Two scanning probes information recording/reproducing system with one probe to detect atomic reference location on a recording medium

An apparatus for effecting at least one of recording and reproduction of information, comprising:

• a first probe for effecting at least one of recording and reproduction of the information on a recording surface of a recording medium;
• a second probe for detecting reference points arranged in a direction parallel to the recording surface;
• first moving means for imparting relative movement between said first probe and the recording medium and between the second probe and the recording medium, in a first direction;
• second moving means for moving said second probe in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction;
• control means for imparting fine vibration to said second probe in the second direction by applying a driving signal to said second probe;
• a synchronous detector for detecting positional deviation by synchronous detection, with the driving signal, and a detection signal of the reference points from the second probe, and for feeding a signal indicative of the deviation to said second moving means;
• and
• third moving means for moving said first probe in the second direction in interrelation with said second probe.

A position detecting apparatus comprising:

• a reference element having a surface to be detected having first regular scales arranged at a first pitch and second regular scales arranged at a second pitch larger than the first pitch;
• a probe disposed to face the surface to be detected and movable relative to said reference element along the surface to be detected;
• means for applying a voltage between said probe and said reference element;
• means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said probe and said reference element;
• and
• means for detecting the relative position of said probe relative to said reference element along the surface to be detected on the basis of changes in the output of said current detecting means caused by relative movement across the scales of said probe upon the occurrence of relative movement between said the probe and said reference element.

A position detecting apparatus comprising:

• a reference element having a surface to be detected having first regular scales arranged at a first pitch and second regular scales arranged at a second pitch larger than the first pitch;
• a probe disposed to face the surface to be detected with a gap therebetween and movable relative to said reference element along the surface to be detected;
• means for applying a voltage between said probe and said reference element;
• means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said probe and said reference element;
• an actuator for changing the gap between said probe and the surface to be detected;
• means for generating a control signal for controlling said actuator so as to provide a constant tunnel current detected by said current detecting means;
• and
• means for detecting the relative position of said probe relative to said reference element along the surface to be detected on the basis of changes in the control signal caused by relative movement across the scales of said probe upon the occurrence of relative movement between said probe and the reference element.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium having a recording portion and a reference portion having a surface to be detected having regular scales, wherein said recording portion comprises an electrically conductive substrate and material having an electric memory effect formed on said substrate;
• a probe disposed to face the surface to be detected and movable relative to said reference portion along the surface to be detected;
• means for applying a voltage between said probe and said reference portion;
• means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said probe and said reference portion;
• means for detecting the relative position of said probe relative to said reference portion along the surface to be detected on the basis of changes in the output of said current detecting means caused by relative movement by said probe across the regular scales upon the occurrence of relative movement between said probe and the reference portion;
• and
• means for recording information on the recording medium and/or reproducing information from the recording medium using the position detected by said relative position detecting means.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium having a recording portion and reference portion having a surface to be detected having regular scales, wherein said recording portion comprises an electrically conductive substrate and material having an electric memory effect formed on said substrate;
• a probe disposed to face the surface to be detected and movable relative to said reference portion along the surface to be detected;
• means for applying a voltage between said probe and said reference portion;
• means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said probe and said reference portion;
• an actuator changing a gap between said probe and the surface to be detected of said reference portion;
• means for generating a control signal for controlling said actuator so as to provide a constant tunnel current detected by said current detecting means;
• means for detecting the relative position of said probe relative to said reference portion along the surface to be detected on the basis of changes in the output of said control signal generating means caused by relative movement by said probe across the regular scales upon the occurrence of relative movement between said probe and the reference portion;
• and
• means for recording information to the recording medium and/or reproducing information from the recording medium using the position detected by said relative position detecting means.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium having a recording portion and reference portion having a surface to be detected having a regular scales, wherein said recording portion comprises an electrically conductive substrate and material having an electric memory effect formed on said substrate;
• a first probe disposed to face said recording portion of said recording medium;
• a second probe disposed to face the surface to be detected of said reference portion and movable relative to said reference portion along the surface to be detected while maintaining its relative position relative to said first probe;
• means for applying a voltage between said second probe and said reference portion;
• means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said second probe and said reference position;
• means for detecting the relative position between said second probe and said reference portion along the surface to be detected on the basis of changes in the output of said current detecting means caused by relative movement across the reference scales by said second probe upon the occurrence of relative movement between said second probe and said reference portion;
• and
• means for recording information on the recording medium and/or reproducing information from the recording medium using the portion detected by said relative position detecting means.

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus comprising:

• a recording medium having a recording portion and reference portion having a surface to be detected having a regular scales, wherein said recording portion comprises an electrically conductive substrate and material having an electric memory effect formed on said substrate;
• a first probe disposed to face said recording portion of said recording medium;
• a second probe disposed to face the surface to be detected of said reference portion and movable relative to said reference portion along the surface to be detected while maintaining its relative position relative to said first probe;
• means for applying a voltage between said second probe and said reference portion;
• means for detecting a tunnel current flowing between said second probe and said reference portion;
• an actuator for changing a gap between said second probe and the surface to be detected of said reference portion;
• means for generating a control signal for controlling said actuator so as to provide a constant tunnel current detected by said current detecting means;
• means for detecting the relative position between said second probe and said reference portion along the surface to be detected on the basis of changes in the output of said control signal generating means caused by relative movement across the scales by said second probe upon the occurrence of relative movement between said second probe and said reference portion;
• and
• means for recording information on the recording medium and/or reproducing information from the recording medium using the position detected by said relative position detecting means.