Abstract: Described herein is a method for controlling the acoustic noise generated by a spindle motor of a hard disk drive includes detecting vibrations of the hard disk drive, and distorting an input signal to the spindle motor based on the vibrations of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes: an element part formed by laminating an antiferromagnetic layer, a fixed magnetic layer, an insulating barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer on a substrate; and a protective layer that protects an end surface of the element part opposite a recording medium. The insulating barrier layer is formed using an AlOx film or an MgO film.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head is provided. The thin-ffilm magnetic head includes an element portion including an antiferromagnetic layer, a pinned magnetic layer, an insulating barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer laminated on a substrate. A protective layer that protects an end face of the element portion where the end face faces a recording medium. An adhesion layer is disposed between the protective layer and the end face of the element portion, the insulating barrier layer is exposed at the end face of the element portion. The insulating barrier layer is a TiOx film, and nitrogen is present in at least the interface between the adhesion layer and the insulating barrier layer.

Abstract: A charge pump circuit includes terminals that are connectable with a flying capacitor and a charge capacitor, respectively, and driving transistors connected with the terminals, a power supply voltage, and a ground potential, for controlling the charging of the flying capacitor and the transfer of charges from the flying capacitor to the charge capacitor. By repeating alternately an operation of charging the flying capacitor and an operation of transferring charges stored in the flying capacitor to the charge capacitor according to control signals supplied to gates of the transistors, the power source voltage is stepped down or stepped up. At least one of the driving transistors has its gate to be connected to a driving buffer via an impedance element so that the control signal is supplied thereto via the driving buffer.