Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, a write shield, and a return path section. The write shield includes a bottom shield located on the rear side in the direction of travel of a recording medium relative to the main pole. The return path section is located on the rear side in the direction of travel of the recording medium relative to the main pole and connects the bottom shield and part of the main pole away from a medium facing surface so as to define a space through which part of the coil passes. The return path section is not exposed in the medium facing surface. The bottom shield includes a base part, and a protruding part protruding from the base part toward the main pole. The base part is greater than the protruding part in length in a direction perpendicular to the medium facing surface.

Abstract: A MR sensor comprises a first shielding layer, a second shielding layer, a MR element and a pair of hard magnet layers sandwiched therebetween, and a non-magnetic insulating layer formed at a side of the MR element far from an air bearing surface of a slider. The MR sensor further comprises a first non-magnetic conducting layer formed between the first shielding layer and the MR element, and the first non-magnetic conducting layer is embedded in the first shielding layer and kept separate from the ABS. The MR sensor of the invention can obtain a narrower read gap to increase the resolution power and improve the reading performance, and obtain a strong longitudinal bias field to stabilize the MR sensor so as to increase the total sensor area and, in turn, get an improved reliability and performance. The present invention also discloses a magnetic head, a HGA and a disk drive unit.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a shield magnetic layer. The shield magnetic layer has a leading shield part. The leading shield part is disposed on a substrate side of the main magnetic pole layer. The leading shield part has a variable distance structure in which a rearmost part most distanced from the medium-opposing surface is distanced more from the main magnetic pole layer than is a foremost part on the main magnetic pole layer side.

Abstract: A plasmon generator configured to excite a surface plasmon based on light includes a first portion formed of a first metal material and a second portion formed of a second metal material different from the first metal material. The plasmon generator has a front end face. The front end face includes a near-field light generating part that generates near-field light based on the surface plasmon. The second portion includes an end face located in the front end face. The second metal material satisfies at least one of the following requirements: a lower ionization tendency than that of the first metal material; a lower electrical conductivity than that of the first metal material; and a higher Vickers hardness than that of the first metal material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a magnetic head includes the step of forming an accommodation part and the step of forming a return path section. The return path section lies between a main pole and a top surface of a substrate, and connects a shield and part of the main pole away from a medium facing surface to each other so that a space through which part of a coil passes is defined. The accommodation part accommodates at least part of the return path section. The step of forming the return path section forms first to third portions simultaneously. The first portion is located closer to the top surface of the substrate than is the space. The second portion is located closer to the medium facing surface than is the space. The third portion is located farther from the medium facing surface than is the space.

Abstract: In a laminated semiconductor substrate, a plurality of semiconductor substrates are laminated. Each of the semiconductor substrate has a plurality of scribe-groove parts formed along scribe lines. Further, each of the semiconductor substrate has a plurality of device regions having a semiconductor device formed therein and insulated from each other, and a plurality of wiring electrodes connected to the semiconductor devices respectively formed in the plurality of device regions and extending from the device regions into the inside of the scribe-groove parts. The plurality of wiring electrodes are arranged in a partial arrangement pattern in which the wiring electrodes are arranged along only a part of four boundary sides, corresponding to boundaries between each of the device regions and the scribe-groove parts. Further, the plurality of wiring electrodes extend into the scribe-groove part from only one of two device regions adjacent to each other with the scribe-groove part therebetween.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed to prevent a reduction in the number of I/O devices which can be connected when building a PCIe topology by connecting I/O devices to a computer via a PCIe switch. A switch with which a computer and I/O devices are connected includes: a first PCI-PCI bridge which is positioned on the computer side; a second PCI-PCI bridge which is positioned on the I/O device side; trapper units which trap packet data which is inputted into the switch; a packet routing unit which transfers packet data to the I/O devices; and a management processor which is connected to the trapper units and provides the computer a virtual PCI-PCI bridge and a virtual link by execution of a program. The trapper units adjudicate the destination of the packet data which is transferred from the computer.

Abstract: Provided is a composite material structure reinforced against stress concentration in the peripheral edge portions of holes and enabled to be reduced in weight. A wing (1) is formed in a box structure. A lower surface outer plate (3) of the wing (1) includes a center section (3b) made of metal extending in one direction and having access holes (5) formed therein, a front section (3a) and a rear section (3c) made of fiber reinforced plastics extending in the one direction and connected to both side portions of the center section (3b). As the metal used for the center section (3b), a titanium alloy or an aluminum alloy is suitable.

Abstract: Provided is a composite material structure enabled to be reduced in weight. The composite material structure includes a front section (3a) extending in one direction and formed as a composite material made of fiber reinforced plastics, a rear section (3c) separated from the front section (3a) by a predetermined space, extending in the one direction, and formed as a composite material made of fiber reinforced plastics, and access panels (5) provided between the front section (3a) and the rear section (3c) and having a dimension in the one direction shorter than the front section (3a) and the rear section (3c). The access panels (5) are fixed to the front section (3a) and the rear section (3c) in an orthogonal direction substantially orthogonal to the one direction and set to be displaceable in the one direction and are removable.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. The write shield layer has an opposing shield part opposing the main magnetic pole layer and a front shield part. The front shield part is connected to the opposing shield part without straddling the thin-film coil. Besides, the front shield part has a shield front end face disposed in the medium-opposing surface and a shield upper end face formed distanced from the medium-opposing surface. Further, the front shield part has a shield connecting part. The shield front end face is connected to the shield upper end face by the shield connecting part.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, a thin-film coil and a shield magnetic layer are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a shield magnetic layer. This thin-film magnetic head has a hard guard frame layer surrounding an equidistant coil part, disposed at a position equidistant from the substrate, from outside and being in direct contact with almost a whole outside surface defining an outer shape of the equidistant coil part.

Abstract: A near-field light generator includes a waveguide and a plasmon generator. The waveguide has a core and a cladding. The core has first and second evanescent light generating surfaces disposed such that the plasmon generator is interposed therebetween. The plasmon generator has an outer surface, the outer surface including: a front end face; a first plasmon exciting part that is opposed to the first evanescent light generating surface with a predetermined spacing therebetween; and a second plasmon exciting part that is opposed to the second evanescent light generating surface with a predetermined spacing therebetween.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes first and second coils, a main pole, a write shield, first and second yoke layers, and first and second coupling parts. The first and second yoke layers are magnetically connected to the write shield. The first yoke layer is located on the leading side relative to the main pole, whereas the second yoke layer is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole. The first coupling part magnetically couples the main pole and the second yoke layer to each other. The second coupling part magnetically couples the first yoke layer and the second yoke layer to each other. The first coil is wound around the first coupling part, whereas the second coil is wound around the second coupling part.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a lower shield layer, an upper shield layer and a thin-film coil are laminated on a substrate. A method of manufacturing the thin-film magnetic head has a lower shield layer forming step. This step comprises a step of forming a first lower shield part in a lower shield planned area, including a planned line along the medium-opposing surface, a step of forming a partial lower seed layer having a partial arrangement structure in which the partial lower seed layer is arranged on a lower formation zone except a lower exception zone including the planned line, a step of forming a second lower shield part on the partial lower seed layer.

Abstract: A thermally-assisted magnetic recording head includes a coil, a main pole, a return path section, a waveguide, and a plasmon generator. The waveguide includes a core and a cladding. The return path section includes: first and second columnar portions located on opposite sides of the core in the track width direction; a coupling portion coupling the first and second columnar portions to each other; and a third columnar portion connected to the coupling portion. The third columnar portion is smaller than the coupling portion in width in the track width direction. The coil includes a winding portion wound around the third columnar portion.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes first to third coils, a main pole, a write shield, first and second yoke layers, and first and second coupling parts. The first and second yoke layers are magnetically connected to the write shield. The first yoke layer is located on the leading side relative to the main pole, whereas the second yoke layer is located on the trailing side relative to the main pole. The first coupling part magnetically couples the main pole and the second yoke layer to each other. The second coupling part magnetically couples the first yoke layer and the second yoke layer to each other. The first coil is wound around the first coupling part, whereas the second and third coils are wound around the second coupling part.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield, a return path section, a heater that generates heat for making part of a medium facing surface protrude, and a sensor that detects contact of the part of the medium facing surface with a recording medium. The return path section includes: a yoke layer located backward of the main pole along the direction of travel of the recording medium; a first coupling part coupling the yoke layer and the write shield to each other; and a second coupling part located away from the medium facing surface and coupling the yoke layer and the main pole to each other. The first coupling part has an end face facing toward the yoke layer. This end face includes a middle portion spaced from the yoke layer and facing the yoke layer, and two side portions located on opposite sides of the middle portion in a track width direction and in contact with the yoke layer. The sensor is located between the middle portion and the yoke layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a shield, and first and second return path sections. The shield has an end face that is located in a medium facing surface to wrap around an end face of a main pole. The shield includes a bottom shield, two side shields, and a top shield. The first return path section includes a yoke layer, and first and second coupling layers that magnetically couple the bottom shield and the yoke layer to each other. The first coupling layer is magnetically connected to the bottom shield. The second coupling layer magnetically couples the first coupling layer to the yoke layer. No end faces of the second coupling layer are exposed in the medium facing surface. The second return path section magnetically couples the top shield and the main pole to each other.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is constructed such that a main magnetic pole layer, a write shield layer, a gap layer, a thin-film coil and a shield magnetic layer are laminated on a substrate. The thin-film magnetic head has a shield magnetic layer. This thin-film magnetic head has a hard guard frame layer surrounding an equidistant coil part, disposed at a position equidistant from the substrate, from outside and being in direct contact with almost a whole outside surface defining an outer shape of the equidistant coil part.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a coil, a main pole, and a return path section. The return path section includes a plurality of magnetic path portions that separate a magnetic flux into a plurality of fluxes and allow the fluxes to pass therethrough in parallel. The coil includes a winding portion disposed around an assemblage of the plurality of magnetic path portions. In any cross section that intersects all of the plurality of magnetic path portions, the distance between two adjacent magnetic path portions is smaller than the minimum width of each of the two adjacent magnetic path portions, and only a nonmagnetic layer is present between the two adjacent magnetic path portions.