Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a laser light source, an irradiation optical system comprising a beam spreader which is configured to spread the laser light about a first optical axis, a light reception optical system having a second optical axis different from the first optical axis and positioned to receive reflected light of the laser light from the object for measuring a distance to the object, a sensor with light receiving elements arranged in a first direction, the sensor being positioned to receive light reflected from the object which has passed through the light reception optical system, and a distance measuring unit configured to acquire distance information relating to the object based on the difference in time between emission of the laser light source and the reception of the reflected light at each of the plurality of light receiving elements.

Abstract: A distance measuring device includes a laser light source, an irradiation optical system comprising a beam spreader which is configured to spread the laser light about a first optical axis, a light reception optical system having a second optical axis different from the first optical axis and positioned to receive reflected light of the laser light from the object for measuring a distance to the object, a sensor with light receiving elements arranged in a first direction, the sensor being positioned to receive light reflected from the object which has passed through the light reception optical system, and a distance measuring unit configured to acquire distance information relating to the object based on the difference in time between emission of the laser light source and the reception of the reflected light at each of the plurality of light receiving elements.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an actuator arm includes a joint, an extension, a pair of outer surfaces, and a linear protrusion. The joint is rotatably supported on a shaft. The extension extends from the joint and has a tip end connected to a head that performs at least reading or writing with respect to a rotating disk recording medium. The outer surfaces are in a front-and-rear relationship with each other. At least one of the outer surfaces faces the disk recording medium. The linear protrusion is arranged on and extends along an edge of at least one of the outer surfaces. The edge is located upstream on the outer surfaces in a flowing direction of an air flow generated by the rotation of the disk recording medium.

Abstract: For a feedforward controller for controlling a position of a magnetic head in a magnetic disk drive, a vibration of the magnetic head is measured in a state in which a magnetic disk is rotated in the magnetic disk drive. From a spectrum of the measured vibration, a flutter frequency which is a frequency of a vibration caused by the magnetic disk fluttering is obtained. A filter is designed for each flutter frequency having a peak of a gain for a respective one of obtained flutter frequencies. The feedforward controller for controlling a position of the magnetic head is obtained by combining filters designed for the respective flutter frequencies.

Abstract: A suspension for a hard disk drive has a vibration sensor which is impervious to influence by external noise, to obtain more stable positioning precision of the head on the suspension. The suspension has a load beam, a vibration sensor sandwiched by a first electrode and a second electrode, and a conductive wiring pattern on the load beam for electrically connecting the first electrode and the second electrode to an external detection circuit. The first electrode is sandwiched by the second electrode via the vibration sensor and a shield layer via an insulating layer. The second electrode and the shield layer are at a same potential.

Abstract: An optical storage device including a carriage mounted on a base so as to be reciprocatable in a given direction; a driving mechanism for moving the carriage, the driving mechanism including a first coil fixed to the carriage and a first magnetic circuit mounted on the base; an objective lens for focusing a light beam output from a light source onto an optical storage medium; and a lens holder for holding the objective lens. The optical storage device further includes a conductive elastic support member for movably supporting the lens holder relative to the carriage, the conductive elastic support member having a first end fixed to the carriage and a second end fixed to the lens holder; and a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the conductive elastic support member and having one end fixed to the carriage. A second coil is fixed to the lens holder, and is electrically connected to the conductive elastic support member.

Abstract: Provided is a storage apparatus in which the resonant frequency of carriage driving coils is high and precision in positioning a carriage is excellent. The storage apparatus is, for example, an optical disk drive having rails laid parallel to one radius of a disk, and able to read or writing data from or on the disk using a carriage movable along the rails. The carriage is moved using driving coils mounted on the flanks of the carriage and magnetic circuits each composed of a permanent magnet and yokes which are located outside the carriage. The driving coils are each shaped like a parallelepiped whose sides extending in a direction along the flank of the carriage are longer than other sides extending in a direction perpendicular to the flank. The permanent magnet or yokes of each magnetic circuit is opposed to a plane containing the long sides of each of the parallelepiped-shaped driving coils.

Abstract: A thermal fuse reduced in size and thickness can be obtained. Further, the thermal fuse will not be degraded in characteristics, productivity, reliability, quality, etc. even after reduction in size and thickness. The thermal fuse includes a fuse main body including a substrate, a fusible metal and a cover, and paired terminals disposed protruding from the fuse main body. The other end of the first terminal has a first fusible metal connection, and the other end of the second terminal has a second fusible metal connection. The fusible metal is disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal, and one end of the fusible metal is connected to the first fusible metal connection, and the other end of the fusible metal is connected to the second fusible metal connection. The cover is disposed so as to cover the fusible metal, the first fusible metal connection, and the second fusible metal connection.

Abstract: A thermal fuse reduced in size and thickness can be obtained. Further, the thermal fuse will not be degraded in characteristics, productivity, reliability, quality, etc. even after reduction in size and thickness. The thermal fuse includes a fuse main body including a substrate, a fusible metal and a cover, and paired terminals disposed protruding from the fuse main body. The other end of the first terminal has a first fusible metal connection, and the other end of the second terminal has a second fusible metal connection. The fusible metal is disposed between the first terminal and the second terminal, and one end of the fusible metal is connected to the first fusible metal connection, and the other end of the fusible metal is connected to the second fusible metal connection. The cover is disposed so as to cover the fusible metal, the first fusible metal connection, and the second fusible metal connection.

Abstract: An optical storage device including a carriage mounted on a base so as to be reciprocatable in a given direction; a driving mechanism for moving the carriage, the driving mechanism including a first coil fixed to the carriage and a first magnetic circuit mounted on the base; an objective lens for focusing a light beam output from a light source onto an optical storage medium; and a lens holder for holding the objective lens. The optical storage device further includes a conductive elastic support member for movably supporting the lens holder relative to the carriage, the conductive elastic support member having a first end fixed to the carriage and a second end fixed to the lens holder; and a flexible printed circuit board electrically connected to the conductive elastic support member and having one end fixed to the carriage. A second coil is fixed to the lens holder, and is electrically connected to the conductive elastic support member.

Abstract: An access control circuit for use in an optical disk unit including a linear drive mechanism for linearly sliding an optical head to thereby shift a beam spot to a target track on an optical disk. The slider of the linear drive mechanism and the optical head are integrally structured. The sliding speed of the linear drive mechanism is detected by a speed detection unit and the target speed of the linear drive mechanism is calculated by a target speed calculation unit. The difference between the sliding speed and the target speed is detected by a speed difference detection unit and thereby a speed difference signal is obtained. Then, the speed difference signal and a high-frequency signal from an oscillation unit are added together and the sum signal is output to a current supply unit, and thereby a drive current in accordance with the sum signal is supplied from the current supply unit to the linear drive mechanism to drive the same.