Abstract: The current sensor comprises: a magnetic detecting device that is arranged in the vicinity of a conductor, to which a magnetic field to be measured induced by a current flowing through the conductor is applied, and that changes an electrical resistance in response to a change in the magnetic field to be measured; two coils that generate a canceling magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field to be measured and that are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detecting device; a shunt resistor, that is connected in series between the two coils, for detecting a current flowing through the coils; a first differential amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the magnetic detecting device and that supplies the current to induce the canceling magnetic field to the coils; and a second differential amplifier that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor and that outputs a measured voltage proportional to the current flowing through the conductor.

Abstract: The current sensor comprises: a magnetic detecting device that is arranged in the vicinity of a conductor, to which a magnetic field to be measured induced by a current flowing through the conductor is applied, and that changes an electrical resistance in response to a change in the magnetic field to be measured; two coils that generate a canceling magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field to be measured and that are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detecting device; a shunt resistor, that is connected in series between the two coils, for detecting a current flowing through the coils; a first differential amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the magnetic detecting device and that supplies the current to induce the canceling magnetic field to the coils; and a second differential amplifier that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor and that outputs a measured voltage proportional to the current flowing through the conductor.

Abstract: The current sensor comprises: a magnetic detecting device that is arranged in the vicinity of a conductor, to which a magnetic field to be measured induced by a current flowing through the conductor is applied, and that changes an electrical resistance in response to a change in the magnetic field to be measured; two coils that generate a canceling magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field to be measured and that are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detecting device; a shunt resistor, that is connected in series between the two coils, for detecting a current flowing through the coils; a first differential amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the magnetic detecting device and that supplies the current to induce the canceling magnetic field to the coils; and a second differential amplifier that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor and that outputs a measured voltage proportional to the current flowing through the conductor.

Abstract: The current sensor comprises: a magnetic detecting device that is arranged in the vicinity of a conductor, to which a magnetic field to be measured induced by a current flowing through the conductor is applied, and that changes an electrical resistance in response to a change in the magnetic field to be measured; two coils that generate a canceling magnetic field to cancel the magnetic field to be measured and that are arranged in the vicinity of the magnetic detecting device; a shunt resistor, that is connected in series between the two coils, for detecting a current flowing through the coils; a first differential amplifier that amplifies the output signal of the magnetic detecting device and that supplies the current to induce the canceling magnetic field to the coils; and a second differential amplifier that amplifies the voltage across the shunt resistor and that outputs a measured voltage proportional to the current flowing through the conductor.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head executing magnetic recording while locally heating a magnetic recording medium includes a plasmon generator generating surface plasmon and generating near-field light from the surface plasmon at an end surface situated on an air bearing surface facing the magnetic recording medium, a main pole being in contact with the plasmon generator and exposed on the air bearing surface, a metal protective layer situated on an opposite side to the plasmon generator when viewed from the main pole and positioned to overlap with a part of the main pole when viewed from one side in a down track direction, and an overcoat protective layer covering the metal protective layer. The overcoat protective layer is formed on a flat surface at least at a position where it overlaps with the main pole when viewed from one side in the down track direction, and the metal protective layer configures a part of the flat surface.

Abstract: While a plurality of drive currents for flying height setting with current values smaller than a tentative optimum drive current are supplied to a light source, respectively, heater power is supplied to a heater part, and touch down of a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is detected. Tentative optimum heater power is determined based on a correlation between the heater power when the touch down is detected and each drive current for flying height setting. The tentative optimum drive current is supplied to the light source part; the tentative optimum heater power is supplied to the heater part; a reference signal is recorded in a magnetic recording medium; and flying height of the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is set by determining whether or not the reference signal is recorded with the desired signal intensity.

Abstract: While a plurality of drive currents for flying height setting with current values smaller than a tentative optimum drive current are supplied to a light source, respectively, heater power is supplied to a heater part, and touch down of a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is detected. Tentative optimum heater power is determined based on a correlation between the heater power when the touch down is detected and each drive current for flying height setting. The tentative optimum drive current is supplied to the light source part; the tentative optimum heater power is supplied to the heater part; a reference signal is recorded in a magnetic recording medium; and flying height of the thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is set by determining whether or not the reference signal is recorded with the desired signal intensity.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head has a magnetic head slider having an air bearing surface that is opposite to a magnetic recording medium, a core that can propagate laser light as propagating light, a plasmon generator that includes a generator front end surface facing the air bearing surface, and a main pole facing the air bearing surface, and a laser light generator that supplies the laser light to the core. The plasmon generator generates near-field light (NF light) at the generator front end surface to heat the magnetic recording medium. The main pole includes a main pole end surface that faces the air bearing surface and that is positioned in the vicinity of the generator front end surface, and emits a magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium from the main pole end surface.

Abstract: A thermal assisted magnetic recording head has a magnetic head slider having an air bearing surface that is opposite to a magnetic recording medium, a core that can propagate laser light as propagating light, a plasmon generator that includes a generator front end surface facing the air bearing surface, and a main pole facing the air bearing surface, and a laser light generator that supplies the laser light to the core. The plasmon generator generates near-field light (NF light) at the generator front end surface to heat the magnetic recording medium. The main pole includes a main pole end surface that faces the air bearing surface and that is positioned in the vicinity of the generator front end surface, and emits a magnetic flux to the magnetic recording medium from the main pole end surface.

Abstract: The thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a magnetic pole having an end exposed on an air-bearing surface; a waveguide; a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and having a first region and a second region, the first region extending backward from the air-bearing surface to a first position, and the second region being coupled with the first region at the first position and extending backward from the first position; a gap layer provided between the magnetic pole and the first region of the plasmon generator and extending backward from the air-bearing surface to the first position, and being formed of a dielectric material; and a metallic layer buried in the gap layer, and extending forward from a second position that is located between the air-bearing surface and the first position.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head slider includes an air bearing surface facing to a magnetic recording medium, a read portion, and a write portion including a write element, a waveguide for guiding light generated by the light source module, and a plasmon unit provided around the write portion and the waveguide. A first coat layer with a first thickness which has a first light absorption index is covered on an opposed-to-medium surface of the read portion, and a second coat layer with a second thickness which has a second light absorption index is covered on an opposed-to medium surface of the write portion, wherein the second thickness is larger than the first thickness, and the second light absorption index is smaller than the first light absorption index. The slider can protect the write portion and improve the reading performance of the read portion.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head including an MR laminated body composed of a first and second MR magnetic layers, first and second shield layers, and a bias magnetic field application layer provided on an opposite side of an air bearing surface (ABS) of the MR laminated body in order to apply a bias magnetic field orthogonal relative to the ABS. The first shield layer includes a first exchange coupling magnetic field application layer and a first antiferromagnetic layer; and the second shield layer includes a second exchange coupling magnetic field application layer and a second antiferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a giant magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure (CPP-GMR device) comprising a spacer layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked together with said spacer layer sandwiched between them, with a sense current passed in the stacking direction, wherein the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer function such that the angle made between the directions of magnetizations of both layers change relatively depending on an external magnetic field, said spacer layer contains a semiconductor oxide layer, and a nitrogen element-interface protective layer is provided at a position where the semiconductor oxide layer forming the whole or a part of said spacer layer contacts an insulating layer.

Abstract: A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a suspension mounting arrangement facilitating insertion and positioning of a suspension and hardly causes displacement after insertion. The head further includes a slider and a light source unit. The slider has a recording element, a plasmon generating element, a waveguide and a reproducing element at one of opposite ends in a length direction. The recording element and waveguide are disposed adjacent to the plasmon generating element. The light source unit has a laser diode chip and a holder and is disposed on a back surface of the slider opposite from a medium-facing surface. The chip is supported by the holder and optically connected to the waveguide in a height direction. Further, the slider has a groove in a surface of a trailing-side end face for insertion of a suspension. The groove extends linearly along a width direction with bent parts at opposite open ends.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes: a magneto resistance effect film of which electrical resistance varies corresponding to an external magnetic field; a pair of shields provided on both sides in a manner of sandwiching the MR film in a direction that is orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; an anisotropy providing layer that provides exchange anisotropy to a first shield of the pair of shields in order to magnetize the first shield in a desired direction, and that is disposed on the opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield; and side shields that are disposed on both sides of the MR film in a track width direction and that include soft magnetic layers magnetically connected with the first shield.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes; an MR film that includes a pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a free layer of which a magnetization direction varies, and a spacer that is disposed therebetween; a pair of shields that are disposed on both sides sandwiching the MR film in a direction orthogonal to a film surface of the MR film; and an anisotropy providing layer that provides anisotropy to a first shield so that the first shield is magnetized in a desired direction, and that is disposed on an opposite side from the MR film with respect to the first shield. The MR film includes a magnetic coupling layer that is disposed between the first shield and the free layer and that magnetically couples the first shield with the free layer.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic write head includes a magnetic pole having an end surface exposed at an air bearing surface, a waveguide extending toward the air bearing surface to propagate light, and a plasmon generator provided between the magnetic pole and the waveguide, and generating near-field light from the air bearing surface, based on the light propagated through the waveguide. The plasmon generator has an end portion exposed at the air bearing surface or located in close proximity to the air bearing surface, the end portion having a minimum thickness in a region close to the waveguide.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic head that has an air bearing surface (ABS) facing a recording medium and that performs magnetic recording while heating the recording medium includes: a magnetic recording element that includes a pole of which an edge part is positioned on the ABS and which generates magnetic flux traveling to the recording medium; a waveguide that is configured with a core through which light propagates and a cladding, surrounding a periphery of the core, at least one part of which extends to the ABS; a plasmon generator that faces a part of the core and that extends toward the ABS side; and a bank layer that is positioned between the plasmon generator and the pole, and of which an edge part on the ABS side protrudes relative to the plasmon generator.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes: a pole that generates a writing magnetic field from an end surface that forms a part of an air bearing surface that opposes a magnetic recording medium; a waveguide that propagates light to excite surface plasmon; and a plasmon generator that is provided between the pole and the waveguide and that generates near-field light from a near-field light generating end surface that forms a part of the air bearing surface by coupling with the light in a surface plasmon mode. The plasmon generator includes a flat plate part and a projection part that projects from the flat plate part to the waveguide side and is provided closer to a trailing side than the pole is.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording head includes a slider, and an edge-emitting laser diode that emits polarized light of TM mode. The laser diode is arranged so that its bottom surface faces the top surface of the slider. An electrode of the laser diode closer to the active layer is bonded to a conductive layer of the slider, whereby the laser diode is fixed to the slider. As viewed from above the laser diode, the bottom surface of the electrode of the laser diode includes a first area that a light propagation path of the laser diode overlies, and a second area other than the first area. The top surface of the conductive layer is in contact not with the first area but with the second area of the bottom surface of the electrode.