US 6,603,619 B1 · Magnetic storage medium and heat assisted recording and reproduction method

Abstract

A magnetic storage medium includes a magnetic storage medium that exhibits a magnetic compensation temperature specified higher than room temperature to minimize effects of heat generated by a head using magneto-resistance effect. In a heat assisted recording and reproduction method using such a magnetic storage medium, during reproduction, the S/N ratio in a reproduction signal is enhanced by optimizing the bias current applied to the head using magneto-resistance effect. A magnetic storage medium and a heat assisted recording and reproduction method using such a magnetic storage medium whereby information is magnetically recorded and reproduced by heating a read-out domain are offered that enables signal reproduction with a good S/N ratio despite possible use of a head exhibiting magneto-resistance effect.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A magnetic storage medium, comprising a storage layer for use in heat assisted recording and reproduction whereby information is magnetically recorded and reproduced by heating a recording domain, wherein

saturated magnetization of the storage layer has a maximum value at a temperature between a magnetic compensation temperature and a Curie point, said temperature being specified to be in a range between 150° C. and 250° C., and
the magnetic compensation temperature of the storage layer is specified to be higher than room temperature in a range between 40° C. and 100° C.

A heat assisted recording and reproduction method, comprising the steps of:

preparing a storage medium including as a storage layer a magnetic film exhibiting a magnetic compensation temperature higher than room temperature;
specifying a plurality of heated domains on the storage medium according to said magnetic compensation temperature;
and
selectively heating each of the plurality of heated domains to different target temperatures from one another such that said storage layer exhibits
(i) highly restrained or substantially no magnetization in ones of said plurality of heated domains heated to one of said target temperatures;
(ii) a reduced coercive force in ones of said heated domains heated to another of said target temperatures for recording information therein using an external magnetic field;
and
(iii) an increased magnetization as high as a detection level for a reproduction-use magnetic head in ones of said plurality of heated domains heated to a target temperature different from both said one and said another of said different target temperatures for reproducing information from an orientation of the magnetization using a reproduction-use magnetic head.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Magnetic storage medium and heat assisted recording and reproduction method

Life of this patent

Magnetic storage medium and heat assisted recording and reproduction method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28