MAGNETIC DISK APPARATUS AND MAGNETIC DISK ACCESS CONTROL METHOD
A magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk provided with a data recording area and a servo-pattern area. The data recording area includes a non-magnetic area scattered with magnetic regions, and the servo-pattern area includes a plurality of magnetic regions each having a larger area than the magnetic regions in the data recording area. The magnetic disk apparatus also includes a reader for reading magnetization in the data recording area and the servo-pattern area, and a magnetizer for application of a magnetic field to the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area for equalizing magnetization directions of the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area before the reader starts to read the servo-pattern area.
1 . A magnetic disk apparatus comprising:
a magnetic disk including a data recording area and a servo-pattern area, the data recording area being provided by a non-magnetic area scattered with magnetic regions, the servo-pattern area including a plurality of magnetic regions each having a larger area than the magnetic regions in the data recording area;
a reader for reading magnetization in the data recording area and the servo-pattern area; and
a magnetizer for application of a magnetic field to the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area for equalizing magnetization directions of the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area before the reader starts to read the servo-pattern area.
2 . The magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic head reciprocable radially of the magnetic disk, wherein the reader is provided on the magnetic head, and the magnetizer is provided upstream of the magnetic head in a rotational direction of the magnetic disk.
3 . The magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the magnetic head includes a recording section for application of a magnetic field for recording data in the data recording area, and the magnetizer comprises a permanent magnet for applying to the magnetic disk a magnetic field weaker than the magnetic field by the recording section.
4 . The magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a recording section for application of a magnetic field for recording data in the data recording area, wherein the magnetizer is provided upstream of the recording section in a rotational direction of the magnetic disk, the magnetizer being controlled for application of the magnetic field while passing the servo-pattern area.
5 . The magnetic disk apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the reader detects, based on a reading start mark, a position where the magnetizer starts to pass the servo-pattern area, and the reading start mark has a different shape from the magnetic regions and is provided downstream of the servo-pattern area in the rotational direction of the magnetic disk.
6 . A magnetic disk access control method for a magnetic disk provided with a data recording area and a servo-pattern area, the data recording area including a non-magnetic area scattered with magnetic regions, the servo-pattern area including a plurality of magnetic regions each having a larger area than the magnetic regions in the data recording area, in the method a reader is used for reading magnetization directions in the magnetic regions of the data recording area and the servo-pattern area, the method comprising:
a magnetizing step of applying a magnetic field to the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area for equalizing magnetization directions before the reader starts reading with respect to the servo-pattern area; and
a recording/reproducing control step of reading the magnetized servo-pattern area by the reader and performing a recording or reproducing operation to the data recording area based on a servo reproduction signal obtained in accordance with the magnetization of the magnetic regions in the servo-pattern area.