Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation-sensitive resist composition comprising a radiation-sensitive acid generator and a copolymer binder formed by the reaction of (a) an acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a photogenerated acid cleavable substituent and (b) an acrylate or methacrylate monomer having a polar non photoacid cleavable substituent.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inertial latch mechanism of an actuator of a thin disk drive device. An inertial latch mechanism comprises a latch lever rotatable on a pivot from a release position to a latch position, and an inertial lever which is rotatable on a pivot and has a moment of inertia larger than that of the latch lever. The inertial lever rotates counterclockwise when a counterclockwise shock is given to the actuator, and pulls the latch lever at a first latch part by a first latch projection to move the latch lever to the latch position. The inertial lever also rotates clockwise when a clockwise shock is given to the actuator, and pushes the latch lever at a second latch part by a second latch projection to latch the actuator which has bumped against a crash stop and is reversely rotating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the repair of defects in the nonprinting region of a phase-shifting optical lithography mask by depositing an opaque material on the defect from a gaseous precursor by beam-induced deposition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetic recording device which can be used at a reduced atmospheric pressure without having the head/slider assembly stick to the disk. A method of the present invention for controlling the operation of a disk drive device in reduced atmospheric pressure where a read/write head mounted on a head support arm flies above the surface of a rotating recording disk. The head support arm is moved along a radial direction of the recording disk to position the read/write head to one of cylinder positions of the recording disk.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method to reliably unload a head slider from a recording medium. Transistor Tr5 is on. If the main power supply Vdd is turned off at time t1, Tr1, Tr2, and D1 are turned off and the level of the control signal Ret becomes higher than the threshold voltage Vth of Tr3 and Tr4, turning on Tr3 and Tr4. C1 also starts to discharge. The control signal InRet changes to a "L"-level, and the control signal OutRet remains to be at the "L"-level. This allows the IR driver to feed a negative-polarity VCM current through the voice coil to preliminarily move the head arm in the direction opposite to the unload direction. Then, at time t2 when the level of Ret becomes equal to or lower than Vth, both InRet and OutRet change to a "H"-level, the IR driver becomes inoperative, and the OR driver feeds a positive-polarity VCM current through the voice coil to reverse the moving direction of the head arm.

Abstract: The present invention is a wavelength converting device comprising a plurality of nonlinear optical crystals for transmitting light by second harmonic generation. Each crystal piece has a crystal axis respectively and is positioned with the crystal angle satisfying a phase matching condition for second harmonic generation and so that the adjacent crystal axis is oriented in a crystallographically different way. In one embodiment, the acceptance angle .phi. in the insensitive direction becomes the same as the acceptance angle .theta. in the sensitive direction. Therefore, there is no need for gathering light to an oval shape, and maximum conversion efficiency can be obtained by gathering light with a conventional spherical lens.

Abstract: An apparatus to guide and lock a rotary actuator at a limiting rotational angle in a disk storage. A rotary actuator is attached within a housing so that it is rotatable on a pivot shaft. An iron piece is rotated integrally with the rotary actuator and is attracted in magnetic cooperation with a lock magnet. A retract magnet is attached to housing and assists in rotation of the actuator during an unload operation in which the rotary actuator is removed to a load/unload ramp.

Abstract: The present invention provides a disk drive, a load/unload unit, and a control method thereof which are capable of reliably unloading a head slider from a disk when power is turned off and enhancing reliability. A disk drive is equipped with a VCM spindle driver for rotating a disk, a magnetic head, an actuator mechanism for moving over the surface of the magnetic disk or to an evacuating position a head slider having the magnetic head, a ramp block, and a CPU/HDC (control means) for performing control of load and unload operations, speed control of the actuator mechanism, and control of an operation of reading or writing data from or to the disk. The CPU/HDC receives a specific command issued from the host immediately before power is turned off, and executes this command, then executes unload control, and notifies the host of command completion after the unload control has been completed.

Abstract: A method for modifying a substrate surface, including the step of applying a high density plasma to the substrate surface in the presence of a hydrofluorocarbon gas and a carrier gas to form an antiwetting layer on the substrate surface. Optionally, the method including a cleaning step of contacting the slider surface with a carrier gas for a period of time effective to clean the surface.

Abstract: The present invention is an after-assembly shroud in a magnetic disk drive. The shroud of the present invention is attached to a housing after assembly of the disk drive and actuator near the circumferential edge of the disk. The disk is attached to the housing of a magnetic disk drive so that it is rotatable with respect to the housing. The invention relates to a fabrication method for the magnetic disk drive. The assembly method is adapted for attaching the shroud to the housing of the disk drive after assembly and is performed according to novel assembly sequence. The shroud of the present invention reduces disk flutter due to turbulent air flow, and track positioning precision can be enhanced.

Abstract: A disk drive having an improved method of adjusting the head switch time to improve disk drive performance. In the process of writing or reading long data files, the heads on the actuator are sequentially selected in order to access all the data tracks forming a cylinder in the shortest time. Head offsets are significantly smaller for switching between heads mounted on the same actuator arm than for switching between heads mounted on different actuator arms. Therefore improved disk drive performance is obtained by using two values of head switch time instead of one. The head switch time allocated for switching from a first head on one actuator arm to a second head on a second actuator arm is made longer than the head switch time allocated for switching from a first head on one actuator arm to a second head on the same actuator arm. By allocating longer time for the head switches between different actuator arms, the error flag rate for heads not ready is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dielectric material and a process for forming an integrated circuit device comprising (i) a substrate; (ii) metallic circuit lines positioned on the substrate and (iii) a dielectric material positioned on the circuit lines. The dielectric material comprises condensed organic polysilica and porous particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a head mechanism control apparatus for magnetic recording device which ensures that the transducer head has been unloaded in a head unloading operation. A head slider having a transducer head is mounted on a head arm and is unloaded from the disk by the swinging of the head arm. The retract position is at the limit portion of the swingable range of the head arm. When the head slider is successfully unloaded to the retract position, a drive force applied to the head arm in the unload direction causes little movement of the head arm. After an unloading is performed, a position check drive force is applied to the head arm and the moving speed of the head slider is detected. Based on the moving speed, it is judged whether the head slider has been unloaded to the retract position. If the head slider has not been unloaded to the retract position, re-unloading is performed for moving the head slider to the retract position.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and load/unload structure for implementation in a disk drive, whereby debris is prevented from accumulating on the surface of an air bearing slider by moving the slider ABS across a stationary cleaning pad formed integrally with the ramp structure during loading and unloading. As a first aspect of the invention, space at the disk perimeter is used efficiently by providing a stationary cleaning surface integral to the ramp structure. As another aspect of the invention, cleaning may be enhanced by dithering the slider across the stationary pad, e.g., at selected resonant frequencies, to remove a larger volume of debris. As yet another aspect of the invention, baffling may be provided in the disk drive interior to channel the airflow generated by the disk such that it is directed over the cleaning pad in the direction of an air filter.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for producing a positive crown on a slider air bearing surface. The apparatus includes a reference fixture and a carrier which holds the slider and which is positioned adjacent the reference fixture. An actuator is engageable with the carrier for causing movement of the carrier relative to the reference fixture. By controlling the displacement of the actuator, the carrier can be moved back and forth relative to the reference fixture, thereby producing a positive crown on the air bearing surface of the slider by a lapping element.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrally formed ramp that is used for evacuating the suspension arm of a data storage device. The ramp has sliding portions, each having guiding zones and a landing zone. The boundary between the guiding zones and the landing zone is formed parallel to a reference line, so even if the landing portion had a recessed shape, the sliding portion could be molded with a casting mold by pulling out the casting mold in the direction of the reference line. The necessary portion of a support portion which is formed with the same casting mold as the sliding portions is formed so as not to disturb the pulling-out of the casting mold in the direction of the reference line. The integrally molded ramp is high in fabrication accuracy and excellent in defining an accurate loading/unloading position of the suspension arm.

Abstract: The invention relates to magnetic recording devices and a method for unsticking a head/slider assembly stuck on the surface of a magnetic recording disk. The method includes a first step which determines a resonant frequency of a mechanical system containing a magnetic recording disk, a head/slider assembly and a flexible support arm in which the resonant frequency of the mechanical system varies depending upon a position of the head/slider assembly on the surface of the magnetic recording disk, and a second step which oscillates the spindle motor and/or the voice coil motor at the resonant frequency to unstick the head/slider assembly from the surface of the magnetic recording disk.

Abstract: A highly thermally conductive spindle support shaft is composed of a metal matrix composite of aluminum (Al) and silicon carbide (SiC) of substantially 53% to 63% silicon carbide by volume. The spindle support shaft supports a magnetic disk file spindle by means of rotatable bearings, replacing a steel shaft. The spindle support shaft increases the heat transfer from, and reduces the temperature of, the rotatable bearing, and matches the coefficient of thermal expansion of a conventional steel shaft, thereby maintaining the bearing preload through a range of temperatures.

Abstract: A slider having an air bearing configuration designed to minimize damage to the disk surface. The air bearing slider includes an air bearing surface and at least one non-air bearing surface. For example, the non-air bearing surface may include a first etch surface and/or a second etch surface. The non-air bearing surface has at least one rounded corner. The non-air bearing surface may also have at least one rounded edge.

Abstract: A method for producing sliders without alumina overcoat protrusion on the air bearing surface. The method involves removing the alumina protrusion on the air bearing surface of a slider by contacting the air bearing surface of the slider with an aqueous ozone bases solution having a pH of about 9 to about 11.