like that has entered the housing 12 of the hard disk drive device 10 can be used as a floating head slider 2. It is highly likely that it will adhere to zero. Therefore, as the floating head slider 20, dust It is required that the flying height does not decrease even when dust or the like adheres, and that even if the flying height decreases, the reduction should be kept within an allowable range. Is done.

FIG. 10 shows the result of calculating the relationship between the depth D of step 25 of the flying head slider 20 and the flying height by computer simulation. In FIG. 10, the vertical axis represents the flying height of the flying head slider 20, and the horizontal axis represents the value of the depth D of the step 25 of the flying head slider 20.

Also, in FIG. 10, the solid line graph shows the case where no dust or the like is attached to the flying head slider 20, and the dotted line graphs show the graphs as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. In the state where dust 27 adheres to the floating head slider 20 at the approximate center of the width direction in step 25 of the floating head slider 20 over a region of 100 m in length and 400 m in width ( Hereinafter, this is referred to as A state.) The graphs indicated by two-dot chain lines are almost the same as those in the width direction of the step 25 of the flying head slider 20, as shown in FIGS. Dust 27 is attached to the entire area over an area with a length of about 50 / m (hereinafter referred to as state B). Each graph shown in FIG. 10 shows that a floating head slider 20 having the dimensions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 was mounted on a 2.5-inch hard disk drive, and the number of rotations was 450. This is the case when set to 0 rpm. From this figure 10, it can be seen that the flying head slider 20 is in the state (A state, B state) with dust 27 attached when the depth D of step 25 is about 0.4 / m or more. However, it can be seen that the flying height increased rather than when no dust or the like was attached. This result is almost the same regardless of the attached state of the dust 27 (A state or B state). Ma In addition, it was confirmed that the flying head slider 20 showed almost the same tendency even when its size and shape were changed.

From the above results, the flying head slider 20 suppresses a decrease in flying height even when dust or the like adheres by setting the depth D of step 25 to 0.4 m or more. I knew I could do it. The relationship between the depth D of step 25 of the flying head slider 20 and the change in the flying height when dust 27 adheres to the flying head slider 20 is calculated by computer simulation. Figure 15 shows the results. In Fig. 15, the vertical axis indicates the flying height obtained by comparing the flying height when dust 27 adheres to the floating head slider 20 with the flying height when dust 27 does not adhere. The horizontal axis shows the value of the depth D of step 25 of the flying head slider 20.

The graph shown by the dotted line in FIG. 15 shows the state of the floating head slider 20 in the A state in which the dust 27 adheres to almost the center in the width direction of the step 25 of the flying head slider 20, and the two-dot chain line. The graph indicated by indicates the state B in which the dust 27 adheres to almost the entire area in the width direction of the step 25 of the flying head slider 20. In addition, similarly to the graphs shown in FIG. 10, each of the graphs shown in FIG. 15 also uses a 2.5-inch hard disk drive for the floating type head slider 20 having the dimensions shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. It is the one when mounted on the device and the rotation speed is set to 450 rpm. From this Figure 15, it can be seen that the flying head slider 20 in the A state and the B state shows a positive change in the flying height when the depth D of step 25 is about 0.4 m or more. I understand. In other words, the flying head slider 20 has a depth D of step 25 of 0.4 μm or more. When the dust 27 adheres, the flying height increases. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, even if the depth D of the step 25 is less than 0.4 m, the flying head slider 20 has dust 27 if the depth D is about 0.3 m or more. It can be seen that the abrupt decrease in the flying height in this case is suppressed, and the decrease is suppressed to about 2 nm. This result is almost the same regardless of the adhesion state of the dust 27 (A state or B state). It was also confirmed that the flying head slider 20 exhibited almost the same tendency even when its size and shape were changed.

Generally, in a hard disk drive, about 10% of the flying height of a flying head slider is set as an allowable range of the flying height fluctuation. Therefore, when the flying head slider 20 is used in a hard disk drive device in which the flying height is set to 20 nm or more, the flying height is set by setting the depth D in step 25 to 0.3 zm or more. Even if there is a decrease, the amount of decrease can be kept within an allowable range.

As described above, the flying type head slider 20 is designed to prevent the dust or the like from adhering by setting the depth D of step 25 to 0.3 / m or more, preferably 0.4 μm or more. Even if it does, a decrease in the flying height can be suppressed, and even if the flying height is reduced, the decrease can be kept small. Accordingly, the flying head slider 20 having the depth D set in the step 25 as described above is used in an environment in which adhesion of dust and the like is expected, such as a removable hard disk drive 10. It can be used effectively below.

By the way, the flying type head slider 20 is, as shown in FIG. In addition, the space between the magnetic disk 30 and the magnetic disk 30 is maintained such that the end on the air inflow side is slightly larger than the end on the air outflow side. It is made to float stably. However, in the case of the flying head slider 20, if the depth of step 25 is too large, the pitch angle between the lower surface (the surface facing the magnetic disk 30) and the magnetic disk 30 becomes too small. Therefore, the posture in the length direction becomes unstable. Generally, when the pitch angle of the flying head slider 20 is less than 20 2 rad, the attitude in the length direction becomes very unstable. When the attitude of the flying head slider 20 in the longitudinal direction becomes unstable, the magnetic head element 26 built into the air outlet side end of the flying head slider 20 and the magnetic disk The interval between 30 and the spacing, that is, the spacing will fluctuate.

Figure 16 shows the result of calculating the relationship between the depth D of step 25 of this flying head slider 20 and the pitch angle by computer simulation. In FIG. 16, the vertical axis indicates the pitch angle, and the horizontal axis indicates the value of the depth D of step 25 of the flying head slider 20.

It can be seen from FIG. 16 that the pitch angle of the flying head slider 20 becomes less than 20 ° rad when the depth D of step 25 becomes 1.2 μm or more. That is, in the case of the flying head slider 20, when the depth D of the step 25 is 1.2 zm or more, the posture in the length direction becomes extremely unstable.

This result is almost independent of the size and shape of the flying head slider 20, and is almost the same for all types of flying head sliders. It was found that similar results were obtained.

Therefore, in the flying head slider 20, it is desirable that the depth D of the step 25 be 1.2 zm or less. By setting the depth D of step 25 to 1.2 m or less, the flying head slider 20 stabilizes the posture in the length direction, suppresses the variation in spacing, and reduces the magnetic disc 3 A signal can be appropriately written to 0, and a signal can be appropriately read from the magnetic disk 30.

Another example of the flying head slider 20 used in the hard disk drive 10 to which the present invention is applied is shown in FIG. The flying type head slider 20 shown in FIG. 17 has the same basic structure as the above-mentioned floating type head slider 20 and has both ends in the width direction, that is, the width direction ends of the rails 21 and the rails. The rails 21 and 22 are cut out at the ends in the width direction at a predetermined depth in the height direction of the rails 21 and 22, and are cut off from the surface of the rails 21 and 22 (the surface facing the magnetic disk 30). It is characterized by the formation of a stepped portion (hereinafter referred to as “side steps 28, 29”) having a concave shape.

In the following description, only this feature will be described, and the same components as those of the above-mentioned flying head slider 20 will be denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the oscillating arm 15 rotates about the vertical axis 15a, the floating head slider 20 attached to the oscillating end of the oscillating arm 15 moves, as shown in FIG. It will move not in a straight line but in an arc direction with respect to the surface of 30. Therefore, the center line of the flying type head slider 20 is displaced from the tangential direction of the recording track of the magnetic disk 30, and a so-called skew angle of 0 s occurs. The skew angle 0 s varies according to the position from the center o of the magnetic disk 30. When the skew angle SS increases, the efficiency of converting the positive pressure between the surface of the magnetic disk 30 and the floating head slider 20 into a floating force decreases. Therefore, in general, the flying height of the flying head slider tends to decrease as the skew angle 0 s increases.

However, in the flying head slider 20 of this example, side steps 28 and 29 are formed at both ends in the width direction, and the rails 21 and 29 are formed by the side steps 28 and 29. The levitation force can also be generated with respect to the airflow impinging on the flying head slider 20 from the side of 22. Therefore, in this flying type head slider 20, as the skew angle 0 s becomes larger, the levitation force due to the air flow flowing from the front side of the cross rail 23, that is, the end on the normal air inflow side, is increased. Even if it drops, this drop in buoyancy can be compensated for by the buoyancy due to the airflow from the sides of the rails 21 and 22, and as a whole, it does not depend on the fluctuation of the skew angle 0 s Flying height characteristics can be obtained.

Here, in the flying head slider 20 of the present example, the depth of the side steps 28 and 29 is set to 0 in the same manner as the depth D of the step 25 of the flying head slider 20 described above. It is effective to set it to 3 μm or more, and it is more preferable to set it to 0.4 / m or more.

The flying head slider 20 of this example is designed so that when the depth of the side steps 28, 29 is set as described above, dust or the like adheres to the side steps 28, 29. However, even if the decrease in the flying height is matched, the decrease in the flying height is suppressed. The lower volume can be kept small.

In order to suppress the skew angle dependence of the flying head slider 20, as shown in FIG. 19, rails 21 and 2 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the flying head slider 20. 2 has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the surface (the surface facing the magnetic disk 30) of the floating head slider 20 as it goes to the widthwise end of the floating head slider 20. It is also effective to change the inclined surfaces (hereinafter referred to as side tapers 51 and 52) having a gradually reduced thickness into side steps 28 and 29.

However, the side tapers 51 and 52 need to be formed by polishing or the like, and it is difficult to precisely form them on the flying head slider 20 having a fine size. On the other hand, since the side steps 28 and 29 can be formed by etching or the like, they can be formed relatively simply and accurately, which is very advantageous.

By the way, in the floating head slider 20, as described above, the step 25 is formed at the end on the air inflow side, and the positive pressure generated between the floating head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 is formed. Is generated at two points in the length direction of the flying head slider 20 to stabilize the posture in the longitudinal direction of the flying head slider 20. By forming an inclined surface at the end on the air inflow side, the same effect as in the case of forming step 25 can be exhibited.

Hereinafter, an example in which an inclined surface (hereinafter, referred to as a taper) is formed at the end of the floating head slider on the air inflow side instead of a step will be described. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the flying head slider 40 has the same basic configuration as the flying head slider 20 described above, and has a step 25 at the end on the air inflow side. Instead of this, a taper 41 is formed.

In this flying head slider 40, the taper 41 has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the surface of the cross rail 23 (the surface facing the magnetic disk 30), and the air of the flying head slider 40 has a predetermined inclination angle. The flying head slider 40 is formed as an inclined surface such that the thickness of the flying head slider 40 gradually decreases toward the inflow end.

Here, as a result of studying the optimum value of the inclination angle of the taper 41, the inclination angle of the taper 41 is 5.5 degrees or less, when the dust or the like adheres to the taper 41. It turned out to be effective. FIG. 22 shows the result of calculating the relationship between the inclination angle of the taper 41 of the flying head slider 40 and the flying height by computer simulation. In FIG. 22, the vertical axis represents the flying height of the flying head slider 40, and the horizontal axis represents the inclination angle of the taper 41 of the flying head slider 40.

In FIG. 22, the solid line graph shows the case where dust or the like does not adhere to the flying head slider 40, and the dotted line graphs show the examples shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Similarly to the above, the flying head slider 40 is in the A state in which the dust 27 adheres substantially to the center of the taper 41 in the width direction. The graphs shown in Fig. 22 are shown in Fig. 8 and Fig. The flying head slider 40, which has the same dimensions as the flying head slider 20 shown in Fig. 9, is mounted on a 2.5-inch hard disk drive, and the rotation speed is set to 450 rpm. It is the case when it is done.

From Fig. 22, it can be seen that the flying head slider 40 has the dust A attached to the dust A 27 when the taper 41 has an inclination angle of about 5.5 degrees or less. It can be seen that the flying height has increased rather than the case where it has not been performed. It should be noted that the flying head slider 40 has almost the same tendency even when its dimensions and shape are changed.

Based on the above results, the flying head slider 40 suppresses a decrease in flying height even when dust or the like adheres by setting the inclination angle of the taper 41 to 5.5 degrees or more. I knew I could do it. As described above, in the floating head slider, by forming the taper 41 at the end on the air inlet side, the same effect as in the case of forming the step 25 can be exhibited. Further, by setting the inclination angle of the taper 41 to 5.5 degrees or less, a decrease in the flying height can be suppressed even when dust or the like adheres.

However, the flying head slider is very fine, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 as an example of its dimensions. Then, it is difficult to accurately form the taper 41 on the fine flying head slider by polishing or the like. On the other hand, in step 25, the floating head slider can be formed relatively easily and with high accuracy, for example, by performing etching processing on the floating head slider.

Therefore, it is used for the hard disk drive device 10 described above. As the floating head slider, it is desirable to use a floating head slider 20 having a step 25 formed at the end on the air inflow side. As described above, in the hard disk drive device 10 to which the present invention is applied, even if dust or the like adheres, the decrease in the flying height is suppressed, and even if the flying height is reduced, Since the flying head slider 20 that can minimize the amount of reduction is used, it is possible to effectively avoid the inconvenience caused when the flying head slider 20 collides with the magnetic disk 30. The flying head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 can be prevented from being damaged.

Further, in the hard disk drive device 10, even if dust or the like adheres to the floating head slider 20, damage to the floating head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 is prevented, so that the floating By removing dust and the like adhering to the head slider 20 by cleaning, the flying height of the flying head slider 20 can be restored to a normal value, and appropriate recording and reproduction can be performed.

Further, in the hard disk drive device 10, since the decrease in the flying height of the flying head slider 20 when dust or the like adheres is suppressed, the flying amount of the flying head slider 20, that is, the flying type The distance between the head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 can be set small. In the hard disk drive 10, setting the distance between the flying head slider 20 and the magnetic disk 30 small is very advantageous in achieving high-density recording. Therefore, the hard disk drive 10 to which the present invention is applied can realize high-density recording.

In addition, the hard disk drive 10 to which the present invention is applied As described above, since the flying head slider 20 that floats on the magnetic disk 30 while stably maintaining the posture in the length direction is used, fluctuation in spacing is suppressed. Thus, it is possible to stably record and reproduce a signal with respect to the magnetic disk 30. In the above description, an example in which the present invention is applied to a floating head slider 20 having two rails 21, 22 and a cross rail 23 formed on a surface facing the magnetic disk 30 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and can be applied to a floating head slider having any shape.

That is, the optimum value of the depth D in step 25 does not depend much on the size or shape of the flying head slider 20 as described above. Therefore, for example, those having three or more rails, those in which the rails are divided in the middle part in the longitudinal direction, those in which the rails are branched in a Y-shape, those in which the rails are bent, etc. In a floating head slider having a shape, by providing a step at the end on the air inflow side and setting the value of this step to an optimal value, the same effect as the above-mentioned floating head slider 20 can be exhibited. Can be.

In the above, the example in which the present invention is applied to the hard disk drive device 10 using the magnetic disk 30 as a recording medium has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example. It is also possible to apply to an optical disk drive device using an optical disk as a medium.

In this case, instead of the magnetic head element 26, an objective lens and a reflection mirror are incorporated in the flying head slider 20, and light from the laser light source is transferred onto the flying head slider 20 by an optical fiber or the like. guided by, The signal is reflected by the reflection mirror incorporated in the flying head slider 20, is focused by the objective lens, and is irradiated onto the optical disk, so that the signal recording / reproducing on the optical disk is performed. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY In the flying head slider according to the present invention, the depth of the step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is reduced.

Since the thickness is 0.4 mm or more, even if dust or the like adheres, a decrease in the flying height is suppressed.

In this flying head slider, the depth of the step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 1.2 m or less, so that the pitch angle is reduced. 20 jr Ά d or more, and the posture when ascending is stabilized.

In another flying head slider according to the present invention, the depth of a step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is 0.3 m or more. Therefore, even when dust or the like is attached, a sharp decrease in the flying height is suppressed, and even if the flying height is reduced, the decrease is slight, so that 20 nm This is within the allowable range for a flying head slider that flies at the above flying height. In this flying head slider, the depth of the step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 1.2 μm or less. Becomes more than 20 irad, and the posture when ascending is stabilized.

Further, in the disk drive device according to the present invention, the floating type Since the depth of the step formed at the end on the air inflow side of the surface of the head slider facing the disk-shaped recording medium is 0.4 / m or more, dust and the like are generated on the floating head slider. Even if it adheres, a decrease in the flying height of the flying head slider is suppressed.

Further, in another disk drive device according to the present invention, the depth of a step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface of the flying head slider facing the disk-shaped recording medium has a depth of 0.3 μm. As described above, even if dust or the like adheres to the flying head slider, a sudden decrease in the flying amount of the flying head slider is suppressed, and if the flying amount is reduced. Even so, the amount of decrease is small, and thus is within the allowable range of a flying type head slider that floats with a flying height of 20 nm or more.

Also, in this disk drive device, the depth of the step formed at the air inflow side end of the surface of the floating head slider facing the disk-shaped recording medium is set to 1.2 m or less. The pitch angle becomes 20 rad or more, and the attitude of the flying head slider when flying above the disk-shaped recording medium is stabilized.

Therefore, in this disk drive device, fluctuations in spacing can be suppressed, and signal recording and reproduction on the disk-shaped recording medium can be performed stably.

Claims

The scope of the claims

1. Used in a disk drive device in which the disk-shaped recording medium can be exchanged with respect to the disk drive device main body, the air flow generated by the rotation of the disk-shaped recording medium mounted in the disk drive device main body. A flying head slider that floats from the disk-shaped recording medium with a flying height of 100 nm or less and writes and / or reads signals to and from the disk-shaped recording medium; A step is formed at the end of the surface facing the medium on the air inflow side, and the depth of the step is set to be in the range of 0.4 / m to 1.2 μm.

A flying head slider characterized by:

2. A step is formed at both ends in the width direction of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium that is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows, and the depth of the step is set to 0.4 m or more.

The flying type head slider according to claim 1, wherein:

3. Used in a disk drive device in which the disk-shaped recording medium can be exchanged with respect to the disk drive device main body, due to the air flow generated by the rotation of the disk-shaped recording medium mounted in the disk drive device main body. A flying head slider that floats from the disc-shaped recording medium at a flying height of 20 nm to 100 nm and writes and / or reads signals to and from the disc-shaped recording medium; A step is formed at the end of the surface facing the recording medium on the air inflow side, and the depth of the step is within the range of 0.3111 to 1.2 μm. A flying head slider characterized by:

4. Steps are formed at both ends in the width direction of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium that are substantially perpendicular to the direction in which air flows, and the depth of the steps is 0.3 / m or more. thing

4. The flying head slider according to claim 3, wherein:

5. A disk drive device in which a disk-shaped recording medium is replaceable with respect to the disk drive device body,

Disk rotation driving means for driving the disk-shaped recording medium mounted in the disk drive device main body;

Due to the air flow generated by the rotation of the disk-shaped recording medium, the disk-shaped recording medium floats above the disk-shaped recording medium with a flying height of 100 nm or less, and writes and / or reads signals to and from the disk-shaped recording medium. A floating head slider that performs

Actuating the slider to move the flying head slider in the radial direction of the disk-shaped recording medium;

In the flying head slider, a step is formed at an end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium, and the depth of the step is 0. Within the range of ~ 1.2 / m

A disk drive device characterized by the above-mentioned.

6. In the flying head slider, steps are formed at both ends in the width direction of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium that are substantially perpendicular to the direction in which air flows, and the depth of the steps is 0. 4 / m or more

6. The disk drive device according to claim 5, wherein:

7. Replace the disk-shaped recording medium with the disk drive unit An enabled disk drive,

By the air flow generated by the rotation of the disk-shaped recording medium, the disk-shaped recording medium floats from the disk-shaped recording medium with a flying height of 20 nm to 100 nm, and writes and / or writes signals on the disk-shaped recording medium. Or a floating head slider for reading,

In the flying head slider, a step portion is formed at an end on the air inflow side of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium, and the depth of the step portion is 0.3 / m to 1.2 m. Within the range

A disk drive device characterized by the above-mentioned.

8. In the floating head slider, steps are formed at both ends in the width direction of the surface facing the disk-shaped recording medium that are substantially perpendicular to the direction in which air flows, and the depth of the steps is zero. 3m or more

8. The disk drive device according to claim 7, wherein: