Laminated Recording Head Electron Injection for High Density
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current recording technologies face challenges in achieving high recording density and microfabrication, particularly with magnetic recording apparatuses, where controlling electron spin direction is complex and microfabrication of 50 nm or less is difficult, and alternative methods like near-field optical heads increase costs or lose ferroelectricity at small sizes.
Innovation Solution
A recording/reproducing head with a laminated structure comprising a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer, and a second conductive layer, which generates electrons and injects them into a recording medium through the insulating layer, allowing for high-density data recording and reproduction using hot electrons and a field effect transistor sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If magnetic recording apparatus uses complex structure to control electron spin direction, then recording density can be improved, but device complexity increases and microfabrication of 50 nm or less becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex electron spin control structure from the recording head, replacing it with a simplified charge storage mechanism. The recording head becomes a simple charge injection device without complex spin control components, while the recording medium contains the functional layers (ferroelectric layer, tunnel barrier layer, etc.) that perform the complex functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the complexity from the recording head (one dimension) to the recording medium (another dimension). By moving the complex multilayer structure into the medium and simplifying the head, the system achieves high recording density through the medium's structure rather than the head's structure.
2Productivity
If near-field optical head is used to heat recording medium, then data recording is achieved, but cost considerably increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the optical heating system (light-based) with an electrical charge injection system. Instead of using near-field optical heads to heat the recording medium, the system uses electrons injected from a simplified head to directly modify the recording medium's charge state, eliminating expensive optical components.
3Manufacturing precision
If ferroelectric is microfabricated to 50 nm or less, then recording density improves, but ferroelectricity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite multilayer structure consisting of ferroelectric layer, tunnel barrier layer, and electrode layers. This composite structure maintains ferroelectricity at small dimensions by combining materials with complementary properties, where the tunnel barrier and electrodes support the ferroelectric layer's functionality at scaled dimensions.
4Device complexity
If probe recording apparatus stores charges instead of magnetism, then head structure becomes simpler, but recording density may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts the density-enhancing complexity from the head to the medium. The simple head injects charges, while the multilayer medium structure (with its precise nanoscale layers) provides the high recording density through its internal architecture rather than through head complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high-speed, high-density data recording and reproduction with reduced power consumption and manufacturing costs, while maintaining microfabrication capabilities and minimizing write errors, achieving error ratios as low as 0.001%.
Implementation Method 1
The first conductive layer generates electrons and injects the electrons into the recording medium through the first insulating layer
Implementation Method 2
sensing an electric field by a field effect transistor (FET) sensor included in the reproducing head, the electric field leaking from the recording medium due to the recorded data
Data Source
AI summary
A recording/reproducing head includes a laminated body facing to a recording medium, the body including a first conductive layer, a first insulating layer and a second conductive layer which are sequentially stacked. The first conductive layer generates electrons and injects the electrons into the recording medium through the first insulating layer.