Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval – Record transport with head moving during transducing
Reexamination Certificate
1993-06-11
2002-03-12
Hudspeth, David (Department: 2651)
Dynamic magnetic information storage or retrieval
Record transport with head moving during transducing
C360S088000, C360S101000, C360S100100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06356406
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a large capacity storage or mass storage. More particularly, it concerns a storage system that provides a high density, a high-speed data transfer rate, and a shorter access time simultaneously.
A conventional magnetic disk storage system is a reliable storage system capable of reading massive amounts of data at a high speed. The conventional magnetic disk storage system performs a reading or writing operation or a seeking operation wherein a disk-like magnetic recording medium is rotated at a high speed, and a slider having a magnetic head element incorporated therein is floated above the magnetic recording medium by a gimbal and an arm. The volume of the magnetic disk storage system having the disk-like magnetic recording medium is determined by the diameter of the disk and the dimensions of a head drive system comprising the gimbal, the arm, and similar devices. To make the system smaller first , the diameter of the magnetic recording medium has to be made smaller first. Then, since a recording area for data on the magnetic recording medium has to be made as wide as possible, a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic recording medium has to be made smaller.
For the smaller magnetic recording medium, a rotational frequency of the spindle motor must be increased. If not, a speed of the head relative to the medium is decreased, resulting in a problem that the data transfer rate is decreased. To solve the problem, the spindle motor has to be rotated at a very high speed. To store as much data as possible in the limited area, a track width for the data has to be made narrower. This necessitates a highly accurate rotation of the magnetic recording medium to suppress its possible eccentricity during rotation. Note that the system cannot be made small unless the spindle motor is made as thin as possible. However, technical considerations place limits on how small the spindle motor can be made. Also, mechanical stiffness requirements and production costs place limits on how small a head seeking arrangement including the gimbal and the arm system for accurately moving the magnetic head to a desired track on the magnetic recording medium can be made.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a storage system that can be truly small sized with a capability of storing data at a high density by way of solving the problems involved in the prior art discussed above and presenting measures to overcome technical difficulties to be further considered.
Briefly, the foregoing object is accomplished in accordance with aspects of the present invention by a storage system. The storage system is capable of storing, transferring, and accessing massive amounts of data at high speed in a way-that a recording medium or a read/write device can be moved at high speed and accuracy, seek time can be made shorter, and spacing between the recording medium and the read/write device can be narrower without using the disk-like magnetic recording medium.
The present invention provides a first feature in that (1) a magnetic storage system for making data reading or writing or both, wherein a data write/record device or a magnetic recording medium or both is reciprocated from position to position relatively different with both being kept to a predetermined distance; (2) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein the data read/write device or the magnetic recording medium or both is driven by any of an arrangement for converting a rotation to reciprocal motion, a piezo device, and quartz crystal; (3) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein the magnetic recording medium has a linear or circular series of recorded bits aligned thereon and in a reading or writing mode of operation, is reciprocated along the recorded bits while the read/write device is made still or to follow the recorded bits; (4) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein the magnetic recording medium has a linear or circular series of recorded bits aligned thereon and in a reading or writing mode of operation, the read/write device is reciprocated along the recorded bits while the magnetic recording medium is made still or to follow the recorded bits; (5) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein the magnetic recording medium has a linear or circular series of recorded bits aligned thereon and in a reading or writing mode of operation, the read/write device and the magnetic recording medium are reciprocated opposite to each other along the recorded bits while the read/write device or the magnetic recording medium is made to follow the recorded bits; (6) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein the magnetic recording medium has a zigzag series of recorded bits aligned thereon and in a reading or writing mode of operation, the read/write device and the magnetic recording medium are reciprocated in their respective directions not in parallel to each other along the recorded bits; (7) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein a plurality of the read/write devices are regularly provided on a two-dimensional plane; (8) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a one-dimensional motion of the read/write device; (9) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a two-dimensional motion of the read/write device; (10) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by combination of a one-dimensional motion of the read/write device and a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic recording medium; (11) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic recording medium; (12) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a two-dimensional motion of the magnetic recording medium; and, (13) the magnetic storage system of item
1
mentioned above wherein the read/write device and the magnetic recording medium are made to contact each other through or not through a lubricant by a predetermined force.
The present invention provides a second feature in that (14) a magnetic storage system having a magnetic head and a magnetic recording medium combined for reading or writing a magnetic signal as data source mentioned above wherein the magnetic recording medium has a linear or circular series of recorded bits aligned thereon and in a reading or writing mode of operation, the magnetic recording medium is moved in a simple harmonic motion along the recorded bits while the magnetic head is made still or to follow a track; (15) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above wherein the magnetic head is a multi-head having a plurality of read/write devices regularly aligned on a plane; (16) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic head in the track width direction; (17) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic head in the recording bit direction; (18) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by a two-dimensional motion of the magnetic head in the recording bit direction and the track width direction; (19) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by combination of a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic head in the recording bit direction and a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic recording medium in the track width direction; (20) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above wherein seeking is made by combination of a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic head in the track width direction and a one-dimensional motion of the magnetic recording medium in the recording bit direction; (21) the magnetic storage system of item
14
mentioned above
Matsuda Yoshibumi
Suzuki Mikio
Takano Hisashi
Antonelli Terry Stout & Kraus LLP
Davidson Dan I.
Hitachi , Ltd.
Hudspeth David
LandOfFree
Magnetic storage system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Magnetic storage system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Magnetic storage system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2850058