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Disk read-and-write head
Disk Read-and-Write Head
Mathew B. Icban
Types of Disk Read-and-Write Head
Are the small parts of
a disk drive which move above
the disk platter and transform
the platter's magnetic field into
electrical current or, vice versa,
transform electrical current into
magnetic field.
Ferrite Head
A ferrite head is
a U-shaped iron core
wrapped with electrical
windings to create the
read/write head--almost
a classical
electromagnet, but very
small. (The name
"ferrite" comes from the
iron of the core.)
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(Anisotropic) Magnetoresistive (MR/AMR) Heads

Thin Film (TF) Heads Thin Film (TF) heads--also called thin
An MR head employs a special conductive material
film inductive (TFI)
that changes its resistance in the presence of a
magnetic field. As the head passes over the surface
They are so named because of how of the disk, this material changes resistance as the
they are manufactured. TF heads are magnetic fields change corresponding to the stored
made using a photolithographic patterns on the disk. A sensor is used to detect
process similar to how processors are these changes in resistance, which allows the bits
made. on the platter to be read.

This produces a very small, precise MR technology is used for reading the disk only.
head whose characteristics can be For writing, a separate standard thin-film head is
carefully controlled, and allows the used. This splitting of chores into one head for
reading and another for writing has additional
bulky ferrite head design to be
advantages.
completely eliminated.

How does it work?

How does it work? The platter is coated with a film of microscopic magnetized metal grains.

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The data in the disk is recorded as a magnetic In each group, also known as bit, all of the grains have
pattern formed by groups of those tiny grains. their magnetizations aligned in one of two possible
states, one (1) and zero (0).

This magnet generates a field strong enough to change

Data is written onto the disk by converting strings of bits
into electrical current fed through an electromagnet. the direction of the metal grain’s magnetization.

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Once this information is written onto the disk, the drive

uses a magnetic reader to turn it back to its useful form.