Abstract: The present invention relates to a feed screw driving apparatus that moves a power transmission member, which engages a feed screw, in an axial direction of the feed screw by rotationally driving the feed screw using a driving source, such as an electric motor, and also to an information recording and/or reproducing apparatus that moves a pick-up apparatus with this feed screw driving apparatus and records and/or reproduces an information signal onto or from a disc-like recording medium In a feed screw driving apparatus that moves a power transmission member, which engages a feed screw, in an axial direction of the feed screw by rotationally driving the feed screw using a driving source, there is provided an elastic member that energizes the power transmission member in the axial direction of the feed screw.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for laser sealing of disk drive housings. In addition, laser sealed housings are provided. Laser sealing of hard drives, allows for the disk drive assembly to be maintained in an inert gas environment.

Abstract: In a lead overlay (LOL) type of read head first and second insulation layers are employed with the first insulation layer being located between a top surface of a first hard bias layer and a first lead layer and the second insulation layer is located between the top surface of a second hard bias layer and a second lead layer for minimizing a shunting of a sense current through the hard bias layers into a read sensor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element has a magnetoresistive film and a pair of electrodes adapted to flow a sense current in a direction substantially perpendicular to a plane of the magnetoresistive film. The magnetoresistive film includes first and second magnetization free layers and first to fourth magnetization pinned layers with nonmagnetic intermediate layers interposed therebetween. The second magnetization pinned layer and the third magnetization pinned layer are formed between the second nonmagnetic intermediate layer and the third nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The directions of magnetization of the first and second magnetization pinned layers are substantially parallel to each other. The directions of magnetization of the third and fourth magnetization pinned layers are substantially parallel to each other. Further, the direction of magnetization of the second magnetization pinned layer is substantially antiparallel to the direction of magnetization of the third magnetization pinned layer.

Abstract: A dual/differential spin valve sensor of a magnetic head includes a first spin valve having an antiparallel (AP) “pinned” layer structure and a second spin valve having an AP “self-pinned” layer structure. The AP pinned layer structure has a magnetization direction which is fixed by an adjacent antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, whereas the AP self-pinned layer structure has a magnetization direction which is fixed by magnetostriction as well as air bearing surface (ABS) stress. The magnetization direction of the AP pinned layer structure is fixed in a direction antiparallel to the magnetization direction of the AP self-pinned layer structure. The dual/differential spin valve sensor may be configured to have either a top AP pinned layer structure and a bottom AP self-pinned layer structure, or a top AP self-pinned layer structure and a bottom AP pinned layer structure.

Abstract: An actuator assembly and method for orienting a head over a disc within a multi-disc servo-track writer incorporates an actuator block, rotational air bearing, translational air bearing, adaptor plate, E-block and actuator arm/head assembly. Rotation of the E-block, and hence actuator arm/head assembly, is directly controlled by the movement of the rotational air bearing, which is rotated by a motor. The air bearing provides for reduced friction and, as a result, decreased eccentricity of the head as compared to related art configurations. A translational air bearing laterally positions the actuator assembly within the multi-disc servo-track writer for servo-track recording.

Abstract: Present processes used for planarizing a cavity filled with a coil and hard baked photoresist require that a significant amount of the thickness of the coils be removed. This increases the DC resistance of the coil. In the present invention a layer of alumina is deposited onto the surface of the excess photoresist, following which CMP is initiated. The presence of the alumina serves to stabilize the photoresist so that it does not delaminate. CMP is terminated as soon as the coils are exposed, allowing their full thickness to be retained and resulting in minimum DC resistance. Application of this process to the manufacture of a two coil planar magnetic write head is described.

Abstract: An article including: an optical storage medium; and a machine readable mark on at least one side of the optical storage medium, wherein the machine readable mark is adapted to permit activation of a metered account. In embodiments the article can include a detachable member attached to the storage medium, where the detachable member bears a machine readable mark on at least one side and the detachable member can be detached from the optical storage medium after activation of the metered account. The invention also includes printing methods for making the article.

Abstract: A smaller electrode layer of an upper electrode is formed on a surface of a free magnetic layer. A domain controlling film of an insulating material is formed adjacent to the smaller electrode layer on the surface of the free magnetic layer. Magnetization of the free magnetic layer is oriented in a single direction based on magnetic exchange coupling between the domain controlling film and the free magnetic layer. An electric connection is established between the free magnetic layer and the upper electrode only through the smaller electrode layer. The path of a sensing current can be reduced in the free and a pinned magnetic layer. A higher sensitivity can thus be obtained in the CPP structure magnetoresistive element. Effective magnetic core width can also be reduced in the CPP structure magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rotary head comprising a tubular rotary cylinder; and a magnetic head for carrying out at least one of recording and reading of information with respect to a magnetic tape transported about the rotary cylinder; wherein the magnetic head is supported so as to be movable toward the outside of the rotary cylinder.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a cartridge main body composed of a lower shell, in which a first opening that enables disc access for a disc-like recording medium in a housed state is formed, and an upper shell, a disc tray that is rotatably provided inside the cartridge main body and formed so that the recording medium can be mounted thereon, and a single shutter member disposed between the lower shell and the disc tray. A second opening, which enables disc access for the recording medium when the second opening overlaps the first opening in a thickness direction of the disc cartridge, is formed in the disc tray. The disc tray closes part of the first opening in a restricted state where the disc access is restricted, and is capable of opening the part of the first opening in a disc access state by being rotated inside the cartridge main body and causing the shutter member to slide.

Abstract: A carriage for a magnetic disk apparatus includes a slider on which a magnetic head for reading/writing information from/to a disk is mounted, a suspension for carrying the slider and for applying a predetermined load to the slider, and a carriage arm to which the suspension is attached. The carriage arm includes a suspension fixing portion, first and second arms arranged substantially in parallel with a disk surface, and a restricting member having a surface opposite to the first and second arms. The restricting member and the first arm, and the restricting member and the second arm are coupled via a viscoelastic body.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic disk drive in which a flying-height fluctuation produced by the operation of a fine actuator is decreased, the reliability is high, and recording density is high. For this purpose, the magnetic disk drive is configured as described below. The magnetic disk drive has a suspension including a base plate connected to a carriage, a load beam fitted with a slider, and a fine actuator which is provided on the base plate and finely moves the load beam. The configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the local maximum of a flying-height fluctuation frequency of the suspension by the fine actuator. Also, the configuration is such that the shortest track travel time using the fine actuator is larger than the inverse number of the natural frequency of first torsion mode of the suspension by the fine actuator.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method of terminating an integrated lead suspension (ILS) tail to an arm electronics cable allows plated solder material to be utilized on the ILS pads by providing additional degrees of freedom for the solder pads on the ILS tail. The additional degrees of freedom provide additional compliance between the individual pairs of solder pads that form the solder joints. In addition to a cantilever spring action in the ILS tail, the invention comprises designs that allow each individual pad to move independently out of plane of the tail as well as providing a twist capability about its axis such that each pad has its own gimbal structure.

Abstract: A slider includes a longitudinal axis, a recessed region, a bearing surface, first and second elongated rails, and first and second elongated depressions. The first and second elongated rails extend generally parallel to the longitudinal axis and are disposed about the recessed region. Each of the first and second rails include a disc-facing surface that is recessed bearing surface. The first and second elongated depressions extend along the first and second rails, respectively. Each depression includes a depression floor that is recessed relative to the respective disc-facing surface.

Abstract: According to this invention, there is provided a molding method and apparatus which increase the gas permeation speed in obtaining a foamed resin molded product by letting a gas permeate a molten resin material.

Abstract: A load beam is attached to an actuator arm that is allowed to rock around a pivotal axis by a voice coil motor, etc., as a slider supporting member, the base end of a flexure is attached to the load beam with the free end thereof being left, a slider supporting member is attached to the top portion of the flexure, a slider on which a recording/reproduction head is installed is secured to the slider supporting member, and the slider supporting member is supported by a protrusion placed on the free end side of the load beam so as to be freely pivot thereon. Portions of the flexure corresponding to both of the sides of this protrusion are constituted by elastic hinge portions, each having a necked shape. A pair of thin-film piezoelectric elements are bonded to the flexure as displacement members.

Abstract: An end portion of a backfill gap layer is provided on two side portions of a free magnetic layer in a back region, and second antiferromagnetic layers are formed on the two side portions of the free magnetic layer from a face opposing a recording medium to the end portion of the backfill gap layer. Accordingly, in the free magnetic layer in the back region, a bias magnetic field in the magnetic layer is decreased as compared to that in the front region. Hence, a magnetic sensor can be manufactured which can improve the reproduction sensitivity of a central portion of the free magnetic layer to an external magnetic field as compared to that in the past without decreasing the exchange stiffness constant and which can suppress the generation of side reading.

Abstract: Multiple balancing plugs (114) preferably have a common length and a common offset center of gravity (130) in the length dimension for providing dual plane balancing of a rotatable body (100). The rotatable body (100) includes a plurality of balancing plug holes (112a–f) for receipt of a balancing plug (114) as desired/required to address an imbalance associated with the rotatable body (100). One or more balancing plugs (114) may be disposed within the rotatable body (100) in a first orientation such that their respective centers of gravity (130) are disposed within a first plane (134). One or more balancing plugs (114) may be disposed within the rotatable body (100) in a second, opposite orientation such that their respective centers of gravity (130) are disposed within a second plane (138) that is spaced from the first plane (134).

Abstract: A thin-film electrode layer having a superior electromigration resistance is disclosed. The thin-film electrode layer includes a first base layer composed of ?-Ta, a main conductive layer composed of Au, and a protective layer. The protective layer is a composite of a Cr sublayer and an ?-Ta sublayer. A thin-film magnetic head having the thin-film electrode layers and a method for forming electrodes in the thin-film magnetic head are also disclosed.