Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a reproducing head and a recording head. The reproducing head comprises: a GMR element; a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer for shielding the GMR element; conductive layers connected to the GMR element; and shield gap films formed between the shield layers. Each of the shield gap films is made up of a plurality of thin alumina films stacked that are formed by performing the step of forming a thin alumina film by low pressure CVD, for example, a plurality of times.

Abstract: A read head includes: an MR element that detects a magnetic field; a pair of electrode layers for feeding a sense current to the MR element; and a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer that sandwich and shield the MR element and the electrode layers; a bottom insulating layer disposed between the MR element/the electrode layers and the bottom shield layer; a top insulating layer disposed between the MR element/the electrode layers and the top shield layer; a bottom semiconductor layer that is made up of a single layer and disposed between the electrode layers and the bottom shield layer, for connecting the electrode layers and the bottom shield layer; and a top semiconductor layer that is made up of a single layer and disposed between the electrode layers and the top shield layer, for connecting the electrode layers and the top shield layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a film by a plasma CVD process in which a high density plasma is generated in the presence of a magnetic field wherein the electric power for generating the plasma has a pulsed waveform. The electric power typically is supplied by microwave, and the pulsed wave may be a complex wave having a two-step peak, or may be a complex wave obtained by complexing a pulsed wave with a stationary continuous wave.

Abstract: At least a part of the insulation layers is made of an insulation material which increases electric conductivity thereof when an ultraviolet radiation is irradiated. Thus, improved resistance properties against ESD can be obtained during fabrication.

Abstract: A thin-film heat sink comprises a heat sink film functioning as a heat sink and a bonding film for bonding the heat sink film to a base. The bonding film is an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) film formed using the CVD method and the heat sink film is an aluminum nitride (AlN) film. For the AlN film as the heat sink film, internal stress is compressive stress, whereas for the Al2O3 film as the bonding film, internal stress is tensile stress.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrying body, a heating unit, a pressure unit for applying pressure, a recording medium supporting member, and a depressing/close-contacting unit. The recording medium supporting member moves in the same direction as the image carrying body moves, from a pressure position where the pressure unit applies pressure to the recording medium and the image carrying body to an exfoliation position where the recording medium is exfoliated from the image carrying body while supporting the recording medium overlapped with the image carrying body. The depressing/close-contacting unit sandwiches and depresses the recording-medium supporting member and the image carrying body in a middle position between the pressure position and the exfoliation position to closely contact the recording medium with the image carrying body.

Abstract: A read head comprises: an MR element that detects a magnetic field; a pair of electrode layers for feeding a sense current to the MR element; and a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer that sandwich and shield the MR element and the electrode layers; a bottom insulating layer disposed between the MR element/the electrode layers and the bottom shield layer; a top insulating layer disposed between the MR element/the electrode layers and the top shield layer; a bottom semiconductor layer that is made up of a single layer and disposed between the electrode layers and the bottom shield layer, for connecting the electrode layers and the bottom shield layer; and a top semiconductor layer that is made up of a single layer and disposed between the electrode layers and the top shield layer, for connecting the electrode layers and the top shield layer.

Abstract: A thin-film heat sink comprises a heat sink film functioning as a heat sink and a bonding film for bonding the heat sink film to a base. The bonding film is an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) film formed using the CVD method and the heat sink film is an aluminum nitride (AlN) film. For the AlN film as the heat sink film, internal stress is compressive stress, whereas for the Al2O3 film as the bonding film, internal stress is tensile stress.

Abstract: Data separating means extracts intra-frame or intra-field encoded blocks from an intra-frame or intra-field encoded, and inter-frame or inter-field encoded digital video signal, and a digital audio signal contained in an input bit stream. Error correction code appending means appends error correction codes to the extracted intra-encoded blocks. Recording means records the data having the error correction code appended, in special replay data recording areas predefined on the magnetic recording tape. During fast replay or slow replay, error correction is achieved even for the replay signal with a low output level and a poor symbol rate.

Abstract: Data separating means extracts intra-frame or intra-field encoded blocks from an intra-frame or intra-field encoded, and inter-frame or inter-field encoded digital video signal, and a digital audio signal contained in an input bit stream. Error correction code appending means appends error correction codes to the extracted intra-encoded blocks. Recording means records the data having the error correction code appended, in special replay data recording areas predefined on the magnetic recording tape. During fast replay or slow replay, error correction is achieved even for the replay signal with a low output level and a poor symbol rate.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a reproducing head and a recording head. The reproducing head comprises: a GMR element; a bottom shield layer and a top shield layer for shielding the GMR element; conductive layers connected to the GMR element; and shield gap films formed between the shield layers. Each of the shield gap films is made up of a plurality of thin alumina films stacked that are formed by performing the step of forming a thin alumina film by low pressure CVD, for example, a plurality of times.

Abstract: A digital signal recording and reproducing method and apparatus for digitally recording and reproducing first and second signals in tracks on a magnetic recording includes an encoder and a recording unit. The encoder separately error-correcting encodes the first and second signals of a first and second type, respectively, to produce at least first and second inspection codes corresponding to the first and second signals. The first and second inspection codes have first and second lengths, respectively. The recording unit records the first and second signals and the first and second inspection codes in tracks of the magnetic recording medium so that the first and second signals and the first and second inspection codes are recorded in a track without a gap therebetween.

Abstract: A method for forming a film by a plasma CVD process in which a high density plasma is generated in the presence of a magnetic field is described, characterized by that the electric power for generating the plasma has a pulsed waveform. The electric power typically is supplied by microwave, and the pulsed wave may be a complex wave having a two-step peak, or may be a complex wave obtained by complexing a pulsed wave with a stationary continuous wave of an electromagnetic wave having the same or different wavelength as that of the pulsed wave. The process enables deposition of a uniform film having an excellent adhesion to the substrate, at a reduced power consumption.

Abstract: Data seperating means extracts intra-frame or intra-field encoded blocks from an intra-frame or inter-field encoded digital encoded, and inter-frame or inter-field encoded digital video signal, and a digital audio signal contained in an input bit stream. Error correction code appending means appends error correction codes to the extracted intra-encoded blocks. Recording means records the data having the error correction code appended, in special replay data recording areas predefined on the magnetic recording tape. During fast replay or slow replay, error correction is achieved even for tile replay signal with a low output level and a poor symbol rate.

Abstract: A digital VTR for magnetically recording and replaying a bit stream, includes a detector, an extractor, a mode designator, and an output unit. The detector detects intra-picture data in the bit stream being replayed from tracks in a magnetic medium. The extractor extracts the intra-picture data from the bit stream based on output from the detector. The mode designator designates one of a normal replay and a slow replay as a replay mode. The slow replay is replay performed at a speed slower than normal replay. The output unit stores the extracted intra-picture data, and outputs only the extracted intra-picture data as replay picture data when the slow replay mode is designated.

Abstract: A data separating device extracts intra-frame or intra-field encoded blocks from an intra-frame or intra-field encoded, and inter-frame or inter-field encoded digital video signal, and a digital audio signal contained in an input bit stream. An error correction code appending device appends error correction codes to the extracted intra-encoded blocks. A recording device records the data having the error correction code appended, in special replay data recording areas predefined on the magnetic recording tape. During fast replay or slow replay, error correction is achieved even for the replay signal with a low output level and a poor symbol rate.

Abstract: A video signal recording and reproducing apparatus for recording a video signal whose information amount is compressed using a high-efficiency encoding employing an orthogonal transform, wherein encoded data obtained by encoding only low-frequency coefficients are recorded separately from normal encoded data. When the amount of information after compression falls short of a presdetermined amount available for recording, the encoded data of low-frequency coefficients are added to fill the vacancy. For the low-frequency coefficients, check words are appended that which provide a greater minimum distance compared with other coefficients. The low-frequency coefficients are doubly encoded for error-correction.

Abstract: A head arrangement and head offset are set so that the track pattern continuously recorded on a continuously running tape will be ordered in the sequence of recording when taken along the time dimension. In intermittent-feed still-speed recording, recording information is divided for recording, and the magnetic tape is fed momentarily by a distance equal to the tape amount recorded. In a helical scan magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, intermittent still-speed recording is performed at prescribed intervals of time, and playback is performed with conditions that satisfy .vertline.v.vertline..ltoreq.r/N (N: positive integer, v: real number, r: positive real number) when the magnetic tape is played back at a speed v times as fast as normal playback speed and the rotary drum is rotated for playback at a speed r times as fast as recording speed.

Abstract: A codeword contains information symbols representing elements of a Galois field, a parity check symbol generated using a certain element of the Galois field, and additional check symbols generated using a polynomial of which this certain element is not a root. The reliability of corrected codewords is assessed by counting the number of symbols found to be in error, or by counting the number of symbols having at least a certain number of bits in error. When a row-column array is decoded, rows of intermediate reliability are not corrected but their error patterns are stored in a memory, and columns of intermediate reliability are corrected if their error patterns match the error information stored in the memory.

Abstract: Data separating means extracts intra-frame or intra-field encoded blocks from an intra-frame or intra-field encoded, and inter-frame or inter-field encoded digital video signal, and a digital audio signal contained in an input bit stream. Error correction code appending means appends error correction codes to the extracted intra-encoded blocks. Recording means records the data having the error correction code appended, in special replay data recording areas predefined on the magnetic recording tape. During fast replay or slow replay, error correction is achieved even for the replay signal with a low output level and a poor symbol rate.