Abstract: A CD transport tray can be driven by a powered wheel made of an elastomeric material, or by a wheel 42′ having an elastomeric material on its rim surface that engages (through a friction-based driving action) an elongated strip on the CD transport tray. In the alternative, the elongated strip 38′ can be provided with an elastomeric strip 110′ or both the wheel 42′ and the elongated strip 38′ may be provided with an elastomeric strip.

Abstract: To perform a high dustproof when a disk drive apparatus records and/or reproduces information signals on a disk shape recording medium, which is stored rotatably within a disk cartridge. The present invention provides a disk drive apparatus for recording and/or reproducing information signals on a disk shape recording medium, which is stored rotatably within a disk cartridge comprising a case having a cartridge storing space in which the disk cartridge is inserted, rotatably driving means for holding the disk shape recording medium, which is stored within the disk cartridge, which is inserted in the cartridge storing space and for rotatably driving the disk shape recording medium, shielding means for defining a shielded space by covering a surrounding area of the rotatably driving means for holding the disk shape recording medium and a filter for removing a dust or the like inside of the cartridge storing space. The shielded space and the cartridge storing space communicate each other via said filter.

Abstract: A tall-electrode trace interconnect array includes a dielectric support substrate for supporting least two tall-electrode trace conductors. A dielectric support structure on the support substrate supports outside longitudinal walls of the two tall-electrode trace conductors. The dielectric support structure is formed to be absent from a longitudinal space between the two tall-electrode trace conductors thereby defining an ambient air dielectric to reduce and control inter-electrode capacitance and increase resonant frequency and effective electrical bandwidth of the trace interconnect array. A method for forming the array is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a tilt angle adjusting mechanism for adjusting the tilt angle of the optical axis of a pickup head relative to the optical disc. The pickup head is furnished with an elongated hole, a slot or an L-shape base, several pre-loaded pressing elements and adjusting elements for a three-point mounting on two guide rods. The adjusting elements make the optical pickup head rotatably on two axes so as to adjust the tilt angle. An adaptive mechanism can also be incorporated for adjusting the tilt angle of the pickup head without modifying the original structure of an optical disc driver.

Abstract: A GMR element part is formed of a laminated structure which comprises at least one pair of ferromagnetic layers and a nonmagnetic intermediate layer interposed between the pair of ferromagnetic layers. Signal magnetic field detecting ferromagnetic layers will be optionally disposed one each outside the pair of ferromagnetic layers. The GMR element part consists of a laminated structure which is provided with one pair of GMR ferromagnetic layers opposed to each other across a nonmagnetic intermediate layer or a laminated structure which is provided with one pair of GMR ferromagnetic layer opposed to each other across a nonmagnetic intermediate layer and at least one low-permeability ferromagnetic layer disposed there between through the medium of a nonmagnetic intermediate layer.

Abstract: A data storage tape cartridge has a housing (12) and a tape reel assembly (14) rotatably mounted in the housing (12). An unlocking member (170) is constructed from a filled thermoplastic and a wear member (185) is operatively connected to the unlocking member (170) forming a wear surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for minimizing damage to a disc drive assembly subjected to non-operational shock. The disc drive has rotatable discs upon which data can be written and read by read/write heads supported by and controllable by an actuator assembly having actuator arms moveable over the complete data containing surfaces of the discs. A disc snubber is supported in apertures in the actuator arms, the disc snubber having bumper arms radially extending to nest the outer perimeters of the discs when the disc drive assembly is in its non-operational mode. The disc snubber is in clearing relationship to the discs in the operational mode. The disc snubber is disposed to dampen disc deflection caused by non-operational shock, thereby avoiding deleterious actuator arm/disc contact.

Abstract: The present invention achieves reductions in a track width of a recording head and in a yoke length. A thin-film magnetic head of the invention comprises a reproducing head and a recording head. The recording head has a bottom pole layer and a top pole layer that include pole portions opposed to each other, a recording gap layer being placed between the pole portions. The recording head further has a thin-film coil located between the top and bottom pole layers, the coil being insulated from the pole layers. The bottom pole layer includes: a first portion located in a region including a region that faces a first layer of the thin-film coil; and second portion forming a pole portion and connected to a surface of the first portion facing the first layer of the coil. The bottom pole layer further has an auxiliary layer made of a high saturation flux density material and placed between the first portion of the bottom pole layer and the first layer of the coil. The auxiliary layer forms part of a magnetic path.

Abstract: The constitution includes a common shield having both shield function and lower magnetic core function, a recording gap formed on the common shield, having specified gap length and gap depth, an upper magnetic core disposed oppositely to the common shield through the recording gap, and a pair of shunt members made of a soft magnetic material formed at the side of the recording gap, being magnetically insulated from the common shield and upper magnetic core through a nonmagnetic layer. It hence presents a thin film magnetic head and its manufacturing method capable of suppressing the leak magnetic field generated in the recording gap, decreasing the recording fringe substantially, narrowing the track of the recording head, and enhancing the recording track density.

Abstract: Problems aligning a slider with a dimple in manufacture of head gimbal assemblies for disk drive suspensions are obviated by defining optically readable indicia that serve as a reference for positioning apparatus rather than the dimple.

Abstract: A storage system slider having a trailing edge pad and method for making the same is disclosed. A trailing edge pad to provide a carbon-carbon contact between the storage medium surface and slider and by reducing the thickness of the DLC so that the magnetic spacing is reduced. A slider body is formed having a first side, a second side, a leading edge and a trailing edge, an air bearing surface is formed on the slider body and a trailing edge pad is formed at the trailing edge of the slider. The air bearing surface may also include a protective overcoat with decreased thickness over the air bearing surfaces. The decrease in thickness of the protective overcoat may correspond to an increase in a magnetic spacing caused by the addition of the trailing edge pad to the slider, or may be greater than the corresponding increase in a magnetic spacing caused by the addition of the trailing edge pad to the slider. Moreover, the forming of the protective coat may be omitted.

Abstract: When a CD is inserted in an insertion/ejection slot of a CD playback apparatus, an insertion/ejection roller in an insertion/ejection mechanism draws the CD into a housing. A shutter mechanism closes a portion of the insertion/ejection slot. A control circuit drives the insertion/ejection roller in the reverse direction to cause the CD to abut against the shutter mechanism, whereby the CD becomes set in a reference position. The CD thus set in the reference position can be mounted on a turn table of a PU unit. A stocker installed inside the apparatus is capable of accommodating a plurality of CDs, and the turn table can be moved to transport the CD to an accommodating position selected by a lifting mechanism and separated by a separating mechanism. Since the space necessary to handle recording media such as CDs can be reduced, the entire construction can be reduced in size.

Abstract: A data-storage cartridge comprises an outer shell having an inner surface. The data-storage cartridge also comprises a data-storage medium having an outer peripheral edge and a centrally-disposed hub. The data-storage medium is rotatably disposed within the outer shell so that the data-storage medium faces the inner surface of the outer shell. A recess is formed in the inner surface. The recess preferably extends from a first position proximate the outer peripheral edge of the data-storage medium to a second position proximate the hub. A liner is attached to the inner surface of the outer shell so that the liner covers a portion of the recess between the first and the second ends of the recess. The liner and the recess thereby form a passage for circulating air between the outer peripheral edge and the hub of the data-storage medium.

Abstract: For improving a thermal asperity of a magnetoresistive effective type thin film magnetic head, a thin film magnetic head is provided which does not deteriorate an insulation between leads for a magnetoresistive element and a top and bottom shields even if a shield gap layer is thinner and can read reproducing signals precisely by reducing the resistances of the leads. A first and a second conductive layers are provided in insulating separation by an insulating layer between a substrate and a bottom shield, and are connected to one ends of a magnetoresistive layer via a first and a second conductive plugs and a first and a second drawing electrode layers, respectively. The other ends of the first and second conductive layers are connected to contacting pads for connection to an external circuit via a pair of conductive layers formed at the same time when a third and a fourth conductive plugs and the bottom pole are formed or when a thin film coil is formed.

Abstract: A disc cartridge in accordance with the present invention includes a disc holder for supporting a disc-shaped recording medium; and a case for receiving the disc holder and the recording medium. The disc holder includes at least one finger-shaped flexible member that extends from a side face of the disc holder and bends in the plane substantially parallel with top and bottom portions of the disc holder. The case further includes an opening and a member for engaging with the flexible member to secure the disc holder; and means for preventing an easy touch of a human finger on the flexible member to protect the disc holder from being easily released. Once the disc holder is housed in the case, part of the disc holder blocks the opening of the case.

Abstract: A removable and reusable writeable or printable label for an optical disc having low-tack adhesive system for attachment of the label to the label side of a disc. A liner having mechanical properties that are suitable to permit ease of handling before mounting the label onto a disc is provided on the adhesive side to protect the label while not in use. The labels may be kiss-cut from a two-ply sheet to allow the labels to be printed upon prior to their application to a disc. An applicator for mounting the label facilitates the easy orientation and proper attachment of a label to an optical disc.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vibration damped spacer articles having good force (torque and/or pressure and/or stress) retention, and disk drives having a damped spacer article and a rotatable storage article inserted therein.

Abstract: The present invention is to realize a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus in which even if a spacing between shields of a magnetic head is narrowed, a deterioration in characteristic caused by a short-circuiting between a magnetoresistive layer and a magnetic shield layer is prevented to provide a high recording density. The present invention comprises an upper shield layer 15, a lower shield layer 13,and a magnetoresistive layer 14 arranged therebetween. Further, there is provided a constitution in which one or both shield layers has (have) a high resistance layer comprising a mixed layer of ferromagnetic metal and an insulating material, or a discontinuous multi-layer having a plurality of ferromagnetic metal layers and a plurality of insulating material layers laminated alternately, to prevent a deterioration in characteristic caused by a short-circuiting.

Abstract: A disk drive 100 capable of receiving a cartridge 20 having a disk 42 with a diameter of about 3.5 inches which can contain at least 105 megabytes of data includes an operating mechanism 112 for initiating and controlling the positioning of an actuator arm 176 upon which is mounted a read/write transducer 178. The position of a spindle motor 224 which is used to spin up the disk 42 contained in the cartridge 20 to an operating speed, the locking of the cartridge 20 in the disk drive 100 in an operating mode and the ejection of the cartridge 20 from the drive 100. The operating mechanism 112 can function to eject the cartridge 20 whether or not the drive 100 is powered up in order to be able to remove the cartridge 20 and transport it to another disk drive 100 or to a secured location in a plane substantially parallel to the disk 42 contained in the cartridge 20.

Abstract: An auto balancing apparatus for a disk drive including a ball casing having a circular racing space installed concentrically with respect to a rotation member capable of rotating a disk. A plurality of balls roll along a racing face formed in the racing space for implementing a balancing operation. A guide member guides the movements of the balls. The proper guiding of the movements of the balls used for an auto balancing apparatus automatically corrects an unstable rotation of a disk and provides an accurate balancing operation.