Abstract: A head gimbal assembly for use in disk drive systems comprising a load beam, a flexure physically connected to the load beam, a slider physically connected to the flexure for movement with the flexure. The slider includes a transducer and n bonding pads to which the transducer is electrically connected. A flex circuit is provided having n conductors connected to the n bonding pads for providing electrical connection to the transducer, a portion of the flex circuit being routed between the flexure and the slider such that the portion, flexure and slider moves as a single unit, and a reduced stiffness area to minimize the effects on roll and pitch characteristics of the slider due to said flex circuit being connected to said n bonding pads on said slider and being routed between the flexure and slider.

Abstract: An apparatus for recording and/or reproducing a recording medium, for example, an optical disk, a tape cassette or the like, has an apparatus body having an opening in the front surface side thereof, a front panel and a guard plate. The apparatus body includes therein a recording and/or reproducing unit for recording and/or reproducing the recording medium. The recording medium is inserted into the apparatus body or discharged from the apparatus body through the opening. The front panel is rotatively provided at the front surface side of said apparatus body. The front panel is rotated between a first position for closing the opening and a second position for opening the opening. The guard plate projects to a position for covering a portion of the front panel when the front panel has been rotated from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: An optical disc cartridge provided with a mechanism for preventing incorrect insertion of a cartridge. A cut-off portion is provided at a head and side portion at an inserting side of, for example, a 3.5" erasable optical disc cartridge. The cut-off portion is located at an side opposite to a corresponding cut-off portion used in a 3.5" (86 mm) floppy disc cartridge. A stopper is provided in a cartridge insertion portion of the reproducing apparatus to prevent incorrect insertion of the cartridge and is located to correspond to the location of the cartridge cut-off portion. A depression or the like is provided at a front end of the cartridge and at a portion symmetrical about an axis to an edge of the shutter where the shutter opening lever normally strikes.

Abstract: A cartridge body has a disc storing portion for rotatably storing an optical disc, and a disc inlet/outlet port. A lid member for opening/closing the port is mounted on the cartridge body. The port includes a mid portion through which a center portion of the disc passes and a pair of end portions positioned on both sides of the mid portion through which peripheral portions of the disc pass. The width of the port gradually decreases from the mid portion to both end portions. The disc storing portion includes a center region facing the center portion of the disc, a first region extending from the center region to the port, and a second region extending from the center region in a direction opposite to the port. The first region has a cross-sectional shape equal to that of the port, and the second region is formed such that its width decreases in the radial direction from the center portion of the disc toward outer peripheral portions of the disc.

Abstract: A cartridge body storing an optical disc has a disc inlet/outlet port for taking the disc in and out. A lid member is mounted on the cartridge body to be rotatable between a closed position and an opened position. The lid member has a pair of guide rails extending from the lid member into the cartridge body and facing the surfaces of the disc. Each guide rail has a guide hole. The cartridge body has guide grooves in which the guide rails slide, and a guide pin slidably inserted into the guide holes of the guide rails. During the opening and closing operation of the lid member, the guide grooves and guide pin guide the guide rails.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing a change in a magnetic field is disclosed. The apparatus includes a giant magnetoresistive element positioned adjacent to the magnetic field. First, second, and third electrical contacts are spatially positioned on the giant magnetoresistive element forming a first current path having a first variable resistance between the first and second electrical contacts and a second current path having a second variable resistance between the first and third electrical contacts. The movable magnetic field causes a change in the first variable resistance in the first current path when the field becomes positioned substantially underneath the first current path, and the magnetic field causes a change in the second variable resistance in the second current path when the field becomes positioned substantially underneath the second current path.

Abstract: A full erase head assembly for erasing a signal recorded on a tape includes a full erase head, a guide post installed on a deck base for guiding the tape, a guide portion formed on a first side of the full erase head, the guide portion being supported by the guide post, and a locking mechanism formed on a second side of the full erase head and coupled to the deck base, the locking mechanism preventing the full erase head from separating from the deck base.

Abstract: A magnetic head apparatus for a magneto-optical recording medium recording and/or reproducing apparatus includes a head body and an arm-shaped support mechanism. The head body includes a magnetic head unit for generating a perpendicular magnetic field, and a contact-slide portion to which the magnetic head unit is secured and which is slid along the magneto-optical recording medium in contact with the surface of the magneto-optical recording medium. The arm support mechanism to which the head body is secured is movable in such a direction that the magnetic head unit is contacted with or away from the magneto-optical recording medium. The arm-shaped support mechanism has an arm portion, a fixed portion and first and second elastic displacing portions. The head body is secured to one end side of the arm portion through the first elastic displacing portion.

Abstract: A linear motor drive apparatus for moving a head carriage in a direction perpendicular to tracks on a recording medium includes a permanent magnet, first yoke for supporting the permanent magnet, a second yoke, and a coil fixed on the head carriage and wound around the second yoke. The permanent magnet is disposed in a direction parallel to a moving direction of the head carriage. The second yoke is disposed to be spaced apart from the permanent magnet at a predetermined interval. An adjusting mechanism is provided in the apparatus so as to adjust a relative position between the first and second yokes to adjust the predetermined interval.

Abstract: Spindle motor electrical- and motor-to-base interfaces. A compliant connector along with a circuit on a support flange is provided below a stator assembly for providing: An insertable spindle motor to drive base with less specific orientation. The support flange may comprise a small printed circuit cable or a printed circuit board. Additionally, non-specific orientation of a spindle motor to drive base assembly is described using circular traces oriented about a support flange. A circular connector is also described, as a biased support flange.

Abstract: A head disk assembly (HDA) for a hard disk drive includes vibration damping structure. The HDA also includes an enclosure, a disk, a pivot bearing cartridge, and a head stack assembly (HSA). The enclosure includes a base that preferably includes integral side walls. The disk has a recording surface that has an annular landing zone. The pivot bearing cartridge includes a shaft fixed to the enclosure, and the head stack assembly is connected to the pivot bearing cartridge for rotation relative to the shaft. The HSA includes a head supported to be moved radially relative to the recording surface and to be brought to rest at a position in the landing zone. The base has a plurality of interior-facing surfaces including a major interior-facing surface parallel to the recording surface. Significantly, one of the interior-facing surfaces of the base serves as a bearing surface against which the vibration damping structure is compressed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel high magnetic moment material for the pole pieces as well as a metal-in-gap configuration for the pole tips of either an inductive magnetic head only or the inductive portion of a MR head. The novel material is Ni.sub.45 Fe.sub.55. In the MIG configuration each pole piece of the inductive head or the inductive head portion of a MR head has a combination of layers, each combination of layers including a first layer of high magnetic moment material Ni.sub.45 Fe.sub.55 adjacent to a transducing gap and a second layer of low magnetic moment material such as Permalloy (Ni.sub.81 Fe.sub.19) further away from the gap. Since both layers are made of NiFe all the desirable properties of this type of material can be employed as well as simplifying its construction with similar plating baths. The saturation of the first layers is 50 to 60 percent higher than the saturation of the second layers.

Abstract: A head positioning apparatus for a magnetic drive for positioning the head of the tape drive relative to the several tracks on the magnetic tape. The positioning apparatus includes a lead screw driven by a stepper motor, a half nut on a carriage carrying the head and threadably engaging the lead screw, and a spring clip secured at its opposite ends to the half nut and embracing the lead screw and acting to urge the lead screw laterally relative to the rotational axis of the lead screw into positive threaded cooperation with the threads of the half nut so as to preclude lost motion between the lead screw and the carriage during movement of the head between adjacent tracks and so as to preclude movement of the head following arrival of the head at a specific track unless and until the lead screw is again rotated by energization of the motor.

Abstract: A magnetoresistance effect reproduction head which comprises a magnetoresistive layer having a central sensing region and an end domain control region and formed into a thin film of a ferromagnetic material, a hard magnetic layer overlapping with the end domain control region in direct contact therewith and formed into a thin film of a hard magnetic material, a magnetic field and a longitudinal magnetic bias field by ferromagnetic exchange coupling is generated for maintaining the central sensing region of the magnetoresistive layer in single domain state.

Abstract: An electronic apparatus is provided with a flexible cable connected between a table and cabinet where the flexible cable is folded in many parts in the longitudinal direction. A construction for a slider is also provided to lock and unlock the table from the cabinet. The arrangement and placement of the flexible cable and slider permit construction of a cabinet with minimal thickness. Also, a compensating member is provided on the interior of the cabinet, opposite the table surface, to contact the upper portion of a disc on the table, correct the attitude of the disc, and prevent dislodgement of the disc from a chuck.

Abstract: A disc loading device including a disc tray having a disc settling part for loading a disc into a device body or for ejecting the disc from the device body. A holder is installed so that, when the disc tray is ejected in a vertical installation, the upper portion of the holder is open to retain the disc near the disc tray, and that when the disc tray is put in a loading position, the holder is closed to securely set the disc in the disc settling part.

Abstract: A novel magtnetoresistive head unit includes an upper shield film and a lower shield film electrically connected to electrodes connected with an external source which are shorted by a shorting circuit without the intermediary of an MR element. The current due to static electricity generated in the process of element formation is made to flow through the shorting circuit thereby to prevent the electrostatic breakdown of the MR element and the dielectric breakdown between the MR element and the shield films. After cutting out a slider from the substrate, the upper and lower shield films are shorted by the shorting circuit, thereby preventing the electrostatic breakdown of the magnetoresistive element and the dielectric breakdown between the magnetoresistive element and the shield films during the assembly and transportation.

Abstract: A recording medium drive apparatus including a detecting device for detecting the presence of recording media in a housing section of the apparatus. The detecting device including a pivoting member having a detecting end which is biased to slide along a side face of a recording medium as the recording medium is transferred to/from the housing section. An auxiliary member is provided to prevent the detecting end from entering a groove formed in the side face of the recording medium, thereby preventing incorrect detection that the recording medium is removed from the housing section. The auxiliary member includes a spring leaf which slides along the side face above or below the groove, and a supporting projection, mounted on the detecting end, is supported by an inner face of the leaf spring, thereby preventing the detecting end from moving more than a short distance into the groove.

Abstract: A magnetic disk chucking mechanism comprises a disk table (21) having an aperture (21a) formed at a position apart from the center of the disk table (21), an arm (22) attached to the lower surface of the disk table, and a roller 23 held by the arm and protruding from the upper surface of the disk table (21) through the aperture (21a). The arm (22) has elasticity and is directly fixed to the disk table (21) at least at one position apart from the roller (23). The roller (23) is held by the arm (22) to be movable within the aperture (21a) at least in a radial direction of the disk table (21).

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a slider having a transducer and a plurality of bond pads disposed on an end surface of the slider. Each bond pad has a first portion configured and arranged relative to a second portion so that the first portion is substantially perpendicular to the second portion. This arrangement provides generally perpendicular surfaces on the same bond pad that are available for connection with a conductive component from a flexure assembly, which is connected to a top surface of the slider. The first portion of the bond pads has a generally vertical orientation while the second portion of the bond pads has a generally horizontal orientation.