Ferroelectric storage apparatus and manufacturing method of conductive probe
A ferroelectric storage apparatus includes: a ferroelectric recording medium; a conductive probe configured to write information to and read information from the ferroelectric recording medium; a probe slider configured to cause the conductive probe to travel by floating above a surface of the ferroelectric recording medium; a ferroelectric recording medium driver configured to rotate the ferroelectric recording medium; and a recording-and-reproduction signal processor configured to process a write signal and a read signal of information transmitted to and received from the conductive probe. The conductive probe includes: a base body constituted by a conductive material; an insulating layer formed on the base body and includes a through hole: and a needle-shaped electrode formed in a cone shape on the base body in the through hole. A portion of the needle-shaped electrode protrudes from a surface of the insulating layer.
1. A ferroelectric storage apparatus comprising:
a ferroelectric recording medium;
a conductive probe;
a probe slider configured to cause the conductive probe to travel by floating above a surface of the ferroelectric recording medium;
a ferroelectric recording medium driver configured to rotate the ferroelectric recording medium; and
a recording-and-reproduction signal processor configured to process a write signal and a read signal of information transmitted to and received from the conductive probe,
wherein the conductive probe includes:
a base body constituted by a conductive material;
an insulating layer formed on the base body and includes a through hole; and
a needle-shaped electrode formed on the base body in the through hole and electrically connected to the recording-and-reproduction signal processor,
wherein the needle-shaped electrode is configured to write information to the ferroelectric recording medium by polarizing a ferroelectric layer of the ferroelectric recording medium by an electric field generated at a tip of the needle-shaped electrode,
wherein the needle-shaped electrode is configured to read information recorded in the ferroelectric recording medium by detecting a tunnel current flowing between the needle-shaped electrode and the ferroelectric recording medium or by detecting an atomic force between the needle-shaped electrode and the ferroelectric recording medium, and
wherein a portion of the needle-shaped electrode protrudes from a surface of the insulating layer.
2. The ferroelectric storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the needle-shaped electrode is formed in a cone shape.
3. The ferroelectric storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the needle-shaped electrode is formed in a triangular pyramid shape or in a quadrangular pyramid shape.
4. The ferroelectric storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the needle-shaped electrode is formed rotationally symmetric about an axis that passes through a tip of the needle-shaped electrode.
5. The ferroelectric storage apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when the information is written to the ferroelectric recording medium, the recording-and-reproduction signal processor is configured to adjust a voltage waveform to be applied to the conductive probe so that the voltage waveform becomes any one of a triangle wave, a sawtooth wave, and a trapezoidal wave.