Abstract: A microactuator suspension assembly has a load beam structure with at least three layers of material in certain portions of the proximal area between the baseplate area and the spring area, the first and third layers comprising substantially inextensible metal, the second layer comprising extensible plastic, the plastic layer operating in shear when driven by an electrodynamically variable microactuator to make a microadjustment of the suspension.

Abstract: A compact tape drive for reading and writing data on single reel magnetic tape cartridges. The compact tape drive has a tape threading mechanism that extracts the leader block from the magnetic tape cartridge and threads the leader block into a takeup reel that is located juxtaposed to the loaded magnetic tape cartridge. A separate magnetic tape wrap mechanism having a plurality of cooperatively operative tape wrap arms is also provided to position the magnetic tape around a set of tape guides and the read/write head. The magnetic tape wrap mechanism functions both to thread the magnetic around the takeup reel, spanning the space in front of the read/write head, and then to wrap the magnetic tape around the read/write head. In addition, the tape elevator, electronics and other standard tape drive assemblies are included in a predefined volume.

Abstract: Nano-oxide based current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) magnetoresistive (MR) sensor stacks are provided, together with methods for forming such stacks. Such stacks have increased resistance and enhanced magnetoresistive properties relative to CPP stacks made entirely of metallic layers. Said enhanced properties are provided by the insertion of magnetic nano-oxide layers between ferromagnetic layers and non-magnetic spacer layers, whereby said nano-oxide layers increase resistance and exhibit spin filtering properties. CPP sensor stacks of various types are provided, all having nano-oxide layers formed therein, including the spin-valve type and the synthetic antiferromagnetic pinned layer spin-valve type. Said stacks can also be formed upon each other to provide laminated stacks of different types.

Abstract: A magnetic tunnel effect type magnetic head comprising a first soft magnetic conductive layer which is to provide a lower shielding layer 24, a metal oxide layer 25 and a first nonmagnetic conductive layer, formed on the first soft magnetic conductive layer, to provide a lower gap layer 26, a magnetic tunnel junction layer 34 formed on the first nonmagnetic conductive layer to provide a magnetic tunnel junction element 27, a second nonmagnetic conductive layer formed on the magnetic tunnel junction layer 34 to provide an upper gap layer 28; and a second soft magnetic conductive layer formed on the second nonmagnetic conductive layer to provide an upper shielding layer 29, the metal oxide layer 25 in the lower gap layer 26 being formed beneath at least the magnetic tunnel junction layer 27.

Abstract: A holder for holding at least one compact disc includes structure that releasably engages part of a peripheral edge of the disc, such that a continuous, flush, and planar upper surface is formed when the holder is engaged with the disc.

Abstract: A height adjusting mechanism for a tape guide pin has a tape guide arm, a plate spring member, and a height adjusting screw. The tape guide arm is supported by a VCR chassis in a swingable and vertically movable manner, and the tape guide pin is attached to one end of the arm. In the plate spring member, one end is fixed to the VCR chassis, the other end is a free end, and the upper face of the free end butts against the lower face of the tape guide arm. The height adjusting screw is screwed with the free end of the plate spring member, and the tip end of the screw is pressingly contacted with the VCR chassis by the elastic force of the plate spring member, and a head portion of the screw vertically overlaps with the other end of the tape guide arm.

Abstract: A filter arrangement for a recording/reproducing wherein an air filter is adapted to filter an air flow of ambient air present within the housing during operation of the device flowing over an information surface of a rotating information disc disposed adjacent to the information surface in parallel spaced relation thereto, a casing within the housing encasing an information surface of an information disc disposed on the disc driving arrangement and provided with an air inlet for air to be filtered and an air exhaust for filtered air.

Abstract: A pick for a compact disc controller is provided in which a tip of the pick defines a plurality of flexible outer wall segments. An internal plunger is used to expand the wall segments in a radial direction, thereby retaining a CD onto the outer perimeter of the pick. Upon release of the plunger, the pick returns to its original dimensions and thereby releases the CD.

Abstract: An HGA has a head slider including at least one write head element with terminal electrodes and at least one read head element with terminal electrodes, a suspension for supporting the head slider at a top end section thereof, and a lead conductor member including first trace conductors and second trace conductors. One ends of the first trace conductors are electrically connected to the terminal electrodes of the at least one write head element, and one ends of the second trace conductors are electrically connected to the terminal electrodes of the at least one read head element. At least part of the lead conductor member is fixed to the suspension. The lead conductor member further includes a ground (GND) or source voltage (Vcc) conductor inserted between the first and second trace conductors.

Abstract: A head support mechanism includes a slider for carrying a head at least for performing reproduction of data from a disk, and a holding portion for holding the slider. The holding portion includes: a first portion including a first piezoelectric element; a second portion including a second piezoelectric element; a third portion connected to the first and second portions, the slider being provided on the third portion; and fixing portion for fixing the first and second portions. At least one of the first and second piezoelectric elements is contracted and expanded in a direction substantially parallel to a surface of the disk, in the presence of an applied voltage so that the slider provided on the third portion is rotated around a predetermined center of rotation.

Abstract: In an optical recording/reproducing apparatus, and in particular to a head of an optical recording/reproducing apparatus, the optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes a slider at which an objective lens is installed at a top surface of the slider and a solid immersion lens (SIL) installation hole formed below the objective lens penetrates toward to the bottom surface of the slider in order to install a SIL; a flying device fixedly installed around the SIL installation hole at the bottom surface of the slider in order to lift the slider above an optical recording medium; wherein a sectional area of the slider parallel to a surface of the optical recording medium increases from the bottom surface to the top surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to a structure for and a method of adjusting the position of a magnetic head especially tangentially of a magnetic disk with improved accuracy for use in an optomagnetic disk device. The device has a head support unit 20 comprising a pickup 12 having an objective lens 10 mounted thereon, and a head arm 14 connected to the pickup 12 and provided with a magnetic head 16, the head arm 14 being adjustable in position relative to the pickup 12 so that the magnetic head 16 is opposed to the objective lens 10 on the pickup 12, the head support unit 20 being movable radially of the disk. The pickup 12 has at least one screw hole 22 for attaching the head arm 14 thereto, and the head arm 14 has a slit 24 opposed to the screw hole 22 of the pickup 12 and in parallel to the tangential direction of the disk. A screw 26 is slidably fitted in the slit 24 of the head arm 14 and has its distal end screwed in the screw hole 22.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head comprising a substrate, a lower magnetic pole provided on the substrate, a write gap layer located on the lower magnetic pole, and an upper magnetic pole located on the gap layer, the upper magnetic pole including a plating base layer in contact with the gap layer, wherein the plating base layer of the upper magnetic pole is made of a magnetic film having a saturation magnetic flux density of 1.2 T or larger. The thin film magnetic head has an increased recording density, and is adapted to recording at an increased frequency.

Abstract: A method makes a spin valve sensor of a magnetic read head which includes the steps of forming a ferromagnetic pinned layer structure that has a magnetic moment, forming a pinning layer exchange coupled to the pinned layer structure for pinning the magnetic moment of the pinned layer structure, forming a free layer structure, forming a nonmagnetic electrically conductive spacer layer between the free layer and the pinned layer structure and the forming of the free layer structure including the step of sputter depositing at least a first free layer composed of cobalt iron directly on the spacer layer in a nitrogen atmosphere.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a multilayered main write pole. The main write pole includes a first layer of material, a second layer of material, and an interlayer positioned between the first layer of material and the second layer of material. The second layer of material has a saturation magnetic moment greater than a saturation magnetic moment of the first layer of material.

Abstract: A tape cartridge having an identification hole for the prevention of accidental removal of recorded information or for no erasing formed in a housing of the cartridge and an additional identification hole formed in the vicinity of the first hole for a different purpose, both of the holes being adapted to engage with a no-erasing member which opens or closes the same. The no-erasing member when incorporated in the cartridge is able to open or close the no-erasing identification hole depending on the position of the member itself while normally closing the different-purpose identification hole and, when not incorporated in the cartridge, it allows the different-purpose identification hole to remain open whereby the tape cartridge is identified to be a different one. The two identification holes may be united into one. The different-purpose identification hole may be a hole intended for the identification of a cleaning cartridge.

Abstract: Provided is a storage device and method for interfacing with an external device. The storage device includes a portable housing, a storage medium enclosed within the housing, and two data interfaces at different locations on the housing, wherein both the data interfaces are capable of providing data communication with the external device. A controller is enclosed within the housing and implements logic to select one of the two data interfaces to use to transfer data between the storage medium and the external device.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head includes a perpendicular writing pole and a longitudinal field generator which rotates the magnetization of the perpendicular recording media prior to writing, thereby facilitating magnetization switching. The longitudinal magnetic field may be provided by a narrowed gap between the trailing write pole and the leading return pole of the head. The gap structure is designed to provide a fringing magnetic field between the poles which generates the longitudinal magnetic field in perpendicular recording media as the media travels under the perpendicular writing pole.

Abstract: In a magnetic tape drive including a magnetic head for accessing a magnetic tape traveling along a traveling path, a sensor is provided for detecting behavior of the magnetic tape. A flexible circuit board is connected to the sensor. A hook is disposed in the vicinity of the sensor. The circuit board is folded to form a curved portion between the circuit board and the hook.

Abstract: A single pole magnetic recording head is provided according to the present invention for perpendicular magnetic recording on a recording medium. The magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole and a coil magnetically coupled to the main pole for magnetizing the main pole in a first magnetization direction. The magnetic recording head further includes a layer of ferromagnetic material anti-ferromagnetically coupled to the main pole such that magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer is in a second magnetization direction substantially anti-parallel to the first magnetization direction of the main pole.