Abstract: A motor includes a rotor hub with a first horizontal surface, a cylindrical surface, a second horizontal surface, and a projecting portion. The first horizontal surface is located above the sleeve. The cylindrical surface extends downward from the first horizontal surface. The second horizontal surface is located above a stator. The projecting portion projects downward from the second horizontal surface, and surrounds the sleeve or the holding portion. The cylindrical surface and an outer circumferential surface of the sleeve together define a tapered gap therebetween where the radial distance therebetween decreases with increasing height. The holding portion, the projecting portion, and coils are located radially in this order, and at least portions thereof are positioned to radially overlap with one another.

Abstract: A magnetic recording head includes a main magnetic pole that generates a recording magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to a recording layer, a write shield with a surface that faces a trailing side of the main magnetic pole, so that a write gap is interposed between the surface and the main magnetic pole, the write shield forming a magnetic core together with the main magnetic pole, a recording coil, a high frequency oscillator within the write gap, a wiring through which a current can flow through the main magnetic pole, the high frequency oscillator, and the write shield in series, and a magnetic element made of soft magnetic material, positioned within the write gap and separated from the high frequency oscillator, and configured to form a magnetic path passing through the main magnetic pole, the magnetic element, and the write shield, and not through the high frequency oscillator.

Abstract: A voice coil actuator utilizes an eddy current magnet configured for positioning proximal to the outer perimeter side face of one or more recording disk, and which cooperates with the conductive side face to generate an eddy current force to rotate a latch lever to an unlatched position. Embodiments may include an end cam on a base on which the latch lever is rotatably disposed, and the latch lever includes a cam follower capable of rotatably engaging with the end cam, whereby the magnetic attraction between the eddy current magnet and the voice coil actuator yoke generates a latch bias force which causes the end cam and cam follower to engage or mesh in order to hold the latch lever in a latched position.

Abstract: A disk drive includes a disk including a magnetizable layer of material, and a transducer. The transducer has a read element that includes a first shield layer, a pinned layer, a metallic spacer, an AP (anti-parallel) free layer, and a second shield layer. The pinned layer has a surface area which is greater than the area of the AP free layer. The read element also includes an anti-ferromagnetic layer for substantially fixing the magnetic orientation of a plurality of domains in the pinned layer. The ferromagnetic layer is adjacent the pinned layer. The pinned layer, and the anti-ferromagnetic layer both have surface areas which are greater than the area associated with the AP free layer. The anti-ferromagnetic layer, in one embodiment, has a pinning strength in the range of 0.5 erg/cm2 to 1.5 erg/cm2.

Abstract: A condenser stereomicrophone includes a mid condenser microphone unit that is connected to left and right side condenser microphone units such that the output from the mid condenser microphone unit is applied to the left and right side condenser microphone units. The left and right side condenser microphone units are connected to left and right-channel connector terminals, respectively; and the left and right-channel connector terminals are connected to the mid condenser microphone unit via corresponding power-supply resistors.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one read head, each read head including a magnetoresistive (MR) read element, having a lower shield layer, an underlayer positioned above the lower shield layer, an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer positioned above the underlayer, a magnetization pinned layer positioned above the AFM layer, an insulating layer positioned above the magnetization pinned layer, and a magnetization free layer positioned above the insulating layer, magnetic side shields positioned on both sides of the MR read element in a cross-track direction, and at least one shield excitation coil configured to excite magnetization of the side shields. In another embodiment, a method for forming a read sensor includes forming a MR read element, forming magnetic side shields on both sides of the MR read element in a cross-track direction, and forming at least one shield excitation coil configured to excite magnetization of the side shields.

Abstract: A wireless dual-functioning headset, which is waterproof and allows a user to make and receive phone calls through voice recognition as well as listen to music on a smartphone. It all can be customized by setting the preferences on a mobile software application. An implementation is an earbud headphone system that is both wireless and waterproof running off of RF waves that has the ability to sync with music on a smartphone.

Abstract: A spindle motor includes a base portion, a stationary portion, and a circuit substrate disposed in the base portion. The base portion includes a flat plate portion positioned below the rotary portion and a through-hole extending from an upper surface to a lower surface of the flat plate portion. The flat plate portion includes a first surface positioned between the upper surface and the lower surface of the flat plate portion and disposed within the through-hole. The circuit substrate includes a land portion to which a lead wire extending from a plurality of coils is electrically connected. The land portion is disposed on the first surface. The lead wire is connected to the land portion by solder within the through-hole.

Abstract: A writer core of a transducer is configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and comprises an upper core and a lower core. At least one of the upper and lower cores comprises a return pole having a return shield. The apparatus also comprises a writer pole between the upper and lower cores, and a writer gap defined between the writer pole and the return shield. The apparatus further comprises a sensor element within one of the upper and lower cores that includes the writer gap. The sensor element has a temperature coefficient of resistance and is configured to sense for a change in temperature indicative of one or both of a change in spacing and contact between the transducer and the magnetic recording medium.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head of the invention includes: a waveguide; a plasmon generator; and a light-absorbing protrusion layer provided on a leading side of the plasmon generator. A ratio W1/W2 is within a range from 2/3 to 55/3, where W1 is a width of the light-absorbing protrusion layer in an air-bearing surface, and W2 is a width of the waveguide in the air-bearing surface.

Abstract: An actuator assembly for a magnetic storage device includes a top surface and a bottom surface that opposes the top surface. The actuator assembly also includes a first constraining layer that is secured to the top surface by a first adhesive layer. The first adhesive layer is positioned between the top surface and the first constraining layer. Additionally, the actuator assembly includes a second constraining layer that is secured to the bottom surface by a second adhesive layer. The second adhesive layer is positioned between the bottom surface and the second constraining layer. At least one of (i) the first constraining layer is configured differently than the second constraining layer; and (ii) the first adhesive layer is configured differently than the second adhesive layer.

Abstract: A head cleaning device includes: a wiper member formed in an elongate shape and having a wiper anchoring portion anchored so as not to move in a tape width direction; and a support member that includes a wiper entrainment portion about which the wiper member is entrained so as to double back, that causes the wiper entrainment portion to move in the tape width direction so that a surface of the wiper member at an opposite side of the wiper entrainment portion from the wiper anchoring portion wipes a head that performs at least one of writing information to, or reading information from, a recording tape.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for manufacturing a magnetic recording sensor for use in a magnetic reader, such as a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) readers. The magnetic recording sensor can be manufactured by heating a substrate in a first chamber and depositing an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer on the heated substrate. Additionally, a first pinned layer is added onto the AFM layer, and the substrate is subsequently cooled.

Abstract: A dual stage actuated (DSA) suspension includes two PZT microactuators that are attached at their first ends to a non-gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the portion of the flexure that is rigidly attached to the load beam, and are attached at their second ends to the gimbaled portion of the suspension such as the gimbal tongue through flexible connectors that can be formed integrally with the suspension's flexure. The flexible connectors are flexible enough so as not to interfere with the suspension's gimballing action. The flexible connectors transmit force from the PZTs to the gimbal as the PZTs expand and contract in order to rotate the gimbal and thus effect fine movements of the head slider.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording writer for use in a data storage device, the recording transducer has a magnetic writer pole, a pole tip facing an air bearing surface (ABS). The pole tip has a pole face, leading side wall, a trailing side wall, a first side wall and a second side wall. A trailing side wall nonmagnetic gap layer on the trailing side wall, a first side wall nonmagnetic gap layer deposited on the first side wall, and a second side wall nonmagnetic gap layer deposited on the second side wall. A high magnetic moment seed layer is deposited on the trailing side wall nonmagnetic gap layer, the first side wall nonmagnetic gap layer, and the second side wall nonmagnetic gap layer. In other aspects of the invention shields are provided that have magnetic moments less than the magnetic moment of the seed layers.

Abstract: A disk drive includes an insertion detection unit disposed at a position deviating from a transport center line in a first direction, a transport roller, and an opposing member that holds a disk together with the transport roller. The opposing member has a second guiding recess located in a second direction relative to the transport center line. The recess of the opposing member and the transport roller define a space therebetween to receive the disk inserted from a position deviating from the transport center line in the second direction.

Abstract: A method and system provide a magnetic transducer having an air-bearing surface (ABS). The magnetic transducer includes a main pole and at least one coil for energizing the main pole. The main pole includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a pole tip and at least one side surface. The pole tip has an ABS facing surface at the ABS. The first portion has a first flare angle between the ABS and a side surface. The second portion is on the first portion and recessed from the ABS. The second portion has a second flare angle greater than the first flare angle. The first portion is wider in a cross track direction than the second portion.

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes an underlayer, a first nonmagnetic spacer layer above the underlayer, a free layer above the first nonmagnetic spacer layer, a second nonmagnetic spacer layer above the free layer, and a cap layer above the second nonmagnetic spacer layer. At least one of the cap layer and the underlayer comprises a soft ferromagnetic material and a high spin orbit coupling material. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a magnetic device having a discontinuous array of columns disposed near a magnetic pole. Each column has a length extending perpendicular to an air bearing surface and a width. The length is greater than the width.

Abstract: A data reader may be configured at least with a magnetic stack that has a first magnetic layer separated from a second magnetic layer by a non-magnetic spacer layer. The first magnetic layer may have an areal extent on an air bearing surface (ABS) that differs from the second magnetic layer while the second magnetic layer can be configured with a first plurality of linear sidewalls that are each angled with respect to a second plurality of linear sidewalls of the first magnetic layer.