Patent ID: 7525771
Filing Date: 2009-04-28
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. A magnetic storage apparatus comprising: a magnetic recording medium; a magnetic head having a recording element and a magnetoresistive spin-valve element; a recording/reproduction controller configured to record and reproduce information in and from the magnetic recording medium using the magnetic head; a determination unit configured to determine a direction of the magnetization of a pinned layer of the spin-valve element when a reproduction error has occurred, the pinned layer being adjacent to an antiferromagnetic layer; and a magnetization recovery unit configured to supply a first alternating current to the recording element, while supplying a third current for generating a magnetic field in a prescribed direction of the magnetization of the pinned layer to the spin-valve element, to restore the direction of the magnetization of the pinned layer to the prescribed direction when the magnetization of the pinned layer is inverted with respect to the prescribed direction.