Abstract: A magnetic head is provided that has a smaller amount of change in asymmetry with respect to the MR height, and has an improved resolution for a reproduction signal. In a magnetic head including a magnetoresistive device as a read device for reading magnetic recording information recorded on a magnetic recording medium, the magnetostriction constant of a soft magnetic substance forming the magnetoresistive device is 0 or below. Since the magnetostriction constant of the magnetoresistive device is 0 or below, the amount of change in asymmetry with respect to the MR height is reduced. Therefore, even when the MR height is slightly changed, the asymmetry does not vary significantly.

Abstract: A multi-gradation recording method comprising the steps of: providing a thermal transfer recording medium comprising a substrate, a release layer, a first ink layer and a second ink layer provided in this order on the substrate, and carrying out a gradation recording using the thermal transfer recording medium, the step of carrying out a gradation recording comprising: (a) in the case of recording in a middle density/high density region, carrying out a gradation expression based on an area gradation expression by transferring the first ink layer and the second ink layer together, and (b) in the case of recording in a low density region, carrying out a gradation expression by transferring only the second ink layer by causing a cohesive failure in the second ink layer, thereby changing the area of transferred ink per one dot and the thickness of transferred ink dots.

Abstract: First electrode layers are formed on second antiferromagnetic layers, and in a step separate from the above, second electrode layers are formed above internal end surfaces of the second antiferromagnetic layers and the first electrode layers and parts of the upper surface of the multilayer film with an additional film provided therebetween. Since the first and the second electrode layers are formed separately, it is not necessary to perform mask alignment twice, and hence an overlap structure can be precisely formed in which the thickness of the second electrode layer at the left side is equivalent to that at the right side.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head suitable for an increase in a packing density and an increase in frequency of a magnetic recorder is provided, while the reliability is maintained, and protrusion of a recording head portion from a surface facing a magnetic disk due to thermal expansion is reduced. In the region between a joint and a recording portion, the spacing dimension between the conductive layers of a first coil adjacent to each other is allowed to be equal to the height dimension of the conductive layer of the first coil, and the space of the first coil is filled in with an inorganic material portion of an insulating layer.

Abstract: Reduction in an output level of an IQ demodulator starts when a QPSK modulation signal is at a first level. Reduction in an output level of a first variable attenuater occurs when the QPSK modulation signal is at a second level higher than the first level. Reduction in an output level of a second variable attenuater starts when the QPSK modulation signal is at a third level higher than the second level.

Abstract: A wet treatment apparatus includes a nozzle having an approximately rectangular introduction opening surface that is open toward a substrate to be treated and an approximately rectangular recovery opening surface that is open toward the substrate, these opening surfaces being flush with each other and disposed with the long side directions thereof in parallel with each other. A treatment liquid is introduced between the introduction opening surface and the surface to be treated of the substrate and is sucked and recovered from between the recovery opening surface and the surface to be treated of the substrate. The flow rate of the treatment liquid flowing from the introduction opening surface to the recovery opening surface through the surface to be treated of the substrate is controlled to 0.02 to 0.3 L/min per 1 cm in the long side direction of the introduction opening surface.

Abstract: A long-life encoder switch which can enable flexible production in which a wide variety of products are manufactured in low volume is provided by using a conductive resin composition which has both excellent conductivity and abrasion resistance as a material for a contact part. The contact part of the encoder switch is produced by making a pattern of the conductive resin composition by screen printing and the conductive particles of the conductive resin composition contain a conductive powder of carbon beads with silver-coated surfaces and a silver powder.

Abstract: The integrated circuit includes a power supply terminal to which a power supply voltage is applied, a clock terminal to which a clock signal is inputted, a data terminal to which data is inputted, an address selection terminal to which a DC voltage corresponding to address data which identifies own presence in the inputted data is inputted, and an interface which is connected to the clock terminal, the data terminal and the address selection terminal, wherein a relay terminal, a first resistance which is connected between the power supply terminal and the relay terminal, and a second resistance which is connected between the address selection terminal and a ground are provided to the interface.

Abstract: A power line communication MODEM includes a rectification circuit for converting an AC power source to a DC power source, a MODEM circuit to which a DC voltage is supplied from the rectification circuit, a USB connector connected to the MODEM circuit, and a signal overlapping circuit for overlapping a signal processed by the MODEM circuit with the AC power source, wherein the rectification circuit supplies the DC voltage to the USB connector.

Abstract: A force feedback device comprising an operation unit, an actuator for providing a feel sensation (force) to the operation unit and a control unit for controlling the actuator, wherein the control unit stores a plurality of different unit force patterns, forms composite force patterns by combining the unit force patterns and controls the actuator based on the composite force patterns to provide feel sensations to the operation unit.

Abstract: Changes of the direction of magnetization at the central region of the free magnetic layer is facilitated by using a layer comprising a magnetic material having a small exchange stiffness constant such as the NiFe layer comprising the NiaFeb alloy (a and b are represented in at %, and satisfy the relation of a>80 and a+b=100) and NiFeX layer (X is at least one element selected from Mn, Cu, Zn, Ti, Al, Ge, Si, Cr, V, Sn, Ir, Ru, Nb, Sb, W, Mo, Os and Ta) for the magnetic material layer of the free magnetic layer.

Abstract: A rotation member which rotates in cooperation with a steering wheel is provided with a cord board and a turning amount and a turning direction of the steering wheel are detected by the cord board and photo-interrupters. A first gear of the rotation member meshes with a second gear to turn a screw shaft, thereby moving a carriage in an axial direction of the screw shaft and also moving a slit of a douser mounted to the carriage relative to an LED and a two-piece photodiode. An absolute angle from a neutral position of the steering wheel is detected based on a change in an amount of light received by the two-piece photodiode which changes according to a moving position of the slit.

Abstract: When an optical disk is loaded, the light source provided with the optical head for the CD and the light source provided with the optical head for the DVD simultaneously irradiate the laser beams of different wavelengths each toward the optical disk D. And, the optical heads for the CD and DVD are simultaneously driven in parallel in the focusing direction. At that moment, the optical head for the CD and the optical head for the DVD simultaneously detect all the signals added and the RF envelopes individually, which are stored in the memory at the same time. All the signals added and the RF envelopes stored in the memory are sent to the control unit, where a specified processing is carried out to identify the specification of the disk.

Abstract: An automatic sheet-feeding device of a printer includes a sheet loading section, delivery rollers, and a separating plate. When recording sheets placed on the sheet loading section are supplied, the delivery rollers are rotationally driven in contact with the sheet loading section, and the inclination of the separating plate with respect to the surface of the sheet loading section is changed to an angle that allows the uppermost recording sheet to be separated one by one. Except when the recording sheet is supplied from the sheet loading section, the delivery rollers are separated from the sheet loading section, and the separating plate is inclined substantially perpendicularly to the surface of the sheet loading section to hold the recording sheets.

Abstract: A dual spin-valve magnetoresistive thin film element includes a free magnetic layer, first and second nonmagnetic electrically conductive layers residing below and above the composite free magnetic layer, respectively, first and second dual pinned magnetic layers each having first and second pinned magnetic layers, and first and second antiferromagnetic layers. In the first dual pinned magnetic layer, the first pinned magnetic layer of contacts the first antiferromagnetic layer and the second pinned magnetic layer contacts the first nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer. In the second dual pinned magnetic layer, the first pinned magnetic layer of contacts the second antiferromagnetic layer and the second pinned magnetic layer contacts the second nonmagnetic electrically conductive layer, and the magnetic moment of the first pinned magnetic layer is greater than the second pinned magnetic layer.

Abstract: A CPP type magnetic sensing element capable of properly performing magnetization control of a free magnetic layer and having small hysteresis and an excellent playback characteristic, as well as a manufacturing method therefor, are provided. Second antiferromagnetic layers are provided not only on both edge sections of the free magnetic layer, but also on the middle rear end. In the height-side edge of the middle front end of the aforementioned free magnetic layer, a sense current magnetic field in the direction opposite to the magnetization direction of the aforementioned free magnetic layer is cancelled by a bias magnetic field from the second antiferromagnetic layer provided on the middle rear end. Consequently, an influence of the aforementioned sense current magnetic field can be reduced, turbulence in the magnetization of the aforementioned free magnetic layer can be made smaller than ever, and a magnetic sensing element having small hysteresis can be manufactured.

Abstract: A thermal transfer recording device which records a full color image through a single recording operation with a remarkably improved recording efficiency and less power consumption. The recording device uses, as a recording medium, a heat-sensitive recording medium which colors when heated, and has a control unit to control electric energy supplied to heating elements in a line thermal head according to image data in a way to bring its level into: a white range in which the recording medium does not turn black and thermal transfer inks of an ink ribbon are not transferred; a color range in which the recording medium does not turn black and the thermal transfer inks are transferred; or a black range in which the recording medium turns black.

Abstract: A coordinates inputting apparatus of the invention includes input means having an operation surface capable of inputting desired coordinates and a base plate for placing the input means, wherein a cushion layer is defined between the base plate and the input means. Therefore, when the operation surface is operated with a fingertip, for example, the cushion layer can improve feel transmitted to the fingertip. Consequently, a coordinates inputting apparatus having high operation performance can be provided.

Abstract: An optical semiconductor device to increase optical communication speed has a silicon substrate with an etched V-shaped first groove portion, a light emitting element which has an optical axis in the direction of the first groove portion and is mounted to the upper surface of the silicon substrate, and a high NA aspheric lens is mounted in the first groove portion. The first groove portion is composed of first and second opposing inclined surfaces and a third inclined surface perpendicular to the first and second inclined surfaces. A slit is cut in the silicon substrate extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the first groove portion and includes the first, second, and third inclined surfaces. The aspheric lens is mounted to the first and second inclined surfaces and has a part thereof protruding in the slit.

Abstract: An apparatus for turning on a computer power supply in which when an input operation of a predetermined key is carried out, predetermined H signals are output to a first signal line and a second signal line of a USB chip provided in a keyboard. Since this signal combination is not a USB standard signal combination, they can be distinguished from ordinary data signals. Since a wake-up device which has received these signals outputs predetermined start-up signals to a main power supply, the main power supply can be turned on. When the main power supply is turned on, connections of a first relay contact and a second relay contact of a switching device switch are switched, whereby first signal lines and second signals between the host computer and a keyboard are connected together, making it possible to carry out communication using the signals. By virtue of this structure, it is possible to start up the host computer whose main power supply is in an off state by operating the keyboard.