Abstract: A write head's material having a great thermal expansion coefficient expands due to Joule heat resulting from a write current and a temperature rise dependent on high-frequency core loss, thereby causing the head's flying surface to protrude toward a magnetic disk. This phenomenon is called TPR (thermal protrusion). It is essential that the flying height be accurately determined and managed in consideration of TPR. A magnetic disk drive for actual use or a magnetic disk drive that is in a testing process but similar to the one for actual use is used to measure TPR amount changes resulting from a write operation, store the resulting measured data in a memory or on the magnetic disk, and perform flying height management with the stored measured data. Further, flying height management is performed as needed in conjunction with a SMART function. The present invention makes it possible to perform high-reliability flying height management.

Abstract: Magneto-resistive effect head arrangements, including a single magnetic domain control layer made of plural layers.

Abstract: In a narrow magnetoresistive head having a magnetic domain control film comprising a single layer of magnetic film or magnetic films antiferromagnetically coupled by means of a nonmagnetic member, it has been found that the magnetic domain can be controlled with a smaller magnetization film thickness product than anticipated so far and the range is defined relative to the geometrical track width in the present invention. By defining the magnetization film thickness product of the magnetic domain control film within a prescribed range of the invention, a magnetic head having higher output than usual and having stable output with no hysteresis in the transfer curve and with no output fluctuation can be attained.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head comprises a free magnetic layer that has first and second free magnetic films sandwiching a non-magnetic intermediate film therebetween, the respective magnetizing directions of the first and the second free magnetic films are antiparallel. The length of the free magnetic layer in the direction of the track width is 200 nm or less, and a difference between a product of saturation magnetic flux density and a film thickness of the first free magnetic film, and that of the second free magnetic film is within a range from 1 to 3 nmT. By this structure, the variation of output and the variation of asymmetry is greatly decreased at a track width of 200 nm or less.

Abstract: The invention provides a magnetic domain controlling structure wherein a lamination stack M1 adjacent to a magnetoresistive stack of a GMR, CPP-GMR or TMR magnetic head has at least two magnetic films 14 and 16 anti-ferromagnetically coupled through a non-magnetic film 15, or the lamination stack M2 disposed on the end portions of the free layer of the magnetoresistive stack of the GMR magnetic head has a magnetic layer anti-ferromagnetically coupled to the free layer 2 through the non-magnetic film 27. Ferromagnetic film deposition dead zone area problems and the consequent problem of film rippling in free layer portions that reduces element sensitivity are prevented, as is the problem of increased error from read drift in the magnetic field exchange coupling method, resulting in a highly stable, highly sensitive MR head with no loss of magnetic field intensity.

Abstract: In a magnetic disk device having a composite head with an induction type of recording head adjacent a magneto-resistance effect type of reproducing head, a read error relief is provided to relieve read errors caused by Barkhausen Noise or Base Line Shift phenomenon inherent to the magneto-resistance effect type of reproducing head. Upon occurrence of a read error, a re-try function is first executed, and a track offset function is executed for relief of the read error. However, if the read error is not relieved after the offset operation and the re-try operation have been performed a predetermined number of times, then a pseudo write-in and/or read current control operation is performed together with the offset operation and/or re-try operation for a predetermined number of times. The control operation varies the magnetic domain structure in the head magnetic film (MR film).

Abstract: An information recording and erasing method and apparatus of an optical memory medium including a substrate, a guard film, and an intermediate layer portion so disposed between said substrate and said guard film as to include at least a recording material layer having a phase changing with temperature and include at least one good conductor layer, comprising the steps of supplying magnetic flux varying relatively to said good conductor layer to generate eddy currents within said good conductor layer, and heating said recording material layer with heat generated in said good conductor due to the eddy current loss to effect information recording and erasing with respect to said recording material layer.

Abstract: An optical head including a substrate, an optical waveguide formed on the substrate, a light source formed on a portion of the substrate, a collimator lens for converting light from the light source into parallel light rays, an objective lens for focusing light from the collimator lens onto a recording medium and for converting reflected light from the recording medium into parallel light rays, a beam splitter for dividing light from the objective lens into two parts to send out one of the parts in a predetermined direction, a coupling lens for focusing light from the beam splitter on a position, and a photodetector for detecting light from the coupling lens, is disclosed, in which the collimator lens, the objective lens, the beam splitter, the coupling lens and the photodetector are integrated on the substrate, and the collimator lens or an objective lens supporting part is made flexible to vary the position of the focus of the collimator lens or objective lens by piezo-electric elements.

Abstract: An optical head is disclosed, in which a plate-shaped optical wave guide comprises an optical system including a collimator lens, a beam splitter and an objective lens; a laser light source for emitting a laser light in the form of a light beam which is to be impinged on an optical recording medium; and electro-acoustic transducers are disposed between the beam splitter and the objective lens, the transducers being adapted to be driven by the outer electrical signal for producing surface acoustic waves in the optical wave guide, thereby establishing a condensation and rarefaction distribution in refractive index in the optical wave guide which distribution influences the direction of transmission and the degree of focusing of the light beam passing therethrough so that regulation of the tracking and the focal length can be effected without any mechanical movements.

Abstract: A laser light flux is divided and synthesized so that its light intensity distribution is changed from a Gaussian distribution to a non-Gaussian distribution. When a laser light flux having a Gaussian distribution is irradiated onto a dividing prism, it is divided into a left part and a right part which are refracted right and left inversely from each other. When the right and left parts are incident on a synthesizing prism, they are refracted again and travel to be overlapped with each other on a recording medium. The light intensity distribution on a segment at the apex of the synthesizing prism is weaker at the central part and stronger at the peripheral part. This is because the light fluxes resulting from the division are inverted in their position so that the central part of the Gaussian distribution is separated left and right while the peripheral part with a weaker light intensity is centered.

Abstract: In the present invention, a micro Fresnel lens in the shape of a thin film is used. A lens driving member constructed of piezoelectric transducers or of magnets and coils is disposed around the lens. The focus of the lens is adjusted by controlling applied voltages to the piezoelectric transducers or the coils.

Abstract: A film of a crystal - crystal phase transformation type optical recording alloy is formed on an insulating substrate. Information is erased from the alloy film by heating it with an expedient other than a laser beam. Information is read by sensing reflected light of light projected on the alloy film.

Abstract: The present invention employs as a recording medium a metal or alloy which exhibits an intercrystalline transition before and after writing. In the present invention, two light beams of unequal wavelengths are used so as to write information with the light beam of the longer wavelength and to erase information with the light beam of the shorter wavelength. In changing a written content, a wavelength with which the reflection rate of the recording medium increases is used.