JPH08221731A - Magnetic head assembly and magnetic disk device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Structure] The slider 12 on which the magnetic head is mounted is brought into contact with the surface of the magnetic disk and slides on the surface of the slider 12 facing the magnetic disk, receiving a pressing force applied from the slider support structure.
A plurality of pads 15 and 16 which receive a supporting reaction force from the surface of the magnetic disk are provided. It is preferable to provide one pad on the front end side and two pads on the rear end side in the traveling direction of the slider. Pad is
The sliding surface and the side surface are formed so that the angle between them is substantially right angle. According to the present invention, the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk are continuously brought into contact and slid to reduce the mutual distance, and a higher recording density than the conventional one can be achieved. Since the pad is formed in a convex shape on the slider and the generation of the levitation force is suppressed, it is not necessary to press the slider strongly against the magnetic disk.Therefore, damage to the magnetic disk and magnetic head assembly due to dust generation due to wear and information It is possible to reduce the occurrence of breakage of the magnetic disk device and maintain high reliability during operation of the magnetic disk device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic head device,
In particular, the present invention relates to the configuration of a magnetic head mounting body that comes into contact with the surface of a disk for magnetic recording, and a magnetic disk device including the magnetic head mounting body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional magnetic disk device mainly includes a rotating disk capable of magnetic recording on its surface, a magnetic head and a magnetic head support assembly for reading and writing recorded disk-shaped information, and a magnetic head for the disk. It is mainly composed of a mechanism for positioning in the radial direction. Information is stored concentrically on a disk rotated by a motor, and an actuator mechanism connected to a slider carrying a magnetic head and a suspension structure supporting the slider moves the magnetic head to a desired position on the magnetic disk. And the position of the magnetic head is maintained while reading the information recorded on the disk or writing the information on the disk.

This magnetic disk device is used as an external storage device of a computer, and the required performance is as follows.
(1) Large storage capacity, (2) High-speed transmission of information, (3) High reliability, and recent miniaturization of computer main unit and high performance demand further miniaturization of magnetic disk unit. There is.

The most effective means for realizing this small size and large capacity is to shorten the distance between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk and increase the recording density.

In the conventional magnetic disk device, the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted has a plurality of rail surfaces.
The air bearing system generates a floating pressure on the rail surface of the slider by the air flow between the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted and the surface of the disk caused by the relative movement of the slider that mounts the magnetic head and the magnetic disk as the magnetic disk rotates. It is maintained at a certain height on the surface of the disc. As a typical example of this method, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Hei2-1016
There is one described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 99. The magnetic head mounting slider shown in this known example is shown in FIG. As is apparent from the figure, the slider used in the conventional magnetic disk has one or a plurality of rails formed on the surface facing the magnetic disk, and the rail surface is used as an air bearing surface to generate the levitation pressure.

However, as the distance between the magnetic head and the magnetic disk decreases, the possibility of contact between the two increases, and there is a risk of destruction and damage of the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk and loss of information due to the damage. Increase. For this reason, in the conventional magnetic disk device, in order to improve the reliability, the slider is designed to be floated above the disk at a constant height so as to avoid the contact that loses information.

In this prior art, most of the gap between the magnetic head mounting slider and the surface of the magnetic disk is composed of an air film, and the pressure generated on the rail surface by the viscosity of the air as a fluid is The flying force is balanced with the pressing force applied in the disk surface direction by the support of the slider, and the magnetic head is levitated while keeping it in non-contact.

However, if the distance between the magnetic head slider and the surface of the magnetic disk, that is, the flying height, is less than the mean free path of the air molecules, the fluid pressure generated by the air molecules becomes small, and the slider with the magnetic head mounted thereon is desired to fly. Difficult to keep at height. Therefore, the surface of the magnetic disk and the slider for mounting the magnetic head are likely to come into contact with each other, and the risk of dust generation, head crash, and destruction of the disk surface increases significantly.

Various proposals have been made so far as a magnetic disk device using a system replacing the air bearing system.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 5-114116, a magnetic head is integrally formed with a low-rigidity arm, and a magnetic pole of the magnetic head is made a wearable member so that the magnetic head is continuously connected to the magnetic disk surface. A method has been proposed in which the recording head is contacted with the magnetic head to reduce the distance between the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk to achieve a high recording density.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-517735 discloses a slider characterized by having a magnetic disk coated with a high-viscosity lubricating film inside the apparatus and a lubricant reservoir for replenishing the lubricant during the operating period. Proposes a method of reducing sticking and damage by sliding on a lubricant surface, which has a plurality of frustoconical sliding legs extending from a slider.

As another example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-60329, the shape of the slider is formed by cutting out the aerodynamic support surface of one rail into an L-shape, and the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted has a light weight. A magnetic load is applied to the surface of the magnetic disk with a light load to continuously make contact with the magnetic recording, or the head slider part comes into contact with the two floating pads on the front side to form a gap of the magnetic head. A method has been proposed which is composed of pads and reduces the contact area to increase the life and reduce the data loss.

[0013]

As a problem in the above air bearing technology, it is essentially difficult to achieve both the increase in magnetic recording density and the high reliability of the apparatus. Can be mentioned.

In magnetic recording by continuous contact,
Due to vertical movement of the disk surface due to the presence of undulations on the disk surface, an error in the mounting position of the support structure that supports the magnetic head mounting slider, and the like, the end of the magnetic head facing the magnetic disk surface and the magnetic disk surface There is a problem that the gap changes to affect the magnetic information read / write of the magnetic head, and the performance of the magnetic head is kept stable and the information read / write cannot be performed.

In the magnetic disk device of such a system, even if the magnetic head and the magnetic disk are constantly contacted with each other, no error occurs during reading / writing, or the recorded data is not destroyed, and the sliding resistance is improved. It is an indispensable task to secure the same and maintain the same reliability as before.

During the operation of the apparatus, in order to reduce the damage of information due to the wear and damage of the magnetic disk surface and the slider for mounting the magnetic head as described above, or the error at the time of reading / writing, the magnetic head and the slider are used. In order to reduce the wear rate of both surfaces of the magnetic disk and to reduce the generation of dust generated by the sliding of both, the load applied to the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted should be sufficiently small to reduce the contact surface pressure. Is required.

Further, in order to achieve such a light load condition, the suspension inevitably has a lower rigidity than the conventional one, so that a large torsion is generated during the seek operation to increase the fluctuation of the clearance between the suspension and the magnetic disk surface. , The recording / conversion performance of the magnetic head is greatly impaired.

The object of the present invention is to reduce fluctuations in the gap between the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk due to waviness of the disk, assembling and mounting errors, and seek operations, and to provide the sliding resistance required for steady contact recording. It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic head assembly and a magnetic disk device which can ensure high reliability and can achieve high recording density.

[0019]

The above-described magnetic head assembly is achieved by the following constitution.

(1) A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on a magnetic disk while making a relative motion on the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic head assembly including a body, the slider has a plurality of convex portions on a surface facing the magnetic disk, and the convex portions are provided on a front end side in a traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk which moves relative to each other. One is provided in plurality at the rear end side in the traveling direction.

(2) A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while making a relative motion on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic head assembly including a body, the slider has a plurality of convex portions on a facing surface facing the magnetic disk, and the convex portions slide on a sliding surface of the magnetic disk surface which moves relative to each other. And a side surface that joins the facing surface excluding the convex portion, and the sliding surface and the side surface form a substantially right angle.

(3) A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while making relative motion on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic head assembly including a body, the slider is provided on the surface facing the magnetic disk, one on the front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the moving magnetic disk and a plurality of protrusions on the rear end side in the traveling direction. A convex portion, the convex portion including a sliding surface that slides on a magnetic disk surface that moves relative to each other, and a side surface that joins the facing surface excluding the convex portion, and the sliding surface and the side surface. Form an approximately right angle.

(4) A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic head assembly including a body, the slider is provided on the surface facing the magnetic disk, one on the front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the moving magnetic disk and a plurality of protrusions on the rear end side in the traveling direction. A convex portion, the convex portion including a side surface that joins a sliding surface that slides on the magnetic disk surface that moves relatively, and the facing surface excluding the convex portion, and at least a part of the sliding surface. There is a portion where the surface and the side surface form a substantially right angle.

(5) In the magnetic head assembly according to any one of (1), (3), and (4), the number of convex portions provided on the trailing end side of the slider in the traveling direction may be two.

(6) In the magnetic head assembly according to any one of (1), (3), and (4), the magnetic head may be provided on a convex portion provided on the front end side of the slider.

(7) In the magnetic head assembly according to any one of (1) to (6), the slider has a maximum length of 0.8 mm in the direction of relative movement with respect to the magnetic disk surface,
The maximum length in the direction orthogonal to the direction of relative movement is 1.
It should be 0 mm.

(8) In the magnetic head assembly according to any one of (2) to (4), the sliding surface of the convex portion provided on the slider has an area of 6 μm × 6 μm or more, 60.
The size is preferably μm × 60 μm or less.

(9) In the magnetic head assembly according to any one of the above (2) to (4), it is preferable that the protruding portion of the slider protrudes from the facing surface excluding the protruding portion by about 10 μm or more. .

(10) A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk, and a slider for mounting the magnetic head.
A magnetic head assembly comprising a slider support structure for pressing a slider against a magnetic disk surface,
The slider has a surface facing the magnetic disk surface, the maximum length in the direction of relative movement with the magnetic disk surface is 0.8 mm,
The maximum length in the direction orthogonal to the direction of relative movement is 1.
0 mm, and one convex portion is provided on the front end side in the traveling direction and two convex portions are formed on the rear end side in the traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk moving relative to each other, and the convex portion is the facing surface excluding the convex portion. About 1
The area of the sliding surface that protrudes by 0 μm or more and slides on the surface of the magnetic disk that moves relatively is 6 μm × 6 μm or more, 60 μm ×
The magnetic head has a thickness of 60 μm or less, and is provided on a convex portion provided on the front end side of the slider.

(11) In the magnetic head assembly according to any one of (1) to (10), the slider supporting structure has a gimbal-like function that allows the slider to move in the pitching direction and the rolling direction. Should be provided.

(12) The above (1), (3), (4),
In the magnetic head assembly of any one of (5) and (6), the distance between the convex portion provided on the front end side in the traveling direction and the convex portion provided on the rear end side in the traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk is the slider. It is advisable to set the height variation pattern of the magnetic disk surfaces facing each other as the wavelength that characterizes the most.

The magnetic disk device for the above purpose can be achieved by the following constitution.

(13) A slider support structure for pressing a rotating magnetic disk and a slider having a magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while relatively moving the surface of the magnetic disk against the surface of the magnetic disk. A magnetic head assembly having the magnetic head assembly, wherein the slider is provided on the surface facing the magnetic disk, one slider on the front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk moving relatively, and one slider on the rear end side in the traveling direction. It has a plurality of convex portions, and the pressing force of the support structure on the surface of the magnetic disk is 6 mgf or more and 50 mgf or less.

(14) A slider support structure for pressing a rotating magnetic disk and a slider carrying a magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while relatively moving the surface of the magnetic disk against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic disk drive including the magnetic head assembly having the above, the magnetic head assembly uses any one of the above (1) to (12).

(15) In the magnetic disk device according to (13) or (14), the magnetic disk device houses at least the magnetic disk and the magnetic head assembly in a container, and the container contains an inert gas therein. Fill.

(16) In the magnetic disk device according to (13) or (14), the magnetic disk device houses at least the magnetic disk and the magnetic head assembly in a container, and the container vents the inside and outside of the container. Has a ventilation hole.

(17) In the magnetic disk device according to the above (13) or (14), the magnetic disk has a surface coated with a lubricant, and the magnetic disk surface and the protrusions provided on the slider are provided. The sliding surface of the disk-shaped portion with respect to the magnetic disk maintains a lubricant film thickness that is larger than the maximum value of the film thickness of the lubricant applied to the disk surface when the slider moves relative to the magnetic disk surface. .

(18) In the magnetic disk device according to (13) or (14), the magnetic disk has a surface coated with a lubricant, and the magnetic disk surface and
The sliding surface of the convex portion provided on the slider with respect to the magnetic disk is defined by the maximum value of the film thickness of the lubricant on the disk surface when the slider is in a non-rotating state in a state where the slider relatively moves on the magnetic disk surface. Are also supported with a large spacing and with a lubricant in between.

[0039]

In the present invention, one convex portion (hereinafter referred to as a pad) that slides on the magnetic disk on the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk is provided on the front end side in the moving direction of the slider that moves relative to the magnetic disk of the slider. , A plurality of them on the rear side. Therefore, a moment applied to the slider by the pressing force of the slider supporting structure against the magnetic disk surface and the frictional force due to the friction with the magnetic disk surface acts so as to press the front end of the slider against the magnetic disk surface. When the slider slides on the magnetic disk, the slider can be prevented from floating from the surface of the magnetic disk, and since one pad is arranged at the front end, the front end of the slider can be placed on the surface of the magnetic disk even if a jump occurs. It is possible to stably land and the slider can quickly reach a stable position on the magnetic disk surface.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, three sliding pads on the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk are formed, one on the front end side of the slider and two on the rear end side, and the pads support the assembly. It receives the supporting reaction force from the disk surface against the pressing force from the structure. By joining the slider to the gimbal structure portion of the support structure, the support reaction force received by the three pads acts as a moment for rotating the slider in the pitching or rolling direction. The slider is supported by a gimbal in which the angle of rotation due to the moment due to the support reaction force of the pad is larger than the angle formed between the slider and the magnetic disk surface due to the mounting error when the magnetic head assembly of the present invention is mounted on the magnetic disk device. By doing so, there is virtually no one-sided contact between the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk and the surface of the magnetic disk due to a mounting error. Further, by disposing the magnetic head on the pad portion at the front end portion of the slider, as described above, the flying of the slider is suppressed, and even if the flying spring occurs, the pad portion of the front end portion of the slider is quickly magnetized by the moment. Since it works so as to press it against the disk, it is possible to suppress fluctuations in the gap between the magnetic disk surface and the magnetic head to be small. The magnetic head is formed on the end of the slider by a thin film forming technique known in the prior art.

A plurality of pads provided on the magnetic disk facing surface of the slider constituting the magnetic head assembly are formed by the sliding surfaces that slide on the magnetic disk surface and the side surfaces that connect the magnetic disk facing surface excluding the pads. By making the angle substantially right, in a magnetic disk device that seals gas inside or has a communication hole with the outside, the slider causes the levitation force due to the flow of gas in the magnetic disk device generated by the rotating magnetic disk. Does not occur. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, the generated levitation force can be suppressed and the pressing force applied to the slider support structure for pressing the slider against the magnetic disk surface can be reduced, and damage due to the pressing force on the magnetic disk surface can be reduced. In addition, although the above angle should be approximately right angle,
The angle is not limited to the right angle, but may be in the range of 110 degrees to 70 degrees. In this case, in the case of 110 degrees or more, that is, in the shape in which the slider side area is wider than the sliding surface side, the levitation force starts to be generated by the gas flow, and conversely, when the slider side area is 90 degrees or less, the slider side is narrowed. A stress concentration portion occurs at the root portion on the side, and the strength is weakened below 70 degrees.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the wear rate of the pad on the magnetic disk facing surface of the slider that can achieve the desired device life is satisfied with respect to the size of the pad that can maintain the recording gap that can achieve the recording density of the device. The range of pressing load is determined. The range of rigidity of the gimbal that contacts the slider to the disk surface is determined by virtually eliminating the relative inclination of the slider with respect to the rotating disk surface due to the mounting error of the device estimated when the pressing load is applied. A slider size range that satisfies the follow-up performance under this condition of gimbal rigidity is defined, and the distance and position between the pads that can optimize the recording gap and its variation are selected within the slider size range.

The pad for mounting the magnetic head is 60 μm ×
The size of 60 μm or less and 6 μm × 6 μm or more is formed, and the pad slides on the surface of the magnetic disk. Therefore, as the magnetic head moves on the disk surface, the magnetic head magnetic pole enters into the undulations on the magnetic disk surface and the unevenness of the wavelength having a small roughness, and the magnetic pole tip approaches the magnetic film surface on the magnetic disk. As a result, the fluctuation of the recording gap during the operation of the apparatus is smaller than the fluctuation of the recording gap of the conventional magnetic head assembly, and the recording performance of the magnetic disk device is stabilized and the recording density is improved.

Further, in order to reduce the occurrence of wear and damage due to direct solid contact with the surface of the magnetic disk during continuous sliding, a protective film is formed on the surface of other pads. As the protective film, a material having excellent sliding resistance such as carbon is used.

The size of the pad is preferably 15 to 30 .mu.m on one side so that the magnetic pole easily enters the undulations on the surface of the magnetic disk and the unevenness of the wavelength having a small roughness and the processing accuracy can be easily achieved. Since the pad enters the smaller concave portion, the recording density can be further improved. The shape of the pad is not limited to a circular shape, and may be a square shape, an elliptical shape, a rhombic shape, or a triangular shape.

Further, the step between the sliding surface of the pad on the surface of the magnetic disk and the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk is 10 μm.
By setting the above, more preferably 20 μm or more, the influence of the force due to the bearing effect of the fluid flowing into the gap between the magnetic disk facing surface of the slider and the magnetic disk surface when the slider and the magnetic disk move relative to each other is minimized. can do. As a result, it is possible to prevent the slider from separating from the surface of the magnetic disk due to the force of the fluid and to increase the recording gap, and to reduce the fluctuation of the recording gap. It should be noted that if the step is increased, the processing time becomes longer and the productivity is deteriorated. Therefore, the value is not affected by the bearing effect and the productivity is 10 μm to 30 μm.
The range of μm is desirable.

The load of pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk by the support structure of the slider is 6 mgf to 50 m.
By setting gf, the apparent pressing pressure generated on the sliding pad becomes less than the value required to reduce the wear of the pad and the magnetic disk surface to a proper rate or less, and the wear of the pad or the magnetic disk surface is desirable. The condition for reducing the life of the device is satisfied. Alternatively, in a magnetic head assembly that slides on an oil-coated disk surface, the distance between the sliding pad and the protective film of the magnetic disk should be greater than the lubrication film thickness on the magnetic disk surface other than the pad and the area in the vicinity thereof. Is large and the pad slides while being supported on the lubricant film. For this reason, the contact between the protrusions and dust on the disc and the pad surface during the disc rotation is reduced, and the wear amount and the generated dust are reduced. As a result, the reliability of the magnetic disk device can be increased and the life can be extended.

The size of the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted is 0.8 mm or less in the front and rear and 1.0 mm or less in the width. The lower limit is 250 μm in the front and back, which is the limit at which the gimbal has the spring property and functions normally, and the width is 500 μm. By doing so, the weight can be reduced as compared with the conventional magnetic head assembly using the slider by the magnetic head assembly. As a result, the slider follows vibrations in a high frequency region with respect to vibrations due to waviness, roughness and vertical movement of the magnetic disk surface. Therefore, fluctuations in the recording gap during operation are reduced, errors in reading or writing information on the magnetic disk are reduced, and the reliability of the device can be further enhanced.

[0049]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention with a cover removed.

The magnetic disk device of this embodiment is fixed to a spindle shaft 7, and a magnetic disk 1 that rotates by the rotation of the shaft, a drive motor 2 that drives the spindle shaft 7, and an actuator 4 that is fixed to a carriage shaft 3, A rigid arm 5 fixed to the carriage shaft and rotating, and a magnetic head assembly 6 fixed to the rigid arm 5 are provided.

The magnetic disk 1 is joined and fixed to the spindle shaft 7 by the hub 8, and is rotated by the drive motor 2 driving the spindle shaft 7.

The above-mentioned components are housed in the case 9. The case 9 generally has a vent hole (not shown) that adjusts the pressure according to the external environment. The device does not have a mechanism for forcedly circulating internal and external air to supply new air to the inside, and the inside of the device is effectively isolated from the external environment and sealed.

The magnetic head assembly 6 comprises a magnetic head for reading / writing information, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a support structure for joining the head / slider. A magnetic head (not shown) is formed on the slider. The support structure presses the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted toward the surface of the magnetic disk with a load that causes the magnetic head and the disk surface to come into contact with each other, and receives the reaction force applied to the slider from the disk surface to support the slider on the magnetic disk. It provides the function of suspension.

During operation of the magnetic disk apparatus, an actuator 4, which is a linear or rotating voice coil motor fixed to the carriage shaft 3, drives a rigid arm 5 fixed to the shaft to move the magnetic head to the magnetic disk 1. Positioned primarily across the radial direction to allow the magnetic head to access different tracks of data.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the magnetic head / slider / support mechanism assembly 6 of the apparatus of this embodiment. In this embodiment, the suspension 10, which is the support structure, applies a load to the slider 11 to maintain the magnetic head in contact with the surface of the magnetic disk. The function of this support mechanism is similar to that of the suspension mechanism used in the conventional magnetic disk drive.

FIG. 2 shows a magnetic head / slider / support structure assembly used in a conventional magnetic disk drive. In this conventional embodiment, the assembly 101 is
It includes a magnetic head mounting slider 103 joined to the end of the support structure 102 and having an air bearing surface on the surface facing the magnetic disk. The magnetic head 104 is formed on the end surface on the outflow side of the air flowing into the air bearing surface of the slider. The support structure 102 is joined to a rigid arm (not shown) joined to a carriage fixed to an actuator as in the present embodiment.

The support structure 102 is basically a leaf spring structure, and is biased by a spring when the magnetic disk device is assembled, and a load is applied to the slider that balances the levitation force due to the air bearing which is generated in the slider while the device is being driven. To load. The wired signal line 105 transmits a data signal converted and recorded by the magnetic head or read and converted to the signal processing circuit.

In this embodiment, similarly to the support structure in the conventional magnetic head assembly, it has a relatively small rigidity in the vertical direction with respect to the magnetic disk surface, and is parallel to the horizontal direction, that is, the magnetic disk surface. It has a relatively large rigidity in this direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic head mounting slider 12 has a structure portion 11 which forms a part of the support structure 10 and has a gimbal-like function.
Joined with 0.

The gimbal function here means that when the slider contacts the surface of the magnetic disk or slides on the surface of the rotating magnetic disk, the slider is allowed to move in the rolling direction and the pitching direction, and This is a function of allowing each of the sliding pads formed on the surface facing the magnetic disk to constantly slide in contact with the surface of the magnetic disk so that the magnetic head actually contacts the surface of the disk.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic head / slider / support structure assembly as seen from the side on which the magnetic head is mounted. It should be noted that in FIG. 4, the slider portion includes a partial projection portion. The slider mounts a magnetic head formed on its end face by a thin film technique similar to that of the prior art, and is bonded to a contact portion 13 formed in the gimbal functional structure portion e1 of the support structure. On the slider joint 13 of this joint, the joint pad 1 made of a metal foil of a material such as Au is used.
4 is provided and is connected to the terminal on the film of the thin film magnetic head formed on the end surface of the slider. Through this terminal, the magnetic conversion signal converted and recorded by the magnetic head or converted and read out is sent to the connected amplification circuit through the signal line wired on the support structure.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view including the magnetic head mounting slider and the magnetic head of the support structure which are bonded to each other in this manner.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the slider support structure for mounting a magnetic head. The magnetic head mounting slider 12 includes a gimbal functional structure portion 11 provided at an end portion of the support structure 10.
Is bonded to the bonding pad portion formed at the center of the. At this time, in the slider, a pad which is a terminal connected to the inside of the magnetic head, which is formed on the film of the thin film magnetic head formed by a conventional masking technique and a deposit technique at the end of the slider, and a solder bonding method are used. Joined by other connection methods.

A signal line 23 extending from the bonding pad is arranged on the gimbal functional structure 11. Further, this signal line is also arranged on the support structure 10, and is also arranged up to a bonding pad 26 provided on the other end of the end of the support structure that is bonded to the slider, and a rigid arm (see FIG. It joins with the signal line extending from the direction (not shown). In this way, the magnetic head and the data signal processing circuit are brought into conduction, data is recorded on an arbitrary data track on the magnetic disk through a predetermined circuit, and the read data is processed.

In the present embodiment, the signal line arranged on the support structure is formed of a foil such as Cu, which is formed into a thin film on the support structure, by applying the same technique as in forming the magnetic head. It can be used as a signal line. The signal line 26 formed by the thin film technique extends from the gimbal functional portion to the support structure side bonding pad 26 and is insulated from the surroundings by a resin such as a polyimide film formed in the same process as the bonding pad 26. The length, width, thickness, and arrangement path of the bonding pad 26 including the resin portion are desirably the rigidity of the gimbal structure portion described later, the resistance value of the entire signal line, the capacitance value, and the magnetism affected by them. The frequency characteristics of the head, the signal line, and the entire processing circuit are set as parameters.

As the material of this support structure, as in the case of the device using the conventional technique, it is possible to use stainless steel or silicon by applying the etching technique. When stainless steel is used as the material, the support structure is attached to the widthwise end of the support structure in order to increase bending and torsional rigidity in the direction parallel to the disk (left-right direction), as in the conventional support mechanism. The flange can be formed out of the plane of the body. In this case, the process of forming the flange can be performed by pressing using a mold. When silicon is used, instead of forming a flange, the processing depth is adjusted by etching to make the thickness of the support structure appropriate, and the support structure and the gimbal functional structure are vertically and horizontally attached to the disk. A desired bending and torsional rigidity can be obtained.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the magnetic head mounting slider of this embodiment as viewed from the magnetic disc side. The magnetic head mounting slider 12 receives a load applied from the support structure 10, and is in constant contact with the magnetic disk surface at the magnetic disk facing surface 30 and slides for the operating time of the magnetic disk device. The pad of this embodiment is in contact with the magnetic disk in the stopped state. Even when the device is operated in this state, the contact state is maintained in principle,
It does not float with a space between the slider and the disk. That is, it does not have a floating mechanism.

The magnetic head mounting slider 12 is composed of a magnetic disk facing surface 30 and other surfaces, and is joined to the support structure at the surface just opposite to the magnetic disk facing surface 30. On the magnetic disk facing surface 30 of the slider, three pads 15 and 16 that receive a supporting reaction force from the disk surface while contacting and sliding on the magnetic disk are formed. The magnetic disk facing surface 30 is composed of a single plane, and the surface is formed so as to be parallel to the surface to be joined to the support structure on the opposite side, and the pads 15 and 16 are the same as that plane. Formed to a thickness of.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion including the pad 15 formed on the magnetic disk facing surface 30 of this slider and the magnetic disk facing surface in the vicinity thereof. The formed pad 15 is composed of a side surface 36 and a surface 35 that is substantially parallel to the magnetic disk facing surface 30 and receives a supporting reaction force from the disk surface by coming into contact with and sliding on the magnetic disk surface. The surface 35 that receives the supporting reaction force of the pad is a surface that can be considered to be a plane.

The angle α formed by the plane surface 35 and the side surface 36 is approximately 9
Form at 0 degrees. The pad 15 in this embodiment has a circular sliding surface and a cylindrical shape protruding toward the magnetic disk facing surface 30. The shape of the pad is not limited to the cylindrical shape shown in this embodiment, and an ellipse, a rhombus, a quadrangle, or a triangle may be used. Further, the angle α is not limited to about 90 degrees and may be in the range of 70 degrees to 110 degrees. When the temperature is 70 degrees or less, the stress concentration at the joint between the magnetic disk facing surface 30 and the side surface 36 becomes large and the strength becomes weak. At 110 degrees or more, the levitation force begins to be generated by the flow of the fluid.

The material of the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted is made of a ceramic mixture of Al alloy (Al2O3) and titanium carbide (TiC) or an oxide compound of Si, as in the conventional slider, and the shape of the pad 15 is It is formed by a reactive ion etching technique such as ion milling.

The interface between the pad 15 and the magnetic disk surface is, as shown in FIG. 8, a protective film layer 3 on the disk surface.
7 approaches the pad surface 35 via the lubricant film 38.

The typical material composition of the surface of the magnetic disk currently in use has a carbon protective film 37 of about 15 to 25 nm on the sputter-deposited magnetic film 39 of cobalt alloy. The protective film 37 and the surface 35 of the pad are in direct contact with each other in a relative movement, or are sufficiently close to each other via a lubricant. At this time, pad 1
A supporting reaction force acting on 5 corresponds to a pressing load applied to the slider from the supporting structure.

The height h of the pad 15 from the magnetic disk facing surface 30 is substantially equal to the distance between the magnetic disk surface and the magnetic disk facing surface of the slider. Further, when the distance h exceeds a certain predetermined value, the levitation pressure generated by the bearing effect of the fluid flowing into these two surfaces becomes extremely small. In a typical magnetic disk device, the gas inside is equal to the air outside and the pressure is almost equal. When the distance h is set to 10 μm or more (hereinafter referred to as μm) or more, and preferably 20 μm or more, the air bearing force generated on the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk is compared with the pressing force applied to the slider. It becomes so small that it can be ignored.

It is considered that the supporting reaction force from the surface of the magnetic disk received by the pad on the surface facing the magnetic disk of the slider while the magnetic disk is rotating in this manner is only the supporting reaction force acting on 35. Because the side surface 36 is almost perpendicular to the surface 35 and does not contact the disk surface,
The reaction force due to the contact between the pad 15 and the disk surface does not act on the side surface 36. Also, the contribution of the fluid force of the gas generated by the relative movement of the slider acting on the rotary disk 36 to the rotating disk in the direction of the supporting reaction force is so small as to be practically negligible.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are views showing the structure of the pads of the magnetic head mounting slider mounted so as to include the magnetic poles of the magnetic head in this embodiment. 9 is a plan view of the magnetic head mounting slider 31 when the pad is viewed from the side opposite to the magnetic disk, and FIG. 10 is A- of FIG.
It is sectional drawing of A part. As described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the magnetic head is formed on the end portion of the slider by the thin film technique. Therefore, the pad to be mounted so as to include the end of the magnetic pole inside is also formed at the end of the slider.

Considering the size of the magnetic poles of the magnetic head which can be realized by the current technology, the minimum size of the pad shown in FIG. 9 is l when the size of the protective member is taken into consideration.
1 and 12 are about 40 μm. The magnetic head is preferably an induction type magnetic head 40 or a magnetic head 41 using a magnetoresistive (MR) type magnetic head for reading.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the tips 42 and 43 of the magnetic poles of this type of magnetic head are surfaces 47 that can move smoothly on the surface of the magnetic disk of the pad 16.
It is formed so that it can be regarded as almost the same surface as. Furthermore, a protective film 45 of carbon or the like is formed on the surface of the surface 47 by a sputtering technique or the like, and the magnetic pole of the magnetic head deteriorates in performance due to heat generated when the pad continuously slides on the disk surface and the magnetic pole. The possibility of magnetic head destruction due to solid contact between the magnetic disk and the disk surface is reduced.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, as in the magnetic disk device according to the prior art, the surface of the magnetic disk is coated with a liquid lubricant or a lubricant having substantially the same properties as a solid. Also in this example, a perfluoroopolyether (PEFE) -based lubricant which is a normal lubricant was used. Alternatively, a lubricant having a Newtonian property in which the viscosity is substantially constant regardless of an increase in the shear rate acting on the lubricant and a lubricant having a property in which the viscosity increases with an increase in the shear rate may be used. In this case, the slider slides on the lubricant film on the sliding surface of the pad and slides on the surface of the magnetic disk, and a dynamic pressure, that is, a floating pressure due to the fluid property of the lubricant acts on the sliding surface of the pad.

The results of measuring the relationship between the flying height and the running speed of the slider at this time are shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 for the low viscosity lubricant and in FIG. 12 for the high viscosity lubricant. Here, the flying height is the distance between the surface of the magnetic disk protective film and the surface of the outermost protective film of the pad sliding surface on which the magnetic head is mounted. In this measurement, the flying height was evaluated from the reproduced waveform of optical or magnetic recording information using the above-mentioned PFPE type lubricants having different viscosities. In this figure, for both low-viscosity and high-viscosity lubricants, there is a minimum flying height when the running speed is small, and the flying height increases as the speed increases. It is larger than the film thickness of the lubricant initially applied throughout the profile. This is probably because a large amount of lubricant gathered around the pad, especially near the lubricant inflow part of the pad. Also, it has been shown that the speed at which the floating profile becomes minimal decreases as the lubricant viscosity increases,
By appropriately selecting the lubricant, a more desirable flying height can be obtained at a predetermined disc rotation speed.

In this embodiment, the sliding surfaces of the three pads receive the above-mentioned action from the lubricant. The film thickness of the lubricant in the sliding surface of the pad and in the vicinity of the pad is thicker than the film thickness of the lubricant in the area on the other disk, which causes damage to the magnetic head and loss of information on the magnetic disk. Collisions with projections and dust existing on the surface of the disk protective film are eliminated or reduced, and the wear rate of the sliding pad can be reduced, so that the reliability of the device is significantly improved. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a pad that includes the magnetic head magnetic pole tip is formed, and as the area of the sliding surface is made smaller, the amount of the lubricant acting on the pad that is scraped up decreases, so that the pad floats. The height becomes lower and the recording gap becomes smaller. Further, it is desirable to increase the area of the sliding surface of the other pad because the flying height of the magnetic pole tip inclusion pad can be made relatively low.

FIG. 13 shows a diagram in which the distribution of the magnetic disk surface height in a typical magnetic disk device is obtained by frequency analysis. The horizontal axis represents 1 / wavelength. Such a disk surface profile is measured along a concentric circle about the center of rotation of the disk. In FIG. 13, it is shown that the shorter the wavelength, the smaller the amplitude. Further, a pad including a magnetic pole having a certain length inside cannot enter the valley of the unevenness of the surface roughness of a wavelength shorter than that length. Therefore, the amplitude of the wave having the surface roughness of the unevenness or larger than the wavelength of the wave becomes the variation of the distance between the magnetic head tip of the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic film on the magnetic disk, that is, the recording gap. It is important to reduce the fluctuation of the recording gap in order to achieve high recording density.

Therefore, by reducing the amplitude of the roughness of the magnetic disk surface and at the same time reducing the size of the pad in which the magnetic pole is mounted, the fluctuation and loss of the recording gap can be reduced. Further, by reducing the size of the pad without the magnetic pole, the pad with the magnetic pole can follow the undulation of the surface of the magnetic disk and the inclination of the roughness, and the fluctuation of the recording gap can be reduced. By reducing the size of the pad, fluctuations in the recording gap can be reduced.

The size of the pad including the magnetic pole shown in FIG. 9 directly influences the performance of the magnetic disk drive in this embodiment. As mentioned above, the pad 16 of FIG.
Cannot enter into the surface irregularities smaller than the pad sizes l1 and l2 with respect to the magnetic disk surface having a certain profile. At this time, in FIG. 10, the distance between the magnetic pole tips 42 and 43 and the magnetic film 39 on the magnetic disk can be represented by the sum of the size of the unevenness and the protective film thickness on both the pad / disk surface. Therefore, in order to secure the minimum reliability, reduce the distance (recording gap) between the magnetic pole tip of the magnetic head and the magnetic film, and achieve higher recording density, the sizes l1 and l2 of the pads 16 should be set. It is necessary to minimize the influence of the size of the unevenness on the recording gap.

When the target recording density of the magnetic disk device is set to 2 Gbit / in2 or more, the above-mentioned recording gap must be maintained at about 60 nm or less.
Therefore, when sliding on a magnetic disk with typical surface roughness, the size range of each pad is specified in order to limit the fluctuation of the gap within the range where the above-mentioned recording gap can be maintained. To be done. In this embodiment, the size of the pad satisfying this condition is 60 μm × 60 μm or less. More preferably, by forming a smaller pad, it is possible to enter into even smaller irregularities, so that the recording / reading performance of the magnetic head is expected to be improved. As described above, this pad is formed by the conventional etching technique such as ion milling, and the minimum size that can be formed due to the limitation of the masking technique is about 6 μm × 6 μm. By forming a large sliding pad, as will be described later, a large margin for a pressing load can be secured, and the wear rate can be suppressed to be relatively small. However, the fluctuation of the recording gap is large, and the performance of the magnetic head is lower than that when it is desired. Alternatively, polishing for a long time is required to reduce the surface roughness of the magnetic disk, which increases the manufacturing cost.

The performance required of the magnetic disk device is high reliability and long device life. To increase the operating period of the device, reduce the amount of wear caused by the sliding of both the magnetic head and the magnetic disk, and prevent damage to the magnetic head due to wear and destruction of information due to dust generated. is necessary. The amount of wear generated on the pad can be reduced by reducing the apparent contact surface pressure of the pad at the time of contact between the pad and the magnetic disk. The apparent contact surface pressure can be reduced by increasing the total area of the smoothly movable surface 47 of the pad or by reducing the pressing load applied to the slider by the support structure d2.

Similar to the magnetic head assembly in the conventional magnetic disk device, the apparent contact pressure generated on the pad is suppressed to 200 kPa or less to obtain the operating time and the average failure interval of the device equivalent to the conventional device. It is thought to be possible. Here, the apparent contact pressure is obtained by dividing the pressing load by the total area of the pad that makes contact, that is, the contact pressure (Pa) = (load (N) / total area of the contact pad (m
2)). For example, according to the description of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-178107, an integrated magnetic head assembly in which the length, width and depth of a sliding pad portion including a magnetic head magnetic pole end is 40 μm × 15 μm × 15 μm, Load on magnetic disk 10-120m
The wear rate is measured by changing the gf range and sliding continuously. In this measurement, 13 nm ³ / week for sliding time of 4 weeks or more
The wear rate is said to be almost constant. Considering the current usage conditions of the small magnetic disk drive, it is thought that a life of several years or more can be guaranteed against wear.

Further, from the contact area of the slider on which the magnetic head is mounted in the magnetic head assembly of the magnetic disk apparatus of the conventional contact start stop (CSS) system with the magnetic disk, and the pressing load from the suspension. The contact pressure obtained is above 200 kPa. Therefore, in this embodiment, the apparent contact surface pressure is set to 200 kPa or less in order to reduce the wear rate and prevent the sticking phenomenon that causes damage to the magnetic head assembly.

In the embodiment according to the present invention, the minimum value of the total area of the pads in FIGS. 7 and 9 is about 0.001 mm ² . From the area of this pad, the pressing force that satisfies the above-mentioned condition of the apparent contact surface pressure is determined by the uneven distribution of the contact force between the pads generated during sliding between the slider and the magnetic disk surface and the protrusion on the magnetic disk surface. Considering the safety factor against collision of, it will be 50 mgf or less.

Due to the continuous contact between the slider and the surface of the magnetic disk, a larger force is applied to the magnetic head assembly of this embodiment in the sliding direction than that of the conventional magnetic head assembly. This force is mainly a frictional drag force exerted on the pad from the magnetic disk surface and a drag force due to the fluid near the disk surface due to the relative movement of the magnetic head assembly on the rotating magnetic disk surface. In order for the magnetic head assembly to stably slide on the disk surface while receiving a force mainly composed of this reaction force, the pressing load applied to the slider by the support structure is set to several times the magnitude of the flow resistance force. It is necessary to reduce the influence of the drag force of the fluid on all the forces applied in the sliding direction of the slider.

In the present embodiment, the magnitude of the drag force of the fluid applied to the magnetic head assembly when mounted on the current typical magnetic disk drive is 2 mgf or less, and therefore the pressing load applied by the support structure is applied. Consider the safety factor
It is considered sufficient if the amount is 6 mgf or more.

The largest factor that causes the inclination of the slider and the disk surface is an error caused at the mounting portion of the magnetic head / slider / support structure assembly a6 on the rigid arm a5. In this embodiment, in order to eliminate the inclination of the slider and reduce the recording gap and its variation, a mechanism for minimizing this mounting error is formed in the support structure of the assembly. That is, the slider is rotated by the torque applied to the slider by the supporting reaction force applied to the pad from the magnetic disk surface (the pressing load is applied by the support structure), and the three pads on the slider magnetic disk facing surface are moved. The rigidity of the gimbal functional structure of the support structure is appropriately determined so that the slider contacts the disk surface. At this time, the magnitude of the load applied to the slider by the support structure must satisfy the above-mentioned wear and followability.

On the other hand, considering the relative movement between the magnetic head / slider / support structure assembly and the surface of the magnetic disk as the movement of a well-known spring system, increasing the load loaded by the support structure means increasing the load of the slider. This will improve the waviness, roughness, and vertical movement of the surface of the magnetic disk. This means reading the recorded information /
It reduces the number of write errors and contributes to high-speed access to information on the disc.

FIG. 14 shows that when the supporting reaction force from the disk surface is the spring reaction force from the disk surface, the slider supported by the suspension, which is a spring having a predetermined rigidity, responds to the vibration on the disk surface. It is a figure showing the relationship between the pressing force required for following and the weight of a slider. Pressing weight W as the equivalent mass M of the slider increases
Have a relationship in which the rate of increase gradually increases. From the relationship shown in FIG. 14, it is necessary to secure the predetermined followability to the waviness, roughness, and vibration due to vertical movement of the disk surface.
The upper limit of the slider size is specified.

The height of the slider when the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk is the bottom is limited by the size of the magnetic head to be mounted. The height of a typical magnetic head at present is approximately 0.3 mm. When the slider is formed of the above-mentioned material, the vertical and horizontal size ranges of the slider are determined from the target tracking performance and the head height, and in the embodiment according to the present invention,
The maximum length of the slider in the front-rear direction is 0.8 mm or less. The maximum value of the horizontal length of the slider is 1 mm or less.

The use of three pads formed on the surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk causes a large rotation of the slider under a lighter load condition, so that the support structure including the gimbal structure can be designed. make it easier. By using three pads, it is possible to prevent so-called one-sided contact in which rotation due to a moment in the rolling or pitching direction is allowed and only one or two pads make contact. 3 more
By setting the distance between the two pads to an appropriate length, it is possible to select an arrangement in which the moment due to the supporting reaction force applied to the pads is larger. In this way, it is possible to reduce the increase in the recording gap due to the contact of the disk surface with all three pads and the relative inclination of the slider without following the disk surface. Further, by forming the magnetic pole of the magnetic head so as to be mounted inside the pad, the recording gap can be made smaller than that of the slider having the magnetic head magnetic pole provided outside the pad, and thus higher recording density can be achieved.

The recording gap, which is the distance between the tip of the magnetic pole of this magnetic head and the magnetic film on the magnetic disk, is such that the slider does not completely follow the tilt of the magnetic disk surface, but the slider tilts relative to the disk surface. It also grows.

With respect to the determined rigidity of the gimbal, the distance between the pads of the slider and the arrangement of the positions of the sliders are such that the fluctuation of the recording gap is minimized if the moment due to the supporting reaction force capable of rotating by a required angle or more is given to the slider. The space between the pads that can be formed is preferably determined by analyzing the disk surface shape of the profile of the roughness waviness of the magnetic disk surface and extracting the characteristic wavelength of the disk surface profile.

That is, considering the profile of the disk surface height as vibration represented by the linear sum of the periodic functions, the wavelength that greatly affects the gap variation among the elements of the set of vibrations is analyzed. As the method, a spectrum analysis method and other generally known mathematical methods are used. The above-mentioned slider size constraint condition is satisfied, and the arrangement and size of the recording gap and the pad for minimizing the fluctuation thereof are determined in accordance with the vibration of the extracted wavelength.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the relative angle between the slider and the disk surface caused by the allowable mounting error is 0.1 in both the rolling direction and the pitching direction.
Was estimated. In order to allow this angular deformation, the rolling rigidity of the gimbal structure and the torsional rigidity in the pitching direction are determined to be 3.02 gf mm / rad and 2.40 gf mm / rad, respectively. At the same time, the lower limit of the space between the pads for contacting the disk surface with the three pads under this rigidity condition is also determined. The surface profile of a smooth disk used in a typical magnetic disk device at present is analyzed by applying the above-described analysis method to obtain a characteristic wavelength of the roughness of the disk surface. In this way, the mutual distances of the pads that satisfy this constraint condition and minimize the recording gap variation are determined, and the pad size and pressing load that satisfy both wear and followability are determined.

In the present embodiment, the positions of the magnetic head magnetic pole mounting pad and the other pads are determined so that the head magnetic pole mounting pad is located in front of the other pads as shown in FIG. The front side here is the direction opposite to the direction in which the disk surface moves when viewed from the slider during disk rotation. By configuring the pad in this way, the frictional force applied to the pad from the disk surface always gives the slider a moment for reducing the pitching angle when the slider is sliding on the disk at the end surface of the pad. As a result, so-called "bounce" that the magnetic pole mounting pad separates from the disk surface during sliding is suppressed, and fluctuations in the recording gap can be suppressed.

[0102]

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the mutual distance by continuously sliding the magnetic head and the surface of the magnetic disk into contact with each other, and it is possible to achieve a higher recording density corresponding to the distance than ever before. Since the contact area is small, adhesion is unlikely to occur, and the wear of the lubricant and the magnetic head is small, so the damage to the magnetic disk and magnetic head assembly and the destruction of information due to the generation of dust due to wear are reduced, and the magnetic disk device High reliability can be maintained during operation. Furthermore, a magnetic head assembly that is lighter in weight and lighter in weight than the conventional magnetic head assembly can be configured, and high-speed access can be achieved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view including a partial cross section of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an air bearing type magnetic head / magnetic head mounting slider / support structure assembly used in the prior art.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a magnetic head / slider / suspension portion of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the magnetic head mounting slider of FIG. 3 viewed from the magnetic disk surface side.

5 is a cross-sectional view of a cross section including the magnetic head of the magnetic head mounting slider of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a magnetic head mounted slider support structure of a magnetic disk device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a magnetic head mounting slider according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the magnetic disk surface side.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a pad formed on a slider according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view on the magnetic disk surface side of a sliding pad portion on which a magnetic pole of a magnetic head according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a result of measuring a relationship between a flying height and a traveling speed of a slider.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a result of measuring a relationship between a flying height and a traveling speed of a slider.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a height distribution on the surface of a magnetic disk according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the relationship between the pressing force required for the slider to follow the disk surface and the weight of the slider.

FIG. 15 shows a conventional magnetic disk device,
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an air bearing surface of a magnetic disk mounting slider facing a magnetic disk and a magnetic head mounting position.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Magnetic disk, 2 ... Drive motor, 3 ... Carriage shaft, 4 ... Actuator, 5 ... Rigid arm, 6 ... Magnetic head assembly, 7 ... Spindle shaft, 8 ... Hub, 9 ... Case, 101 ... Assembly, 102 ... Support Structure, 10
3 ... Magnetic head mounting slider, 104 ... Magnetic head, 1
Reference numeral 05 ... Data signal line, 10 ... Support structure, 12 ... Slider, 11 ... Gimbal structure section, 20 ... Magnetic head, 21 ...
Magnetic head terminal, 22 ... Slider side bonding pad, 23 ...
Signal transmission lines, 26 ... Support structure side bonding pad, 30 ... Magnetic disk facing surface, 16 ... Magnetic head pad, 15 ... Sliding pad, 13 ... Slider bonding surface, 14 ... Bonding pad, 35 ... Contact reaction force Sliding surface, 36 ... Other surface, 39 ... Magnetic layer film, 38 ... Lubricant film, l1, l2 ... Size of pad for mounting magnetic pole, 40 ... Induction type magnetic head magnetic pole, 41 ... Magnetoresistive magnetic head Magnetic pole, 31 ... Slider body, 42, 43 ... Magnetic pole tip, 47 ... Pad sliding surface,
45 ... Pad protective film, 37 ... Disc protective film.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yukio Kato 502 Jinritsucho, Tsuchiura-shi, Ibaraki Machinery Research Institute, Hiritsu Seisakusho Co., Ltd. Storage Systems Division (72) Inventor Yoichi Inoue 502 Kintatecho, Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hiritsu Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Claims (18)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on a magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. And a slider having a plurality of convex portions on a surface facing the magnetic disk, the convex portions being provided on the front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk that moves relative to each other. A magnetic head assembly comprising a plurality of individual magnetic heads at the rear end side in the traveling direction. 2. A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on a magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. And a slider having a plurality of convex portions on a facing surface facing the magnetic disk, the convex portions having a sliding surface that slides on the magnetic disk surface that moves relative to each other. A magnetic head assembly comprising: a side surface that joins the facing surface excluding the convex portion, and the sliding surface and the side surface form a substantially right angle. 3. A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on a magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic head assembly comprising: a slider, wherein the slider is provided on the surface facing the magnetic disk, one on the front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the moving magnetic disk and a plurality of convex shapes on the rear end side in the traveling direction. And a convex portion formed of a side surface that joins a sliding surface that slides on the magnetic disk surface that moves relative to each other and the facing surface excluding the convex portion, and the sliding surface and the side surface. A magnetic head assembly characterized by forming a substantially right angle. 4. A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on a magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. In the magnetic head assembly comprising: a slider, wherein the slider is provided on the surface facing the magnetic disk, one on the front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the moving magnetic disk and a plurality of convex shapes on the rear end side in the traveling direction. And a convex portion formed of a side surface that couples a sliding surface that slides on the surface of the magnetic disk that moves relative to each other and the facing surface excluding the convex portion, and at least a part of the sliding surface. A magnetic head assembly, characterized in that the side surface and the side surface form a substantially right angle. 5. The magnetic head assembly according to claim 1, wherein there are two convex portions provided on the rear end side in the traveling direction of the slider. 6. The magnetic head assembly according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic head is provided on a convex portion provided on the front end side of the slider. 7. The magnetic head assembly according to claim 1, wherein the slider has a maximum length of 0.8 mm in the direction of relative movement with respect to the magnetic disk surface, and is orthogonal to the direction of relative movement. A magnetic head assembly having a maximum length in the direction of 1.0 mm. 8. The magnetic head assembly according to claim 2, wherein the sliding surface of the convex portion provided on the slider has an area of 6 μm × 6 μm or more, 60 μm ×
A magnetic head assembly having a thickness of 60 μm or less. 9. The magnetic head assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the protrusions of the slider protrude from the facing surface excluding the protrusions by about 10 μm or more. Magnetic head assembly. 10. A magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on a magnetic disk while relatively moving on the surface of a rotating magnetic disk, a slider for mounting the magnetic head, and a slider support structure for pressing the slider against the surface of the magnetic disk. And a surface of the slider facing the magnetic disk surface has a maximum length of 0.8 mm in the direction of relative movement with respect to the magnetic disk surface, and the slider has a length of 0.8 mm in a direction orthogonal to the direction of relative movement. It has a maximum length of 1.0 mm, and is provided with one convex portion on the front end side in the traveling direction and two convex portions on the rear end side in the traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk that moves relatively, and the convex portion is convex. Approximately 10μ with respect to the facing surface excluding parts
The area of the sliding surface that projects more than m and slides relative to the magnetic disk surface is 6 μm × 6 μm or more, 60 μm × 60
A magnetic head assembly having a size of less than or equal to μm, the magnetic head being provided on a convex portion provided on the front end side of the slider. 11. The magnetic head assembly according to claim 1, wherein the slider support structure includes a structural portion having a gimbal-like function that allows the slider to move in a pitching direction and a rolling direction. A magnetic head assembly characterized by the above. 12. A magnetic head assembly according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6, wherein a convex portion provided on a front end side in the traveling direction with respect to the magnetic disk and a rear end side in the traveling direction. The magnetic head assembly is characterized in that the convex portion and the space provided in the magnetic head assembly have a wavelength that most characterizes the height variation pattern of the magnetic disk surface facing the slider. 13. A slider support structure for pressing a rotating magnetic disk and a slider having a magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while relatively moving the surface of the magnetic disk against the surface of the magnetic disk. In a magnetic disk device including a magnetic head assembly, the slider is provided on a surface facing the magnetic disk, one slider on a front end side in a traveling direction with respect to a magnetic disk moving relatively, and a plurality of sliders on a rear end side in the traveling direction. Has a convex portion of
A magnetic disk drive, wherein the pressing force of the support structure on the surface of the magnetic disk is 6 mgf or more and 50 mgf or less. 14. A slider support structure for pressing a rotating magnetic disk and a slider carrying a magnetic head for reading / writing information recorded on the magnetic disk while relatively moving the surface of the magnetic disk against the surface of the magnetic disk. A magnetic disk device comprising a magnetic head assembly, wherein the magnetic head assembly uses any one of claims 1 to 12. 15. The magnetic disk device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the magnetic disk device stores at least the magnetic disk and the magnetic head assembly in a container, and the container is filled with an inert gas. A magnetic disk device characterized by the above. 16. The magnetic disk device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the magnetic disk device houses at least the magnetic disk and the magnetic head assembly in a container, and the container is a ventilation hole for venting the inside and outside of the container. A magnetic disk device comprising: 17. The magnetic disk device according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the magnetic disk has a surface coated with a lubricant, and the magnetic disk surface and the magnetic protrusions provided on the slider are magnetic. What is the sliding surface with the disc?
A magnetic disk device, wherein a lubricant film thickness that is thicker than a maximum film thickness of a lubricant applied to the disk surface is maintained in a state where the slider relatively moves on the magnetic disk surface. 18. The magnetic disk drive according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the magnetic disk has a surface coated with a lubricant, and the magnetic disk surface and the magnetic protrusions provided on the slider are magnetic. What is the sliding surface with the disc?
In a state where the slider moves relative to the surface of the magnetic disk, it is necessary to maintain a gap larger than the maximum value of the film thickness of the lubricant on the disk surface during non-rotation and to be supported with a lubricant between them. Characteristic magnetic disk device.