U.S. patent application number 13/773708 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-28 for magnetic head comprising recording part, reading part, heater for expansion of the recording part, and heater for expansion of the reading part.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD., TDK CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Ryuji FUJII, Yasutoshi FUJITA, Kei HIRATA, Koji SHIMAZAWA.
Application Number | 20140241138 13/773708 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51301726 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140241138 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HIRATA; Kei ; et
al. |
August 28, 2014 |
MAGNETIC HEAD COMPRISING RECORDING PART, READING PART, HEATER FOR
EXPANSION OF THE RECORDING PART, AND HEATER FOR EXPANSION OF THE
READING PART
Abstract
A magnetic head includes a reading part, a recording part that
is laminated on the reading part in a planer view, a recording part
expansion heater, a reading part expansion heater, and a thermal
expansion promoting layer that is prepared at a position closer to
the reading part than to the recording part and extends to an air
bearing surface.
Inventors: |
HIRATA; Kei; (Tokyo, JP)
; SHIMAZAWA; Koji; (Tokyo, JP) ; FUJITA;
Yasutoshi; (Hong Kong, CN) ; FUJII; Ryuji;
(Hong Kong, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TDK CORPORATION
SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD. |
Tokyo
Hong Kong |
|
JP
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAE MAGNETICS (H.K.) LTD.
Hong Kong
CN
TDK CORPORATION
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
51301726 |
Appl. No.: |
13/773708 |
Filed: |
February 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
369/13.33 ;
360/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G11B 5/607 20130101;
G11B 5/6088 20130101; G11B 5/3133 20130101; G11B 2005/0021
20130101; G11B 5/314 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
369/13.33 ;
360/59 |
International
Class: |
G11B 13/04 20060101
G11B013/04 |
Claims
1. A magnetic head comprising: a reading part that is prepared
upper than a substrate in a lamination direction and has a reading
element that performs reading of information recorded in a magnetic
recording medium; a recording part that is prepared upper than the
substrate in the lamination direction and performs magnetic
recording to the magnetic recording medium; a recording part
expansion heater that is positioned in a vicinity of the recording
part; a reading part expansion heater that is positioned in a
vicinity of the reading part; and a thermal expansion promoting
layer that is prepared at a position closer to the reading part
than to the recording part and extends to an air bearing surface
that opposes the magnetic recording medium, wherein the recording
part comprises: a waveguide that propagates incident light toward
the air bearing surface; a main magnetic pole of which one end part
is positioned on the air bearing surface; and a plasmon generator
that is positioned between the waveguide and the main magnetic
pole, that is prepared along the waveguide in a manner opposing the
waveguide, and of which one end part is positioned on the air
bearing surface, and the recording part is a thermally-assisted
magnetic recording part that performs magnetic recording to the
magnetic recording medium while heating the magnetic recording
medium by irradiating the magnetic recording medium with light.
2. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the recording
part is prepared upper than the reading part in the lamination
direction, and the thermal expansion promoting layer is positioned
between the substrate and the reading part.
3. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein the recording
part expansion heater and the reading part expansion heater are
driven independently of one another.
4. The magnetic head according to claim 2, wherein the reading part
comprises: the reading element; and an upper shield layer and a
lower shield layer that are arranged in a manner sandwiching the
reading element, and the thermal expansion promoting layer is
positioned between the substrate and the lower shield layer.
5. The magnetic head according to claim 4, wherein the reading part
expansion heater is prepared between the lower shield layer of the
reading part and the thermal expansion promoting layer.
6. The magnetic head according to claim 5, wherein a distance
between the lower shield layer and the thermal expansion promoting
layer is 0.5-1.0 .mu.m.
7. (canceled)
8. The magnetic head according to claim 7 claim 1 further
comprising a protective layer covering the air bearing surface,
wherein a portion of the protective layer that covers the recording
part has a thickness larger than a thickness of a portion of the
protective layer that covers the reading part.
9. The magnetic head according to claim 8, wherein a difference
between the thickness of the portion of the protective layer that
covers the recording part and the thickness of the portion of the
protective layer that covers the reading part is 2 nm or less.
10. The magnetic head according to claim 8, wherein the portion of
the protective layer that covers the recording part has a
multilayer structure, and the portion of the protective layer that
covers the reading part has a single layer structure.
11. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a
protrusion magnitude that the reading part thermally expands and
protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the air bearing surface due
to heat during driving of the reading part expansion heater to a
protrusion magnitude that the recording part thermally expands and
protrudes in the direction orthogonal to the air bearing surface
due to heat during driving of the recording part expansion heater
is 1.5 or more.
12. The magnetic head according to claim 1, wherein a distance
between the reading part and the recording part on the air bearing
surface is 7 .mu.m or less.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a magnetic head including a
recording part that performs recording of information to a magnetic
recording medium, a reading part that performs reading of
information, a recording part expansion heater, and a reading part
expansion heater.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In the field of magnetic recording using a magnetic head and
a magnetic recording medium, along with the advancement of high
recording density of a magnetic disk apparatus, further improvement
in the performance of the magnetic head and the magnetic recording
medium is demanded. As the magnetic head, a composite-type thin
film magnetic head is widely used having a structure in which a
reading part that includes a magnetoresistive (MR) element for
reading and a recording part that includes an induction-type
electromagnetic transducer element (magnetic recording element) for
writing are laminated on a substrate. In the magnetic disk
apparatus, the magnetic head is provided in a slider that flies
slightly above a surface of the magnetic recording medium. The
reading part and the recording part are prepared in a manner to be
exposed on an air bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head that
opposes the magnetic recording medium.
[0005] It is preferable that a distance between the magnetic
recording medium and the recording part when recording information
by using such a magnetic head and a distance between the magnetic
recording medium and the reading part when reading information are
respectively small and highly accurate. Therefore, for example, a
configuration is disclosed in JP2006-351115A in which resistive
heating bodies are respectively prepared in the vicinity of a
recording part and the vicinity of a reading part, and, by using
the two resistive heating bodies that are driven independently of
one another, it is possible to respectively bring the recording
part, when recording, and the reading part, when reading, close to
the magnetic recording medium. According to this configuration, by
respectively adjusting driving powers supplied to the resistive
heating bodies, the distance between the recording part and the
magnetic recording medium, when recording, and the distance between
the reading part and the magnetic recording medium, when reading,
can be finely adjusted.
[0006] On the other hand, in a magnetic recording device, along
with the advancement of high density in magnetic recording,
so-called thermally-assisted magnetic recording is proposed in
which a magnetic material with large magnetic anisotropy energy Ku
is used as a recording medium and a magnetic field is applied to
perform writing after a coercive force is reduced by applying heat
to the magnetic recording medium. In the thermally-assisted
magnetic recording, a method in which laser light is used in order
to apply heat to the magnetic recording medium is common Among such
methods, a method (near-field light heating) is proposed in which
the laser light is converted to near-field light and the magnetic
recording medium is heated by irradiating the magnetic recording
medium with the near-field light. The near-field light is a kind of
electromagnetic field that is formed around a substance and has a
property that a diffraction limit due to the wavelength of the
light can be ignored. By irradiating a microstructure body with
light having aligned wavelengths, near-field light that depends on
the scale of the microstructure body is generated and focusing of
the light to a minimum region of about several tens of nm is
possible.
[0007] As a specific means to perform thermally-assisted magnetic
recording using near-field light, a thermally-assisted magnetic
recording head using surface plasmons is proposed in
JP2005-116155A. In this thermally-assisted magnetic recording head,
instead of being directly radiated to a plasmon antenna,
propagation light that propagates through a waveguide couples with
a plasmon generator in a surface plasmon mode via a cladding layer.
The light propagating through the waveguide is totally reflected at
an interface between the waveguide and the cladding layer. In this
case, light that is referred to as evanescent light and exudes to
the cladding layer is generated. The evanescent light and
collective oscillations of electric charges in the plasmon
generator are coupled and surface plasmons are excited in the
plasmon generator. The excited surface plasmons propagate to a
near-field light generation end surface that is an ABS side end
part of the plasmon generator, and near-field light is generated at
the near-field light generation end surface. When the magnetic
recording medium is irradiated with the near-field light,
temperature in the recording part itself that performs the
thermally-assisted magnetic recording (in particular, in the
plasmon generator on which light is focused) also is likely to
rise. That is, it is possible that not only heat generation of a
recording part expansion heater and a reading part expansion
heater, but also the irradiation of the near-field light can cause
temperature rise and thermal expansion in the magnetic head that
performs the thermally-assisted magnetic recording.
[0008] In order to minimize capacity loss of the magnetic recording
medium (HDD), it is desirable that the reading part and the
recording part be arranged close to each other at the ABS of the
magnetic head. However, when the reading part and the recording
part are close to each other, there is a possibility that, when the
resistive heating body in the vicinity of the reading part is
driven during reading, temperature rise and expansion also occur in
the recording part. In this case, the recording part that is
generally positioned on a trailing side becomes in contact with the
magnetic recording medium before the reading part does, and thus
the reading part is prevented from becoming further closer to the
magnetic recording medium. Therefore, there is a possibility that
it is difficult to have a desired distance between the reading part
and the magnetic recording medium. It is not preferable to increase
the distance between the recording part and the reading part at the
ABS in order to prevent that temperature rise also occurs in the
recording part when the reading part is heated, because the
capacity loss in the HDD will increase.
[0009] In particular, in order to perform accurate reading of
information, it is important that the distance between the reading
part and the magnetic recording medium be accurately set smaller.
Usually, when setting a flying height of a slider (distance between
the slider and the magnetic recording medium), at least once the
ABS is brought into contact with the magnetic recording medium (or
its substitute) and then the flying height from the magnetic
recording medium, that is, the distance between the ABS and the
magnetic recording medium, is adjusted. Therefore, in order to
adjust the distance between the reading part and the magnetic
recording medium, the reading part has to be brought into contact
with the magnetic recording medium. Suppose that the recording part
or its vicinity is brought into contact with the magnetic recording
medium before the reading part is brought into contact with the
magnetic recording medium, the reading part cannot be brought into
contact with the magnetic recording medium, and the flying height
from the magnetic recording medium has to be set based on the
position where the recording part or its vicinity and the magnetic
recording medium are in contact with each other. Therefore, the
distance between the reading part and the magnetic recording medium
cannot be accurately set.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] A purpose of the present invention is to provide a magnetic
head that includes a recording part, a reading part, a recording
part expansion heater and a reading part expansion heater, in which
the recording part and the reading part are arranged close to each
other to contribute to suppression of recording capacity reduction
of a magnetic recording medium and to allow suppression of
influence of heat on the recording part during heating in order to
expand the reading part.
[0011] In order to achieve the purpose, a magnetic head of the
present invention includes a reading part that is prepared upper
than a substrate in a lamination direction and has a reading
element that performs reading of information recorded in a magnetic
recording medium; a recording part that is prepared upper than the
substrate in the lamination direction and performs magnetic
recording to the magnetic recording medium; a recording part
expansion heater that is positioned in a vicinity of the recording
part; a reading part expansion heater that is positioned in a
vicinity of the reading part; and a thermal expansion promoting
layer that is prepared at a position closer to the reading part
than to the recording part and extends to an air bearing surface
that opposes the magnetic recording medium. The recording part may
be prepared upper than the reading part in the lamination
direction, and the thermal expansion promoting layer may be
positioned between the substrate and the reading part.
[0012] The recording part expansion heater and the reading part
expansion heater may be driven independently of one another.
[0013] The reading part may include the reading element, and an
upper shield layer and a lower shield layer that are arranged in a
manner sandwiching the reading element. In such a case, a distance
between the lower shield layer and the thermal expansion promoting
layer may be 0.5-1.0 .mu.m. The reading part expansion heater is
positioned between the lower shield layer of the reading part and
the thermal expansion promoting layer.
[0014] The recording part may include a waveguide that propagates
incident light toward the air bearing surface; a main magnetic pole
of which one end part is positioned on the air bearing surface; and
a plasmon generator that is positioned between the waveguide and
the main magnetic pole, that is prepared along the waveguide in a
manner opposing the waveguide, and of which one end part is
positioned on the air bearing surface, and the recording part may
be a thermally-assisted magnetic recording part that performs
magnetic recording to the magnetic recording medium while heating
the magnetic recording medium by irradiating the magnetic recording
medium with light.
[0015] A protective layer may be included covering the air bearing
surface, wherein a portion of the protective layer that covers the
recording part may have a thickness larger than a thickness of a
portion of the protective layer that covers the reading part. A
difference between the thickness of the portion of the protective
layer that covers the recording part and the thickness of the
portion of the protective layer that covers the reading part is
preferably 2 nm or less. The portion of the protective layer that
covers the recording part may have a multilayer structure, and the
portion of the protective layer that covers the reading part may
have a single layer structure.
[0016] A ratio of a protrusion magnitude that the reading part
thermally expands and protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the
air bearing surface due to heat during driving of the reading part
expansion heater to a protrusion magnitude that the recording part
thermally expands and protrudes in the direction orthogonal to the
air bearing surface due to heat during driving of the recording
part expansion heater is preferably 1.5 or more.
[0017] A distance between the reading part and the recording part
on the air bearing surface is preferably 7 .mu.m or less.
[0018] The above-described purpose, features and advantages and
other purposes, features and advantages of the present invention
will be clear by reading the following explanation with reference
to the accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slider containing a
magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a recording
part of the magnetic head illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a slider containing a
modified embodiment of the magnetic head according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a slider containing
another modified embodiment of the magnetic head according to the
first embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a slider containing a
magnetic head according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 6A is a graph illustrating a relation between a
position along a Z-direction of an ABS of a magnetic head and a
protrusion magnitude (or length of protrusion) in a Y-direction in
a case where a ratio between lengths of protrusion in the
Y-direction of a reading part and a recording part during heating
by a reading part expansion heater is 1.22, in the magnetic head
according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 6B is a graph illustrating a relation between a
position along the Z-direction of the ABS of the magnetic head and
a protrusion magnitude in the Y-direction in a case where a ratio
between lengths of protrusion in the Y-direction of the reading
part and the recording part during heating by the reading part
expansion heater is 1.53, in the magnetic head according to the
second embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a relation between a DFH
gamma ratio in the Y-direction of the reading part and the
recording part and a distance between the reading part and the
recording part in the Z-direction when the lengths of protrusion in
the Y-direction of the reading part and the recording part are
equal.
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the slider illustrated in
FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a head gimbal assembly
containing the slider illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0029] FIG. 10 is a side view of a main part of a hard disk drive
apparatus containing the head gimbal assembly illustrated in FIG.
9.
[0030] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the hard disk drive apparatus
containing the head gimbal assembly illustrated in FIG. 9.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] A magnetic head of the present invention is explained with
reference to the drawings.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a basic configuration of a
magnetic head 1 of the present invention is explained. The magnetic
head 1 has a reading part 3 positioned upper than a substrate 2
that is formed of ALTIC (Al.sub.2O.sub.3--TiC) in a lamination
direction and a recording part 4 positioned upper than the reading
part 3 in the lamination direction. The reading part 3 and the
recording part 4 are exposed on an ABS that opposes a magnetic
recording medium 5. In the present specification, a width direction
of the ABS of the magnetic head 1 represents an "X-direction;" a
direction that is a height direction of the ABS and a film
formation direction in a manufacturing process (to be described
later) and orthogonal to a film surface represents a "Z-direction"
or a "lamination direction" or a " down track direction;" and a
depth direction orthogonal to the ABS represents a "Y-direction,"
the ABS opposing the magnetic recording medium 5. An "upward
lamination direction" means a direction oriented from the substrate
2 toward the recording part 4, and a "downward lamination
direction" means a direction oriented from the recording part 4
toward the substrate 2.
[0033] The reading part 3 of the present embodiment is sandwiched
between a metallic upper shield layer 6 and a lower shield layer 7,
and has an MR element (reading element) 8 of which electrical
resistance changes in response to a change in magnetic flux
density. The MR element 8 may have an arbitrary configuration that
uses a magnetoresistive effect, such as a CIP (Current In
Plane)-GMR (Gigantic Magneto Resistive) element in which a sense
current flows in a direction parallel to a film surface, a CPP
(Current Perpendicular to Plane)-GMR element in which a sense
current flows in the Z-direction (the lamination direction)
perpendicular to a film surface, and a TMR (Tunneling Magneto
Resistive) element that uses a tunnel effect. When the MR element 8
is a CPP-GMR element or a TMR element, the upper shield layer 6 and
the lower shield layer 7 are also used as electrodes supplying the
sense current. On a lower side of the lower shield layer 7 of the
reading part 3 in the lamination direction, a reading part
expansion heater 9 that is formed of a resistive heating body is
prepared.
[0034] The recording part 4 that is positioned upper than the
reading part 3 in the lamination direction is a thermally-assisted
magnetic recording part for so-called perpendicular magnetic
recording. One end part of the recording part 4 is exposed on the
ABS and has a main magnetic pole (yoke) 10 that opposes the
magnetic recording medium 5. The main magnetic pole 10 is formed
with an alloy that is formed of any two or three of Ni, Fe and Co.
On a lower side of the main magnetic pole 10 in the lamination
direction, a leading shield layer (return yoke) 11 is prepared. The
leading shield layer 11 is formed with an alloy that is formed of
any two or three of Ni, Fe and Co. The main magnetic pole 10 and
the leading shield layer 11 are magnetically coupled to each other
by a contact part (backgap) 12. In the present embodiment, the
leading shield layer 11 is prepared lower than the main magnetic
pole 10 in the lamination direction. However, the leading shield
layer 11 can also be prepared upper than the main magnetic pole 10
in the lamination direction. Between the main magnetic pole 10 and
the leading shield layer 11, a coil 13 is wound around a contact
part 12. Magnetic flux can be generated by applying a current from
outside to the coil 13. The coil 13 is formed from a conductive
material such as Cu, and the number of turns of the coil 13 is not
limited.
[0035] Further, the recording part 4 includes a waveguide (core) 15
onto which laser light for heating the magnetic recording medium 5
is incident. The waveguide 15 can be formed, for example, with
TaO.sub.x. TaO.sub.x means tantalum oxide of any composition.
Typical examples of TaO.sub.x include Ta.sub.2O.sub.5, TaO,
TaO.sub.2, and the like. However, TaO.sub.x is not limited to these
typical ones. A plasmon generator 16 is prepared in a manner
opposing a part of the waveguide 15. The plasmon generator 16 is
formed from Au, Ag, Cu, Al, Pd, Ru, Pt, Rh, Ir or an alloy having
these metals as a main component, and extends to the ABS in the
Y-direction. The plasmon generator 16 has a near-field light
generation end surface 16a.sub.1. The near-field light generation
end surface 16a.sub.1 is exposed on the ABS and opposes the
magnetic recording medium 5. A cladding layer 17 is prepared lower
than the plasmon generator 16 in the lamination direction and
between the plasmon generator 16 and the waveguide 15. The cladding
layer 17 can be formed, for example, with AlO.sub.x. Here,
AlO.sub.x means aluminum oxide of any composition. A typical
example of AlO.sub.x is Al.sub.2O.sub.3. However, AlO.sub.x is not
limited to this typical one.
[0036] In the vicinity of the contact part 12 of the recording part
4, a recording part expansion heater 14 that is formed of a
resistive heating body is prepared. The reading part expansion
heater 9 and the recording part expansion heater 14 can be driven
independently of one another.
[0037] Between the reading part 3 and the recording part 4, a
Head-Disc Interface (HDI) sensor 18 is arranged. The HDI sensor 18
mainly detects contact between the ABS of the magnetic head 1 and
the magnetic recording medium 5.
[0038] A metallic thermal expansion promoting layer 19 that is a
main feature of the present invention is prepared lower than the
reading part 3 in the lamination direction, that is, between the
lower shield layer 7 and the substrate 2. The thermal expansion
promoting layer 19 extends to the ABS and is exposed on the
ABS.
[0039] Portions other than the above-described members are filled
with insulating nonmagnetic material 20 such as AlO.sub.x. Among
those portions, a layer positioned upper than the main magnetic
pole 10 of the recording part 4 in the lamination direction may be
referred to as an overcoat layer and a layer positioned lower than
the metallic thermal expansion promoting layer 19 in the lamination
direction may be referred to an undercoat layer. The material may
be the same as that of the cladding layer 17.
[0040] In the recording part 4 of the magnetic head 1 of the
present embodiment, propagation light that is incident onto and
propagates through the waveguide 15 couples with the plasmon
generator 16 in a surface plasmon mode via the cladding layer 17
and surface plasmons are excited in the plasmon generator 16. The
excited surface plasmons propagate along the plasmon generator 16
to the near-field light generation end surface 16a.sub.1 and
near-field light is generated at the near-field light generation
end surface 16a.sub.1. In FIG. 2, a region 22 where the near-field
light is generated is schematically illustrated. In this way, by
irradiating the magnetic recording medium with the near-field
light, the magnetic recording medium 5 is partially heated and the
coercive force is reduced.
[0041] Magnetic flux 21 is generated when a current is passed to
the coil 13 of the recording part 4. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the
magnetic flux 21 is emitted from a front end portion of the main
magnetic pole 10 toward the magnetic recording medium 5, travels
along a perpendicular direction (Y-direction) through a recording
layer 5a that is a surface layer of the magnetic recording medium 5
for perpendicular magnetic recording, and magnetizes each recording
bit of the recording layer 5a along the perpendicular direction.
After passing through the recording layer 5a and in a under layer
5b that is below the recording layer 5a and that is made of a soft
magnetic material, the magnetic flux 21 changes magnetic path to a
surface direction (Z-direction) of the magnetic recording medium 5.
The magnetic flux 21 further changes orientation again to the
perpendicular direction (Y-direction) in the vicinity of the
leading shield layer 11 and is absorbed by the leading shield layer
11. That is, the magnetic flux 21 is controlled by the leading
shield layer 11, and perpendicularly passes through the recording
layer 5a to form a U-shape magnetic path. The main magnetic pole 10
is close to the near-field light generation end surface 16a.sub.1
of the plasmon generator 16, and a front end of the main magnetic
pole 10 opposes an irradiation position of the near-field light
from the near-field light generation end surface 16a.sub.1.
Therefore, by applying a magnetic field from the main magnetic pole
10 to the portion of the magnetic recording medium 5 where the
coercive force is reduced by the heating by the near-field light,
thermally-assisted magnetic recording to the magnetic recording
medium 5 is performed.
[0042] On the other hand, the MR element 8 that is sandwiched by
the upper shield layer 6 and the lower shield layer 7 sequentially
detects a magnetization direction of each of the recording bits of
the magnetic recording medium 5 that is close; thereby, the reading
part 3 of the magnetic head 1 reads out magnetic information
recorded in the magnetic recording medium 5.
[0043] When recording, the recording part expansion heater 14 is
driven to generate heat to thermally expand the recording part 4
and the nonmagnetic material 20 positioned in the vicinity of the
recording part 4; thereby, a front end of the recording part 4 (the
near-field light generation end surface 16a.sub.1 and front ends of
the main magnetic pole 10) is brought close to the magnetic
recording medium 5. When reading, the reading part expansion heater
9 is driven to generate heat to thermally expand the reading part 3
and the nonmagnetic and insulating material 20 positioned in the
vicinity of the reading part 3; thereby, the front end of the
reading part 3 (MR element 8) is brought close to the magnetic
recording medium 5.
[0044] When recording, by increasing the intensity of the laser
light incident onto the waveguide 15 for irradiating the magnetic
recording medium 5 with the near-field light and increasing the
power supplied to the coil 13 for applying the magnetic field from
the main magnetic pole 10 to the magnetic recording medium 5, even
when the distance between the recording part 4 and the magnetic
recording medium 5 is large, the recording can be satisfactorily
performed to some extent. However, when reading, in order to
reliably read out the magnetization direction of each recording bit
of the magnetic recording medium 5, it is preferable that the
reading part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 are as close to
each other as possible. When the distance between the reading part
3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 is large, reading information
by the reading part 3 is difficult. That is, in the magnetic head
1, as compared to the distance between the recording part 4 and the
magnetic recording medium 5 during recording, the distance between
the reading part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 during
reading is very important.
[0045] Therefore, in the present invention, between the reading
part 3 and the substrate 2, more specifically, between the reading
part expansion heater 9 that is positioned lower than the lower
shield layer 7 in the lamination direction and the substrate 2, the
metallic thermal expansion promoting layer 19 is prepared. Thereby,
the heat generated by driving the reading part expansion heater 9
is absorbed by the metallic thermal expansion promoting layer 19
before escaping to the substrate 2 on the outside of the reading
part 3. Therefore, heat transferred to the reading part 3 and its
vicinity increases. That is, according to the present embodiment,
the reading part 3 is efficiently heated and thermally expanded.
Regarding thermal expansion in the depth direction (Y-direction), a
DFH gamma ratio ((protrusion length of the reading
part)/(protrusion length of the recording part)) that is a ratio of
a protrusion magnitude (amount of thermal expansion) in the
Y-direction of the reading part 3 when the reading part expansion
heater 9 is driven to a protrusion magnitude (amount of thermal
expansion) in the Y-direction of the recording part 4 when the
recording part expansion heater 14 is driven under the same
condition is 1.5 or more.
[0046] In this way, by letting the reading part 3 adopt a
configuration that facilitates thermal expansion (that allows the
reading part 3 to be easily brought close to the magnetic recording
medium 5), for example, it is prevented that the recording part 4
becomes in contact with the magnetic recording medium 5 before the
reading part 3 becomes in contact with the magnetic recording
medium 5 so that the reading part 3 cannot become further closer to
the magnetic recording medium 5. Therefore, the distance between
the reading part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 can be
reduced, and thus, reading performance can be maintained. Further,
when setting the flying height of the magnetic head 1 from the
magnetic recording medium 5 during reading, it is not based on a
state in which the recording part 4, not the reading part 3, is in
contact with the magnetic recording medium 5 (or its substitute);
instead, it can be based on a state in which the reading part 3
itself is in contact with the magnetic recording medium 5.
Therefore, the setting of the flying height can be accurately
performed, and a desired reading performance can be obtained.
[0047] It is preferable that the distance between the lower shield
layer 7 and the thermal expansion promoting layer 19 in the
lamination direction (Z-direction) be 0.5-1.0 .mu.m. This is
because when this distance is less than 0.5 .mu.m, there is a
possibility that poor insulation may occur between the lower shield
layer 7 and the thermal expansion promoting layer 19; and when this
distance is larger than 1.0 .mu.m, there is a possibility that the
heat generated by driving the reading part expansion heater 9 is
not well absorbed by the lower shield layer 7 and the thermal
expansion promoting layer 19 so that a sufficient amount of thermal
expansion of the reading part 3 is not obtained and the DFH gamma
ratio decreases.
[0048] Next, details of the magnetic head 1 of the present
embodiment are explained in more detail. However, the following
explanation is only exemplary. The present invention is not limited
to the configuration described below.
[0049] The reading part 3 of the magnetic head 1 of the present
invention adopts a configuration in which the MR element 8 is
arranged between the upper shield layer 6 and the lower shield
layer 7. Although not illustrated in the drawings, the MR element 8
mainly has a free layer in which the magnetization direction
changes in response to an external magnetic field, a nonmagnetic
intermediate layer, and a pinned layer in which the magnetization
direction does not change in response to the external magnetic
field. The free layer and the pinned layer are formed of CoFe,
NiFe, CoFeB, and the like, and the nonmagnetic intermediate layer
is formed of ZnO, MgO, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, AlN, TiO.sub.2, NiO, and
the like. When the nonmagnetic intermediate layer is formed of a
metal or a semiconductor such as ZnO, the MR element 8 functions as
a CPP (Current Perpendicular to the Plane)-GMR (Giant
Magneto-Resistance) element; and when the nonmagnetic intermediate
layer is formed of an insulator such as MgO, the MR element 8
functions as a TMR (Tunneling Magneto-Resistance) element.
[0050] As described above, the recording part 4 of the magnetic
head 1 of the present invention may perform the thermally-assisted
magnetic recording using the near-field light. In this case, in
addition to the main magnetic pole (yoke) 10, the return shield
layer 11, the contact part (backgap) 12 and the coil 13, the
recording part 4 has the waveguide (core) 15, the plasmon generator
16 and the cladding layer 17.
[0051] Further, a structure body (heat sink) having a heat
dissipation effect may be provided in the plasmon generator 16.
That is, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the plasmon generator 16
includes a first configuration member 16a and a second
configuration member 16b, the second configuration member 16b being
integrally prepared on top of the first configuration member 16a
and functioning as a heat sink. The first configuration member 16a
includes the near-field light generation end surface 16a.sub.1 and
a surface plasmon mode coupling part 16a.sub.2 that couples in a
surface plasmon mode with the propagation light propagating through
the waveguide 15, and extends to the ABS. The second configuration
member 16b is formed of a material same as that of the first
configuration member 16a and is integrally joined to the top of the
first configuration member 16a. An ABS side end part of the second
configuration member 16b, without reaching the ABS, terminates at a
slope 16b.sub.1 at a position recessed from the ABS. It is also
possible to have a configuration in which the second configuration
member 16b is formed of a material different from that of the first
configuration member 16a and at least a portion of the second
configuration member 16b is in contact with the first configuration
member 16a. A separator layer 24 that is formed of a material (for
example, aluminum oxide) that does not absorb much of the
near-field light is interposed between the first configuration
member 16a and the main magnetic pole 10. The separator layer 24 is
formed of oxide or nitride (such as alumina, silica and MgO) or a
lamination film of the oxide or nitride, the oxide or nitride
having transparency to the light (laser light) that propagates
through the waveguide 15.
[0052] As described above, the magnetic head 1 of the present
invention includes the substrate 2; the metallic thermal expansion
promoting layer 19 that is positioned upper than the substrate 2 in
the lamination direction; the reading part 3 that includes the
reading part expansion heater 9, the MR element 8 and the like; and
the recording part 4 that includes the main magnetic pole 10, the
waveguide 15, the plasmon generator 16, and the like, and is
configured as a part of the slider 25 that flies above the magnetic
recording medium 5. As illustrated in FIG. 1, on a back surface 25a
of the slider 25, that is, the surface on the side opposite to the
ABS, a light source 26 is coupled. The light source 268 is, for
example, a laser diode, and includes a pair of electrodes 26a, 26b;
P (Positive) type and N (Negative) type claddings 26c, 26d that are
sandwiched by the electrodes 26a, 26b; and an active layer 26e that
is positioned between the two claddings 26c, 26d, and a cleavage
surface has a reflector structure. The light source 26 is fixed to
the slider 25 by using an appropriate method. The active layer 26e
in which laser light is continuously oscillated is arranged the
same straight line as the waveguide 15 of the recording part 4, and
the laser light generated in the active layer 26e is incident onto
the waveguide 15. The wavelength of the laser light is not
particularly limited, and, as an example, is about 800 nm.
[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the magnetic
head 1. As compared to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, in
this magnetic head 1, the leading shield layer 11 of the recording
part 4 is close to the waveguide 15, that is, is positioned away
from the reading part 3. In this modified embodiment, the
nonmagnetic material 20 of a low thermal conductivity that is
positioned between the recording part 4 and the reading part 3 is
thick. Therefore, a thermal effect on the recording part 4 when the
reading part expansion heater 9 is driven and a thermal effect on
the reading part 3 when the recording part expansion heater 14 is
driven can be kept small.
[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates another modified embodiment of the
magnetic head 1. As compared to the configuration illustrated in
FIG. 3, in this magnetic head 1, the length in the depth direction
(Y-direction) of the metallic thermal expansion promoting layer 19
is short, and the thermal expansion promoting layer 19 is prepared
only in the vicinity of the ABS. Even in this configuration, the
protrusion magnitude of the reading part 3 from the ABS due to
thermal expansion can be made sufficiently large. Therefore, it is
prevented that the recording part 4 becomes in contact with the
magnetic recording medium 5 before the reading part 3 becomes in
contact with the magnetic recording medium 5 so that the reading
part 3 is inhibited from approaching the magnetic recording medium
5, and thus it is avoided that the distance between the reading
part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 cannot be made
sufficiently small so that the reading performance decreases.
Further, when setting the flying height of the magnetic head 1 from
the magnetic recording medium 5 during reading, it is based on a
state in which, not the recording part 4, the reading part 3 itself
is in contact with the magnetic recording medium 5, and thus, the
setting of the flying height can be accurately performed, and a
desired reading performance can be obtained.
[0055] FIG. 5 illustrates a magnetic head 1 according to another
embodiment of the present invention. In this magnetic head 1, a
protective layer 23 that covers at least the reading part 3 and the
recording part 4 is formed on the ABS. The protective layer 23 is
prepared in order to prevent damage of the ABS due to that, when
setting the flying height of the magnetic head 1 from the magnetic
recording medium 5, at least once the ABS is brought into contact
with the magnetic recording medium 5 (or its substitute). Further,
when the recording part 4 performs heating by irradiating the
magnetic recording medium 5 with the near-field light in order to
perform thermally-assisted magnetic recording, temperature rise
also occurs in the recording part 4 (in particular, the plasmon
generator 16) itself, which may be damaged by the heat. Therefore,
in the protective layer 23 of the present embodiment, a portion
covering the recording part 4 is a two-layer structure and a
portion covering the reading part 3 is a single layer structure.
Specifically, the protective layer 23 is configured from a first
protective layer 23a and a second protective layer 23b. The first
protective layer 23a is formed of a DLC (diamond-like carbon) and
the like and covers substantially the entire surface of the ABS to
prevent damage due to contact with the magnetic recording medium 5.
The second protective layer 23b is formed of TaO.sub.x and the like
having a high thermostability and covers only the recording part 4
to prevent damage due to heat. As a result, the portion of the
protective layer 23 that covers the reading part 3 (the portion
having the single layer structure) and the portion of the
protective layer 23 that covers the recording part 4 (the portion
having the multilayer structure) have different thicknesses; the
portion that covers the reading part 3 protrudes more than the
portion that covers the recording part 4 in the depth direction
(Y-direction) toward the magnetic recording medium 5. A step 27
exists at a boundary between the portion of the protective layer 23
that covers the reading part 3 and the portion of the protective
layer 23 that covers the recording part 4.
[0056] As described above, in the magnetic head 1, as compared to
the distance between the recording part 4 and the magnetic
recording medium 5 during recording, the distance between the
reading part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 during reading
is important. For reliable reading during reading, it is preferable
that the reading part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 be as
close to each other as possible. In a configuration that does not
have the thermal expansion promoting layer 19, when the protective
layer 23 has a partial multilayer structure, since the portion of
the protective layer 23 that covers the recording part 4 is thick,
the recording part 4 becomes in contact with the magnetic recording
medium 5 before the reading part 3 becomes in contact with the
magnetic recording medium 5 and thus the reading part 3 is
inhibited from approaching the magnetic recording medium 5. Suppose
the entire protective layer 23 has a multilayer structure, although
there is no partial thickness difference and a step does not exist,
since the reading part 3 is away from the magnetic recording medium
5 due to the thickness of the protective layer, the problem is not
fundamentally solved.
[0057] In contrast, in the present invention, as described above,
the metallic thermal expansion promoting layer 19 is prepared
between the reading part 3 and the substrate 2, more specifically,
between the reading part expansion heater 9 and the substrate 2, so
that the reading part 3 has a larger protrusion magnitude in the
Y-direction during thermal expansion as compared to the recording
part 4 (the DFH gamma ratio is 1.5 or more). Therefore, the partial
thickness difference in the protective layer 23 is overcome, and it
is possible that, when the reading part expansion heater 9 is
driven, the reading part 3 is closer to the magnetic recording
medium 5 than the recording part 4 is. For example, it is prevented
that, when setting the flying height, the recording part 4 becomes
in contact with the magnetic recording medium 5 before the reading
part 3 becomes in contact with magnetic recording medium 5.
Thereby, a desired small distance between the reading part 3 and
the magnetic recording medium 5 during reading can be accurately
set, and a highly reliable good reading performance can be
achieved.
[0058] Effects of the present embodiment are explained in more
detail. FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate relations between a position
along the lamination direction (Z-direction) of the ABS of the
magnetic head 1 and a protrusion magnitude in the direction toward
the magnetic recording medium 5, which is the depth direction
(Y-direction), during heating by the reading part expansion heater
9. On a horizontal axis in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a position in the
Z-direction is represented as a distance from a certain reference
position. FIG. 6A illustrates simulation results of a case where a
ratio (DFH gamma ratio) between lengths of protrusion of the
reading part 3 and the recording part 4 in the Y-direction during
thermal expansion is 1.22, which is small. FIG. 6B illustrates
simulation results of a case where the ratio (DFH gamma ratio)
between the lengths of protrusion of the reading part 3 and the
recording part 4 in the Y-direction during thermal expansion is
1.53, which is large. From FIG. 6A, it is clear that, in the case
where the ratio (DFH gamma ratio) between the lengths of protrusion
is small, the vicinity (B portion) of the recording part 4 that is
positioned upper in the lamination direction protrudes more in the
depth direction and is closer to the magnetic recording medium 5
than the vicinity (A portion) of the reading part 3 that is
positioned lower in the lamination direction. In this case, the
reading part 3 is restricted from coming close to the magnetic
recording medium 5. Further, in the operation of setting the flying
height, when the ABS is once brought into contact with the magnetic
recording medium (or its substitute), the recording part 4 first
becomes in contact with the magnetic recording medium 5 so that the
reading part 3 cannot reach the position in contact with the
magnetic recording medium 5. Therefore, the distance between the
reading part 3 and the magnetic recording medium 5 cannot be
accurately set. As a result, reading performance by the reading
part 3 is not good. On the other hand, from FIG. 6B it is clear
that, in the case where the ratio (DFH gamma ratio) between the
lengths of protrusion in the Y-direction during thermal expansion
is large, the vicinity (A portion) of the reading part 3 that is
positioned lower in the lamination direction protrudes more in the
depth direction and is closer to the magnetic recording medium 5
than the vicinity (B portion) of the recording part 4 that is
positioned upper in the lamination direction. Therefore, the
reading part 3 can be brought further closer to the magnetic
recording medium 5. Further, in the operation of setting the flying
height, not the recording part 4, the reading part 3 is brought
into contact with the magnetic recording medium 5, and based on
this state, the distance between the reading part 3 and the
magnetic recording medium 5 can be accurately set. Therefore,
reading performance by the reading part 3 is good. The data
illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B are based on an assumption that the
difference (step 27) in the partial thicknesses of the protective
layer 23 is 1 nm and the distance in the lamination direction
(Z-direction) between the reading part 3 and the recording part 4
is 4.2 .mu.m.
[0059] FIG. 7 illustrates simulation results of a relation between
the ratio (DFH gamma ratio) between the lengths of protrusion in
the Y-direction of the reading part 3 and the recording part 4
during thermal expansion and the distance in the lamination
direction (Z-direction) between the reading part 3 and the
recording part 4 in the case where the lengths of protrusion in the
Y-direction of the reading part 3 and the recording part 4 are
equal, for the difference (step 27) in the partial thicknesses of
the protective layer 23 being 0.5 nm, 1 nm, and 2 nm. From FIG. 7,
it is clear that, even in the case where the step 27 of the
protective layer 23 is relatively large (2 nm), when the ratio (DFH
gamma ratio) between the lengths of protrusion of the reading part
3 and the recording part 4 is 1.5 or more, the distance in the
lamination direction (Z-direction) between the reading part 3 and
the recording part 4 is kept at 7 .mu.m or less. Therefore, it is
preferable that the DFH gamma ratio be 1.5 or more.
[0060] Regarding this point, referring to FIG. 7, when the ratio
(DFH gamma ratio) between the lengths of protrusion of the reading
part 3 and the recording part 4 is larger than 1.5, it is necessary
either to reduce the step 27 of the protective layer 23 or to
increase the distance in the lamination direction (Z-direction)
between the reading part 3 and the recording part 4 to a value
larger than 7 .mu.m. There is a possibility that, depending on the
thermostability of the material that configures the plasmon
generator 16 and the intensity of the laser light supplied to the
waveguide 15, the step 27 of the protective layer 23 cannot be too
small. Further, when the distance in the lamination direction
(Z-direction) between the reading part 3 and the recording part 4
is increased, in particular, in a case where the magnetic head 1 is
skewed with respect to the surface of the magnetic recording medium
5 (a case where a skew angle exists), a distance between a position
opposing the reading part 3 and a position opposing the recording
part 4 on the surface of the magnetic recording medium 5 increases.
A track of the magnetic recording medium 5 that is located within
this distance cannot be used for magnetic recording, and thus the
recording capacity is reduced. Therefore, it is not preferable that
the distance in the lamination direction (Z-direction) between the
reading part 3 and the recording part 4 is large. From the graph of
FIG. 7, it can be seen that conditions that allow the DFH gamma
ratio to be relatively increased while allowing the distance
between the reading part 3 and the recording part 4 to be
relatively reduced are that the distance in the lamination
direction (Z-direction) between the reading part 3 and the
recording part 4 is 7 .mu.m or less, that the step 27 of the
protective layer 23 is 2 nm or less, and that the DFH gamma ratio
is 1.5 or more.
[0061] In the present embodiment, the protective layer 23 of a
two-layer structure is formed on the ABS. However, a configuration
having a protective layer of a single layer structure is also
possible. In this case, the protective layer 23 may be a partial
protective layer that is prepared on a portion that mainly covers
the recording part 4, and may also be a protective layer that
covers the entire ABS.
[0062] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the slider 25 containing the
magnetic head 1 of the present invention. The slider 25 has a
nearly hexahedral shape, and one of the six surfaces is the ABS
that opposes the magnetic recording medium 5. As illustrated in
FIG. 9, a head gimbal assembly 220 is provided with the slider 25
and a suspension 221 that elastically supports the slider 25. The
suspension 221 includes a load beam 222 that is formed of stainless
steel and has a shape of a plate spring, a flexure 223 that is
provided on one end part of the load beam 222, and a base plate 224
that is provided on the other end part of the load beam 222. The
slider 25 is bonded to the flexure 223, and an appropriate degree
of freedom is provided to the slider 25. A gimbal part is provided
for keeping a posture of the slider 25 constant on a portion of the
flexure 223 on which the slider 25 is mounted.
[0063] The slider 25 is arranged inside a hard disk drive apparatus
in a manner opposing the magnetic recording medium (hard disk) 5 of
a discotic shape that is rotatably driven. When the magnetic
recording medium 5 rotates, air flow passing between the magnetic
recording medium 5 and the slider 2 generates a lifting force on
the slider 25 downward in the Y-direction. The slider 25 flies from
the surface of the magnetic recording medium 5 due to the lifting
force. The flying height can be finely adjusted using the thermal
expansion of the slider 25 due to the heat generation of the
above-described reading part expansion heater 9 and recording part
expansion heater 14. The magnetic head 1 is formed in the vicinity
of an end part on an air outflow side of the slider 25 (end part on
the lower left side in FIG. 8).
[0064] An assembly in which the head gimbal assembly 220 is mounted
on an arm 230 is referred to as a head arm assembly. The arm 230
moves the slider 25 in the track crossing direction (X-direction)
of the magnetic recording medium 5. One end of the arm 230 is
mounted on the base plate 224. On the other end part of the arm
230, a coil 231 that forms a part of a voice coil motor is mounted.
A bearing part 233 is provided in a middle portion of the arm 230.
The arm 230 is rotatably supported by a shaft 234 mounted on the
bearing part 233, The arm 230 and the voice coil motor that drives
the arm 230 configure an actuator.
[0065] Next, a head stack assembly in which the above-described
slider 25 is incorporated and a hard disk drive apparatus are
explained. The head stack assembly is an assembly in which the head
gimbal assembly 220 is mounted on each arm of a carriage that has a
plurality of arms. FIG. 10 is a side view of the head stack
assembly and FIG. 11 is a plan view of the hard disk drive
apparatus. The head stack assembly 250 has a carriage that has a
plurality of arms 230. The carriage configures the above-described
bearing part 233. The head gimbal assemblies 220 are mounted on the
arms 230 in a manner to align themselves in the perpendicular
direction at intervals from each other. On an opposite side of the
arm 230 of the carriage, the coil 231 that forms a part of the
voice coil motor is mounted. The voice coil motor has permanent
magnets 263 arranged at positions opposing each other across the
coil 231.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 10, the head stack assembly 250 is
incorporated into the hard disk drive apparatus. The hard disk
drive apparatus has a plurality of magnetic recording medium 5
mounted to a spindle motor 28 that is a rotary holding mechanism.
For each magnetic recording medium 5, two sliders 25 are arranged
in a manner opposing each other across the magnetic recording
medium 5. The head stack assembly 250 and actuator, excluding the
sliders 25, correspond to the device, support the sliders 25 and
position the sliders 25 with respect to the magnetic recording
medium 5. The sliders 25 are moved by the actuator in the track
crossing direction (X-direction) of the magnetic recording medium 5
and are positioned with respect to the magnetic recording medium 5.
The recording part 4 of the magnetic head 1 in a thin film form
that is contained in the slider 25 records magnetic information to
the magnetic recording medium 5, and the MR element 8 of the
reading part 3 reads the magnetic information recorded in the
magnetic recording medium 5.
[0067] The desirable embodiments of the present invention are
presented and explained in detail. However, these explanations are
exemplary. It should be understood that various changes and
modifications are possible without departing from the spirit or
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *