Abstract: The invention is a magnetoresistive recording head including the reader portion that has a top and bottom shield, a first auxiliary electrical connection, a second auxiliary electrical connection, a first auxiliary electrical contact, and a second auxiliary electrical contact, where the first auxiliary electrical connection electrically connects the first auxiliary electrical contact to the top shield, and where the second auxiliary electrical connection electrically connects the second auxiliary electrical contact to the bottom shield.

Abstract: A disk recording and/or reproducing apparatus recording and/or reproducing information on and/or from anyone of a plurality of disk-like recording mediums. Freedom in design is improved by effectively utilizing spaces in which respective portions and mechanisms of the apparatus are disposed. In the apparatus, a first planet gear and second planet gear meshed with a racked portion are switched, whereby the disk tray is moveable between a loading position at which the disk tray is loaded into the apparatus and an eject position at which the disk tray is ejected to a location outside the apparatus body.

Abstract: A sealed structure for an electronic device, the sealed structure includes a base, a concave cover enclosing electronic components of the electronic device when the cover is fitted to the base, and a gasket-like sealing member that fits between edge portions of the cover and the base to seal the enclosure. A rib portion is formed on at least one of either the cover or the base so as to prevent the sealing member from protruding from the edge portions of the cover and base, thus providing an improved seal.

Abstract: A disc cartridge for receiving a disc-like recording medium therewithin, including a disc insertion and removal port provided in the disc cartridge and being capable of inserting and removing the recording medium, the disc cartridge having an insertion and removal port opening and closing member. A disc insertion and removal port being closed by the insertion and removal port opening and closing member when the recording medium is within said disc cartridge. The recording medium being capable of being taken out from the cartridge together with the insertion and removal port opening and closing member when the recording medium is taken out and the disc cartridge having an insertion and removal history recognizing portion of said recording medium.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a storage device including a turntable assembly movable between a raised position and a lowered position, a load plate adapted to move from a first position to a second position in concert with insertion of a carrier into the storage device, and a spring for biasing the load plate to the second position. When the load plate is moved to the second position, the turntable assembly is moved to the raised position. The storage device further includes a base and a timing arm mounted on the base so as to be pivotally movable between a third position for maintaining the load plate in the first position and a fourth position for disengaging the load plate in concert with the insertion of the carrier to allow movement of the load plate to the second position.

Abstract: A giant magnetoresistance recording head includes a writer having a top pole, a shared pole, a conductive coil and a write gap region. The top pole includes a first top pole piece and a second top pole piece. The second top pole piece is formed at least in part over the first top pole piece and is recessed from the air bearing surface. The first top pole piece is formed over a top flat surface of the shared pole and is separated from the shared pole by the write gap region. The shared pole has a recess on the top surface. The recess is placed under the top pole and filled with a non-magnetic material. The non-magnetic recess in the shared pole defines the throat height of the writer.

Abstract: A magneto-optical head includes a slider, an objective lens, a coil and a transparent insulating layer. The coil is provided with upper and lower conductive patterns, wherein the lower pattern is brought closer to a storage medium than the upper pattern is. The lower pattern is made smaller in inner diameter than the upper pattern. The insulating layer fills the center of the coil.

Abstract: A multimedia disk security system which uses a removable center plug that fits into the central hole formed on the disk body. Attached or formed inside the center plug is a EAS tag, the presence or absence of which is detectable to a standard electronic article surveillance detector. In one embodiment, an optional main label may be attached over the entire disk body to hide the EAS tag.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element has a ferromagnetic double tunnel junction having a stacked structure of a first antiferromagnetic layer/a first ferromagnetic layer/a first dielectric layer/a second ferromagnetic layer/a second dielectric layer/a third ferromagnetic layer/a second antiferromagnetic layer. The second ferromagnetic layer that is a free layer consists of a Co-based alloy or a three-layered film of a Co-based alloy/a Ni—Fe alloy/a Co-based alloy. A tunnel current is flowed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the third ferromagnetic layer.

Abstract: A head disc interface having a fine pitch surface roughness including fine pitch projections having a relatively smooth roughness height and a projection pitch <1.0 &mgr;m for optimizing tribological performance.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for creating beginning-of-tape (BOT) and end-of-tape (EOT) indicators on a magnetic tape by altering a discrete area or areas of the recording area or the non-recording area of a magnetic tape, such that the area or areas are optically detectible. The invention provides a method for creating BOT and EOT indicators by removing a discrete area or areas of the ferromagnetic layer or the non-ferromagnetic layer of a magnetic tape, such that the mark reflects or transmits light differently than unmarked portions of the tape. The invention also provides a method for creating BOT and EOT indicators by placement of a fluorescent or optical dye on the ferromagnetic layer or non-ferromagnetic layer of a magnetic tape. Such fluorescent or optical dye is optically detectible, and further reduces any physical distortion in the magnetic tape.

Abstract: A chuck that can center a disk. The chuck may be part of a spindle motor that is integrated into a servo writer. The chuck includes a plurality of cartridges that are attached to a post. The cartridges are coupled to a source of air. Each cartridge may include a biasing element that can move within a variable orifice and engage an inner edge of the disk. The biasing elements move until each cartridge exerts an equal force onto the disk. The equal forces will center the disk onto the spindle motor.

Abstract: An optical information medium is provided which has a light-transmitting substrate which exhibits excellent light transmittance when a laser beam of blue/violet region or ultraviolet region is used as the recording and/or reading beam; whose light transmittance is not substantially affected by the variation or fluctuation of the oscillation wavelength of the laser beam source; which has a long-term weatherability; and which exhibits sufficient protective effects against exterior impacts. The optical information medium includes an information recording layer and a light-transmitting substrate, and the medium is used such that the recording and/or reading laser beam reaches the information-recording layer through the light-transmitting substrate. The light-transmitting substrate has a light transmittance T and difference &Dgr;T between the maximum value and the minimum value of the light transmittance T in arbitrary wavelength range of 10 nm which satisfies the relations: T≧0.8 and &Dgr;T≦0.

Abstract: A data storage system capable of removing disk surface irregularities and/or contaminant particles on disk surfaces that may cause thermal asperities in the transducer output is provided. The data storage system provides selective in-situ operation between a normal read/write operation and a disk surface burnishing operation. One embodiment provides a data storage system, including: a data storage disk connected to a rotating actuator; a suspension load beam movably disposed above the data storage disk; and an air bearing slider assembly pivotally attached to the suspension load beam, the air bearing slider assembly including: a slider having an air bearing surface; a transducer disposed in a distal portion of the slider; a burnishing element disposed on the air bearing surface; and a pitch angle control assembly disposed in connection with the slider to control a pitch angle of the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor includes a magnetoresistive sensor element and electrical contacts coupled to the magnetoresistive element configured to sense a response of the magnetoresistive element to a magnetic field. A magnetic shield is positioned adjacent the magnetoresistive element and configured to shield the magnetoresistive element from stray magnetic fields. The shield has a substantially stable magnetic domain pattern. A shield flux thief is positioned generally in a plane of the shield and spaced apart from the shield by a gap.

Abstract: In a method for making a thin-film magnetic head, a primary insulating layer is formed on a lower core layer. An auxiliary insulating layer is formed on the primary insulating layer. A groove defining a track width is formed on the primary insulating layer. Sloping faces are formed in the auxiliary insulating layer. The sloping faces are symmetrically formed and converge toward the lower core layer in the track width direction. The resulting groove has a width which is smaller than the resolution of a resist layer in a reactive ion etching process.

Abstract: To provide a removable disk drive which can discharge static electricity with which a recording disk is charged, which does not produce noise and metal powder when a spindle motor shaft is rotated, and the electric power consumption of which is small. A removable disk drive 10 is provided with an electrostatic brush 5 disposed between a spindle motor shaft 1 and a housing 4 and formed of a conductive material. When operation of inserting a recording disk 6 in the removable disk drive 10 is on the way, the electrostatic brush 5 is in contact with the spindle motor shaft 1 and the housing 4 to discharge static electricity with which the recording disk 6 is charged to the housing 4 through the spindle motor shaft 1 and the electrostatic brush 5. After the recording disk 6 is completely inserted in the removable disk drive 10, the electrostatic brush 5 is out of contact with the spindle motor shaft 1 to prevent noise and metal powder from being produced when the spindle motor shaft 1 is rotated.

Abstract: A low height disk drive having an overall height of approximately one inch (1″). The drive includes a head disk assembly, including a base plate, two disks rotatably supported on the base plate, a motor for rotating the disks, at least two heads for reading information from and writing information on respective ones of the disks; an actuator, supported on the base plate and responsive to control signals, for selectively positioning the heads with respect to the disks, and a cover sealably attached to the base plate to enclose the storage device, the head, and the actuator. The disk drive also includes control circuitry for generating control signals, and for providing information signals to and receiving information signals from the heads. The head disk assembly and the control circuitry have a combined height of approximately one inch or less.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head provided with a magnetoresistive thin-film element includes a laminate including an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic conductive layer, and a free magnetic layer. At both sides of the laminate, soft magnetic layers, secondary antiferromagnetic layers, and conductive layers are formed. The antiferromagnetic layer generates a unidirectional exchange coupling by heat treatment to fix the magnetization of the pinned magnetic layer, and the secondary antiferromagnetic layers generate a unidirectional exchange coupling as deposited without heat treatment.

Abstract: A disc cartridge includes a disc holder for supporting a recording medium. The disc holder includes a grip. A case defines a housing portion for receiving the disc holder and the recording medium. The case allows the disc holder with the recording medium to be inserted into and removed from the housing portion via an opening. The disk holder also includes a lock for securing the disc holder to the case at a position. The grip has side portions tapering from a bottom end to a top end of the grip, the top end of the grip having a smaller width than the bottom end of the grip. A cut of the upper case and a cut of the lower case are shaped to correspond with the taper of the side portions of the grip thereby facilitating smooth engagement of the grip and the cuts.