Abstract: A method of measuring a magnetic write width includes forming a data track on a discrete track medium by a write operation at a first frequency, performing write operations at a second frequency that is different from the first frequency, at both side positions along the formed data track, obtaining a track profile by scanning the data track in a track-width direction, using a magnetic field detection element, calculating an integrated profile of the obtained track profile, obtaining profile integrals by setting a distance from the data track to a position of the write operations at the second frequency to various values and by calculating the profile integrals for the respective values of the distance, and calculating a magnetic write width of the magnetic head and a magnetic write width of the discrete track medium from a relationship between the distance and the profile integrals.

Abstract: The head slider has a plurality of heaters each heating a corresponding region of the ABS, and a sensor detecting collision of the ABS with a projection on a surface of the magnetic disk. Currents supplied to the respective heaters are controlled and produce heats independently of one another. The heats produce projections on the corresponding regions of the ABS, respectively. The ABS with asperity can be planarized through appropriately controlling magnitude of the currents supplied to the heaters. Thus, the variation of a sensor output depending on asperity of the ABS is effectively reduced. Another head slider has a heater locally heating a corresponding region of the ABS. The heater has a structure where a central portion is away from the ABS compared with end portions, or a structure where calorific power of a central portion is smaller than that of each of end portions. Thus, overall projection shape becomes flat.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head that the protrusion response of the write head element due to the heat generated from the heating element can be set to the same level as that due to the heat generated from the write coil layer in order to adequately resolve the deficiency in the writing performance during the starting period of writing, is provided. The head comprises: at least one write head element including a magnetic pole layer; and at least one first heating element generating a heat to expand the at least one write head element thermally, the at least one first heating element being contacted with the magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A composite thin-film magnetic head includes a substrate, an under layer formed on the substrate, an MR read head element formed on the under layer and provided with a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer and an MR layer in which a sense current flows in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the MR layer through the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer, an inter-shield insulation layer laminated on the MR read head element, an inductive write head element formed on the inter-shield insulation layer and provided with a first magnetic pole layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a second magnetic pole layer whose end portion is opposed to an end portion of the first magnetic pole layer through the nonmagnetic layer, and a write coil, and an additional shield layer formed between the upper shield layer and the first magnetic pole layer.

Abstract: A method of measuring a magnetic write width of a magnetic head MWWHEAD and a magnetic write width of a discrete track medium MWWMEDIUM, which is insensitive to possible distortion in the track profile in discrete track recording (DTR) is provided.

Abstract: A magnetic head slider supporting apparatus comprises: a suspension flexibly supporting a slider; and a flexible wiring board. The suspension incorporates a load beam. The flexible wiring board is disposed along the load beam. The flexible wiring board includes: first and second lines for connecting a write element that the slider includes to a read/write processing circuit; and third and fourth lines for connecting a read element that the slider includes to the read/write processing circuit. The flexible wiring board further includes two conductors for generating two parasitic capacitances for reducing potential differences created between the third and fourth lines due to write signals transmitted through the first and second lines.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for investigating magnetic domains, the method capable of easily grasping behavior of the magnetic domains in a head manufacturing process, and further to provide a testing method of a magnetic head capable of evaluating whether the writing performance of the magnetic head is good or not. The method for investigating magnetic domains comprises supplying direct current (DC) to a coil of an electromagnetic transducer provided in a magnetic head for writing data onto a magnetic recording medium; measuring an inductance of the electromagnetic transducer at each current value while varying the current value of the direct current; and investigating behavior of magnetic domains in a magnetic core of the electromagnetic transducer based on a relationship between the current values and the inductances.

Abstract: The invention provides a thin-film magnetic head having a magneto-resistive effect device of the CPP (current perpendicular to plane) structure comprising a multilayer film in which a fixed magnetization layer, a nonmagnetic layer and a free layer are stacked together in order. The fixed magnetization layer, nonmagnetic layer and free layer extend rearward from an air bearing surface that is a plane in opposition to a medium, the length of the depth-wise side of the fixed magnetization layer is longer than that of the free layer, and a shunt layer for shunting a sense current is formed more on the depth-wise side of, and kept constantly away from, the free layer. There are thus much more favorable advantages obtained: even when device size is further reduced and narrowed, degradation of frequency characteristics is hold back, any increase in the thermal magnetic noise is stayed off, and performance fluctuations are minimized.

Abstract: A parasitic capacity C4 generated between a slider substrate and the first shield layer with the first insulating layer as a capacity layer is made substantially equal to a parasitic capacity C2 occurring between a lower magnetic layer and the second shield layer with the third insulating layer as a capacity layer. Preferably, a connection is made between the lower magnetic layer and the slider substrate by a resistance of preferably 100 (?) or lower. Thus, it is possible to provide a thin-film magnetic head that can hold back deterioration in a reproducing device and the occurrence of errors due to crosstalk between a recording device and the reproducing device and extraneous noises.

Abstract: A method for testing a TMR element includes a step of measuring a plurality of resistances of the TMR element by applying a plurality of voltages with different voltage values each other to the TMR element, respectively, a step of calculating a ratio of change in resistance from the measured plurality of resistances of the TMR element, and a step of evaluating the TMR element using the calculated ratio of change in resistance.

Abstract: A composite type thin-film magnetic head is provided, which comprises: a write head element; a pair of terminal pads for the write head element; a pair of lead conductors for the write head element, electrically connecting the write head element to the pair of terminal pads for the write head element; a read head element; a pair of terminal pads for the read head element; and a pair of lead conductors for the read head element, electrically connecting the read head element to the pair of terminal pads for the read head element. The pair of lead conductors for the write head element and the pair of lead conductors for the read head element are formed into patterns that have no overlapped portions with each other through only an insulating layer.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive comprises a recording medium, a slider, and an alignment device for aligning the slider with respect to the medium. No film made of liquid lubricant is disposed on the surface of the medium. The slider incorporates: a slider main body including a thin-film magnetic head element disposed near a medium facing surface; and a protection film made of a tetrahedral amorphous carbon film for protecting the medium facing surface. The alignment device makes the slider retreat from the surface of the medium when the medium is stopped, and makes the slider face toward the surface of the medium when the medium is rotated. The magnetic disk drive further comprises a distance control device for controlling the distance between the medium and the thin-film magnetic head element.

Abstract: A lubricant film forming method has a step of irradiating a lubricant with an OH group laid on a surface of a base material, with infrared laser light that excites vibration of an OH bond of the OH group. In this method, the irradiation with the infrared laser light excites vibration of the OH bond of the OH group in the lubricant. Therefore, it enhances reactivity between the OH group of the lubricant and the surface of the base material, facilitates chemical bonding of the lubricant to the surface of the base material, and enhances durability of the lubricant.

Abstract: A magnetic reading head comprising: a bottom shield; a top shield; an AMR device with MR and SAL separated by a thin insulating layer; a first insulting gap layer between said bottom shield and said AMR; a second insulating gap layer between said AMR and said top shield; a conductive layer contact at one end region of said MR and SAL. Furthermore, magnetic reading heads with GMR device free of electric-pop noise also are disclosed.

Abstract: The head slider has a plurality of heaters each heating a corresponding region of the ABS, and a sensor detecting collision of the ABS with a projection on a surface of the magnetic disk. Currents supplied to the respective heaters are controlled and produce heats independently of one another. The heats produce projections on the corresponding regions of the ABS, respectively. The ABS with asperity can be planarized through appropriately controlling magnitude of the currents supplied to the heaters. Thus, the variation of a sensor output depending on asperity of the ABS is effectively reduced. Another head slider has a heater locally heating a corresponding region of the ABS. The heater has a structure where a central portion is away from the ABS compared with end portions, or a structure where calorific power of a central portion is smaller than that of each of end portions. Thus, overall projection shape becomes flat.

Abstract: A composite type thin-film magnetic head is provided, which comprises: a MR read head element having an upper shield layer, a lower shield layer, an MR layer in which a sense current flows in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the layer through the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer; an inductive write head element formed on the MR read head element, having an upper magnetic pole layer, a recording gap layer, a lower magnetic pole layer where end portion is opposed to an end portion of the upper magnetic pole layer through the recording gap layer, and a write coil; and a capacitance C12 between the write coil and the upper shield layer, set to 0.1 pF or less.

Abstract: To provide a transgenic rice plant that can produce rice which can be used as an “edible vaccine”, i.e., rice capable of inducing a desired immune response when mucosally administered such as an oral administration. There is provided a transgenic rice plant including a genomic DNA, wherein a DNA construct is incorporated into the genomic DNA so that the DNA construct is capable of being expressed, wherein the DNA construct includes a DNA encoding an antigenic protein, and a rice endosperm specific promoter linked upstream thereof.

Abstract: A magnetic reading head comprising: a bottom shield; a top shield; an AMR device with MR and SAL separated by a thin insulating layer; a first insulting gap layer between said bottom shield and said AMR; a second insulating gap layer between said AMR and said top shield; a conductive layer contact at one end region of said MR and SAL. Furthermore, magnetic reading heads with GMR device free of electric-pop noise also are disclosed.

Abstract: Testing a TMR element includes a step of measuring initially a resistance value of the TMR element to provide the measured resistance value as a first resistance value, a step of measuring a resistance value of the TMR element after continuously feeding a current through the TMR element from a anti-substrate side to a substrate side for a predetermined period of time, to provide the measured resistance value as a second resistance value, and a step of evaluating the TMR element by comparing the first resistance value and the second resistance value with each other.

Abstract: Testing a TMR element includes a step of measuring initially a resistance value of the TMR element to provide the measured resistance value as a first resistance value, a step of measuring a resistance value of the TMR element after continuously feeding a current through the TMR element for a predetermined period of time, to provide the measured resistance value as a second resistance value, and a step of evaluating the TMR element depending upon a degree of change in resistance of the TMR element. The degree of change in resistance is determined based upon the first resistance value and the second resistance value.