Abstract: A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a support frame integrated with a suspension flexure of the head gimbal assembly, a block, and a pair of PZT elements. The support frame includes a bottom support, a top support adapted to support a slider of the head gimbal assembly, and a pair of side arms that interconnect the bottom support and the top support. The side arms extend vertically from respective sides of the bottom support and the top support. The block is mounted to the bottom support to provide resonance balance. Each PZT element is mounted to a respective side arm of the support frame and a respective side of the block. The PZT elements are excitable to cause selective movement of the side arms.

Abstract: An extraordinary magnetoresistive device EMR having a discontinuous shunt structure. The discontinuous shunt structure improves the linearity of response of the EMR device. The EMR device includes a EMR heterostructure that includes an EMR active layer. The heterostructure can include first, second and third semiconductor layers, with the second layer being sandwiched between the first and third layers. The middle, or second semiconductor layer provides a two dimensional electron gas. The heterostructure has first and second opposed sides, with a pair of voltage leads and a pair of current leads connected with the first side of the structure. The discontinuous shunt structure is connected with the second side of the structure and may be in the form of a series of discontinuous, electrically conductive elements, such as semi-spherical gold elements.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing element exhibiting a large ?RA is provided, in which a free magnetic layer has a small coercive force Hc and a small magnetostriction constant ?s. The free magnetic layer includes a Co2MnZ alloy layer (where Z may represent at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Sn, In, Sb, Ga, Si, Ge, Pb, and Zn) and a (NiaFe100-a)bX100-b alloy layer (where X may represent at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Au, Ag, Zn, Mn, Al, Cd, Zr, and Hf, a may represent a composition ratio satisfying 80<a?100, and b may represent a composition ratio satisfying 60<b?100). Consequently, the magnetostriction constant ?s and the coercive force Hc of the free magnetic layer may be decreased and the soft magnetic properties of the free magnetic layer may be improved.

Abstract: A spin valve type magnetoresistive effect element for vertical electric conduction includes a magnetoresistive effect film in which a resistance adjustment layer made of a material containing conductive carriers not more than 1022/cm3 is inserted. Thus the resistance value of a portion in change of spin-relied conduction is raised to an adequate valve, thereby to increase the resistance variable amount.

Abstract: In a spindle hub configured for rotation about an axis, through holes extend from a first end of the spindle hub to a second end of the spindle hub. The through holes are generally parallel to the axis. A method of achieving two-plane balance of a disc pack assembly by positioning one or more weights in one or more of the through holes and retaining the weight in the position, such that it is possible to access each weight from the top of the spindle hub.

Abstract: An optical recording medium using Sn as the recording material to improve the jitter is provided, in which on the surface of a disc substrate 11 where a concave and convex shape dividing a track area is formed, are formed on the surface of the concave and convex shape a first protective layer 31 for protecting at least an optical recording layer 31, an optical recording layer 12 using a chemical compound at least composed of tin (Sn), nitrogen (N) and oxygen (O), formed on the first protective layer, a second protective layer 32 for protecting this optical recording layer, formed on this optical recording layer, and a light-transmittable layer 13 formed on the second protective layer; with this structure, the optical recording layer 12 under high temperature and high humidity can be stabilized by means of the first and second protective layers 31 and 32.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a practically usable, recordable or rewritable optical information recording medium having a pair of recording layers and a recording and reproducing apparatus for the medium. The recording medium has a pair of recording layer structures on a substrate so as to sandwich a resin intermediate layer, and a recording beam and a reproducing beam are irradiated to two recording layer structures. The pair of recording layer structures respectively have a different track pitch, and the ratio of difference in the track pitch defined by Expression 1 is +0.03 to +0.15, (T2?T1)/T1 ??Expression 1 T1 represents a track pitch of the recording layer structure disposed on the laser beam irradiation side, and T2 represents a track pitch of the recording layer structure disposed on the inner side.

Abstract: An integral recording head, for use in a linear tape drive system, includes a circumferentially grooved roller guide assembly and a recording head actuator assembly. The circumferential groove feature is incorporated on the surfaces of the roller guide assembly, and provides a substantial frictional contact force that acts to reduce the lateral motion, and further attenuates high frequency lateral disturbances of the magnetic tape. The reduced high frequency content of the lateral disturbances significantly improves the ability of the actuator to achieve a desired track following control. The grooved roller guide assembly is formed integrally of two solid cylindrical contact surfaces separated by a circumferential slot that accommodates the recording head actuator assembly.

Abstract: An actuator used with an optical pickup includes: a base on which a holder is fixed; a lens holder in which a plurality of installation holes are formed such that a plurality of objective lenses to record and/or reproduce optical discs having different recording densities are installed at different heights; a support member, which movably supports the lens holder, having one end coupled to the lens holder and the other end coupled to the holder; and a magnetic circuit which drives the lens holder in focusing and tracking directions. The plurality of installation holes include a first installation hole in which a first objective lens for at least one type of low density optical disc is installed, and a second installation hole in which a second objective lens for a higher density optical disc than the low density optical disc is installed.

Abstract: A magnetic tunneling junction device has a fixed ferromagnetic layer, a free ferromagnetic layer, and an insulating tunnel barrier layer made of gallium oxide. The insulating tunneling barrier layer is deposited by RF sputtering of gallium oxide. The magnetic tunneling junction device has a resistance area product less than 7 ?·?m2.

Abstract: An optical recording medium is provided which has a substrate and a signal recording layer provided on the substrate and in which an information signal is recorded in the form of microscopic pits. A light beam is focused on the signal recording layer and some change of the light beam carried by a return light from the signal recording layer is detected to read the information signal recorded on the signal recording layer. The optical recording medium has a diameter of 65 mm or less and a thickness of 0.4 to 0.7 mm. An information signal recording area extends outwardly from a radial position of 12.5 mm or less from the center of the medium. The ratio in area between the information signal recording area and non-signal recording area is 3.4 or more. The storage capacity of this medium is 2 gigabytes or more. The optical recording medium has formed at the center thereof a center hole around which an annular table-abutment convexing to one side of the medium is formed.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a stack type optical disk changer including a main frame, a cartridge slidably installed on the main frame, a plurality of disk trays slidably stacked in the cartridge, and a cartridge movement preventing means installed in the main frame, for selectively stopping movement of the cartridge. The stack type optical disk changer maintains quality of sound or image of an optical disk, and prevents damages of the optical disk, mis-operations and breakage, by preventing the optical disk from being separated from the tray.

Abstract: An optical disc drive including a clamping mechanism, which faces a turntable, supports a surface of a disc, and is rotated. The clamping mechanism includes a clamper, which has access to the disc by a magnetic force when a spindle motor has access to the disc so that the disc is not deviated from a mounting portion when clamping is not completely performed, and a return member, which allows the clamper to be spaced apart from the disc as the spindle motor is spaced apart from the disc.

Abstract: Provided is a disk carrying mechanism, in which a guide member (32) is installed on a disk guide block (41) and the disk guide block (41) with the guide member (32) being disposed on an opposite side of a roller (31) with a carrying route therebetween. The guide member (32) is formed as a ridge extending in a direction orthogonal to a direction of a carrying route and inclined from a center part to a peripheral edge part of a disk so that its height can be increased.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward the field of spintronics, and in particular, systems and devices capable of performing spin coherent quantum logic operations. The inventive spin valve comprises two ferromagnetic electrode layers, and a non-magnetic conducting layer positioned therebetween. An external magnetic field {right arrow over (B)}0 is applied in the Z direction, such that the two electrode layers are each magnetized in a direction substantially parallel to the external magnetic field. Rather than attempting to change the magnetization of one of the ferromagnetic layers, as is the case in prior art technologies, it is the direction of the electron spin that is manipulated in the present embodiments while the electron is traveling through the middle, nonmagnetic layer. One of the ferromagnetic electrodes may be the tip of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM).

Abstract: An optical pickup device is provided that permits, with an inexpensive construction, adjustment of the parallelism of a pair of guide rods for guiding an optical head relative to a recording surface of an optical disc. The guide rods 2 receive, from twist coil springs 5 fitted to a chassis, an elastic restoring force and are thereby loaded with a force that tends to move the guide rods 2 away from the recording surface of the optical disc. At a position close to each of at least three of a total of four ends 2a of the guide rods 2, an adjustment screw 5 is fitted to the chassis by being screw-engaged into a nut 6 so as to, when rotated, move close to and away from the recording surface of the optical disc. The position in which the guide rods 2 remain loaded with the force is determined as a result of the outer circumference of the guide rods 2 at the at least three ends 2a thereof making contact with a flat inner end face 5aa on the head portion 5a of each of the adjustment screws 5.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention avoid erasure of recorded data by concentrating stray fields on a magnetic head element. According to one embodiment, in a magnetic storage apparatus using a perpendicular recording medium with a soft magnetic under layer, a soft magnetic shield is provided so as to surround the upper parts and sides of magnetic head elements. A distance between the soft magnetic shield and the medium is shorter than that between the soft magnetic shield and the magnetic head element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing heat absorption around solder pads on an electrical lead suspension (ELS). The method provides a base-metal layer having at least one opening. A dielectric layer is also provided above the base-metal layer, the dielectric layer covering a portion of the base-metal layer and at least one of the openings in the base-metal layer. A signal conductive layer is provided above dielectric layer. The signal conductive layer carries at least one solder pad portion, wherein the solder pad portion is placed above the portion of the dielectric layer such that the solder pad portion does not align with the at least one opening in the base-metal layer. In so doing, the heat absorption with respect to the base-metal layer is reduced.

Abstract: An electronic component according to one embodiment comprises a portion of a row cut from a wafer; and a closure coupled to the portion of the row of the wafer towards a first edge of the portion of the row of the wafer; the portion of the row of the wafer having a bonding area positioned adjacent a second edge of the portion of the row of the wafer, the second edge of the portion of the row of the wafer being positioned opposite the first edge of the portion of the row of the wafer and along a same side thereof, wherein the bonding area includes a layer of adhesive thereon, wherein the adhesive coupled to the bonding area is spaced from the closure. Additional systems and methods are also presented.

Abstract: A magnetic head is disclosed having a CPP read head which produces reduced cross-track interference. The CPP read head includes a read sensor, a first shield and a second shield. The second shield has side drapes having an edge portion adjacent to the read sensor. The side drapes include a plurality of laminated layers which discourages formation of closure domains at the edge portions, and thus maintaining the side drapes in a state of high magnetic permeability. The laminated layers each include a magnetic layer and a non-magnetic spacer layer. Also disclosed is an edge closed lamination structure.