Abstract: A disk loading for loading either a first or second, smaller, disk. The disk loading device comprises a main chassis, a power transmission unit, a slider, a first and second linkage mechanism, a sub-chassis, and a locking lever. The first linkage mechanism guides the first disk to a chucking position while being pushed and moved by the first disk, and moves the slider in connection with the power transmission unit when the first disk is being introduced. The second linkage mechanism connects the slider to the power transmission unit while being pushed and moved by the second disk when the second disk is moved to the chucking position. The sub-chassis is linked to a guide unit which separates the first linkage mechanism from the first disk or the second disk placed on the chucking position. The locking lever selectively locks the movement of the first linkage mechanism or releasing the locking of the first linkage mechanism.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head for improving resolution includes a read element and a magnetic flux generating element spaced apart from the read element. The magnetic flux generating element transmits a magnetic flux into a soft magnetic underlayer of a magnetic recording medium adjacent an air-bearing surface of the magnetic flux generating element. The magnetic flux transmitted to the soft magnetic underlayer flows in the soft magnetic underlayer away from an area of the soft magnetic underlayer beneath the read element.

Abstract: A high performance specular free layer bottom spin valve is disclosed. This structure made up the following layers: NiCr/MnPt/CoFe/Ru/CoFe/Cu/free layer/Cu/Ta or TaO/Al2O3. A key feature is that the free layer is made of a very thin CoFe/NiFe composite layer. Experimental data confirming the effectiveness of this structure is provided, together with a method for manufacturing it and, additionally, its longitudinal bias leads.

Abstract: A low cost, simplified disk drive suspension not requiring an actuator arm for movement is provided comprising a load beam having at its proximate end attachment structure comprising a mounting hole fixed to an actuator spindle and at its distal end terminal structure adapted to support a slider overlying a disk and having a lift cam and limiters, and a conductor supported by the load beam, the conductor comprising a flexible conductive laminate metal layer flexure and limiter at the load beam terminal structure, undue movement of the flexure and flexure tongue being controlled by the limiters.

Abstract: A locking mechanism for a disk reading device has a body, and an absorber provided on the body for absorbing impact energy. The absorber can be implemented in the form of an elastic material on the body of the locking mechanism, or by providing one or more hollowed regions on the body of the locking mechanism, or by providing resilient members that function to further absorb the impact energy.

Abstract: Currently, the shield-to-shield separation of a spin valve head cannot be below about 800 ?, mainly due to sensor-to-lead shorting problems. This problem has now been overcome by inserting a high permeability, high resistivity, thin film shield on the top or bottom (or both) sides of the spin valve sensor. A permeability greater than about 500 is required together with a resistivity about 5 times greater than that of the free layer and an MrT value for the thin film shield that is 4 times greater than that of the free layer. Five embodiments of the invention are described.

Abstract: A device for reading information stored on an information plate (1), and/or for writing information on an information plate (1), includes a loading mechanism for loading and unloading the information plate (1). The loading mechanism includes at least one movable scanning lever (5) for detecting the position of the information plate (1). The lever is designed for making contact with the plate edge of the information plate (1). A position sensor is provided for supplying position information on the position of the information plate (1) in dependence on the position of the scanning lever (5).

Abstract: A disk transferring device including a chassis; a moving unit which is tightly in contact with one surface of a disk and rotated by the force of a driving source for thereby moving the disk; a balance guide unit for contacting an inserted disk for thereby precisely inserting the disk; a holder guide unit which interlocks with the balance guide unit and is guided by the balance guide unit for thereby receiving the disk moved by a roller unit and guiding the disk until the disk transfer is finished; a selection guide unit which interlocks with the holder guide unit, is moved by the insertion power of the disk, and is interlocked according to the size of the insertion disk; and a clamping driving unit which is driven for the clamping operation of the disk, being interlocked with the selection guide unit. The holder guide unit or selection guide unit receives the driving force separated from the disk from the driving source when the disk transfer is finished.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording head having an air bearing surface and comprising a substantially planar top pole and a shared pole is disclosed. The top pole and shared pole are connected distally from the air bearing surface by a yoke. A conductive coil wraps around the top pole and is positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface, with a lower portion of the coils extending between the top pole and the shared pole.

Abstract: An optical disk drive having a turntable for carrying an optical disk with a clamping plate made of a magnetic material having a clamping area. A magnet is included for attracting to a turntable side the clamping plate of the optical disk placed on the turntable in a noncontact state. A motor is included for rotating the turntable with the optical disk placed thereon, wherein an attraction force of the magnet attracting the clamping plate is a value by which bending of the optical disk accompanied with the attraction of the clamping plate becomes within a permissible error range. A recording and reproducing apparatus may also incorporate the optical disk drive.

Abstract: The positional adjustment of an optical disk pickup has generally been performed, within a holding member for holding the end portion of a pickup guide shaft, by clamping the guide shaft between an elastic member and an adjusting screw, and by adjusting the advance amount of the adjusting screw with respect to the holding member. However, there has been a problem that a linear positional adjustment and a fine adjustment are made difficult by the unevenness and tilt of the surface of the adjusting screw which is in contact with the guide shaft.

Abstract: A recording medium cartridge which is capable of preventing a drop in aesthetic quality by preventing damage to a printed layer for writing during ultrasonic welding is presented. As a printed layer (20), a writing-enabling filler (21), and resin particles (22) having an average particle diameter equal to or greater than the average particle diameter of the writing-enabling filler (21) mentioned above are included in an ink (23). The resin particles (22) come into contact with a welding horn (9), and prevent the writing-enabling filler (21) from falling out or changing shape due to ultrasonic vibration.

Abstract: A portable data player and or recorder having a door which can be easily assembled or disassembled from a casing of the disk player. The door is fitted with brackets which, in a wide open angular position of the door, can slide in a first direction along hinges of the casing up to an abutting position. In an open position a rib of the door is an abutment against a shoulder of the casing, thus preventing any disassembling of the door from the casing. Disassembling from the casing is made possible if the door is wide open. Then the shoulder does not prevent the sliding of the brackets of the door in a second direction, opposite the first one, along hinges of the casing. The invention makes it easy to change the door without any tooling, so that a user may choose the colour of the door according to their taste.

Abstract: A shroud assembly for a disk drive that includes a rotatable disk, a printed circuit board, a data transfer head, an actuator assembly and a flex cable, includes a cable shrouding portion. The shroud assembly also includes a disk shrouding portion and a cable mounting portion. The cable mounting portion includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is configured to receive a transition portion of the flex cable proximate to a second end. The second surface is configured to receive the second end of the flex cable and to position the second end for engagement by the printed circuit board. The cable shrouding portion is configured to shield a spanning portion of the flex cable between the cable mounting portion and the actuator assembly from airflow generated by the rotation of the rotatable disk.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises first and second magnetic layers; a gap layer provided between the first and second magnetic layers; a coupling portion for magnetically coupling the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer to each other at a distance from the medium facing surface ABS; and a thin-film coil at least part of which is disposed between the first and second magnetic layers. The second magnetic layer has a pole portion layer and a yoke portion layer. The pole portion layer has a saturated magnetic flux density equal to or greater than that of the yoke portion layer. The yoke portion layer magnetically connects the upper end of the coupling portion and the rear end surface of the pole portion layer to each other.

Abstract: In the engaging structure of a lead screw (51) with a head lift body (52), for simplification of a feeding side mechanism and improvement of feeding accuracy, the head lift body has only one fingernail shaped protrusion (551) as a member engaging with an external thread of the lead screw (51). The protrusion (551) is provided on an internal wall surface of a bearing portion (55) formed in an integral structure with the head lift body (52). Accordingly, the engagement of the external thread of the lead screw and the single protrusion converts the rotation movement of the lead screw (51) to the linear movement of the head lift body (52). As a result, a feeding accuracy in the linear movement converted from the rotation movement is only determined by a feeding accuracy of only the lead screw (51). In an example, the protrusion is a half-moon shaped plate.

Abstract: A MD loading mechanism for a multidisk MD reproducing apparatus capable of storing a plurality of MDs and of reproducing information recorded on the plurality of MDs successively comprises: a plurality of cartridge holders for holding MD cartridges therein, respectively; a MD cartridge storage unit for storing the plurality of cartridge holders therein in a stack so that the back end surfaces of the MD cartridges held within the cartridge holders can be seen from outside, provided with a plurality of insertion slots through which the MD cartridges are inserted in the cartridge holders and cartridge holder locking means for locking the cartridge holders within the MD cartridge storage unit; and a cartridge holder transfer means for transferring the cartridge holder holding a desired MD cartridge from the MD cartridge storage unit to the MD reproducing apparatus.

Abstract: Device and method for removing contaminant particles from an optical disk, the optical disk having an optical disk substrate, a reflective layer on the disk substrate, a first insulating layer on the reflective layer, a recording layer on the first insulating layer for recording/reproducing a data thereon/therefrom, and a second insulating layer on the recording layer, the device including an electrode pattern of a plurality of concentric circles on the optical disk except the recording layer, a third insulating layer on the electrode pattern to expose a region of the electrode pattern, and a number of connection electrodes in contact with the exposed electrode pattern for applying dust collecting voltages to the electrode pattern.

Abstract: A turntable assembly not requiring use of plastic centering hooks, enabling simplification of the mold structure, and enabling attachment of the leaf springs imparting elastic spring force in the disk centering mechanism even after fitting the center hole of the turntable over the motor shaft, wherein the turntable assembly has a motor having a projecting motor shaft and a turntable having a center hole into which the projecting portion of the motor shaft is inserted and a magnet holding groove formed at a disk hole mating hub around the center hole and holding a permanent magnet for clamping an information storage disk placed on the turntable in the magnet holding groove, the disk centering mechanism having a plurality of spring seats at spring flexing spaces formed at intervals in the circumferential direction of the disk hole mating hub 21, each of the spring seats being provided with a centering leaf spring having a vertically descending piece protruding slightly outward in the radial direction from the o

Abstract: A flexure design is provided that can focus the lifting force on a slider device at its leading edge. For sub-ambient pressure sliders, this results in an rapid increase in pressure in the sub-ambient pressure area causing the slider device to quickly lift off from the disk surface in a ramp unload disk drive. In one embodiment, first and second outriggers are provided in the flexure that each include a section that extends distally and a section that extends proximally. The sections of the outriggers that extend proximally can be joined and coupled to a tab section slider which would be located at the leading edge of the slider.