Recording/reproducing head, method of producing the same, recording apparatus and reproducing apparatus

A production method of producing a recording/reproducing head for performing at least one of a record operation of recording information onto a dielectric recording medium and a reproduction operation of reproducing the information from the dielectric recording medium, said recording/reproducing head comprising:

• a support member which extends in a longitudinal direction;
• a projection portion which is mounted on said support member such that a tip of said projection portion faces the dielectric recording medium;
• and a conductive layer which covers a part other than at least the tip out of said projection portion, said projection portion containing a harder material than that of said conductive layer,
• said production method comprising:
• a first forming process of forming said support member and said projection portion;
• a second forming process of forming said conductive layer to cover at least said projection portion;
• and
• an exposing process of expositing at least the tip.

A recording apparatus for recording data onto a dielectric recording medium,

• said recording apparatus comprising:
• a recording/reproducing head for performing at least one of a record operation of recording information onto the dielectric recording medium and a reproduction operation of reproducing the information from the dielectric recording medium, said recording/reproducing head comprising:
• a support member which extends in a longitudinal direction;
• a projection portion which is mounted on said support member such that a tip of said projection portion faces the dielectric recording medium;
• and a conductive layer which covers a part other than at least the tip out of said projection portion, said projection portion containing a harder material than that of said conductive layer;
• and
• a record signal generating device for generating a record signal corresponding to the data.

A reproducing apparatus for reproducing data recorded on a dielectric recording medium,

• said reproducing apparatus comprising:
• a recording/reproducing head for performing at least one of a record operation of recording information onto the dielectric recording medium and a reproduction operation of reproducing the information from the dielectric recording medium, said recording/reproducing head comprising:
• a support member which extends in a longitudinal direction;
• a projection portion which is mounted on said support member such that a tip of said projection portion faces the dielectric recording medium;
• and a conductive layer which covers a part other than at least the tip out of said projection portion, said projection portion containing a harder material than that of said conductive layer;
• an electric field applying device for applying an electric field to the dielectric recording medium;
• an oscillating device whose oscillation frequency varies depending on a difference in a capacitance corresponding to a non-linear dielectric constant of the dielectric recording medium;
• and
• a reproducing device for demodulating and reproducing an oscillation signal from said oscillating device.