Head gimbal assembly
A head gimbal assembly comprises a slider having reproduction/reproducing elements for reproducing and recording information to/from a surface of a recording medium. A suspension flexibly supports the slider opposite to a surface of a recording medium. A light source is disposed on the suspension for emitting a light beam. An optical waveguide is disposed between the slider and the laser light source for introducing a light beam from the light source into the slider.
1. A head gimbal assembly for a rotary member mounted on a pivot shaft to undergo turning movement relative to a magnetic recording medium undergoing rotation in a preselected direction, the head gimbal assembly comprising:
a support configured to be supported by the rotary member;
a slider attached to a distal end of the support for confronting a surface of a magnetic recording medium;
an optical waveguide connected to the slider for introducing into the slider light with which the magnetic recording medium is heated;
a light source disposed on the support for emitting a light beam that is irradiated onto the optical waveguide; and
an electric wiring for supplying power to the light source and the slider.
2. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein:
the rotary member has an arm mounted on the pivot shaft to undergo turning movement, a base plate mounted on a distal side of the arm, a hinge plate connected to the base plate and having an extension that extends toward a distal side of the base plate, and a load beam connected to the extension of the hinge plate; and
the support is connected to the load beam and extends from a flexure on which the slider is disposed.
3. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 or 2 ; wherein the light source comprises a surface-emitting laser.
4. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 or 2 ; wherein the light source comprises an edge-emitting laser.
5. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 4 ; wherein the optical waveguide is formed with an optical fiber.
6. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein:
the optical waveguide has a core through which light advances;
a section of the core lies in a direction orthogonal to an advancing direction of the light beam;
the section has a first axis that determines the width of the section and passes through the center of the section, and a second axis that is orthogonal to the first axis and passes through the center of the section; and
the first axis and the second axis have different lengths.
7. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 6 ; wherein the section is rectangular-shaped and a ratio of the first axis to the second axis is set to 1.1 or more.
8. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein:
the optical waveguide has a core through which light advances; and
spaces are formed on respective sides of the core.
9. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein:
the optical waveguide has a core through which light advances; and
stress application sections for use in applying a stress in a direction in which the section of the core is compressed are formed on respective sides of the core.
10. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein:
the optical waveguide has a core through which light advances and a cladding covering the core; and
a stress application member for use in applying a stress in a direction in which a section of the core is compressed is disposed on the surface of the cladding.
11. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
a head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ;
magnetic recording media mounted to undergo rotation in a preselected direction;
a pivot shaft mounted relative to the magnetic recording media;
a plurality of arms mounted on the pivot shaft for undergoing turning movement;
an actuator supporting proximal sides of the arms for moving the arms in a direction parallel to surfaces of the magnetic recording media;
a rotary drive unit for rotating the magnetic recording media in the preselected direction; and
a control unit for controlling an operation of the slider and the light source of the head gimbal assembly.
12. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
a head gimbal assembly according to claim 3 ;
magnetic recording media mounted to undergo rotation in a preselected direction;
a pivot shaft mounted relative to the magnetic recording media;
a plurality of arms mounted on the pivot shaft for undergoing turning movement;
an actuator supporting proximal sides of the arms for moving the arms in a direction parallel to surfaces of the magnetic recording media;
a rotary drive unit for rotating the magnetic recording media in the preselected direction; and
a control unit for controlling an operation of the slider and the light source of the head gimbal assembly.
13. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
a head gimbal assembly according to claim 4 ;
magnetic recording media mounted to undergo rotation in a preselected direction;
a pivot shaft mounted relative to the magnetic recording media;
a plurality of arms mounted on the pivot shaft for undergoing turning movement;
an actuator supporting proximal sides of the arms for moving the arms in a direction parallel to surfaces of the magnetic recording media;
a rotary drive unit for rotating the magnetic recording media in the preselected direction; and
a control unit for controlling an operation of the slider and the light source of the head gimbal assembly.
14. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 1 ; wherein the support is configured to flexibly support the light source, the optical waveguide and the slider.
15. A head gimbal assembly comprising:
a slider having reproduction/reproducing elements for reproducing and recording information to/from a surface of a recording medium;
a suspension for flexibly supporting the slider opposite to a surface of a recording medium;
a light source disposed on the suspension for emitting a light beam; and
an optical waveguide disposed between the slider and the laser light source for introducing a light beam from the light source into the slider.
16. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 15 ; wherein the light source comprises a surface-emitting laser.
17. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 15 ; wherein the light source comprises an edge-emitting laser.
18. An information recording/reproducing apparatus comprising:
a head gimbal assembly according to claim 15 ;
an actuator for moving the head gimbal assembly relative to a surface of a recording medium; and
a control unit for supplying a current to the slider of the head gimbal assembly.
19. A head gimbal assembly according to claim 15 ; wherein the suspension is configured to flexibly support the light source, the optical waveguide and the slider.
20. A head gimbal assembly comprising:
a slider having reproduction/reproducing elements for reproducing and recording information to/from a surface of a recording medium;
a suspension for flexibly supporting the slider opposite to a surface of a recording medium;
a light source disposed on the suspension for emitting a light beam;
electric wiring lines disposed between the light source and the slider for supplying power to the slider and the light source; and
an optical waveguide disposed between the slider and the light source for introducing a light beam from the light source into the slider.