Abstract: A visual inspection apparatus inspects a surface of a piston based on a captured image acquired by a camera and a learning result acquired by conducting machine learning using a plurality of defective product sample images, which is each generated by combining a two-dimensional image of a defect image that is generated based on a three-dimensionally pre-generated defect model with an image of the surface of the piston.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a rack bar includes: a rolling die abutment step of bringing a pair of rolling dies into abutment against an intermediate portion of a workpiece; and a ball screw groove forming step of forming a ball screw groove in the workpiece by moving the workpiece relative to the pair of rolling dies so that a region of the workpiece against which the pair of rolling dies is brought into abutment is moved from the intermediate portion toward a first end portion of the workpiece.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a write element, a read element, and a heating element disposed between the write element and the read element. When power is applied to the heating element, either the read element or the write element projects beyond a plane of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head, and when power is not applied to the heating element, a portion of the ABS of the magnetic head facing a magnetic disk close to the heating element has a concave shape. In another embodiment, when power is applied to the heating element, at least one of a portion of the read element and a portion of the write element approaches a magnetic disk, and when power is not applied to the heating element, a portion of the ABS of the magnetic head facing a magnetic disk close to the heating element has a concave shape.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes a substrate, at least two elements (read element, write element, and/or heater element) positioned adjacent to the substrate, a resistance detection element positioned near the two elements, a pair of conductive terminals in an accessible position and coupled to each of the two elements, a protective film surrounding the two elements and the resistance detection element, a first and a second thin conductive wire extending from the resistance detection element and terminating at an edge of the protective film, a third thin conductive wire extending from one of the pair of conductive terminals for a first of the two elements and terminating at an edge of the protective film, and a fourth thin conductive wire extending from one of the pair of conductive terminals for a second of the two elements and terminating at an edge of the protective film.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a thin film magnetic head includes forming on a substrate magnetic head portions having a magnetoresistive element and resistance detection elements for measuring an amount of polishing; slicing the substrate to form at least one row bar; polishing the ABS of each row bar; forming rails on the polished ABS; and cutting each row bar to separate each magnetic head portion. The step of polishing the ABS includes measuring a resistance of each resistance detection element and a resistance of each magnetoresistive element; calculating an offset value between the resistance detection element and the magnetoresistive element; and calculating a final resistance of the resistance detection element by using the calculated offset value. When the resistance of the resistance detection element reaches the final resistance, polishing of the ABS of the row bar is terminated. Other methods are presented as well.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head slider includes a substrate, at least two elements (read element, write element, and/or heater element) positioned adjacent to the substrate, a resistance detection element positioned near the two elements, a pair of conductive terminals in an accessible position and coupled to each of the two elements, a protective film surrounding the two elements and the resistance detection element, a first and a second thin conductive wire extending from the resistance detection clement and terminating at an edge of the protective film, a third thin conductive wire extending from one of the pair of conductive terminals for a first of the two elements and terminating at an edge of the protective film, and a fourth thin conductive wire extending from one of the pair of conductive terminals for a second of the two elements and terminating at an edge of the protective film.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a read element, a write element, a write upper shield positioned in a downtrack direction from the write element, a first resistance detecting element positioned on an air bearing surface (ABS) side in a first cross-track direction from the read element, a second resistance detecting element positioned on the ABS side in a second cross-track direction from the write element, a third resistance detecting element positioned on the ABS side in a third cross-track direction from the write upper shield, a protective film positioned near the read and write elements, first, second, and third resistance detecting elements, and the write upper shield, and terminals positioned on an end surface side of the magnetic head, the terminals being coupled to the write element, the read element, the first resistance detecting element, the second resistance detecting element, and the third resistance detecting element.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of fabricating a magnetic head slider realizing high-recording density at high-yields by preventing formation of a short circuit on the air-bearing surface of a magnetic head slider and preventing formation of an oxidized layer with significant film thickness which increases the effective magnetic spacing, on the air-bearing surface of the magnetic head slider. According to one embodiment, after air-bearing surface mechanical lapping of a row bar or a magnetic head slider, cleaning is performed by ion beam bombardment to remove a conductive smear. Oxygen exposure is performed to recover a damaged region which was formed by ion beam bombardment at the end face of an intermediate layer of a magnetoresistive film 5. Thereafter, air-bearing surface protection films are formed and followed by rail formation. If the processes are performed on the row bar, the row bar is cut into individual separated magnetic head sliders.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a write element, a read element, and a heating element disposed between the write element and the read element. When power is applied to the heating element, either the read element or the write element projects beyond a plane of an air-bearing surface (ABS) of the magnetic head, and when power is not applied to the heating element, a portion of the ABS of the magnetic head facing a magnetic disk close to the heating element has a concave shape. In another embodiment, when power is applied to the heating element, at least one of a portion of the read element and a portion of the write element approaches a magnetic disk, and when power is not applied to the heating element, a portion of the ABS of the magnetic head facing a magnetic disk close to the heating element has a concave shape.

Abstract: Head elements are formed on a wafer to suppress deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer, which is caused by ESD generated during air bearing surface polishing of a thin film magnetic head. The wafer is cut into rovers in each of which are connected head elements. Rover air bearing surfaces are polished until an MR elements attain a predetermined height. A final polishing step finishes air bearing surfaces by applying an electroconductive polishing liquid to achieve a predetermined shape and surface roughness with high accuracy. A pinning defect occurrence rate is reduced by suppressing deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer of a read element. To achieve this, a specific resistance of the electroconductive polishing liquid is controlled to 5 G?·cm or less. A shallow rail and a deep rail are formed on the air bearing surfaces, and the rover is cut into thin film magnetic heads.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a thin film magnetic head includes forming on a substrate magnetic head portions having a magnetoresistive element and resistance detection elements for measuring an amount of polishing; slicing the substrate to form at least one row bar; polishing the ABS of each row bar; forming rails on the polished ABS; and cutting each row bar to separate each magnetic head portion. The step of polishing the ABS includes measuring a resistance of each resistance detection element and a resistance of each magnetoresistive element; calculating an offset value between the resistance detection element and the magnetoresistive element; and calculating a final resistance of the resistance detection element by using the calculated offset value. When the resistance of the resistance detection element reaches the final resistance, polishing of the ABS of the row bar is terminated. Other methods are presented as well.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of fabricating a magnetic head slider realizing high-recording density at high-yields by preventing formation of a short circuit on the air-bearing surface of a magnetic head slider and preventing formation of an oxidized layer with significant film thickness which increases the effective magnetic spacing, on the air-bearing surface of the magnetic head slider. According to one embodiment, after air-bearing surface mechanical lapping of a row bar or a magnetic head slider, cleaning is performed by ion beam bombardment to remove a conductive smear. Oxygen exposure is performed to recover a damaged region which was formed by ion beam bombardment at the end face of an intermediate layer of a magnetoresistive film 5. Thereafter, air-bearing surface protection films are formed and followed by rail formation. If the processes are performed on the row bar, the row bar is cut into individual separated magnetic head sliders.

Abstract: Head elements are formed on a wafer in order to suppress deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer, which is caused by ESD generated during a thin film magnetic head production process, particularly in an air bearing surface polishing step. The wafer is cut line by line into rovers in each of which the head elements are connected; surfaces to be used as air bearing surfaces of the rover are polished until an MR element height reaches to a predetermined value. After this air bearing surface polishing, an electroconductive polishing liquid is used in a final bearing surface polishing step of finishing the air bearing surfaces to achieve a predetermined shape with high accuracy and a predetermined value of a surface roughness. In order to suppress a pinning defect occurrence rate by suppressing deterioration in pinning strength of a pinned layer of a read element, a specific resistance of the electroconductive polishing liquid is controlled to G?·cm or less, preferably 1 G?·cm or less.

Abstract: In order to realize a shape of an air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider which is capable of coping with a lowering of flying height and which has high reliability, at the time of polishing the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider by bringing the air bearing surface and the surface of a polishing machine into contact with each other, machining is conducted in the condition where the stiffness acting between both the members is enhanced, and the standard deviation of the flatness of the air bearing surface machined and the standard deviation of the recess amount between the air bearing surface and a magnetic element are controlled. Thus, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a magnetic head slider which enables driving at a low flying height.

Abstract: In order to realize a shape of an air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider which is capable of coping with a lowering of flying height and which has high reliability, at the time of polishing the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider by bringing the air bearing surface and the surface of a polishing machine into contact with each other, machining is conducted in the condition where the stiffness acting between both the members is enhanced, and the standard deviation of the flatness of the air bearing surface machined and the standard deviation of the recess amount between the air bearing surface and a magnetic element are controlled. Thus, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a magnetic head slider which enables driving at a low flying height.

Abstract: An L-shaped slide plate mounted with a workpiece holding device on a slide guide is firmly attached to an angle adjustment mechanism, and a reciprocating motion drive unit mounted with the angle adjustment mechanism on a slider table is firmly attached to a bridge so that an angle between a surface of a workpiece to be lapped and a surface of a lapping plate is kept substantially constant, and also the bridge is disposed so as to stride the lapping plate. Thereby, in a state of row bar in which a plurality of magnetic head sliders run in a line, an air bearing surface of magnetic head can be lapped with high accuracy with an element recession being decreased and an occurrence of a scratch being restrained.

Abstract: In order to realize a shape of an air bearing surface of a magnetic head slider which is capable of coping with a lowering of flying height and which has high reliability, at the time of polishing the air bearing surface of the magnetic head slider by bringing the air bearing surface and the surface of a polishing machine into contact with each other, machining is conducted in the condition where the stiffness acting between both the members is enhanced, and the standard deviation of the flatness of the air bearing surface machined and the standard deviation of the recess amount between the air bearing surface and a magnetic element are controlled. Thus, it is possible to efficiently manufacture a magnetic head slider which enables driving at a low flying height.

Abstract: An L-shaped slide plate mounted with a workpiece holding device on a slide guide is firmly attached to an angle adjustment mechanism, and a reciprocating motion drive unit mounted with the angle adjustment mechanism on a slider table is firmly attached to a bridge so that an angle between a surface of a workpiece to be lapped and a surface of a lapping plate is kept substantially constant, and also the bridge is disposed so as to stride the lapping plate. Thereby, in a state of row bar in which a plurality of magnetic head sliders run in a line, an air bearing surface of magnetic head can be lapped with high accuracy with an element recession being decreased and an occurrence of a scratch being restrained.