Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head with a perpendicular magnetic recording structure includes a main pole layer, a nonmagnetic gap layer, and an auxiliary pole layer facing the main pole layer via the nonmagnetic gap layer. A surface of a top end section of the main pole layer has an inclined step that slopes from a lamination plane of the layers. The surface faces a top end section of the auxiliary pole layer. The top end section of the auxiliary pole layer has side shield sections at a position that is not exposed to an ABS. The side shield sections faces at least part of side surfaces in a track-width direction, of the main pole layer so as to cover at least part of the inclined step.

Abstract: A support (611) that is substantially cylindrical so as to be received by a disk hole (1NA) and has a positioning portion (612) on a circumference adjacent to a first axial end is provided with a concave portion (613) of which both ends open to the circumference along a radial direction. A first engaging portion (614) protrudes from around the circumference at which a first axial end of the concave portion opens substantially opposes to the positioning portion with a gap equal to or more than a thickness of an optical disk (1N). A moving member (615) is disposed in the concave portion in a manner movable along a radial direction of the support. A second engaging portion (616) protrudes on an end of the moving member at a position corresponding to a second axial end of the concave portion.

Abstract: The removable optical disc storage cartridge stores a plurality of optical disc media in a substantially stacked orientation for later extraction and presentation to a picker in an optical disc storage library. Each optical disc media is stored on a separate extractor that slides between a retracted and a stored position. An extractor tab, accessible outside or inside of the removable optical disc storage cartridge, is connected to each one of the extractors located within the removable optical disc storage cartridge. The removable optical disc storage cartridge further includes a security front door that operates between a closed and open position and further includes a locking element. The locking element may be operated by the picker or a release element contained on a magazine that handles multiple disc storage cartridges. The removable optical disc storage cartridge also includes seals to prevent dust from entering the removable optical disc storage cartridge.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a recording and playback element, a lead conductor layer for feeding a power to the recording and playback element, an electrically conductive bump for conductively connecting the lead conductor layer to an electrode pad for external connection, and an insulating protective layer filling between the recording and playback element and the electrically conductive bump. A thermal deformation-preventing layer composed of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the insulating protective layer is disposed in the insulating protective layer in such a way as to locate between a medium-facing surface and the electrically conductive bump without being exposed at the medium-facing surface. In the resulting thin film magnetic head, protrusion of the recording and playback element toward the recording medium side can be prevented without changing the configuration of the recording and playback element nor the forming material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for oxidizing conductive redeposition in TMR sensors is disclosed. A TMR stack having a first electrode that includes at least a pinned layer and an antiferromagnetic (AFM) layer, a second electrode that includes a free layer and a tunnel barrier is formed. The TMR barrier layer is etched. Redeposition material is oxidized and the barrier is healed using an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of ozone and water vapor.

Abstract: A magneto-resistance effect element comprises a stacked body which comprises a pinned layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a free layer having a magnetization direction that varies according to an external magnetic field, and a nonmagnetic spacer layer which is interposed between the pinned layer and the free layer. The stacked body having a constricted shape in which at least one part of the spacer layer is constricted when viewed from at least one direction perpendicular to a stacked direction of the stacked body.

Abstract: A voice coil includes a stack of a plurality of layers of aligned windings held between an outer holding portion and an inner holding portion of the carriage assembly. The carriage assembly is formed integrally with the voice coil through injection molding. An outermost peripheral layer is a conductive wire wound a number of turns that falls short of the number of turns required to constitute a complete layer. A step is thereby formed between the outermost peripheral layer and a layer adjacent thereto and inner therefrom. The outer holding portion includes a reinforcement portion formed thereon to cover part of a transverse end face of the voice coil. The outermost peripheral layer opposes a force acting on the outer holding portion from top downward and the reinforcement portion opposes a force acting on the outer holding portion from bottom upward.

Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing a pole for a magnetic recording head. The method and system include providing an insulator and fabricating at least one hard mask on the insulator. The at least one hard mask has an aperture therein. The method and system also include removing a portion of the insulator to form a trench within the insulator. The trench is formed under the aperture. The method and system further include depositing at least one ferromagnetic material. The pole includes a portion of the ferromagnetic material within the trench.

Abstract: A novel disk drive includes a flex cable having a first end portion fixed to an actuator assembly, a second end portion fixed to a flex cable bracket, and a free portion between the first and second end portions. The free portion joins the second end portion at a flex exit location. The flex cable bracket includes a flex alignment post that protrudes into a corresponding hole in a disk drive base. A distance between the flex exit location and the actuator pivot axis is at least 4 times greater than a distance between the flex exit location and the flex alignment post.

Abstract: A magnetic head incorporates: a medium facing surface; a coil; a pole layer; first and second shields disposed to sandwich the pole layer therebetween; a first gap layer disposed between the first shield and the pole layer; a second gap layer disposed between the second shield and the pole layer; and a substrate. The first shield is located closer to the substrate than the second shield. The first shield has a first layer and a second layer disposed between the first layer and the first gap layer.

Abstract: A disk unit is disclosed wherein a disk inserted by a pivoting arm is loaded to the interior of the disk unit or a disk accommodated in the interior of the disk unit is unloaded to the exterior of the disk unit, the disk unit including a plurality of arms able to convey two types of disks different in diameter while supporting an outer periphery edge of each of the disks.

Abstract: A disk stopper (101) for regulating a loading position of the disk stopper, a stopper regulating member (102) that regulates a movable range of the disk stopper (101), and a link member (103) movable in association with the stopper regulating member (102), and a cam slider (30) engageable with the link member (103) are provided. When a small-diameter disk is inserted, the first engaging portion of the link member (103) and the first engaging portion of the cam slide (30) engage each other. When a large-diameter disk is inserted, the second engaging portion of the link member (103) and the second engaging portion of the cam slide (30) engage each other. Based on the engaging condition of the link member (103) and the cam slider (30), the stopper regulating member (102) switches the loading position of the disk medium regulated by the disk stopper (101).

Abstract: A cover assembly for a portable hard disk comprises an assembling unit having a frame hole at a front side thereof; the assembling unit having an opening; the opening causing the assembling unit being divided into an upper portion and a lower portion; two ribs serving to divide the frame hole and the opening; a chain being movably installed to the opening; a hard disk combined to the circuit unit; the circuit unit having holes corresponding to a bottom of the hard disk; an upper cover combining to an upper side of the upper portion of the assembling unit; a base combining to a lower side of the lower portion of the assembling unit and being almost identical to the cover; the upper cover and the base being formed with a space for receiving a data storage unit.

Abstract: A suspension is provided for improving reliability in reading/writing of data by improving stiffness in a longitudinal direction of a flexure while realizing low pitch/roll stiffness of a tongue part. The suspension includes: a flexure, including two branched outrigger parts extending to the tip side of the flexure, and a tongue part for mounting a magnetic head slider, located between the outrigger parts and linked to the tip sides of the outrigger parts; a trace formed on the flexure; and a fixed part in which at least a part of a bent part formed in the trace is fixed to the tongue part.

Abstract: In one arrangement, apparatus for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand has a spindle adapter. The spindle adapter has a drawbar movably disposed within. The drawbar has a connector end that is reversibly connectable to the cap and has a piston that is connectable to a source of fluid pressure. The drawbar is movable in response to fluid pressure so as to urge together the cap and the spindle adapter when connected. The cap and the spindle adapter are capable of holding a disk therebetween. In another arrangement, a movable stage movable over a deck of a spinstand has a lift stage arranged to hold a cap with a disk positioned thereon. The lift stage has at least one actuator for raising the lift stage so that the cap can be connected with a spindle adapter of an inverted spindle of a spinstand.

Abstract: A slider that includes a necked ABS pad is disclosed. More specifically, the slider includes an ABS pad having a first ABS region and a second ABS region, where the second ABS region is disposed immediately in front of the first ABS region proceeding in the direction of a leading edge of the slider. A transducer and a thermal actuator each may be disposed within the first ABS region. The width of the second ABS region (a necked portion of the ABS pad) is less than a width of the first ABS region.

Abstract: A magnetic head having precisely controlled MR height has a slider substrate and a magnetic head part provided on the slider substrate. The magnetic head part includes, seeing from a medium-opposing surface side, a magnetism detecting element; an upper magnetic shield layer arranged on the magnetism detecting element; an electrode layer separated in a track width direction from the upper magnetic shield layer; and a conductor layer, arranged closer to the slider substrate than are the upper magnetic shield layer and electrode layer, extending in the track width direction so as to be in contact with the upper magnetic shield layer and electrode layer and forming a part of the medium-opposing surface.

Abstract: A tray ejecting mechanism includes a stationary bezel mounted to a front surface of an ejectable tray, and a movable bezel movably attached to the stationary bezel while being biased in a front-surface direction. The stationary bezel includes a detection component positionally shiftable in accordance with an open/close position of the tray, and a switch component having a pressing portion for pressing an ejection switch on the tray and being positionally shiftable in conjunction with the detection component. When the tray is closed, the switch component is positioned such that, as the movable bezel is pushed inward, a pressing rib applies a pressing force to the pressing portion to press the ejection switch. When the tray is open, the ejection switch is prevented from being pressed by the pressing portion even if the movable bezel is pushed inward toward the stationary bezel.

Abstract: A disc driving motor of the invention includes a base, a hub having a ring-shaped disc receiving face on which a disc is placed, a hydrodynamic bearing rotatably supporting the hub, a motor unit mounted on the base, the motor unit having an outer diameter larger than that of the disc receiving face and applying a rotational force to the hub, and a magnetic shield plate disposed on an axial clearance formed between the disc and the motor unit when the disc is placed on the disc receiving face. The magnetic shield plate has an opposed face opposed to the disc when the disc is placed on the receiving face, the opposed face being inclined toward the disc receiving face.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head that has a configuration in which the element-formed surface and the opposed-to-medium surface are perpendicular to each other, and a light source is sufficiently distanced from the medium surface is provided. The head comprises at least one near-field-light-generating layer for heating a part of a magnetic medium during write operation by generating a near-field light, having a shape tapered toward a head end surface on the opposed-to-medium surface side, and comprising a near-field-light-generating portion having a light-received surface and a tip reaching the head end surface on the opposed-to-medium surface side, and the light-received surface being sloped in respect to the element-formed surface and being provided in a position where an incident light propagating from a head end surface opposite to the opposed-to-medium surface can reach at least a part of the light-received surface.