Abstract: A wafer dividing method for cutting a wafer having devices which are composed of a laminate laminated on the front surface of a substrate with a cutting blade along a plurality of streets for sectioning the devices, comprising the steps of a groove forming step for forming two grooves deeper than the thickness of the laminate at an interval larger than the thickness of the cutting blade by applying a laser beam along the streets formed on the wafer; an alignment step for picking up an image of the two grooves formed in the streets of the wafer by the above groove forming step and positioning the cutting blade at the center position between the two grooves based on the image; and a cutting step for moving the cutting blade and the wafer relative to each other while the cutting blade is rotated to cut the wafer along the streets having the two grooves formed therein, after the above alignment step.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: A method for the laser processing of a wafer having a plurality of devices which are composed of a laminate consisting of an insulating film and a functional film on the front surface of a substrate, the method comprising applying a pulse laser beam along streets for sectioning the plurality of devices to form grooves along the streets, wherein a pulse width of the pulse laser beam is set to 100 to 1,000 ns.

Abstract: A wafer processing method for carrying out processing by applying a laser beam along streets formed on a wafer, comprising a step of applying a laser beam at an incident angle of a predetermined inclination angle to the normal line of a processing surface of the wafer while the wafer is processing-fed along a street from one end to the other end on the side of the laser beam application at an acute angle to the processing surface of the wafer.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for cleaning a rotary magneto-resistive head. Embodiments according to the invention are especially useful in tape drive systems, and the like. Embodiments can provide methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant from rotary magneto-resistive heads while guarding against damage to the head from excess cleaning, and the like. Specific embodiments can control the rotational speed of a rotary magneto-resistive head in order to facilitate cleaning operations. Embodiments include a cleaning device and a control method, and are suited for use in a magneto-resistive head mounted on a rotary cylinder of a computer tape storage unit, for example, although application of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, a magnetic recording and reproducing method, and a thin film magnetic head that enable a good contact between elements and a recording medium with a reduced track pitch even if the number of head channels is increased, thereby realizing high recording density and high transfer rate.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: It is desirable to set an optimum bias current of an MR head in accordance with changes in MR head height, the wear difference of an MR element and the characteristics of the magnetic tape. In the present invention, test track 3 is provided in a beginning-of-tape position of a magnetic tape for setting a bias current for each of MR heads 11 and 12. A test signal is recorded on and reproduced from the test track before recording or reproducing data on/from data track 2. After detecting an error rate or a waveform asymmetry, the bias current is set in such a manner as to set the error rate or the waveform asymmetry in a predetermined range. The optimum current value is stored in memory 24, and the stored value is read out to set a bias current in a subsequent recording or reproduction.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for cleaning a rotary magneto-resistive head. Embodiments according to the invention are especially useful in tape drive systems, and the like. Embodiments can provide methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant from rotary magneto-resistive heads while guarding against damage to the head from excess cleaning, and the like. Specific embodiments can control the rotational speed of a rotary magneto-resistive head in order to facilitate cleaning operations. Embodiments include a cleaning device and a control method, and are suited for use in a magneto-resistive head mounted on a rotary cylinder of a computer tape storage unit, for example, although application of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

Abstract: According to the invention, techniques for cleaning a rotary magneto-resistive head. Embodiments according to the invention are especially useful in tape drive systems, and the like. Embodiments can provide methods and apparatus for cleaning contaminant from rotary magneto-resistive heads while guarding against damage to the head from excess cleaning, and the like. Specific embodiments can control the rotational speed of a rotary magneto-resistive head in order to facilitate cleaning operations. Embodiments include a cleaning device and a control method, and are suited for use in a magneto-resistive head mounted on a rotary cylinder of a computer tape storage unit, for example, although application of the present invention is not limited to such embodiments.

Abstract: A recording/reproducing apparatus capable of switching over among a plurality of heads with high precision, wherein the apparatus is provided with: a recording/reproducing unit for recording/ reproducing signals onto/from a recording medium with a plurality of heads; a generating unit for generating control data for controlling the recording/reproducing unit; and a transmitting unit for transmitting control data generated by the generating unit to the recording/reproducing unit, wherein priority is given in transmission to data for controlling the switching of the plurality of heads over other data.

Abstract: An arrangement is designed to achieve satisfactory tape contact by setting a specific ratio for the width of a drum window and the head length of a double azimuth head. The head length L is defined as the distance from the front end of the preceding head to the back end of the succeeding head. When the drum window width W is defined as the distance of the drum window in the rotary direction, the preceding head and the succeeding head are arranged within the drum window to satisfy the relation 1.15 L.ltoreq.W.ltoreq.1.28 L. When the space S1 is defined as the distance from the front end of the preceding head to the front end of the drum window, and the space S2 is defined as the distance from the back end of the succeeding head to the back end of the drum window, the preceding head and the succeeding head are arranged within the drum window to satisfy the relation 0.075 L.ltoreq.S1.ltoreq.0.14 L and 0.075 L.ltoreq.S2.ltoreq.0.14 L.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a manufacturing system comprises a display device, including a pallet designation area for selecting a desired pallet and a machine tool designation area for selecting a desired machine tool, for displaying an operating status of the manufacturing system, an inputting device for selecting the desired pallet designation area and executing a moving operation to the desired machine tool designation area, and a conveyance controlling device for executing the control to carry the pallet indicated in the pallet designation area toward the machine tool indicated in the machine tool designation area in accordance with the moving operation performed by this inputting device. When starting up a manual conveying function for setting a remote conveyance indication by using this apparatus, a system status display screen is displayed.

Abstract: An underwater low-frequency sound producer comprises vibrator units each including a magnetostrictive rod formed of a rare-earth alloy, a permanent magnet for providing a magnetic bias to the rod, prestress bolts for prestressing the rod, a coil wound on the rod for causing magnetostriction of the rod corresponding to an input AC signal applied to the coil, and first and second masses on opposite ends of the rod. The vibrator units are arranged seriatim end-to-end to define a polygon or ring centered on an axis. Connection blocks respectively connect the first and second masses of the vibrator units adjacent to each other. Vibration plates are respectively attached to the connection members. Outer and inner cylindrical boots and upper and lower plates define an annular space in which the vibrator units are disposed. The annular space is filled with oil having an acoustic impedance similar to that of the water in which the sound producer is placed for use.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a magnetic head in which the sliding surface is constructed of a transducing gap, a pair of soft magnetic metal films opposite to each other through the transducing gap, and a substrate holding the soft magnetic metal film. The substrate is 20-200 times as wear-resistant as the soft magnetic metal film. The magnetic head has a gap depth of 1-5 .mu.m and produces an overall high head output.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic head device utilizes a thin film magnetic head or heads having small mutual influence to external magnetic field in combination with a bulk magnetic head or heads to reduce crosstalk between recording head and reproducing head to thereby improve S/N ratio.

Abstract: In a vehicle in which an air cleaner is disposed above an engine and connected with the engine through an intake pipe, an air intake passage for guiding air into the air cleaner is provided on the upper surface of a front fender covering a front wheel of the vehicle, so that particulates such as dust or the like entrained in running air is separated from the running air to admit the air free of the particulates into the air cleaner.

Abstract: In a thin film magnetic head consisting of a non-magnetic substrate, and a multilayer structure superposed thereon and including a lower core, a gap material layer, a thin film coil and an upper core, etc., the head sliding surface of the lower core and that of the upper core are so formed that they become wider with increasing distance from the surface of the gap material layer.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes at least one steerable wheel, at least one drive wheel, a frame supporting the steerable and drive wheels, a power unit assembly mounted on the frame between the steerable and drive wheels, a speedometer supported on a front portion of the frame. The power unit assembly includes a crankcase, a gear transmission case connected to the crankcase, and a gear case attached to one side wall of the gear transmission case. A crankshaft is rotatably disposed in the crankcase. An output shaft operatively coupled to the crankshaft is rotatably disposed in the gear transmission case. A pair of bevel gears meshing with each other is rotatably mounted in the gear case and operatively coupled to the output shaft. A propeller shaft is connected between one of the bevel gears and the drive wheel. A speedometer cable has one end operatively coupled to the one bevel gear and the opposite end operatively coupled to the speedometer.