JPH11110714A - Magnetic head and magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a highly efficient magnetic head and a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus suitable for recording / reproducing large-capacity data such as a digital VTR and data storage. SOLUTION: By making the thickness of a non-magnetic film between metal magnetic films 5a and 5b which are adjacent to each other via a non-magnetic film 6 and have different easy magnetization directions to 5 nm or less, the metal magnetic films 5a and 5b are adjacent to each other through the non-magnetic film. The effect of the magnetic resistance of the non-magnetic film when the magnetic flux passes through the metal magnetic film can be reduced, and the recording / reproducing efficiency can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic head for recording and reproducing information signals on and from a magnetic recording medium and a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using them.
The present invention relates to a magnetic head used for a digital VTR, a magnetic recording / reproducing device for a computer, etc., which efficiently records and reproduces a large amount of signals, and a magnetic recording / reproducing device using them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, systems for recording and reproducing large-capacity information signals at high speed, such as digital VTRs and magnetic recording / reproducing apparatuses for computers, have been actively developed.
Magnetic recording media have also changed from conventional iron oxide-based media to high coercive force media such as alloy powder media and metal vapor deposition media in order to record and reproduce such a large amount of information. Therefore, it has been desired to develop a magnetic head having a high saturation magnetic flux density capable of coping with these high coercive force media and having excellent recording and reproducing efficiency.

Conventionally, such a magnetic head has a laminated structure in which both sides of a laminated film of a metal magnetic film such as sendust or amorphous magnetic alloy having a high saturation magnetic flux density and an insulating film are sandwiched between substrates. As a result, the eddy current loss in the high frequency band is reduced to improve the high frequency characteristics.

In such a magnetic head having a laminated structure, a magnetic path is constituted only by a magnetic film, a high magnetic permeability is required over the entire magnetic path, and it is desirable to constitute a magnetic path only in a direction in which magnetization is difficult. However, since the magnetic path takes all directions in the plane of the magnetic film, it is difficult to form the magnetic path only in the direction in which magnetization is difficult. Therefore, a method of using a film close to isotropic by reducing the anisotropy of the metal magnetic film, or a method of making the magnetization easy directions of adjacent metal magnetic films through an insulating film substantially orthogonal to each other (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-217511) And the like have been proposed.

[0005]

However, in the method using a metal magnetic film that is close to isotropic, the initial magnetic permeability in a high frequency band is reduced due to natural resonance, so that the high frequency characteristics of the magnetic head are deteriorated. There is a problem. Further, in the method in which the easy magnetization directions of the adjacent metal magnetic films via the insulating film are substantially orthogonal to each other, there is a problem that the head characteristics when a magnetic head is formed are not good as compared with the film characteristics of the stacked metal magnetic films. .

In view of the above problems, the present invention provides a magnetic head capable of obtaining high recording / reproducing efficiency in consideration of the shape, magnetic path and the like of a laminated magnetic head, and a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using the same. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first magnetic head of the present invention comprises a pair of multi-layered magnetic cores in which metal magnetic films and non-magnetic films are alternately laminated, the end faces of which are arranged. Are arranged so as to face each other to form a magnetic gap, the magnetic head having at least one layer in which the easy magnetization directions of the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the nonmagnetic film are different from each other, and via the nonmagnetic film. The thickness of the non-magnetic film between adjacent layers of the magnetic metal films having different directions of easy magnetization is 5 nm or less.

According to such a magnetic head, the influence of the magnetic resistance caused by the magnetic flux passing between the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the non-magnetic film and having different directions of easy magnetization is reduced, so that the recording / reproducing efficiency is improved. Can be done.

A second magnetic head according to the present invention forms a magnetic gap by arranging a pair of multilayer magnetic cores in which laminated magnetic films and insulating films are alternately laminated so that their end faces face each other. In the magnetic head described above, the laminated magnetic film has at least one layer in which a magnetic magnetic film and a non-magnetic film are alternately laminated, and the direction of easy magnetization of the adjacent metal magnetic films via the non-magnetic film is different. The thickness of the nonmagnetic film between the layers having different easy magnetization directions of the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the nonmagnetic film is 5 nm or less.

According to such a magnetic head, the effect of eddy current in a high frequency band and the magnetic resistance of the magnetic head caused by the magnetic flux passing between metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via a non-magnetic film and having different directions of easy magnetization are reduced. Since the influence is reduced, the recording / reproducing efficiency can be improved up to a high frequency band.

Next, a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention uses the magnetic head according to any one of the first and second aspects.

According to such a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus, since the recording / reproducing efficiency can be improved, large-capacity data can be recorded / reproduced at high speed.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration near a magnetic gap on a surface (hereinafter, referred to as a “media slide surface”) of a magnetic head shown in FIG.

In the magnetic head shown in FIG. 1, a multi-layer magnetic core 2 is sandwiched between a pair of non-magnetic substrates 1, and a pair of multi-layer magnetic cores 2 are arranged so that end faces of the multi-layer film face each other. , A magnetic gap 3 is formed. The magnetic head is provided with a winding window 4 for winding a coil therethrough in the thickness direction of the head.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multilayer magnetic core 2
Is formed by alternately laminating a metal magnetic film 5 and a non-magnetic film 6. Of the metal magnetic films 5, the directions of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other with the non-magnetic film 6 interposed therebetween are 5a parallel to the magnetic gap plane and 5b perpendicular to the magnetic gap plane in the film plane, respectively. The nonmagnetic film thickness between the metal magnetic films 5a and 5b is 5 nm or less.

As a material constituting the metal magnetic film 5 and the non-magnetic film 6, any material can be used without particular limitation as long as it has been conventionally used for a magnetic head, especially a laminated magnetic head. it can.

For example, the material of the metal magnetic film 5 is F
eTaN, CoNbZrTa, FeAlSi, and the like, and the material of the nonmagnetic film 6 can be SiO ₂ , Al ₂ O _{3, and the} like.

The preferred thickness of the metal magnetic film 5 is, for example, 0.05 to 5.0 μm. In the magnetic head of the present embodiment, the metal magnetic film 5 adjacent via the non-magnetic film 6
The easy magnetization directions of a and 5b are different. Therefore, when a magnetic flux flows through the magnetic head, as shown in FIG.
The magnetic flux passes through the adjacent metal magnetic film. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when measuring general film characteristics, a magnetic field is applied to the metal magnetic film in one direction, so that the magnetic flux does not pass through the non-magnetic film to the adjacent metal magnetic film. In other words, one of the reasons why the head characteristics when a magnetic head is formed is not as good as the film characteristics of the laminated metal magnetic film is that the magnetic flux passes through the non-magnetic film to the adjacent metal magnetic film. Is the magnetoresistance. 3 and 4, solid arrows indicate the flow of the magnetic flux, and broken arrows indicate the directions of easy magnetization.

FIG. 5 shows the results of a simulation in which the thickness of the nonmagnetic film was changed. The magnetic permeability of the metal magnetic film 5 in the hard magnetization direction was 5000, the magnetic permeability in the easy magnetization direction was 500, and the magnetic permeability of the nonmagnetic film 6 was 1 and the nonmagnetic film thickness was changed. The magnetic resistance of the magnetic core in each case is obtained, and a relative comparison with the case where the non-magnetic film thickness is zero is shown. When the nonmagnetic film thickness is zero (0 dB), the magnetic resistance of the magnetic core is the smallest, and as the nonmagnetic film thickness increases, the magnetic resistance of the magnetic core increases. Further, when the non-magnetic film thickness is 5 nm or less, the increase in the magnetic resistance is small, and it can be seen that the decrease in the efficiency of the magnetic head due to the magnetic resistance of the non-magnetic film is also small.

A laminated magnetic head having the film structure shown in FIG. 2 was manufactured. The metal magnetic film 5 is made of FeTaN and has a thickness of 0.4 μm, and the nonmagnetic film 6 is SiO ₂ and has a thickness of 4 nm.
Two types of 0 nm were produced. The metal magnetic film and the non-magnetic film were formed by a sputtering method, and the direction of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic film was controlled by changing the position of the magnet during sputtering.

FIG. 6 shows the frequency dependence of the relative output of the manufactured magnetic head. In the figure, (a) shows a non-magnetic film thickness of 50 nm,
(B) is a head having a nonmagnetic film thickness of 4 nm. It can be seen that the use of the magnetic head of the present invention achieves high output in all frequency bands.

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration near a magnetic gap on a medium sliding surface in a magnetic head according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the magnetic head of the present embodiment, a pair of multilayer magnetic cores 9 in which laminated magnetic films 7 and insulating films 8 are alternately laminated are arranged such that their end faces face each other. This is a magnetic head in which a magnetic gap 3 is formed by being arranged. The laminated magnetic film 7 is configured by alternately laminating the metal magnetic film 5 and the non-magnetic film 6. Of the metal magnetic films 5, the directions of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other with the non-magnetic film 6 interposed therebetween are 5a parallel to the magnetic gap plane and 5b perpendicular to the magnetic gap plane in the film plane, respectively. Non-magnetic film thickness between metal magnetic films 5a and 5b is 5n
m or less.

The material constituting the metal magnetic film 5, the non-magnetic film 6, and the insulating film 8 is not particularly limited as long as it has been conventionally used for a magnetic head, particularly a laminated magnetic head. Can be used.

For example, the material of the metal magnetic film 5 is F
eTaN, CoNbZrTa, FeAlSi, etc., and the material of the non-magnetic film 6 include SiO ₂ , Al ₂ O _3, etc.
As a material of the insulating film 8, SiO ₂ , Al ₂ O ₃ or the like can be used.

The preferred thickness of the metal magnetic film 5 is 0.1 to 5.0 μm, and the thickness of the insulating film 8 is 0.1 to 1 μm.
It is.

The magnetic head of the present embodiment has a non-magnetic film 6
Since the directions of easy magnetization of the adjacent metal magnetic films 5a and 5b are different from each other, the magnetic flux passes through the non-magnetic film to the adjacent metal magnetic film, but the thickness of the non-magnetic film 6 should be 5 nm or less. Thereby, the effect of the magnetic resistance of the non-magnetic film can be reduced, and the efficiency of the magnetic head can be improved.

Also, by alternately laminating the laminated magnetic films 7 and the insulating films 8, it becomes possible to suppress eddy currents in a high frequency band, and to improve the efficiency of the magnetic head in a high frequency band. Can be.

A laminated magnetic head having the film structure shown in FIG. 7 was manufactured. The metal magnetic film 5 was made of FeTaN with a thickness of 0.4 μm, the nonmagnetic film 6 was made of SiO ₂ with a thickness of 4 nm, and the insulating film 8 was made of SiO ₂ with a thickness of 0.15 nm. Further, the metal magnetic film, the non-magnetic film and the insulating film were formed by sputtering, and the direction of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic film was controlled by changing the position of the magnet during sputtering.

FIG. 6C shows the frequency dependence of the relative output of the manufactured magnetic head. It can be seen that high output is realized in a high frequency region as compared with the magnetic head of the first embodiment in FIG.

In the magnetic heads of the first and second embodiments described above, a case is described in which the metal magnetic films have two easy magnetization directions and these are alternately stacked via a non-magnetic film. However, the effect of the present invention can be expected if at least one layer having a different easy magnetization direction exists between a pair of metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the nonmagnetic film.

In the magnetic heads of the first and second embodiments described above, the direction of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic film is in a direction parallel to the magnetic gap plane and a direction perpendicular to the magnetic gap plane in the film plane. Although the case of two types was described,
The easy magnetization direction and the number of easy magnetization directions are not limited to this. In other words, if the pair of metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the non-magnetic film has a different magnetization easy direction, and if the film structure allows the magnetic flux to pass to the adjacent metal magnetic film through the non-magnetic film,
The effects of the present invention can be expected.

In the magnetic heads of the first and second embodiments described above, an example in which a film is formed by a sputtering method has been described. However, a vacuum evaporation method, an ion plating method, a cluster ion beam method, or the like may be used. It is also possible to use a vacuum thin film forming method. Various methods can be used for controlling the direction of easy magnetization in accordance with the material and the film formation method.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with the magnetic head according to the present invention. The magnetic head 11 of the present invention attached to the rotating drum 10 for helical scanning comes into contact with the running magnetic tape 12,
A signal is recorded on the magnetic tape 12. Similarly, the magnetic head of the present invention comes into contact with the magnetic tape 12, and the signal on the magnetic tape 12 is reproduced.

In the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus of the present invention, since a magnetic head with improved recording / reproducing efficiency is used, it is possible to efficiently record / reproduce a large amount of data.

Although the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using the magnetic head of the present invention for both recording and reproduction has been described, the present invention can be applied to a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using the magnetic head of the present invention for only one of the recording and reproducing heads. The effect can be expected.

Although the magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using a magnetic tape as the magnetic medium has been described, the effects of the present invention can also be expected in a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using a magnetic medium such as a magnetic disk.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0041]

As described above, in the magnetic head according to the present invention, the thickness of the non-magnetic film between the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the non-magnetic film and having different easy magnetization directions is 5 nm.
By reducing the following, the effect of reducing the magnetic resistance of the non-magnetic film when the magnetic flux passes through the non-magnetic film to the adjacent metal magnetic film can be reduced, and the recording and reproducing efficiency of the magnetic head can be improved. Play. Further, by using this magnetic head, it is possible to provide a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus suitable for efficiently recording / reproducing a large amount of data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a magnetic head according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a configuration near a magnetic gap on a slide surface of a magnetic medium in the magnetic head according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of magnetic flux in a metal magnetic film portion adjacent to the magnetic head via a non-magnetic film and having a different easy magnetization direction.

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of magnetic flux in a metal magnetic film portion adjacent to a non-magnetic film and having a different easy magnetization direction when measuring film characteristics.

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a simulation result showing a relationship between a magnetic resistance and a non-magnetic film thickness of a magnetic core formed of a metal magnetic film adjacent to each other via a non-magnetic film and having different easy magnetization directions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating frequency characteristics of relative outputs of the magnetic head according to the first embodiment, the magnetic head according to the second embodiment, and a conventional magnetic head;

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration near a magnetic gap on a magnetic medium slide surface in a magnetic head according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus equipped with a magnetic head according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nonmagnetic substrate 2, 9 Multilayer magnetic core 3 Magnetic gap 4 Winding window 5 Metal magnetic film 5a Metal magnetic film whose magnetization easy direction is in the film plane, and metal magnetic film almost parallel to the magnetic gap surface 5b The magnetization easy direction is in the film plane , A metal magnetic film substantially perpendicular to the magnetic gap surface, a non-magnetic film, a laminated magnetic film, an insulating film, a rotating drum, a magnetic head, a magnetic tape, a tilted post, and a fixed drum.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Akinaga Natsui 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic head in which a magnetic gap is formed by arranging a pair of multilayer magnetic cores in which metal magnetic films and non-magnetic films are alternately stacked so that their end faces are opposed to each other. At least one layer in which the directions of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other are different, and the thickness of the nonmagnetic film between the layers in which the directions of easy magnetization of the adjacent metal magnetic films are different via the nonmagnetic film is A magnetic head having a thickness of 5 nm or less. 2. A magnetic head having a magnetic gap formed by arranging a pair of multilayer magnetic cores in which laminated magnetic films and insulating films are alternately laminated such that their end faces face each other.
The laminated magnetic film has a structure in which a metal magnetic film and a non-magnetic film are alternately laminated, and has at least one layer in which the metal magnetic films adjacent to each other via the non-magnetic film have different magnetization directions. A magnetic head, characterized in that the thickness of the nonmagnetic film between layers having different directions of easy magnetization of the metal magnetic films adjacent via the magnetic film is 5 nm or less. 3. A magnetic recording / reproducing apparatus using the magnetic head according to claim 1.