Magnetic disk apparatus, method for determining data track pitch, and self-servo write method

A method for determining a data track pitch for a magnetic disk apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic disk;
• and a magnetic head for recording/reproducing information on/from the magnetic disk,
• wherein a self-servo reference signal is transferred on at least one recording surface of the magnetic disk by magnetic printing, the self-servo reference signal comprising a timing pattern formed in a predetermined direction and an oblique phase pattern formed in an oblique direction relative to the predetermined direction, and
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• (1) provisionally setting a data track pitch to a predetermined pitch;
• (2) recording a predetermined data signal on a plurality of tracks by the magnetic head in accordance with the provisionally set data track pitch, while controlling the positioning of the magnetic head using the self-servo reference signal;
• (3) reproducing the data signal by the magnetic head while minutely changing the position of the magnetic head from a position at which the data signal is recorded, and detecting the position of the magnetic head in a radial direction of the magnetic disk by reproducing the self-servo reference signal, thus calculating an offset allowance from a relationship between the position of the magnetic head and the error rate of reproduction of the data signal;
• (4) changing the provisionally set data track pitch and then repeating the steps (1) through (3);
• and
• (5) determining a relationship between the provisionally set data track pitch and the offset allowance, and determining a data track pitch based on the relationship.

A self-servo write method for recording a servo signal using a magnetic disk apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic disk;
• and a magnetic head for recording/reproducing information on/from the magnetic disk, the servo signal being recorded on the magnetic disk by the magnetic head,
• wherein a self-servo reference signal is transferred on an entire surface of at least one recording surface of the magnetic disk by magnetic printing, the self-servo reference signal comprising a timing pattern formed in a predetermined direction and an oblique phase pattern formed in an oblique direction relative to the predetermined direction, and
• wherein the method comprises the steps of:
• (1) determining a data track pitch using the self-servo reference signal;
• (2) determining a head-traveling pitch based on the data track pitch;
• and
• (3) sequentially recording the servo signal on a plurality of tracks by the magnetic head in accordance with the head-traveling pitch, while controlling the positioning of the magnetic head using the self-servo reference signal.

A magnetic disk apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic disk;
• a magnetic head for recording/reproducing information on/from the magnetic disk;
• and data track pitch determining means for determining a data track pitch,
• wherein a self-servo reference signal is transferred on at least one recording surface of the magnetic disk by magnetic printing, the self-servo reference signal comprising a timing pattern formed in a predetermined direction and an oblique phase pattern formed in an oblique direction relative to the predetermined direction, and
• wherein the data track pitch determining means is formed to perform the steps of:
• (1) recording, at a predetermined position of the magnetic disk, a burst signal by the magnetic head while controlling the positioning of the magnetic head using the self-servo reference signal;
• (2) reproducing the burst signal by the magnetic head while minutely changing the position of the magnetic head from a position at which the burst signal is recorded, and detecting the position of the magnetic head in a radial direction of the magnetic disk by reproducing the self-servo reference signal, thus determining a relationship between the position of the magnetic head and the reproduction signal output of the burst signal;
• and
• (3) determining a data track pitch based on the relationship.

A magnetic disk apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic disk;
• a magnetic head for recording/reproducing information on/from the magnetic disk;
• and data track pitch determining means for determining a data track pitch,
• wherein a self-servo reference signal is transferred on at least one recording surface of the magnetic disk by magnetic printing, the self-servo reference signal comprising a timing pattern formed in a predetermined direction and an oblique phase pattern formed in an oblique direction relative to the predetermined direction, and
• wherein the data track pitch determining means is formed to perform the steps of:
• (1) provisionally setting a data track pitch to a predetermined pitch;
• (2) recording a predetermined data signal on a plurality of tracks by the magnetic head in accordance with the provisionally set data track pitch, while controlling the positioning of the magnetic head using the self-servo reference signal;
• (3) reproducing the data signal by the magnetic head while minutely changing the position of the magnetic head from a position at which the data signal is recorded, and detecting the position of the magnetic head in a radial direction of the magnetic disk by reproducing the self-servo reference signal, thus calculating an offset allowance from a relationship between the position of the magnetic head and the error rate of reproduction of the data signal;
• (4) changing the provisionally set data track pitch and then repeating the steps (1) through (3);
• and
• (5) determining a relationship between the provisionally set data track pitch and the offset allowance, and determining a data track pitch based on the relationship.

A magnetic disk apparatus comprising:

• a magnetic disk;
• a magnetic head for recording/reproducing information on/from the magnetic disk;
• and self-servo write means for recording a servo signal on the magnetic disk by the magnetic head,
• wherein a self-servo reference signal is transferred on an entire surface of at least one recording surface of the magnetic disk by magnetic printing, the self-servo reference signal comprising a timing pattern formed in a predetermined direction and an oblique phase pattern formed in an oblique direction relative to the predetermined direction, and
• wherein the self-servo write means comprises:
• data track pitch determining means for determining a data track pitch utilizing the self-servo reference signal;
• means for determining a head-traveling pitch based on the data track pitch;
• and
• means for sequentially recording a servo signal on a plurality of tracks by the magnetic head in accordance with the head-traveling pitch, while controlling the positioning of the magnetic head using the self-servo reference signal.