Current bias, current sense for magneto-resistive preamplifier, preamplifying integrated circuit, and related methods

• US 6,134,060 A
• Filed: 06/10/1997
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Original Assignee: STMicroelectronics Incorporated (STMicroelectronics NV)
• Inventors: Ryat, Marc H.
• Primary Examiner(s): FABER, ALAN
• Application Number:
  US08/872,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 360/46, 360/66, 360/67, 360/113, 330/62, 330/290
• US Class Current: 360/46
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/09 Magnetoresistive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0018 by current biasing control or regulation
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/122 Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/012 Recording on, or reproducing or erasing from, magnetic disks G11B17/00, G11B19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/02 Recording, reproducing, or erasing methods; Read, write or erase circuits therefor

Abstract

A current bias, current sense magneto-resistive preamplifier for a hard disk drive and related methods preferably includes an MR sensor responsive to a current bias for sensing a change in magnetic data flux and responsively providing a change in electrical resistance. A preamplifying circuit is preferably connected to the MR sensor for providing the current bias thereto and for amplifying a detected change in electrical resistance. The preamplifying circuit includes a sensor biasing circuit for providing the current bias to the MR sensor and an amplifying output circuit for providing an amplified output signal representative of the detected change in current bias to the MR sensor. The sensor biasing circuit preferably includes a current source, a first amplifying circuit connected to the MR sensor for sensing the change in electrical resistance therefrom, and a second amplifying circuit having a first input connected to the first amplifying circuit and a second input connected to the current source. The sensor biasing circuit also includes a transconductance amplifying circuit connected to first and second outputs of the second amplifying circuit and having an output connected to the first amplifying circuit for providing an output current proportional to the voltage difference at the first and second inputs thereof. The preamplifier further includes a capacitor connected to the preamplifying circuit for providing stability to at least a portion of the preamplifying circuit.

Claims

1. A preamplifier for a hard disk drive, the preamplifier comprising:

a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor responsive to a current bias for sensing a change in magnetic data flux and responsively providing a change in electrical resistance;

preamplifying means connected to a supply voltage and to said MR sensor for providing a current bias to said MR sensor and for amplifying a detected change in electrical resistance from said MR sensor, said preamplifying means including a current-source sensor biasing circuit for providing a desired biasing current to said MR sensor and an amplifying output circuit connected to said current-source sensor biasing circuit for providing an amplified output signal representative of the detected change in biasing current supplied to said MR sensor due to the change in electrical resistance, the current-source sensor biasing circuit including a current source for generating a source current, a first amplifying circuit connected to said MR sensor and to a supply voltage for sensing the change in electrical resistance from said MR sensor, a second amplifying circuit having a first input connected to the first amplifying circuit and a second input connected to the current source, and a transconductance amplifying circuit having first and second differential inputs respectively connected to first and second outputs of the second amplifying circuit and having an output connected to the first amplifying circuit for providing an output current proportional to the voltage difference at the first and second inputs thereof; and

stabilizing means connected to said preamplifying means and to ground for stabilizing at least a portion of said preamplifying means.

2. A preamplifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said first amplifying circuit includes a transistor connected to said MR sensor and the first input of said second amplifying circuit and a resistor connected to the transistor and to the supply voltage.

3. A preamplifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said preamplifying means further includes a resistor connected to an output of said current source so that the current from the current source and the resistor define a reference voltage, the reference voltage being connected to the second input of the second amplifying circuit.

4. A preamplifier as defined in claim 3, wherein said preamplifying means further includes a capacitor connected to the supply voltage, the resistor, and the output of the current source for filtering noise from the current source.

5. A preamplifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means comprises a capacitor.

6. A preamplifier as defined in claim 1, wherein said preamplifying means comprises a preamplifying integrated circuit, the preamplifying integrated circuit having a substrate, a current source formed on the substrate so as to define the current source of said preamplifying means, a bipolar transistor formed on the substrate and having an emitter adapted to be connected to said MR sensor and a first resistor formed on the substrate and connected to a collector of the bipolar transistor and adapted to be connected to the supply voltage so that the transistor and resistor define the first amplifying circuit, a first differential amplifier formed on the substrate for defining the second amplifying circuit, and a second differential amplifier formed on the substrate for defining the amplifying output circuit.

7. A preamplifier as defined in claim 6, wherein said preamplifying integrated circuit further includes an operational transconductance amplifier formed on the substrate and connected to the base of the bipolar transistor for defining the transconductance amplifier.

8. A preamplifier as defined in claim 7, wherein the preamplifying integrated circuit further comprises a second resistor formed on the substrate and connected to an output of the current source so that the current from the current source and the second resistor define a reference voltage, the reference voltage being connected to the second input of the second amplifying circuit, and a capacitor formed on the substrate and connected to the supply voltage, the second resistor, and the output of the current source for filtering noise from the supply voltage.

9. A preamplifier as defined in claim 8, wherein the second resistor of the preamplifying integrated circuit comprises a second resistor value which is a predetermined multiple of the first resistor value, and wherein the current source generates a current which is a desired bias current for said MR sensor divided by the predetermined multiple.

10. A preamplifier for a hard disk drive, the preamplifier comprising:

a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor responsive to a current bias for sensing a change in magnetic data flux and responsively providing a change in electrical resistance; and

a preamplifying integrated circuit connected to a supply voltage and to said MR sensor for providing a current bias to said MR sensor and for detecting the change in electrical resistance from said MR sensor, said preamplifying integrated circuit including a current-source sensor biasing circuit for providing the current bias to said MR sensor and an amplifying output circuit connected to said current-source sensor biasing circuit for providing an amplified output signal representative of the change in current bias to said MR sensor due to the change in electrical resistance, the current-source sensor biasing circuit including a current source connected to ground and a supply voltage for generating a source current and a current biasing loop circuit for sensing a change in the biasing current responsive to a change in the electrical resistance of said MR sensor, the current biasing loop circuit comprising a first amplifying circuit connected to said MR sensor and to a supply voltage for biasingly driving said MR sensor so as to provide the change in electrical resistance, a second amplifying circuit having a first input connected to the first amplifying circuit and a second input connected to the current source, and a transconductance amplifying circuit having first and second inputs respectively connected to first and second outputs of the second amplifying circuit and having an output connected to the first amplifying circuit for providing an output current proportional to the voltage difference at the first and second inputs thereof, the output current driving the first amplifying circuit so as to bias said MR sensor.

11. A preamplifier as defined in claim 10, wherein said first amplifying circuit of said current biasing loop circuit includes a bipolar transistor having an emitter connected to said MR sensor and a resistor connected to the collector of the bipolar transistor and to the supply voltage, the collector of said bipolar transistor also being connected to the first input of the second amplifying circuit.

12. A preamplifier as defined in claim 11, wherein said preamplifying means further includes a resistor connected to an output of said current source so that the current from the current source and the resistor define a reference voltage, the reference voltage being connected to the second input of the second amplifying circuit of said current biasing loop circuit.

13. A preamplifier as defined in claim 12, wherein said preamplifying means further includes a capacitor connected to the supply voltage, the resistor, and the output of the current source for filtering noise from the current source.

14. A preamplifier as defined in claim 13, further comprising an external capacitor connected to said current biasing loop circuit of said preamplifying integrated circuit and to ground for stabilizing said current biasing loop circuit.

15. A preamplifier as defined in claim 10, wherein said preamplifying means comprises a preamplifying integrated circuit, the preamplifying integrated circuit having a substrate, a current source formed on the substrate so as to define the current source of said preamplifying means, a bipolar transistor formed on the substrate and having an emitter adapted to be connected to said MR sensor and a first resistor formed on the substrate and connected to a collector of the bipolar transistor and adapted to be connected to the supply voltage so that the transistor and resistor define the first amplifying circuit of said current biasing loop circuit, a first differential amplifier formed on the substrate for defining the second amplifying circuit of said current biasing loop circuit, and a second differential amplifier formed on the substrate for defining the output amplifying circuit.

16. A preamplifier as defined in claim 15, wherein said preamplifying integrated circuit further includes an operational transconductance amplifier formed on the substrate and connected to the base of the bipolar transistor for defining the transconductance amplifier of said current biasing loop circuit.

17. A preamplifier as defined in claim 16, wherein the preamplifying integrated circuit further comprises a second resistor formed on the substrate and connected to an output of the current source so that the current from the current source and the second resistor define a reference voltage, the reference voltage being connected to the second input of the second amplifying circuit, and an internal capacitor formed on the substrate and connected to the supply voltage, the second resistor, and the output of the current source for filtering noise from the supply voltage.

18. A preamplifier as defined in claim 17, wherein the second resistor of the preamplifying integrated circuit comprises a second resistor value which is a predetermined multiple of the first resistor value, and wherein the current source generates a current which is a desired bias current for said MR sensor divided by the predetermined multiple.

19. A preamplifying integrated circuit adapted to be connected to a supply voltage and to a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor for providing a current bias to the MR sensor and for detecting the change in electrical resistance from the MR sensor, the integrated circuit comprising:

a substrate;

a current-source sensor biasing circuit formed on said substrate for providing the current bias to the MR sensor, the current-source sensor biasing circuit including a current source for generating a source current and a current biasing loop circuit responsive to said current source for providing the biasing current to an MR sensor and for sensing a change in the biasing current responsive to a change in the electrical resistance of the MR sensor, the current biasing loop circuit comprising a first amplifying circuit adapted to be connected to an MR sensor for biasingly driving the MR sensor so as to detect the change in electrical resistance, a second amplifying circuit having a first input connected to the first amplifying circuit and a second input connected to the current source, and a transconductance amplifying circuit having first and second inputs respectively connected to first and second outputs of the second amplifying circuit and having an output connected to the first amplifying circuit and adapted to be connected to an external capacitor for providing an output current proportional to the voltage difference at the first and second inputs thereof, the output current driving the first amplifying circuit so as to bias the MR sensor; and

an amplifying output circuit formed on said substrate and connected to the current-source sensor biasing circuit for providing an amplified output signal representative of the change in current bias to the MR sensor due to the change in electrical resistance.

20. A preamplifying integrated circuit as defined in claim 19, wherein said first amplifying circuit of said current biasing loop circuit includes a bipolar transistor having an emitter adapted to be connected to an MR sensor and a resistor connected to the collector of the bipolar transistor and adapted to be connected to the supply voltage, the collector of said bipolar transistor also being connected to the first input of the second amplifying circuit.

21. A preamplifying integrated circuit as defined in claim 20, wherein the resistor of the first amplifying circuit comprises a first resistor, and the preamplifying integrated circuit further comprising a second resistor formed on said substrate, connected to an output of said current source, and adapted to be connected to a supply voltage so that the current from the current source and the second resistor define a reference voltage, the reference voltage being connected to the second input of the second amplifying circuit of said current biasing loop circuit.

22. A preamplifying integrated circuit as defined in claim 21, further comprising an internal capacitor formed on said substrate, connected to the second resistor and the output of the current source, and adapted to be connected to the supply voltage for filtering noise from the current source.

23. A preamplifying integrated circuit as defined in claim 22, wherein the second resistor of the preamplifying integrated circuit comprises a second resistor value which is a predetermined multiple of the first resistor value, and wherein the current source generates a current which is a desired bias current for an MR sensor divided by the predetermined multiple.

24. A method of biasing a magneto-resistive (MR) sensor so as to detect a change in the electrical resistance of the MR sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a reference voltage responsive to a source current and a supply, voltage;

providing a first amplifying circuit responsive to the supply voltage to thereby generate an initial biasing voltage so as to supply an initial biasing current across the MR sensor and to thereby amplify a sensed change in the biasing current;

providing a second amplifying circuit having first and second inputs respectively connected to the reference voltage and the initial biasing voltage to amplify a difference between the reference voltage and the initial biasing voltage; and

providing a transconductance amplifier connected to the first amplifying circuit and the outputs of the second amplifying circuit to thereby generate a driving current for the first amplifying circuit proportional to the determined voltage difference between the reference voltage and the initial biasing voltage so that the first amplifying circuit supplies a desired biasing current across the MR sensor.

25. A method as defined in claim 24, further comprising sensing a change in the biasing current across the MR sensor responsive to a change in magnetic data flux and changing the biasing voltage supplied to the second input of the second amplifying circuit responsive to the changed biasing current.

26. A method as defined in claim 25, further comprising providing a third amplifying circuit connected to the outputs of the second amplifying circuit to amplify a voltage difference between the reference voltage and the changed biasing voltage and thereby provide an output signal representative of the detection of change in magnetic data flux by the MR sensor.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, further comprising providing a capacitor connected to ground and the output of the transconductance amplifier to thereby stabilize a loop defined by the first amplifying circuit, the second amplifying circuit connected to the first amplifying circuit, and the transconductance amplifier connected to the first and second amplifying circuits.