US 6,320,725 B1 · Hard disk drive having ring head with predominantly perpendicular media fields

Abstract

An information storage system having a ring head sliding on a rigid magnetic storage disk in such close proximity that the magnetic field felt by the media layer or layers of the disk has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component so that data is stored in a perpendicular mode. The head to media separation during writing of data to the media is a small fraction of the amagnetic gap separating the poletips of the head. Reading of data may be inductive or may be via a magnetoresistive sensor which is coupled to the magnetically permeable core of the ring head far from the poletips. The media preferably has a high perpendicular anisotropy.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An information storage system comprising:

a spinning, rigid disk having a surface and an associated media layer,
a microscopic transducer including a conductive coil inductively coupled to a core of magnetically permeably material shaped as a loop having ends separated by a submicron amagnetic gap,
a flexible beam holding said transducer proximate to said surface and having an elongate dimension oriented substantially along a direction of travel of a portion of said surface in dynamic contact with said transducer,
whereby a magnetic signal from said transducer impinges upon said media layer with a strength oriented substantially perpendicular to said surface that is larger than a maximum strength oriented parallel to said surface.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

08/577,493Filed 22 Dec 1995 · continuation in part

Priority

27 Nov 1989

Granted

20 Nov 2001

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

G11B 5/6005
Fluid-dynamic spacing of heads from record-carriers: specially adapted for spacing from a rotating disc using a fluid cushion
G11B 5/1278
Structure or manufacture of heads, e.g. inductive: specially adapted for magnetisations perpendicular to the surface of the record carrier
G11B 5/3176
Using thin films: structure of heads comprising at least in the transducing gap regions two magnetic thin films disposed respectively at both…
G11B 5/3183
The films being mainly disposed in parallel planes: intersecting the gap plane, e.g. "horizontal head structure"

Family

Application07/441,716Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Nov 1989

Application07/632,958Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Dec 1990

US 5,041,932 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Aug 1991

Application07/783,509Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 28 Oct 1991

Application07/806,611Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 12 Dec 1991

US 5,073,242 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 17 Dec 1991

Application07/919,302Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Jul 1992

Application07/966,095Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Oct 1992

US 5,174,012 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 29 Dec 1992

Application08/091,907Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 4 Feb 1994

Application08/338,394Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 14 Nov 1994

Application08/515,140Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Aug 1995

Application08/528,890Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Sep 1995

US 5,550,691 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 27 Aug 1996

US 5,949,612 ARelated patent

US 6,493,191 B1Related patent

US 6,600,631 B1Related patent

US 6,320,725 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Hard disk drive having ring head with predominantly perpendicular media fields

Life of this patent

Hard disk drive having ring head with predominantly perpendicular media fields

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16