Abstract: Described herein is a mobile data storage magazine for interacting with a docking station. The magazine can include a magazine frame containing a plurality of operatively interconnected disk drives, a first contact element associated with the magazine frame capable of conducting electrical power to at least one of the plurality of disk drives when engaged with a second contact element associated with the docking station wherein the first and second contact elements are adapted to cooperate in a non male/female relationship. The magazine can further comprise a first communication element capable of conducting data between at least one of the plurality of disk drives and the docking station when the first communication element is operatively linked to a second communication element associated with the docking station.

Abstract: This invention provides a high-output magnetic head with a high yield, which is capable of minimizing sense current leak or noise caused by a shift of the magnetic wall of an upper shield layer. In one embodiment, the magnetic head is fabricated so that the height of the upper surface of the refill film along the sensor height direction is the same as that of the magnetoresistance layer in a portion where the refill film along the sensor height direction comes in contact with the magnetoresistance layer and the distance from the upper surface of the refill film along the sensor height direction to the upper surface of the lower shield layer gradually increases in a region from the portion where the refill film along the sensor height direction comes in contact with the magnetoresistance layer to a point at a certain distance away from the portion.

Abstract: The disc cartridge of the present invention includes a cartridge body 11, 12, shutters 21, 22, disc holding portions and a stopper member 23. The cartridge body has a disc window 12w and a bottom 11u and stores a disc 100 in a rotatable state with one side exposed through the disc window. A bottom window 11c, 11h is opened through the bottom so as to get the disc chucked and to allow a head to access it. The shutters 21, 22 open or shut the bottom window 11c, 11h. A rotational member 25 is supported by the cartridge body 11, 12 to be rotatable and interlocked with the shutters 21, 22 so as to open and close the shutters 21, 22 by rotating. The disc holding portions 21d, 22c, 22d interlock with the shutters 21, 22 opening or closing to hold or release the disc 100. The stopper member 23 is supported by the cartridge body to take a position protruding into the disc window 12w or a non-protruding position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a simple disk drive and drive unit driving mechanism with compact size in which each part is able to operate smoothly. The disk drive and drive unit driving mechanism comprise a disk holder 10 that has a plurality of holder plates 11 that individually hold disks D, a drive unit 62 that plays back disks D, disk selectors 41A and 41B that form a space above and below a desired disk D by raising and lowering the holder plates 11, and a drive base 60 that moves the drive unit 62 into a space that is formed by raising and lowering the holder plates 11. The disk selectors 41A and 41B are provided with flat cams 41Aa to 41Ac and 41Ba to 41Bc in which the protrusion 14 a provided on the holder plate 11 is inserted so as to be capable of performing a sliding movement, such that the tips of the cams are wedge-shaped. The holder plates 11 above and below the desired disk D rise and fall in accordance with the sliding movement of the disk selectors 41A and 41B.

Abstract: A protection device for the optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes at least one cover, a front panel fixed to the cover at a front opening, and at least one blocking strip extending down from a front of the cover. A clasping portion defining a first clasping hole extends from a front of the cover. A first latch engageable in the first clasping hole is formed on the front panel. The blocking strip prevents debris of an optical disk from flying out and causing damage to the optical recording/reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: A giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor with side longitudinal bias (LB) stacks is proposed for magnetic recording at ultrahigh densities. The GMR sensor extends from a read region into two side regions. The side LB stacks overlies the GMR sensor in the two side regions, rigidly pinning sense layers through antiparallel coupling across an antiparallel coupling spacer layer. Magnetostatic interactions occur in the sense layers between the read and side regions, thereby stabilizing the sense layers in the read region.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head with which an error rate is decreased due to a reduction of a jitter without significant decrease in write field, is provided. The head comprises at least one inductive write head element comprising: a main magnetic pole layer having an inner saturation magnetic flux density varying from both side end surfaces in a track-width direction and a leading end surface, toward a center portion in the track-width direction of a trailing end surface; an auxiliary magnetic pole layer; and at least one coil layer, a curvature width WC of a contour line of a write field adjacent to a trailing edge on an ABS side of the main magnetic pole layer satisfying the following expression: ?0.15*WT?WC<12 where WT is a track width and a unit of WC and WT is nanometer.

Abstract: A casing (10) for an optical disk player includes a body (14) for housing a disk playing mechanism, and a top lid (12). The top lid is closable downward to a closed position for covering at least part of the body, and is openable upward to an open position for loading or unloading an optical disk. A pair of pivot pins (440, 584) is formed on opposite lateral sides of the body respectively, and a pair of pivot holes (220, 34) is defined in opposite lateral sides of the top lid respectively. The pivot pins are movably received in the pivot holes. A resilient member (56) is interposed between the body and the top lid, for resiliently loading the top lid in a direction toward its open position. In assembly, at least one of the pivot pins is insertable into the corresponding pivot hole by deforming the top lid slightly.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a storage media cartridge in a data storage library is disclosed. The apparatus includes an accessor, a pinion and a rack having a straight section and a curved section. The curved section includes multiple rack teeth that are capable of rotating independently from each other to allow the pinion to travel along the straight section and onto the curved section of the rack, or vice versa, without any interruption.

Abstract: The present invention provides a thin film magnetic head capable of satisfying both assurance of recording performance and assurance of reproduction performance. In the case where a lower magnetic layer is formed of an iron cobalt alloy (for example, Fe65Co35) which contains iron in a range of 60 at % to 80 at % and has extremely high saturation magnetic flux density of 2.4 T or higher, a head isolation layer formed of ruthenium (Ru) is provided between the lower magnetic layer and an upper read shield layer portion. As compared with the case where the head isolation layer is not provided between the lower magnetic layer and the upper read shield layer portion, the strength of a recording magnetic field increases and a reproduction output of an MR element is stabilized.

Abstract: A parasitic capacity C4 generated between a slider substrate and the first shield layer with the first insulating layer as a capacity layer is made substantially equal to a parasitic capacity C2 occurring between a lower magnetic layer and the second shield layer with the third insulating layer as a capacity layer. Preferably, a connection is made between the lower magnetic layer and the slider substrate by a resistance of preferably 100 (?) or lower. Thus, it is possible to provide a thin-film magnetic head that can hold back deterioration in a reproducing device and the occurrence of errors due to crosstalk between a recording device and the reproducing device and extraneous noises.

Abstract: A magnetic recording device which can write magnetic information with high density. The device uses, for a magnetic recording layer of a magnetic recording medium, a magnetic material whose anisotropy energy varies with an applied electric field. The head has an electrode for applying an electric field to a recording area of the magnetic recording medium. Magnetic recording is performed by applying an AC electric field from the electrode while a DC magnetic field is applied to the recording area of the magnetic recording layer.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval device utilizes a data cartridge recording and playback apparatus and has storage magazines for holding a plurality of data cartridges for use by the recording and playback apparatus. The storage magazines have slots for storing the data cartridges and retaining the data cartridges in place when not being accessed using a cartridge latch. A spring moves the cartridge to an eject position upon release of the cartridge latch. Similarly, the storage magazines have a latch to secure the magazine in place and to selectively release the magazine when desired. The spring loaded ejection apparatus for the magazines is damped to provide slowed movement during the ejection of the magazine. Further, a catch secures the magazine in a partially ejected position to permit exchange of one or a limited number of the cartridges without complete removal of the magazine from the device, and preferably without halting the operation of the device.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element is disclosed that includes a magnetoresistive film; a cap film configured to cover the magnetoresistive film and include a three-layer structure in at least a part thereof, the three-layer structure being formed of a third protection layer, a second protection layer, and a first protection layer in order from the magnetoresistive film side; and upper and lower terminals for applying a sense current perpendicularly to the surface of the magnetoresistive film. The magnetoresistive film includes a first magnetic layer whose direction of magnetization is changed by an external magnetic field, a second magnetic layer whose direction of magnetization is fixed with respect to the external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic layer magnetically separating the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: An optical disc drive comprising at least a housing, an optical disc cassette, a cassette ejector and a fixing element is provided. The housing has an ejection opening. The cassette ejector and the fixing element are disposed in the housing. The optical disc cassette is disposed inside the housing for holding a plurality of optical discs. The housing has an open fixing groove. The fixing element lodges on the open fixing groove when the optical disc cassette is pushed into the housing. When the optical disc cassette is manually ejected, a manual ejection element that passes through the ejection opening is used to change the relative position between the fixing element and the open fixing groove. Consequently, the optical disc cassette can be ejected from the housing by the cassette ejector.

Abstract: A nonmagnetic material-noncontact layer forming a fixed magnetic layer is formed using CoFe, a nonmagnetic material-contact layer is formed using Co, and an NOL (Nano-Oxide Layer) is provided between the nonmagnetic material-noncontact layer and the nonmagnetic material-contact layer. In addition, the average film thickness of the nonmagnetic material-contact layer is set in the range of 16 to 19 ?. Accordingly, compared to a three-layered structure composed of CoFe, an NOL, and CoFe or a three-layered structure composed of Co, an NOL, and Co, which has been conventionally used, the rate (?R/R) of change in resistance and the unidirectional exchange bias magnetic field (Hex*) can both be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing solder pad size in an electrical lead suspension (ELS) to decrease signal path capacitive discontinuities. The method provides a base-metal layer for the ELS. A dielectric layer above the base-metal layer is also provided. A signal conductive layer is provided above dielectric layer. The signal conductive layer carries at least one solder pad portion, wherein both a size of the solder pad portion and an amount of solder applied to the solder pad portion are reduced such that the solder pad to a ground, and solder on the solder pad to adjacent solder on adjacent pads, capacitance are reduced providing low signal reflection losses and a decrease in cross-talk.

Abstract: A HGA of the invention includes a slider, a micro-actuator for adjusting the position of the slider; a suspension to load the slider and the micro-actuator; and a vibration canceller interposed between the micro-actuator and the suspension. The micro-actuator includes a first base-part plate, a pair of actuator side arms extending from the first base-part plate in a first direction, and at least one of side arms has a piezoelectric element thereon. The vibration canceller includes a second base-part plate to connect with the micro-actuator and the suspension; and at least one canceling arm extending from the second base-part plate in the first direction or in a second direction, wherein at least one of canceling arms has a piezoelectric element thereon. The invention also discloses a disk drive with the vibration canceller.

Abstract: The disk changer comprises a disk holder and a casing. The disk holder has a holder bottom wall and a fastening hole therein, and the fastening hole has a position part. The casing has a holder receiving space and a bottom plate thereof. The holder receiving space is used for receiving the disk holder. The disk holder further comprises a movable body and a fastener. The fastener, protruding from the movable body, is fixed at the position part when the disk holder is inserted into the holder receiving space.

Abstract: A CPP-type magnetoresistive element including a fixed magnetization layer, a non-magnetic metal layer, and a free magnetization layer that are stacked, and a diffusion prevention layer is disclosed. The free magnetization layer includes CoMnAl. The diffusion prevention layer is provided between the non-magnetic metal layer and the free magnetization layer so as to prevent Mn included in the free magnetization layer from diffusing into the non-magnetic metal layer. CoMnAl has a composition within the area formed by connecting Point A (44, 23, 33), Point B (48, 25, 27), Point C (60, 20, 20), Point D (65, 15, 20), Point E (65, 10, 25), Point F (60, 10, 30), and Point A with straight lines in this order in a ternary composition diagram where coordinates of the composition are expressed as (Co content, Mn content, Al content) with each of the Co, Mn, and Al contents being expressed in atomic percentage.