Abstract: A vehicle control device includes a processor and memory. The memory stores relation-defining data for defining a relation between a state of a vehicle and an action variable that is a variable relating to operations of a transmission installed in the vehicle. The processor is configured to execute acquisition processing, operation processing, reward calculation processing, updating processing, counting processing, and limiting processing. The processor is configured to output the relation-defining data updated so that an expected income is increased when the transmission is operated following the relation-defining data, based on an updating map.

Abstract: A medium feeding device includes: a load unit that is loaded with multiple media; a delivering unit that delivers an uppermost medium of the media loaded on the load unit in a predetermined feeding direction; an ascent-descent unit that causes at least a part of the load unit to ascend and descend about a pivot point defined by a position of the load unit located away from a leading edge of the media in the feeding direction; a regulating unit that is provided toward the feeding direction of the media on the load unit and that comes into contact with the leading edge, in the feeding direction, of the media loaded on the load unit to regulate a loading position of the media; and a blocking unit that allows the load unit to ascend and descend and that blocks at least a part of a gap between the load unit and the regulating unit at an arbitrary ascent or descent position of the load unit.

Abstract: A plasmon generator (PG) is formed between a waveguide and main pole, and has a front portion (Au/Rh bilayer) wherein the upper Rh layer has a peg shape at an air bearing surface (ABS), and a tapered backside that is separated from a PG back portion by a dielectric spacer. The lower Au layer has a front side recessed from the ABS and curved sides self-aligned with the Rh layer sides. A key feature is that the back section of lower Au layer curved side forms a smaller angle with a plane aligned orthogonal to the ABS than a front section thereof thereby selectively enabling a deformation of the back end of the Au layer during a heat treatment to >300° C. at the wafer level. Accordingly, the front end of the lower Au layer is densified and provides an improved heat sink to improve reliability and area density capability (ADC).

Abstract: This method of manufacturing a perpendicular magnetic recording head includes: forming a water-soluble resin film on a base; forming a first resist pattern having an opening on the water-soluble resin film; selectively dissolving the water-soluble resin film exposed at a bottom of the opening with a developer to expose a part of a surface of the base; forming a non-magnetic oxide film to cover the opening and the exposed part of the surface of the base; forming a second resist pattern to fill the opening covered with the non-magnetic oxide film and then removing the first resist pattern and the non-magnetic oxide film; forming a first side shield and a second side shield on the base to allow them to face each other with the second resist pattern therebetween; and forming a magnetic pole between the first and the second side shields after removal of the second resist pattern.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device includes an MR element including a metal layer, and an insulating portion made of magnesium oxide and in contact with the MR element. A method of manufacturing the magnetoresistive device includes the step of removing an unwanted magnesium oxide film that is formed by the magnesium oxide in the process of forming the insulating portion. In this step, the unwanted magnesium oxide film is wet etched by using an etchant containing an aqueous ammonia solution.

Abstract: Method for manufacturing a magnetic head includes providing a stopper layer on an upper surface of a main magnetic pole layer applying a magnetic flux to a recording medium via a first insulation layer, providing a second insulation layer on the upper surface of the first insulation layer to cover at least an entire surface of the stopper layer, covering an upper surface portion of the second insulation layer with a mask layer, forming a height difference portion by removing at least a first insulation layer portion not covered by the mask layer by etching to at least partially remove at least a stopper layer portion in a film thickness direction, and subsequently by removing the mask layer, forming a electrode film in the height difference portion, and forming a plating film, which is a magnetic shield for the main magnetic pole layer, on an upper surface of the electrode.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pattern multilayer body that has a plurality of pattern layers, and where a pattern is formed in each pattern layer, includes a step of forming an overlay pattern within an overlay pattern formation region, and in the step of forming the overlay pattern, a photoresist film is formed, and after a photoresist film is exposed via a main mask, a resist pattern is formed by exposing a sub mask(s). The main mask has a pattern light-shielding part that is commonly used for forming a pattern in each pattern layer, and each main light-shielding part for forming each overlay pattern; and a sub mask has an opening part that is exposable to an unexposed region(s) within an overlay pattern formation region other than an unexposed region(s) on the photoresist film, which has been light-shielded by the main light-shielding part for forming a corresponding overlay pattern.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a pattern multilayer body that has a plurality of pattern layers, and where a pattern is formed in each pattern layer, includes a step of forming an overlay pattern within an overlay pattern formation region, and in the step of forming the overlay pattern, a photoresist film is formed, and after a photoresist film is exposed via a main mask, a resist pattern is formed by exposing a sub mask(s). The main mask has a pattern light-shielding part that is commonly used for forming a pattern in each pattern layer, and each main light-shielding part for forming each overlay patter; and a sub mask has an opening part that is exposable to an unexposed region(s) within an overlay pattern formation region other than an unexposed region(s) on the photoresist film, which has been light-shielded by the main light-shielding part for forming a corresponding overlay pattern.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device includes an MR element including a metal layer, and an insulating portion made of magnesium oxide and in contact with the MR element. A method of manufacturing the magnetoresistive device includes the step of removing an unwanted magnesium oxide film that is formed by the magnesium oxide in the process of forming the insulating portion. In this step, the unwanted magnesium oxide film is wet etched by using an etchant containing an aqueous ammonia solution.

Abstract: In a digital audio recording and reproducing apparatus, an analog audio signal supplied from a microphone is converted into digital audio data, and after compressing the digital audio data such that the analog audio signal of sixty seconds is converted into digital data of not larger than 100K bytes, compressed digital audio data is stored in an-internal solid state memory and/or external solid state memory as data file having a file format which can be directly treated by an external computer. Upon reproduction, after decompressing the digital audio data read out of the memory, decompressed digital audio data is converted into an analog audio signal, and the thus converted analog audio signal is reproduced by a speaker or earphone.

Abstract: A record data recording method according to the invention is a method of recording record data (Dd) on a recording medium (OD) such as a removable optical disk. In recording the record data (Dd) on the recording medium (OD), device specification data [serial number data (Ds) concerning an associated recording/reproducing device (1) or authentication program data (Dps) including the serial number data (Ds)] for specifying a recording/reproducing device (1) permitted to read the record data (Dd) is recorded, and at the same time a determination program is recorded which is read out by a recording/reproducing device (1) before the record data (Dd) recorded on the recording medium (OD) is read, so as to determine identity between the recording/reproducing device (1) which read out the determination program and the recording/reproducing device (1) specified based on the device specification data.

Abstract: A digital recording/reproducing apparatus according to the present invention is configured to be capable of mounting a removable recording medium (M) therein, and includes a recording control section (10) for recording record data (DS) on the recording medium (M), and a reproducing control section (10) for carrying out reproduction based on the record data (DS) recorded on the recording medium (M). The digital recording/reproducing apparatus (1) comprises an index data generating section (4) for generating index data (DID) for detecting a cue position used to cue a predetermined recording position in the record data (DS) at a time of cue reproduction.

Abstract: There is provided a digital recording and reproducing apparatus which is capable of determining whether or not recording data was rewritten, reliably and in a short time period without increasing manufacturing costs thereof. A digital recording and reproducing apparatus is configured to be capable of having a removable external memory mounted therein, for recording recording data in the external memory and reproducing a sound based on the recording data recorded in the external memory. An identification data-generating block generates identification data for use in determining whether or not the recording data was rewritten. An internal memory can record the identification data. A control block records the identification data in the external memory as part of the recording data and at the same time records the identification data in the internal memory such that the identification data is recorded in FAT data concerning the recording data in a manner correlated to a title of a file to be recorded therein.

Abstract: There is provided a digital recording and reproducing apparatus which is capable of determining whether or not recording data was rewritten, reliably and in a short time period without increasing manufacturing costs thereof. A digital recording and reproducing apparatus is configured to be capable of having a removable external memory mounted therein, for recording recording data in the external memory and reproducing a sound based on the recording data recorded in the external memory. An identification data-generating block generates identification data for use in determining whether or not the recording data was rewritten. An internal memory can record the identification data. A control block records the identification data in the external memory as part of the recording data and at the same time records the identification data in the internal memory such that the identification data is recorded in FAT data concerning the recording data in a manner correlated to a title of a file to be recorded therein.

Abstract: A digital recording and reproducing apparatus is provided which is capable of identifying a memory card individually based on a relatively simple construction. An identification data-generating block generates identification data for identifying the external memory individually. An internal memory can store the identification data. A control block records the identification data in the external memory and the internal memory, and carries out identification data determination processing for determining, when mounting of the external memory is detected, whether or not the identification data recorded in the external memory and the identification data recorded in the internal memory are identical to each other.