Abstract: A magnetic head assembly includes a magnetic recording head, a main magnetic pole, a head slider, a suspension and an actuator arm. The magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole having an air bearing surface facing a magnetic recording medium; and a stacked structure having, a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer, and an intermediate layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer. A stacked plane of the stacked structure is inclined with respect to the air bearing surface. The magnetic recording head is mounted on the head slider. The head slider is mounted on one end of the suspension. The actuator arm is connected to the other end of the suspension.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a head comprises a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on the upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on the outflow side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of skirt portions extending in the first direction from the side portions toward the outflow end of the slider and being deeper than the side portions, and intermediate step portions extending continuously along the skirt portions outside the skirt portions with respect to the second direction and formed to be deeper than the skirt portions and shallower than the negative-pressure cavity.

Abstract: A head slider includes a slider that is disposed at a tip of a supporting member, floats with an air flow occurring due to rotation of a storage medium, and has a medium facing surface onto which a water-repellent material is applied, with an area near the magnetic head being exposed; and a magnetic head that is disposed at an air outflow end side of the slider and has a recording element and a reproducing element.

Abstract: An elastic plate that is supported at both ends by a pair of supporting pieces of a supporting part functions as the load bending part. A portion of a load beam base plate that is positioned on a distal end side than a load bending center line BL of the elastic plate includes a parallel region that is fixed to the elastic plate, an intermediate region that extend to a distal end side through a proximal-side bending line along a suspension widthwise direction, and a distal region that extends to a distal end side through a distal-side bending line and is formed with a dimple with which a head-mounting region of a flexure part is brought into contact. The distal-side bending line is positioned in the vicinity of an intermediate point between the load bending center line and the dimple in a suspension lengthwise direction.

Abstract: An opening (3) is formed on a surface of a metal film (2), a plurality of axes (4, 5, 6, 7) cross each other substantially perpendicularly at the opening (3), a plurality of periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) are provided for respective axes (4, 5, 6, 7), and each of the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) includes a plurality of grooves (8-n, 9-n, 10-n, and 11-n) substantially perpendicular to the axis for which each periodic groove is provided, and the periodic grooves (8, 9, 10, 11) is positioned point-symmetrically with respect to the opening (3).

Abstract: A disk device has a head reading/writing data from and to a disk medium, a head slider supporting the head, a head suspension having a gimbal mounting the head slider, gimbal supports supporting the gimbal, traces having a wirings pattern, and a carriage arm supporting the head suspension. Further, the disk device has vibration sensors, each of the vibration sensors arranged at each side of a centerline of the head slider along a longitudinal direction of the head suspension and a signal processing circuit processing output signals from the vibration sensors so as to remove up/down vibration components.

Abstract: A head or slider having a sensor element to detect changes in head-media spacing is disclosed. In illustrated embodiments the sensor element includes a piezoelectric sensor layer or similar layer that provides acoustic emission or vibration responsive to changes in head-media spacing. In illustrated embodiments, the sensor element is located proximate to the close point of the head and slider. In embodiments described in the specification, output from the sensor element is utilized to energize a heating element or microactuator to control pole tip protrusion or actuation of transducer elements responsive to changes in head-media spacing.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium on which a plurality of concentric recording tracks is formed, the recording tracks including a plurality of closed shaped magnetic parts formed to be symmetrical with respect to two orthogonal axes in shape, the magnetic recording medium being rotated by a recording and reproducing apparatus provided with a slider including a recording and reproducing head to record or reproduce a magnetic recording, wherein when the recording and reproducing head which is moved with movement of a slider to record data on or reproduce data from the recording tracks is inclined by a predetermined angle with respect to a tangent line of concentric circles of the recording tracks, the slider moving in a radial direction of the concentric circles of the recording tracks, one of the two orthogonal axes of the magnetic parts is perpendicular to the recording and reproducing head.

Abstract: A storage apparatus includes a magnetic storage medium which is formed with a data portion based on isolated magnetic dots and a servo pattern portion, a drive mechanism which drives the storage medium, a head actuator which includes a head for reading and writing data from and to the storage medium, and a permanent magnet which is disposed at a position that is opposable to a whole radial region of the servo pattern portion, during a rotation of the storage medium.

Abstract: A head suspension assembly comprising: a head suspension; a head slider having the medium-opposed surface opposed to a storage medium, the head slider having the supported surface received on the head suspension, the supported surface being defined at the farside of the medium-opposed surface; an electromagnetic transducer embedded in the medium-opposed surface of the head slider; a light waveguide incorporated in the head slider, the light waveguide extending from the supported surface to the medium-opposed surface; and an optical element interposed between the supported surface and the head suspension, wherein the optical element defines: a light-collecting surface configured to collect light input into the optical element in parallel with the supported surface; and a light-reflective surface configured to reflect the light at a predetermined angle so as to direct the light to the light waveguide.

Abstract: A disclosed method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes a first step of forming a magnetic recording film on a non-magnetic substrate and a second step of forming, in the magnetic recording film, a magnetic recording region which is magnetically recordable and an isolation region which is magnetically non-recordable and includes a first isolation-region portion and a second isolation-region portion. The second step includes the sub-steps of performing first ion implantation on the magnetic recording film to form the first isolation-region portion along a boundary of the isolation region to be formed with the magnetic recording region to be formed; and performing second ion implantation on the magnetic recording film to form the second isolation-region portion in the surface of the isolation region to be formed.

Abstract: A storage medium driving apparatus includes a head slider opposed to a storage medium, an acceleration detector detecting an acceleration of the apparatus. A control circuit retracts the head slider from above the storage medium according to a result detected by the acceleration detector and selectively executes one or more operations from among a plurality kinds of operations according to an index that is derived from the result detected by the acceleration detector and represents an amount of an impact energy.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a head element recording and reading data on and from a recording medium, a slider having an air bearing surface facing the recording medium, and having the head element forming surface which the head element being present on, and a piezoelectric device attached above the head element forming surface and the head element, and configured to displace a part of the head forming surface in a direction perpendicular to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A head slider body includes a main body having a protruding air bearing surface, and a wall portion protruding from the air bearing surface near one end in one axial direction of the main body. Extending in the other axial direction in the air bearing surface, a groove portion extends between the wall portion and the air bearing surface in the main body. A read/write head is provided near the other end in the one axial direction of the head slider body.

Abstract: A groove is formed on the surface of a base plate in a head suspension unit. A flexure extends from a load beam and received in the groove of the base plate. The flexure is thus allowed to extend outward from the contour of the base plate at a position closest to the rear end of the base plate. The area of the flexure is significantly reduced outside the contour of the base plate as compared with the case where the flexure extends outward from the contour of the base plate at a position closer to the front end of the base plate. Vibration of the flexure is suppressed. Even when a jig is urged against the base plate, the flexure is reliably prevented from being damaged. Simultaneously, a sufficiently large contact area is ensured between the base plate and the jig.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention achieve a decrease in electric power consumption while ensuring high recording density and high reliability in a magnetic disk apparatus. In one embodiment, a magnetic disk apparatus comprises a rotatable magnetic disk and a magnetic head slider to be able to fly above a surface of the magnetic disk. The magnetic head slider comprises an air bearing surface, by which the magnetic head slider is caused to fly and come near to the rotating surface of the magnetic disk with a predetermined spacing therebetween, recording and reproducing elements to perform at least one of recording on and reproduction from the magnetic disk, and a heating device to adjust a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk. The heating device is mounted such that heating thereof causes a part of the air bearing surface to expand and project to increase a distance between the recording and reproducing elements and the surface of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: Prior art designs of single pole writers have been limited by premature saturation at the tip. This limits the head field that can be achieved without simultaneously widening the write profile. This problem has bee solved by means of a vertical main pole whose thickness has its conventional value a short distance from the tip but that tapers down to a significantly reduced value as it approaches the tip. A process for manufacturing this tapered tip design is also presented.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic recording medium includes protruded magnetic patterns formed on a substrate, and a non-magnetic material filled in recesses between the magnetic patterns and made of a multi-element amorphous alloy containing Ni or Cu, and two or more metals selected from the group consisting of Ta, Nb, Ti, Zr, Hf, Cr, Mo and Ag.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a highly reliable magnetic head slider, with a simplified manufacturing process which provides reduction in manufacturing time and costs, is provided. The manufacturing method includes a multi-layer forming step for forming a magnetic head section in a multi-layered manner, the magnetic head section including a read element and/or a write element and a magnetic shield for magnetically shielding the read element and/or the write element, and the magnetic head slider is manufactured by being cut off from a multi-layered body having the magnetic head section. The manufacturing method further includes, after the multi-layer forming step, a shield end removing step for removing end portions in a width direction of the magnetic shield located on the flying surface side of the magnetic head slider.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a magnetic head that can stably supply a perpendicular magnetic field component while generating high recording field strength from a main pole. According to one embodiment, a magnetic body is deposited in a trailing side of a pole tip of a main pole via a nonmagnetic layer, so that a second flare section is magnetically coupled with each sidewall.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a slider of a magnetic head is provided with a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on the upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on the outlet end side of the negative-pressure cavity, and a pair of embossed portions formed on the facing surface so as to project from the negative-pressure cavity and provided on the outlet side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow. The embossed portions individually extend along a second direction so as to be situated individually on the opposite sides of the trailing step portion and are formed so as to be lower than the trailing step portion with respect to the negative-pressure cavity and flush with an outlet-side end surface of the slider.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically coupling a slider to a controller circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, a pre-amplifier with an integrated electrical connector (I-connector) may be connected via an electrical trace to a slider and via a head stack assembly flexible circuit to a control circuit. The pre-amplifier may have two parallel series of spring probe claws, two parallel series of contact pegs, two slots, or a slot and a rotary cam.

Abstract: To provide a high-quality protection target by forming a protective film that is thin and excellent in corrosion resistance. Provided is a protective film forming method for forming a protective film at least on a surface of a protection target. The method comprises: a base film forming step for forming a base film on the surface of the protection target; and a DLC film forming step for forming a diamond-like carbon film on the base film. The base film forming step forms the base film on the surface of the protection target for a plurality of times by repeating a process of depositing the base film in a prescribed thickness and eliminating a part of or a whole part of the base film. Further, the method comprises, before the DLC film forming step, an insulating layer forming step for forming an insulating layer on the surface of the base film on which the diamond-like carbon film is to be formed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a head slider that suppresses accumulation of lubricant droplets on an air-bearing surface due to a backflow, and thus improves reliability of a disk drive. According to one embodiment, a lubricant droplet being adhered to a head slider and accumulated thereon, which are caused by extremely low flying height of the head slider, are prevented from falling onto a recording medium. When velocity of a recording medium at a position where the head slider faces the recording medium is assumed to be v, step depth ?4 at an outflow side of an outflow side rail satisfies, ?4?0.1125*log10(v)+0.019.

Abstract: A magnetic head device includes a slider with a facing side and a magnetic function part. The facing side of the slider includes a front positive pressure surface located close to a leading end of the slider, a rear positive pressure surface located close to a trailing end of the slider, and a pair of side positive pressure surfaces located closer to the trailing end than the front positive pressure surface and disposed at both sides of a longitudinally extending centerline. Air inlet grooves for introducing air into the side positive pressure surfaces are each disposed in front of each side positive pressure surface. Each air inlet groove extends between the front positive pressure surface and a corresponding side face of the slider and opens toward a leading end face of the slider.

Abstract: A discrete track medium and a bit patterned medium with a high SNR are manufactured at low cost. A seed layer and a recoding layer are formed on a bottom surface and a side wall of a groove portion, which is formed between non-magnetic projected structures artificially patterned. Then, the recording layer on the projected portion is removed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention help to effectively remove adhesion on a head slider. In an embodiment of the present invention, a hard disk controller/multiprocessing unit (HDC/MPU) raises the temperature on the surface of a head slider with a heating element on the head slider to remove adhesion on the head slider while an actuator stays on a ramp. The HDC/MPU varies the amount of heat in accordance with the temperature sensed by a temperature sensor. This achieves removal of the adhesion on the head slider, maintaining reliability.

Abstract: A head suspension for supporting a head slider over a storage media in a dynamic storage device is provided with a head suspension component having a spring metal layer, an electrically conductive layer and a dielectric layer interposed between the metal layer and the electrically conductive layer. A plurality of electrically conductive traces with bond pads are formed in the electrically conductive layer. A feature datum is also formed in the electrically conductive layer on a detachable carrier strip. The feature datum defines a first edge in the electrically conductive layer parallel to an edge of the bond pads.

Abstract: A shaft body 2 of a fluid dynamic bearing having a flange portion 4 at one end is supported rotatably via radial direction micro clearances by the sleeve 5 having a dynamic pressure generating groove 11 on the inner peripheral portion. A flange portion 4 is inserted between the lower end surface of the sleeve 5 and end plate 7. A dynamic pressure generating groove 12 is formed on the lower end surface of sleeve 5, and a dynamic pressure generating groove 13 is formed on the upper surface of the endplate 7. The lower end surface of the sleeve 5 and the upper surface of the flange portion 4, and the upper surface of the end plate 7 and the lower surface of the flange portion 4 are facing each other via respective thrust direction micro clearances. Sleeve 5 is inserted into the case 6 such that the upper end surface is projected from the upper end surface of the case 6.