Abstract: The disc protection casing includes a disc protection casing body having a disc receiving space therein. A disc holder, insertable into the interior of the disc protection casing body, has an elastic member formed at one end of the same for supporting a disc. When the disc holder is inserted into the casing body, a shoulder on the elastic member contacts a guide member in the casing body and the elastic member releases a disc supported thereby.

Abstract: Longitudinal biasing of a free layer in a current perpendicular to the planes of the layers (CPP) type of sensor in a read head is implemented by pinning magnetic moments of first and second side portions of the free layer beyond the track width of the read head with first and second insulating antiferromagnetic (AFM) layers which are exchange coupled thereto. The pinning of the magnetic moments of the first and second side portions of the free layer pin and longitudinally bias the central active portion of the free layer within the track width so that the central portion of the free layer is magnetically stable.

Abstract: An interconnect apparatus for connecting a transducer to a flexible connector in an actuator assembly of a data storage device. The actuator assembly has a moveable actuator body and an arm extending from the body. The body defines a longitudinal opening aligned with the arm and associated with the placement of the interconnect apparatus. The interconnect apparatus includes a proximal end fixed to the actuator body and electrically connected to the flexible connector; a distal end fixed to the arm and electrically connected to the transducer; a medial portion electrically connecting the ends, a segment of the medial portion disposed within the actuator body opening; and a retaining member interposed between the medial portion and the actuator body within the opening, fixing the medial portion to the actuator body without using a bonding material.

Abstract: Provided is a component for use in swage mounting that includes a base plate, having a first side and a second side, and a hub which preferably is cylindrically shaped. The hub is primarily comprised of a first material (such as stainless steel), extends from the second side of the base plate, and has an inner surface and an outer surface. The outer surface of the hub includes numerous protrusions that are less than approximately 50 microns in height and that are primarily comprised of a second material (such as a carbide or a nitride) which is different from the first material. Preferably, the protrusions are substantially harder (such as at least 50 hardness Vickers harder) than the base material.

Abstract: A pair of pins 2c, 2d is arranged on the left and right of each of a plurality of trays 2 placed vertically movably so as to protrude laterally, whereas separating cams 82 are arranged on both sides of the trays 2 in a protrudable and withdrawable way. The separating cams 82 are formed with four first separating control parts 82c1 for moving upward the pins 2c, 2d of the selected tray 2 and the tray(s) 2 thereabove, four second separating control parts 82c2 for moving upward only the pins 2c, 2d of the tray(s) 2 above the selected tray 2, and four third separating control parts 82d each for engaging with only a pair of pins 2c, 2d of the selected tray 2. Movement of the separating cam 82 forms spaces above and below the selected tray 2 to hold a disc on the selected tray 2 from above and below for reproduction on the spot.

Abstract: A first and a second longitudinal bias-applying films are formed via a first mask at both sides of a magnetoresistive effective element film so that the difference in surface level between the magnetoresistive effective element film and the first and the second longitudinal bias-applying films is set within ±20 nm. Then, a first and a second electrode films are formed so as to cover edge portions of the magnetoresistive effective element film and the first and the second longitudinal bias-applying films.

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 magnetic disc unit which can restrain occurrence of flutter so as to countermeasure such a problem that the larger the rotational speed of discs, the higher the flutter, causing heat positioning errors, in order that the high rotational speed and high positioning accuracy are consistent with each other. Discs are surrounded along their outer peripheries by a shroud (outer wall) while a gap between end faces of the discs and the shroud is decreased to a predetermined distance, thereby to eliminate air pressure differential between opposite surfaces of each of the discs in order to reduce flutter.

Abstract: A guide plate is provided along the respective outer periphery of rotary and fixed drums on the upstream side relative to an inlet portion where a magnetic tape starts making contact with a magnetic head on the rotary drum, an airflow attendant on the rotation of the rotary drum is stripped by a wedge-shaped edge on the guide plate and is released to the outer periphery side by a guide surface of the guide plate, and the airflow flowing in the axial direction into the space between the tape and the rotary drum is restrained by an extended portion of the guide plate. In a rotary head drum device for a magnetic recording/reproducing apparatus, formation of an excess air film near an inlet portion of the tape is restrained, and stable recording and reproducing can be achieved without raising the tape tension, thereby enhancing the life of the tape.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device for scanning and/or creating an information track on an optical information carrier. The device comprises a radiation source and an optical unit with an objective lens for focusing a radiation beam originating from the radiation source on the information carrier. The optical unit comprises at least one optical component (1), which can be displaced in the direction of its optical axis (1a) and is mounted in a holder (5). The optical component is guided along a guide (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), which is provided on a frame (4). According to the invention, the holder (5) comprises a bar-shaped guiding element (7), which extends in a direction parallel to the optical axis (1a) on both sides of the optical component (1), for displacing the optical component along the guide (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b) in order to set the optical component so as to extend in the direction of the optical axis.

Abstract: A magneto-resistance effect head is provided with a lower conductive layer which is provided with a recessed portion, and a vertical bias layer is provided in the recessed portion. A free layer is provided on the lower conductive layer. On the free layer, layered in the following order are the non-magnetic layer, the fixed layer, the fixing layer, and the upper layer so as not to be placed immediately above the vertical bias layer. The non-magnetic layer, the fixed layer, the fixing layer, and the upper layer are buried in an insulation layer. Furthermore, an upper conductive layer is provided on the upper layer and the insulation layer. In the direction of the magnetic field applied by the vertical bias layer, the free layer is made greater in length than the fixed layer and the free layer is disposed in proximity to the vertical bias layer with the distance between the fixed layer and the vertical bias layer remaining unchanged.

Abstract: A single-sided, notched write head is provided for writing narrow erase band servo tracks as well as a double-notched write head, and for writing data tracks better than a double-notched write head. The single-sided, notched write head writes a narrow erase band on the notched side and a wide erase band on the unnotched side. In one embodiment, only one side of the first pole piece layer is notched, and in another embodiment a first side of the first pole piece layer is notched more than a second side. By writing servo tracks only a fraction of the track width of the write head, a wide erase band region is overwritten so that a narrow erase band is on each side of the servo track. Data tracks are written with a narrow erase band on one side and a wide erase band on the other side. The wide erase band on one side of the data track allows more flexibility in spacing the read head from adjacent tracks.

Abstract: A disc head slider includes a slider body having a disc-facing surface and a leading surface adjacent to the disc facing surface. The disc facing surface has leading-most edge and first and second side edges. A bearing surface is formed on the disc facing surface. A debris deflection surface is formed along the leading surface, which is spaced vertically from the leading-most edge with respect to the disc facing surface and has a tangent that forms an angle with the bearing surface of less than ninety degrees.

Abstract: Following the deposition of an insulation layer, a patterned P2 pole tip seed layer is deposited. Significantly, the pole tip seed layer is not deposited beneath the induction coil area of the magnetic head. A dielectric layer is next deposited and a patterned RIE etching mask that includes both a P2 pole tip trench opening and an induction coil trench opening is fabricated upon the dielectric layer. Thereafter, in a single RIE etching step, the P2 pole tip trench is etched through the dielectric material down to the seed layer, and the induction coil trench is etched through the dielectric material down to the insulation layer. The P2 pole tip is first electroplated up into its trench, an induction coil seed layer is next deposited, and the induction coil is then electroplated up into the induction coil trench.

Abstract: A disk cartridge device includes first and second disk cartridges of different sizes for housing therein disks of different disk diameters and a cassette compartment onto which the first and second disk cartridges are selectively loaded, the cassette compartment including a pair of positioning pins having height-deciding bases for properly placing the first disk cartridge and a pair of positioning pins having height-deciding bases for, properly placing the second disk cartridge, wherein the first disk cartridge has stepped escape holes formed on its lower surface to enable itself to escape from the positioning pins by which the second disk cartridge is properly positioned in the loading state when positioning holes of the first disk cartridge are properly fitted into positioning pins and the height is properly decided.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a thin film magnetic head and a magnetic transducer, which can obtain resistance properties adaptable to ultra-high-density recording. The thin film magnetic head has a stack including a plurality of magnetic layers stacked alternately with a plurality of nonmagnetic layers. The stack is divided into a first region and a second region in a direction of stacking. The first region comprises a projecting portion projecting toward a magnetic medium, an extending portion extending in the direction opposite to the projecting portion, and a pair of wide portions widened in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the extending portion extends. An end surface of the projecting portion is exposed to the outside and faces the magnetic medium. Thus, the end surface functions as a magnetic field capturing portion for capturing a signal magnetic field of the magnetic medium.

Abstract: A recording-medium transfer device having a anti-rattle construction is provided. A transfer roller 6 of the recording-medium transfer device is arranged above a chassis 5 to be perpendicular to a direction X of transferring recording medium. The transfer roller 6 has a structure in which a shaft is inserted in rolling member made of a material having flexibility. Projecting portions 13 and 14 are formed on the chassis 5 to oppose to both ends of the rolling member. In both ends of the rolling member, clearances are respectively formed to permit the deformation produced by its abutment with the projecting portions 13 and 14. In the process for inserting the disc, the projecting portions 13 and 14 are moved away from the transfer roller 6. Upon receiving a driving force from a driving motor 7 and gears 8 to 11, the rolling member of the transfer roller 6 is rotated keeping in contact with the disc so as to transfer the disc toward a clamping position.

Abstract: This invention presents a method and system for fabricating a dual GMR read head, which possess a pseudo spin valve structure. The spin valve structure includes a first thick Co-alloy based reference layer with first and second surfaces. The structure includes a first spacer layer including a first surface contacting the first surface of the first thick Co-alloy layer and a second surface contacting a first surface of a first free layer. The structure also includes a second spacer layer including a first surface separated from the second surface of the first free layer and a second surface contacting a first surface of a second thick Co-alloy layer. The thickness of the first and second thick Co-based alloy can be approximately between 30 and 55 Å.

Abstract: A latch for securing an actuator arm of a hard disk drive. The latch has a catch portion that can engage a latch portion of the actuator arm. The latch also has a pusher portion and a crash stop portion that engage the actuator arm during movement into a latched position and prevent the latch from rebounding away from the arm. The pusher and crash stop portions eliminate the need for a separate crash stop in the disk drive. Eliminating the separate crash stop component reduces the complexity and cost for mass producing the disk drive.

Abstract: Provided are a thin film magnetic head and a method of manufacturing the same, which is capable of high density recording and obtaining stable output. The thin film magnetic head includes an MR film sandwiched in between first and second shield layers. The first shield layer includes an inner layer, a magnetization stabilizing layer, an underlayer, and an outer layer laminated in order from the MR film. The second shield layer includes an inner layer, a magnetization stabilizing layer, an isolating layer, and an outer layer laminated in order from the MR film. The magnetization stabilizing layers are formed of antiferromagnetic material, so as to control the direction of magnetization of the inner layers.