Abstract: The thickness of the spacer layer is set in such as way as to obtain the anti-parallel magnetic coupling between two amorphous ferromagnetic layers in the perpendicular medium. When the thickness of the spacer layer is changed, the exchange field shows an oscillatory behavior and the highest values of the exchange fields are obtained at various thicknesses and indicates an anti-parallel exchange between them. A conventional recording medium applies the smallest thickness (1st APS) among the thicknesses corresponding to the exchange field maximum. On the other hand, the present invention applies the second smallest thickness (2nd APS) to obtain larger tolerance of spacer layer thickness and improved writability and enhanced recording performance.

Abstract: A control unit of a vehicular headlamp apparatus can selectively perform steering angle control and navigation-cooperative control. The steering angle control operates a drive mechanism based on a steering angle and a speed of a vehicle to control a headlamp's swivel angle. The navigation-cooperative control operates the drive mechanism using a navigation unit to control the swivel angle. When a current position of the vehicle reaches an entry control start point, the control unit starts navigation-cooperative control at the entry into a curved road. The control unit finds a target swivel angle based on a curvature radius and curved road direction information about the curved road. While the vehicle moves from the entry control start point to a curved road start point, the control unit operates the drive mechanism to gradually change the headlamp's swivel angle to the target swivel angle.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a swivel angle of headlight mounted on a vehicle, wherein the swivel angle of the lights is changeable in a lateral direction of the vehicle. In the apparatus, road curvature information is acquired on a curvature of a road in front of a vehicle and a driving mechanism which rotationally changes the swivel angle of the headlights is controlled based on the road curvature information. Further, it is judged whether or not an oncoming vehicle is present. The swivel angle is limited within a predetermined limit angle range which prevents a driver of the oncoming vehicle from being dazzled, in a case where it is judged that the oncoming vehicle is present on a road lane to which the headlights are swiveled.

Abstract: An apparatus controls a swivel angle of on-vehicle headlights, the swivel angle of the lights being changeable in a lateral direction of the vehicle. A target swivel angle of the headlights is determined based on, for example, load map data of the road ahead the vehicle, and a control start point is determined based on the current position information and the road map data. The swivel angle is controlled to the target swivel angle in response to a state where the current position of the vehicle has reached the control start point. Running road shape-related information and a curvature direction of the road ahead are acquired. A control of the swivel angle toward the target swivel angle is prohibited when a direction of the target swivel angle determined is inconsistent with the curvature direction of the road, even in a case where the vehicle has reached the control start point.

Abstract: The headlight swivel control apparatus includes a first function of obtaining road map data, current position information of a vehicle, and width-direction-position information for determining a position of the vehicle on a road on which the vehicle is driving in a width direction of the road, a second function of determining a control start point on the road on the basis of the road map data and the current position information, a third function of determining, on the basis of the road map data and the current position information, a width-direction distance representing a distance between a centerline of the road and the vehicle, a fourth function of calculating a target swivel angle depending on road curvature data included in the road map data, and a fifth function configured to start, when the vehicle reaches the control start point, to perform a swivel control.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium at least comprises a perpendicular magnetic recording layer and a backing layer backing the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The backing layer has an in-plane magnetization and is formed of a ferrimagnetic material having a compensation temperature in the vicinity of a recording/reproducing temperature in which reproducing of magnetic information is made from the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. A magnetic storage apparatus for recording and reproducing magnetic information using the perpendicular magnetic recording medium is also disclosed.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed that includes a substrate, and a recording layer formed on the substrate, the recording layer having a magnetic easy axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the substrate and including three or more magnetic layers containing a Co alloy having a hcp structure. The two of the magnetic layers included in the recording layer form an anti-ferromagnetic exchange coupling structure. The two magnetic layers are anti-ferromagnetically exchange coupled via a non-magnetic coupling layer situated therebetween. The magnetizations of the two magnetic layers are anti-parallel to each other at a remanent magnetization state.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed that is able to prevent the Wide Area Track Erasure phenomenon from occurring and is capable of high density recording. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a substrate; a soft-magnetic backup layer on the substrate; a separation layer on the soft-magnetic backup layer and formed from a non-magnetic material; a magnetic flux control layer on the separation layer; and a recording layer on the magnetic flux control layer having an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. The magnetic flux control layer is formed from a poly-crystal ferromagnetic material having an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium is disclosed that is able to prevent the Wide Area Track Erasure phenomenon from occurring and is capable of high density recording. The perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a substrate; a soft-magnetic backup stack structure including a first magnetic layer, a first non-magnetic coupling layer, and a second magnetic layer stacked on the substrate in order; an intermediate layer formed from a non-magnetic material on the soft-magnetic backup stacked structure; and a recording layer on the intermediate layer, the recording layer having an easy axis of magnetization perpendicular to the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The vertical magnetic recording medium includes a first recording layer 16 having an easy magnetization axis directed vertical to a surface of the substrate 10, a second recording layer 20 formed over the first recording layer 16 and having an easy magnetization axis directed in-plane of the substrate 10 or oblique to the surface of the substrate 10, and a third recording layer 24 formed over the second recording layer 20 and having an easy magnetization axis directed vertical to the surface of the substrate 10, whereby the vertical magnetization recording medium can improve the reproduction output and can prevent the degradation of the signal quality due to the reproduction output decrease.

Abstract: The magnetic recording medium comprises a first recording layer 16, a second recording layer 20 forming ferromagnetic coupling with the first recording layer, and an intermediate layer 18 formed between the first recording layer 16 and the second recording layer 20 and including non-magnetic layers 18a, 18b formed between the first recording layer 16 and the non-magnetic layer 18b and between the non-magnetic layer 18b and the second recording layer 20. Thus, the reproduction output of the vertical magnetic recording medium can be improved. The constitutions of the ferromagnetic layer and the non-magnetic layer of the intermediate layer are suitably controlled, whereby the S/N ratio of the vertical magnetic recording medium can be also improved.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatically adjusting a direction of a headlight of a vehicle includes a steered angle sensor detecting a steered angle of a steering wheel of a vehicle, a vehicle speed sensor detecting a speed of the vehicle, a control unit performing a swivel control by which the direction of the light axis of the headlight is adjusted to a target direction depending on the steered angle and the vehicle speed, and a variance calculating device calculating a variance of the steered angle detected by the steered angle sensor. The control unit halts the swivel control unit when the variance calculated by the variance calculating device exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A headlight device for an automotive vehicle includes a headlight for lighting a forward area of the vehicle and a control unit. The control unit obtains a turning road curvature radius of a turning road in the forward area, sets a hypothetical radius larger than the specified curvature radius based on the specified curvature radius, and controls an optical axis direction of the headlight based on a swivel angle corresponding to the hypothetical radius in a predetermined zone short of an entrance of the turning road.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium at least comprises a perpendicular magnetic recording layer and a backing layer backing the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. The backing layer has an in-plane magnetization and is formed of a ferrimagnetic material having a compensation temperature in the vicinity of a recording/reproducing temperature in which reproducing of magnetic information is made from the perpendicular magnetic recording layer. A magnetic storage apparatus for recording and reproducing magnetic information using the perpendicular magnetic recording medium is also disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a positioning magnetic layer having magnetism and is used for positioning the optical head. The magnetic recording medium recording method includes a first step of moving the magnetic head to a predetermined position on the magnetic recording medium, a second step of supplying a positioning magnetic field Hr from the magnetic head to the positioning magnetic layer for positioning the optical head, and a third step of outputting positioning light Pr from the optical head for positioning the optical head, producing a magnetic optical effect with respect to the positioning magnetic layer magnetized by the positioning magnetic field Hr, and controlling the optical head so as to face a position of the magnetic head based on a detection result of the magnetic optical effect.

Abstract: In an automatic beam-axis adjustment system, a beam-axis of a headlight is gradually swivel to a position determined based on a steering angle of a steering wheel. The beam-axis returns to the initial position and a swivel control is inhibited when a vehicle is at a stop or slowly moving in an intersection, regardless of the steering angle. The swivel control is restarted after the vehicle starts running straight ahead. In other words, the swivel control is not restarted until the vehicle stats running straight ahead even when the speed of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined value. Therefore, the movement of the headlights does not disturb a driver.

Abstract: The apparatus for automatically adjusting a direction of a light axis of a vehicle headlight of the invention has a configuration in which the swivel control unit determines that the vehicle is making a left or right turn and halts the swivel control on the light axis of a vehicle headlight, if the vehicle speed detected by the vehicle speed sensor is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold speed and at least one of the conditions that the turn indication signal is in the on state, and that the steering angle is outside a predetermined angular range is satisfied. The swivel control unit resumes the swivel control when the turn indication signal is changed into the off state.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic recording medium includes a substrate and has a construction to stack consecutively on the substrate, a soft-magnetic backing layer, a seed layer, a magnetic flux slit layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a recording layer, a protective layer, and a lubricating layer, wherein the magnetic flux slit layer 13 includes soft-magnetic particles of generally columnar structure having a boundary part of a non-magnetic part and constricts the magnetic flux from the recording head only to the part where the soft-magnetic particle is provided and suppresses thereby spreading of the magnetic flux. Further, a perpendicular magnetic recording medium carrying a magnetic flux slit layer over the recording layer is disposed.

Abstract: An optical axis controller for a headlight of a vehicle includes a steering angle detector for detecting a steering angle of a steering wheel, a speed detector for detecting a speed of the vehicle, a navigation information reader for reading navigation information and an optical axis control device for controlling a direction of an optical axis of the headlight based on the steering angle, the speed and the navigation information. The direction of the optical axis of the headlight is determined based either on the speed and the navigation information or on the steering angle and the speed, and the determined direction of the optical axis is adapted with a controlled responsiveness.

Abstract: The magnetic recording medium comprises a backing layer 12 including a first magnetic layer 12a, a second magnetic layer 12c which is formed over the first magnetic layer 12a, is ferromagnetic and is magnetized in a direction opposite to the first magnetic layer 12a, and a third magnetic layer 12e formed over the second magnetic layer 12c and magnetized in a direction opposite to the second magnetic layer 12c; and a perpendicular magnetic recording layer 16 for recording magnetic information formed over the backing layer 112. Antiferromagnetic exchange interconnection is formed between the first magnetic layer 12a and the second magnetic layer 12c and between the second magnetic layer 12c and the third magnetic layer 12e.