Abstract: Instead of using discontinuous step functions or pulses to drive a laser of a TAR enabled disk drive between on and off, a fixed modulation frequency may be used that alternates between a high and low laser power such that the radiation source is always delivering heat to the magnetic media when writing data to the magnetic disk. The magnetic field of the write pole may be synchronized to the modulation frequency of the radiation source to ensure that the radiation source heats the magnetic media proximate to the write pole above the grain freezing temperature when the Zeeman energy produced by the magnetic field of the write pole exceeds the thermal energy of the magnetic media.

Abstract: A method and system provide a near-field transducer (NFT) for an energy assisted magnetic recording (EAMR) transducer. The method and system include forming an NFT having a disk and a pin. A dielectric layer that substantially covers the NFT is deposited. A portion of the dielectric layer is removed such that the dielectric layer has an aperture therein. The aperture exposes the pin of the NFT. The EAMR transducer is annealed at a temperature greater than the expected operating temperature of the EAMR transducer.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a recording head for energy assisted magnetic recording. The recording head includes a near-field transducer (NFT) having a preselected shape and a surface, a writing pole on the NFT, and a non-metal heat dissipator positioned between the NFT surface and the writing pole. The non-metal heat dissipator includes a first portion in contact with the NFT surface, the first portion extending beyond an edge of the NFT surface in a first direction substantially perpendicular to an air bearing surface (ABS) and parallel to the NFT surface.

Abstract: In a method of forming a main pole, an initial accommodation layer is etched by RIE using a first etching mask having a first opening, whereby a groove is formed in the initial accommodation layer. Next, a part of the initial accommodation layer including the groove is etched by RIE using a second etching mask having a second opening, so that the groove becomes an accommodation part. The main pole is then formed in the accommodation part. The first etching mask has first and second sidewalls that face the first opening and are opposed to each other at a first distance in a track width direction. The second etching mask has third and fourth sidewalls that face the second opening and are opposed to each other at a second distance greater than the first distance.

Abstract: A ferroelectric recording medium includes a ferroelectric recording layer on an electrode layer, which includes an insulative layer on the ferroelectric recording layer, and includes non-continuous electrically conductive coating portions on the insulative layer.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head, includes: a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a portion of an air bearing surface opposing a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide through which light for exciting a surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples to the light in a surface plasmon mode and generates near-field light from a near-field light generating portion on a near-field light generating end surface that forms the portion of the air bearing surface; and magnetic field focusing parts that are able to focus the writing magnetic field generated from the pole and that are disposed on both sides of the pole in a track width direction from a perspective of the air bearing surface side.

Abstract: Provided is a surface plasmon resonating optical system emitting near-field light (NF-light) with a higher light density. The system comprises: a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples with the light in a surface plasmon mode and emits NF-light from its NF-light generating end surface; and a resonator mirror that reflects the excited surface plasmon, provided on the side of the plasmon generator opposite to the NF-light generating end surface. In the system, the excited surface plasmon can be amplified by using a resonator structure while reducing the length of the plasmon generator to reduce absorption of surface plasmon and prevent overheating of the plasmon generator.

Abstract: A detection method and apparatus for reading magnetization information recorded in high density. A metal probe is brought close to the surface of a magnetic recording medium, in which information is recorded as magnetization, with the distance on the order of nanometers. The region is irradiated with an incident light as its polarization direction is modulated, and polarization dependency of a tunnel current or reflected polarization intensity is measured.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field generating element restrains magnetic field attenuation or magnetic field delay in a high frequency recording/reproducing head for thermally assisted magnetic field recording/reproduction using a near field. An information recording/reproducing head and an information recording/reproducing apparatus carry out high frequency magnetic recording/reproduction. The electromagnetic field generating element includes: (i) a substrate, (ii) conductors each provided on the substrate and each serving as a supporting section, (iii) a plate-like-shaped conductor provided on the conductors and (iv) a semiconductor laser element provided on the substrate. The semiconductor laser element irradiates laser light to the plate-like-shaped conductor substantially parallel to an extending flat surface of the plate-like-shaped conductor. This causes generation of a near field in the plate-like-shaped conductor.

Abstract: Apparatus and computer program products are provided to monitor and report performance data of a device such as a data storage drive. A plurality of quantitative values are obtained from feedback and measurement mechanisms in a data storage device of a first model during operation of the storage device. The plurality of quantitative values are normalized. Then, one or more qualitative values are generated from one or more normalized quantitative values and evaluated against corresponding baseline performance values established for the first model.

Abstract: The present invention efficiently radiates heat generated by a coil while suppressing a decrease in the efficiency of generation of magnetic fields caused by an eddy current. The present invention includes a coil extending spirally in a plane and covered with a dielectric material, a magnetic substance provided parallel with the plane so as to overlap the coil, and a radiator extending in the plane so as to surround the coil and having projecting portions which project toward an outermost periphery of the coil and groove portions recessed in a direction opposite to that in which the projecting portions project, the projecting portions and the groove portions being alternately arranged, the radiator having a higher thermal conductivity than the magnetic substance.

Abstract: An electromagnetic field generating element restrains magnetic field attenuation or magnetic field delay in a high frequency recording/reproducing head for thermally assisted magnetic field recording/reproduction using a near field. An information recording/reproducing head and an information recording/reproducing apparatus carry out high frequency magnetic recording/reproduction. The electromagnetic field generating element includes: (i) a substrate, (ii) conductors each provided on the substrate and each serving as a supporting section, (iii) a plate-like-shaped conductor provided on the conductors and (iv) a semiconductor laser element provided on the substrate. The semiconductor laser element irradiates laser light to the plate-like-shaped conductor substantially parallel to an extending flat surface of the plate-like-shaped conductor. This causes generation of a near field in the plate-like-shaped conductor.

Abstract: A recording and reproducing apparatus including a recording magnetic head and a reproducing magnetic head with their floating height lowered for high density recordation and reproduction is provided. An information recording medium is provided on which it is possible to densely record information and from which it is possible to densely reproduce information by lowering the floating height of the recording and reproducing heads. The information recording medium includes a flat substrate and a recording layer provided on the substrate. Servo patterns and management information are recorded as magnetic marks on the recording layer in advance by a servo writer or the like. Because the substrate needs no recessed and embossed patterns formed in it, the slider of the recording and reproducing apparatus can be floated at a constant floating height lower than conventionally over the whole area of the medium.

Abstract: A predetermined electric current is supplied to coil by changing a pulse width of a voltage applied to the coil according to a current instruction value. An electric current which flows through the coil is detected; the thus-detected current value is compared with the current instruction value; the voltage applied to the inductance device is turned on/off according to the comparison result; and an off time for which application of the voltage to the coil is interrupted is controlled according to the current instruction value.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a magnetic head that is used for modulating magnetic field in a magneto-optical disk drive is provided, which reduces power consumption even if the magnetic head has large inductance. The driving circuit comprises a switching circuit for generating pulse-like drive current in synchronization with a timing for applying a pulse of light in accordance with a space between pits to be recorded on a magneto-optical disk, and a conversion circuit for converting the pulse-like drive current into sine-wave current to be supplied to the magnetic head such that the maximum magnetic field can be obtained at the timing for applying a pulse of light.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for magnet-optical recording are provided that can reduce heat in pulse driving of a magnetic head coil of a magnet-optical recording apparatus. Data inversion detection means 41-44 generates a signal TRDET that becomes the high level when a magnetic inversion of data occurs and becomes the low level when no magnetic inversion of data occurs. Means for reducing an exciting energy 45-47 use this signal TRDET so as to generate a strobe signal STRB that has a short period of the high level when a magnetic inversion of data occurs and a normal period of the high level when no magnetic inversion of data occurs. The magnetic head coil is excited during a period in which the strobe signal STRB is the high level, so that the pulsed magnetic field is generated, which is applied to a magnet-optical recording medium.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium, a method for recording and reproducing data using the medium and a magneto-optical recording apparatus are provided in which an optical head reads the recorded data while applying a magnetic field, and the ill effect of the leakage magnetic field from the neighboring tracks can be suppressed so as to obtain a correctly read signal. The magneto-optical recording medium includes a recording layer, an intermediate layer and a reproduction layer. The signal recorded in the recording layer is read using a light beam irradiated externally and a magnetic field applied externally. The signal recorded in the recording layer is transferred to the reproduction layer via the intermediate layer. Marks are recorded so that each of leading and trailing edges of a recorded mark is substantially aligned with center portions of a recorded mark or a space of neighboring tracks, and the neighboring tracks have different polarities.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a multi-layer coil for generating a magnetic field, and a flat, magnetic field regulator spaced from the coil along the central axis of the coil. The field regulator is formed with a center hole for passing disk-illuminating light. The magnetic member consists of a plurality of sections that are electrically insulated and arranged around the central axis of the coil.

Abstract: A driver in a far-field magneto-optical (“MO”) system has a read/write head that includes an objective lens for focusing a laser beam onto an MO disk. The objective lens is housed in an objective lens holder. A magnetic biasing coil is mounted to the bottom of the objective lens holder, between the objective lens and the MO disk. The coil includes an aperture to allow the laser beam to pass through the coil and onto a surface of the disk. The objective lens holder is moved up and down as the disk spins by an actuator to maintain the laser beam in focus on the MO disk surface. This maintains the objective lens and the coil precisely at predetermined distances from the MO disk surface, despite irregularities in the disk and disk wobble.

Abstract: A predetermined electric current is supplied to an inductance device by changing a pulse width of a voltage applied to the inductance device according to a current instruction value. An electric current which flows through the inductance device is detected; the thus-detected current value is compared with the current instruction value; the voltage applied to the inductance device is turned on/off according to the comparison result; and an off time for which application of the voltage to the inductance device is interrupted is controlled according to the current instruction value.

Abstract: A magneto-optical recording medium processing apparatus of the present invention limits, via a predetermined current limiting means, the bias current applied to a bias coil during seek, when a seek current is applied to a carriage. In accordance therewith, it is possible to reduce the peak of the sum current, which is the total of the seek current and the bias current, and the current consumption of the entire apparatus can also be curbed. Current limiting means, for example, sets a bias current that is smaller than the specified value of the bias current required at media access time, and sets a bias current value such that the total of the seek current and bias current does not exceed an allowable current.

Abstract: To provide a magnetic head drive circuit or a magneto-optical recording device used with the circuit including a pair of auxiliary coils and a magnetic field generating coil for generating a magnetic field by alternately receiving electric currents flowing in opposite directions through the pair of auxiliary coils, and recording an information signal. When the recording of an information signal is stopped, a current for recording an information signal is maintained in a flowing state and gradually reduced, thereby shifting the recording toward a stop state. Thus, the voltage generated in the auxiliary coil by electromagnetic induction when the recording is stopped is reduced, the consumption of electric power is reduced, and the recording speed is improved.

Abstract: A magnetic head drive circuit comprises a control circuit for receiving a recording signal for recording data on a recording medium with use of magnetism and producing a control signal based on the recording signal, and a switch circuit comprising switching FETs for changing the direction of current to be passed through a field coil of a magnetic head based on the control signal received from the control circuit. Pch FETs and Nch FETs are both used as the switching FETs. The maximum value of the gate voltage of the switching FETs is lower than the voltage Vd of a coil power source for supplying the current to be passed through the field coil and higher than the gate threshold voltage of the switching FETs.