Accessing method, and information processing method and information processing device utilizing the same

An information processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

• accessing a probe electrode to a data bit row recorded along a format pattern of a medium by scanning the probe electrode so that the probe electrode traces on a predetermined locus along a surface of the medium, applying a bias voltage between the probe electrode and the medium, and detecting as tunnel current which occurs between the probe electrode and the medium during said scanning, wherein a magnitude of the tunnel current is dependent on a distance between the probe electrode and the medium;
• detecting a tunnel current change which occurs between the probe electrode and the medium when the probe electrode crosses over the format pattern;
• comparing a timing of the tunnel current change with a timing of a probe scanning signal;
• detecting a relative position of the probe electrode to the format pattern by use of the compared timing of the tunnel current change and moving the probe electrode to the data bit row in accordance with the relative position;
• and
• recording information along the format pattern by scanning the probe electrode along the format pattern.

An information processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

• accessing a probe electrode to a data bit row recorded along a format pattern of a medium by scanning the probe electrode relative to the medium having information recorded along the format pattern so that the probe electrode traces on a predetermined locus along a surface of the medium, applying a bias voltage between the probe electrode and the medium, and detecting a tunnel current which occurs between the probe electrode and the medium during said scanning, wherein a magnitude of the tunnel current is dependent on a distance between the probe electrode and the medium;
• detecting a tunnel current change which occurs when the probe electrode crosses over the format pattern;
• comparing a timing of the tunnel current change which occurs when the probe electrode crosses over the format pattern;
• detecting a relative position of the probe electrode to the format pattern by use of the compared timing of the tunnel current change and moving the probe electrode to the data bit row in accordance with the relative position;
• and
• reading the recorded information by scanning the probe electrode along the format pattern and reading the recorded information by detecting the tunnel current.

An information processing method, said method comprising the steps of:

• accessing a probe electrode to a data bit row recorded along a format pattern of a medium by scanning the probe electrode relative to the medium including information recorded along the format pattern so that the probe electrode traces on a predetermined locus along a surface of the medium, applying a bias voltage between the probe electrode and the medium, and detecting a tunnel current which occurs between the probe electrode and the medium during said scanning, wherein a magnitude of the tunnel current is dependent on a distance between the probe electrode and the medium;
• detecting a tunnel current change which occurs when the probe electrode crosses over the format pattern;
• comparing a timing of the tunnel current change with a timing of a probe scanning signal;
• detecting a relative position of the probe electrode to the format pattern by use of the compared timing of the tunnel current and moving the probe electrode to the data bit row in accordance with the relative position;
• and
• erasing recorded information by scanning the probe electrode along the format pattern and erasing the recorded information.

An information processing device comprising:

• a recording medium having a format pattern along which data bits are recorded;
• a probe electrode arranged proximately to said recording medium;
• bias voltage applying means for applying a voltage between said probe electrode and said medium;
• tunnel current detecting means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said probe electrode and said medium;
• a driving mechanism for scanning and moving said probe electrode relative to said medium;
• tunnel current change detecting means for detecting a tunnel current change which occurs when said probe electrode crosses over said format pattern;
• timing comparing means for comparing a timing of the tunnel current change with a timing of a probe scanning signal;
• and
• means for detecting a relative position of said probe electrode to said format pattern by use of a signal from said timing comparing means and for providing a signal to said driving mechanism for moving said probe electrode.