Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head includes the steps of forming an underlying layer, forming a pole layer including a track width defining portion at least by plating, using the underlying layer as an electrode, such that the track width defining portion is disposed on the underlying layer, and removing the underlying layer except a portion below the pole layer by ion beam etching. The underlying layer is made of a conductive material whose etching rate of ion beam etching is higher than that of the magnetic alloy used to make the pole layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes: an encasing layer made of a nonmagnetic material and having a groove that opens in the top surface; a nonmagnetic metal layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, disposed on the top surface of the encasing layer, and having a penetrating opening that is contiguous to the groove; and a pole layer made of a magnetic metal material and encased in the groove of the encasing layer and in the opening of the nonmagnetic metal layer. The pole layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface, the end face having a first portion and a second portion that is located farther from a substrate than the first portion and connected to the first portion. The first portion has a width that decreases as the distance from the substrate decreases. The second portion has a uniform width that defines the track width. In the medium facing surface, the nonmagnetic metal layer exists on both sides of the second portion, the sides being opposed to each other in the direction of track width.

Abstract: A seat sensor for a vehicle seat having a seat face portion includes a plurality of sensor cells. One of two electrodes of each sensor cell contacts an other one of the two electrodes to make the each of the plurality of sensor cells become electrically conductive when the each of the plurality of sensor cells is applied with a load. A first one of the plurality of sensor cells is displaced from a second one of the plurality of sensor cells in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction of the vehicle. One of the two electrodes of the second one of the plurality of sensor cells is directly and exclusively connected in series with one of the two electrode of the first one of the plurality of sensor cells.

Abstract: An optical transmission node including an optical preamplifier to amplify input light and an optical postamplifier to amplify light output from the optical preamplifier, includes the optical postamplifier configured to generate amplified spontaneous emission light without signals input, the optical preamplifier configured to amplify the amplified spontaneous emission light from the optical postamplifier, a loopback switch configured to discouple a path of the light output from the optical preamplifier to the optical postamplifier, and couple a path of the light output from the optical postamplifier to the optical preamplifier.

Abstract: A magnetic head including an encasing layer having a groove; a nonmagnetic metal layer that has a sidewall located directly above the edge of the groove and that is disposed on a region of the encasing layer away from the medium facing surface; two side shield layers that have sidewalls located directly above the edge of the groove and that are disposed adjacent to the nonmagnetic metal layer on regions of the encasing layer closer to the medium facing surface than the nonmagnetic metal layer; and a pole layer. The pole layer is placed in an encasing section formed of the groove of the encasing layer, the sidewall of the nonmagnetic metal layer, and the sidewalls of the two side shield layers.

Abstract: A pole layer has a track width defining portion and a wide portion. The pole layer has: first and second side surfaces located opposite to each other in a first region extending from a medium facing surface to a position at a distance of 10 to 300 nm from the medium facing surface; third and fourth side surfaces located in a second region other than the first region; a fifth side surface located at the boundary between the first and second regions and connecting the first and third side surfaces to each other; and a sixth side surface located at the boundary between the first and second regions and connecting the second and fourth side surfaces to each other. The distance between the first and second side surfaces taken in the track width direction decreases with decreasing distance from the top surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Components of a plurality of magnetic heads are formed on a single substrate to fabricate a magnetic head substructure in which a plurality of pre-head portions are aligned in a plurality of rows. The substructure is cut to separate the plurality of pre-head portions from one another, and the plurality of magnetic heads are thereby fabricated. The surface formed by cutting the substructure is lapped to form a lapped surface. The lapped surface is lapped so as to reach a target position of a medium facing surface. The substructure incorporates first to fourth resistor elements each of which detects the position of the lapped surface. The third and fourth detection elements are located at positions shifted from the first and second resistor elements along the direction orthogonal to the medium facing surface.

Abstract: An occupant detection system includes occupant sensors on each of plural seats, first resistors in connection to each of the occupant sensors with different resistance values, a power supply line that supplies electric power to the sensors and resistors from a power source by connecting those parts and the power source, and a control unit that detects occupancy of each of the plural seats based on an electric current value of the power supply line. The occupant detection system having the above configuration detects the occupancy of each of the plural seats without increasing the number of input terminals on the control unit.

Abstract: A pole layer has: a first portion having an end face located in a medium facing surface; and a second portion that is located farther from the medium facing surface than the first portion and has a thickness greater than that of the first portion. A surface of the first portion farther from a substrate is located closer to the substrate than a surface of the second portion farther from the substrate. The second portion has a front end face that couples the surface of the first portion farther from the substrate to the surface of the second portion farther from the substrate. A shield layer has a portion located between the front end face and the medium facing surface in a region closer to the substrate than the surface of the second portion farther from the substrate.

Abstract: The system includes a magnetic head which faces a recording medium. The magnetic head has a coil which generates magnetic fields. The magnetic head also has a pole layer which is formed using a pattern. The pole layer allows magnetic flux generated by the coil to write data onto the recording medium. The pole layer generates a write magnetic field for writing data onto the recording medium. A photomask is used to form the magnetic head. The photomask includes three regions. The first region has such a perimeter that a projection image thereof is shaped along a perimeter of an ideal shape of the top surface of the pole layer, and the second region touches the first region's perimeter. The third region suppresses deviation of the pole layer from its desired shape which may be caused by the effect of light reflected while the photoresist layer is exposed.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises a pole layer, a shield layer, a gap layer disposed between the pole layer and the shield layer, and a coil. The shield layer incorporates: a first layer disposed on the gap layer; a second layer disposed on the first layer; and a third layer disposed on the second layer. The first layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface. An end face of each of the second and third layers closer to the medium facing surface is located at a distance from the medium facing surface. A first nonmagnetic layer is disposed around the first layer. A second nonmagnetic layer is disposed between the medium facing surface and the end face of the second layer closer to the medium facing surface.

Abstract: A shield incorporates: a first layer, a second layer, a third layer, a first coupling portion, and a second coupling portion. The first layer has: a first surface located in a region of a medium facing surface forward of an end face of a pole layer along the direction of travel of a recording medium; a second surface opposed to the pole layer; and a third surface opposite to the second surface. The second layer touches the third surface. The third layer is disposed in a region sandwiching the pole layer with the first layer. The first coupling portion couples the first layer to the third layer without touching the pole layer. The second coupling portion is located farther from the medium facing surface than the first coupling portion and couples the pole layer to the third layer.

Abstract: A load sensor is provided as a seat sensor that includes a first film formed in a linear shape, a second film formed in the same shape as the first film and arranged facing the first film, sensor electrodes arranged between the first film and the second film facing each other. The electrodes are normally spaced apart from each other and come in contact with each other upon receiving a load. The electrodes are connected to a connector through a conducting portion arranged between the first film and the second film. The seat sensor is disposed on a seat where a large compressive force is applied by a passenger.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes: a pole layer including a track width defining portion and a wide portion; and an encasing layer disposed on a bottom forming layer and having a groove that accommodates the pole layer. The groove includes a first portion for accommodating at least part of the track width defining portion, and a second portion for accommodating at least part of the wide portion. A manufacturing method for the magnetic head includes: the step of etching a nonmagnetic layer that will become the encasing layer later, such that an initial groove including the first portion is formed in the nonmagnetic layer; the step of forming an initial groove mask covering the first portion; and a second etching step for etching the nonmagnetic layer so as to complete the groove. When the second etching step starts, a portion of the top surface of the bottom forming layer located in a region in which the second portion is to be formed is covered with the nonmagnetic layer or the initial groove mask.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a pole layer, and an encasing layer having a groove that accommodates the pole layer. A manufacturing method for the magnetic head includes the steps of forming a nonmagnetic layer that will later undergo formation of the groove therein and will thereby become the encasing layer; forming the groove in the nonmagnetic layer so that the nonmagnetic layer becomes the encasing layer; and forming the pole layer such that the pole layer is accommodated in the groove of the encasing layer. The nonmagnetic layer is formed of Al2O3. The step of forming the groove in the nonmagnetic layer includes the step of taper-etching the nonmagnetic layer by reactive ion etching with an etching gas containing at least BCl3 and N2 among BCl3, Cl2 and N2.

Abstract: A method of forming a magnetic head comprises the steps of: selectively exposing through the use of a photomask a photoresist layer unpatterned; forming a pattern for forming a pole layer by developing the photoresist layer after the exposure; and forming the pole layer through the use of the pattern. The photomask includes first to third regions. The first region has such a perimeter that a projection image thereof is shaped along a perimeter of an ideal shape of the top surface of the pole layer. The second region touches the perimeter of the first region, and is located outside the first region. The third region is located inside the first region without touching the perimeter of the first region. The third region suppresses deviation of the pole layer from its desired shape which may be caused by the effect of light reflected while the photoresist layer is exposed.

Abstract: A pole layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface, allows a magnetic flux corresponding to a magnetic field generated by a coil to pass therethrough, and generates a write magnetic field for writing data on a recording medium by using a perpendicular magnetic recording system. A shield incorporates: a first layer having an end face located in a region of the medium facing surface forward of the end face of the pole layer along the direction of travel of the recording medium; a second layer disposed in a region sandwiching the pole layer with the first layer; a first coupling portion coupling the first layer to the second layer without touching the pole layer; and a second coupling portion coupling the pole layer to the second layer and located farther from the medium facing surface than the first coupling portion.

Abstract: A polycrystalline, magnetic ceramic material having a basic composition represented by the general formula of (Y3-x-y-zBiXCayGdz)(Fe5-?-?-?-?In?Al?V?Zr?)O12, wherein 0.4<x?1.5, 0.5?y?1, 0?z?0.5, y+z<1.3, 0???0.6, 0???0.45, 0.25???0.5, 0???0.25, and 0.15 ??+??0.75 each by an atomic ratio, which is predominantly composed of a phase having a garnet structure, and sinterable at a temperature of 850-1050° C.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device or a semiconductor wafer using a chucking unit is provided to remove a slurry that adheres to the back surface of the semiconductor wafer. An edge portion of a semiconductor wafer is polished while a back surface of the semiconductor wafer is chucked to a chucking unit of a first polishing unit. The polished semiconductor wafer is then dechucked from the chucking unit of the first polishing unit. Next, a gap is formed above the chucking unit of the second polishing unit, and the semiconductor wafer is disposed therein. Water is discharged from the chucking unit of the second polishing unit to clean the back surface of the semiconductor wafer W. Thereafter, the back surface of the semiconductor wafer is chucked to the chucking unit of the second polishing unit, and the semiconductor wafer is polished.

Abstract: A magnetic head comprises: an encasing layer made of a nonmagnetic material and having a groove that opens in the top surface; a nonmagnetic metal layer made of a nonmagnetic metal material, disposed on the top surface of the encasing layer, and having a penetrating opening that is contiguous to the groove; and a pole layer made of a magnetic metal material and encased in the groove of the encasing layer and in the opening of the nonmagnetic metal layer. The pole layer has an end face located in a medium facing surface, the end face having a first portion and a second portion that is located farther from a substrate than the first portion and connected to the first portion. The first portion has a width that decreases as the distance from the substrate decreases. The second portion has a uniform width that defines the track width. In the medium facing surface, the nonmagnetic metal layer exists on both sides of the second portion, the sides being opposed to each other in the direction of track width.