Abstract: An electronic component includes: a first internal electrode which is provided inside an element body and is drawn on a first main surface corresponding to a mounting surface; a second internal electrode which is provided inside the element body, is provided at a position different from the first internal electrode when viewed from a third direction, and is drawn on the first main surface; a third internal electrode which is provided inside the element body, is provided at a position facing the first internal electrode and the second internal electrode in the third direction, and is drawn on the first main surface; wherein the first internal electrode and the third internal electrode face each other in the third direction to form a first capacitor portion, and wherein the second internal electrode and the third internal electrode face each other in the third direction to form a second capacitor portion.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a main housing, a movable drawer, and a process cartridge attachable to the drawer. The process cartridge includes a drum unit, and a developing unit. The drum unit includes a drum housing, and a photosensitive drum rotatable about a first axis extending in a first direction. The photosensitive drum is positioned at one end portion of the drum housing at one side in a second direction. The developing unit includes a developing casing, a developing roller, and a developing handle for detaching the process cartridge from the drawer toward another side in the second direction. The developing roller is positioned at one end portion of the developing casing at the one side in the second direction. The developing handle is positioned apart from the drum unit toward the another side in the second direction.

Abstract: At both sides of an element portion, a first hard bias layer having a higher residual magnetization Mr and a second hard bias layer having a higher coercive force Hc are deposited in that order from the bottom with one end of the first hard bias layer being closed close to a free magnetic layer. A film thickness ratio of the first hard bias layer in a whole hard bias layer is from 35% to 75%. This stabilizes magnetization in the free magnetic layer to reduce asymmetry, thus enabling improvement in stability of reproducing characteristics including noise suppression.

Abstract: In a coating portion forming method of a coil spring, the method includes steps of heating the coil spring, dipping the heated coil spring in a thermosetting resin solution, and reheating the coil spring which is pulled up from the thermosetting resin solution.

Abstract: A CPP giant magnetoresistive head includes lower and upper shield layers, and a giant magnetoresistive element disposed between the upper and lower shield layers and including a pinned magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the pinned magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. In the CPP giant magnetoresistive head, the pinned magnetic layer extends to the rear of the nonmagnetic layer and the free magnetic layer in the height direction, and the dimension of the pinned magnetic layer in the height direction is larger than that in the track width direction. Also, the pinned magnetic layer comprises a magnetic material having a positive magnetostriction constant or a magnetic material having high coercive force, and the end of the pinned magnetic layer is exposed at a surface facing a recording medium.

Abstract: A lower shield layer has a substantially flat shape, and an upper shield layer has a front portion and a rear portion, where the front portion is disposed closer to the lower shield layer than the rear portion. A lower conductive electrode and an upper conductive electrode are disposed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. The lower conductive electrode is electrically connected to the lower shield layer, and the upper conductive electrode is electrically connected to the upper shield layer. Since the lower and upper conductive electrodes are disposed between the upper and lower shield layers, each of the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer may be formed to have a small area and a simple shape.

Abstract: A CPP giant magnetoresistive head includes lower and upper shield layers, and a giant magnetoresistive element disposed between the upper and lower shield layers and including a pinned magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the pinned magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. In the CPP giant magnetoresistive head, the pinned magnetic layer extends to the rear of the nonmagnetic layer and the free magnetic layer in the height direction, and the dimension of the pinned magnetic layer in the height direction is larger than that in the track width direction. Also, the pinned magnetic layer comprises a magnetic material having a positive magnetostriction constant or a magnetic material having high coercive force, and the end of the pinned magnetic layer is exposed at a surface facing a recording medium.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing element including a laminate and a bias layer is provided. A first reactive-ion-etching (RIE) stop layer is disposed on a free magnetic layer. Second RIE stop layers are disposed on bias layers. The first and second RIE stop layers function as stop layers when layers on the first and second RIE stop layers are removed by reactive ion etching in a production process. Reactive ion etching is completed when the first RIE stop layer and the second RIE stop layers are exposed, the first and second RIE stop layers being disposed at almost the same height. Also provided is a process for producing the magnetic sensing element.

Abstract: A CPP giant magnetoresistive head includes lower and upper shield layers, and a giant magnetoresistive element disposed between the upper and lower shield layers and including a pinned magnetic layer, a free magnetic layer and a nonmagnetic layer disposed between the pinned magnetic layer and the free magnetic layer. In the CPP giant magnetoresistive head, the pinned magnetic layer extends to the rear of the nonmagnetic layer and the free magnetic layer in the height direction, and the dimension of the pinned magnetic layer in the height direction is larger than that in the track width direction. Also, the pinned magnetic layer comprises a magnetic material having a positive magnetostriction constant or a magnetic material having high coercive force, and the end of the pinned magnetic layer is exposed at a surface facing a recording medium.

Abstract: In a coating portion forming method of a coil spring, the method includes steps of heating the coil spring, dipping the heated coil spring in a thermosetting resin solution, and reheating the coil spring which is pulled up from the thermosetting resin solution.

Abstract: At both sides of an element portion, a first hard bias layer having a higher residual magnetization Mr and a second hard bias layer having a higher coercive force Hc are deposited in that order from the bottom with one end of the first hard bias layer being closed close to a free magnetic layer. A film thickness ratio of the first hard bias layer in a whole hard bias layer is from 35% to 75%. This stabilizes magnetization in the free magnetic layer to reduce asymmetry, thus enabling improvement in stability of reproducing characteristics including noise suppression.

Abstract: A CPP giant magnetoresistive head includes a lower shield layer; an upper shield layer; and a giant magnetoresistive element (GMR) between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. The GMR includes a nonmagnetic material layer; a pinned magnetic layer; and a free magnetic layer. The pinned layer and the free layer are laminated with the nonmagnetic layer provided therebetween. A current flows perpendicularly to a film plane of the GMR, the pinned magnetic layer extends in the height direction longer than in a track-width direction and includes a first portion in the GMR. The first portion is disposed above or below the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer. A second portion is behind the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer in the height direction. The first and second portions are in the same plane. The width of the pinned layer in the track-width direction in the first portion is greater than that in the second portion.

Abstract: A lower shield layer has a substantially flat shape, and an upper shield layer has a front portion and a rear portion, where the front portion is disposed closer to the lower shield layer than the rear portion. A lower conductive electrode and an upper conductive electrode are disposed between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. The lower conductive electrode is electrically connected to the lower shield layer, and the upper conductive electrode is electrically connected to the upper shield layer. Since the lower and upper conductive electrodes are disposed between the upper and lower shield layers, each of the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer may be formed to have a small area and a simple shape.

Abstract: a CCP-type thin-film magnetic head and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The CCP-type thin-film magnetic head includes a thin-film magnetic head element formed between the upper shield layer and the lower shield layer, and a side fill gap layer securing the insulating property, which is formed from both end faces of the thin-film magnetic head element, wherein a top surface of the lower shield layer is formed in a non-flat surface having a convex portion disposed at a center in a track width direction and a concave portion disposed at both sides in a track width direction of the convex portion, the thin-film magnetic head element is formed on the convex portion, and an buried gap layer contacting the side fill gap layer is formed in the concave portion.

Abstract: A CPP giant magnetoresistive head includes lower and upper shield layers with a predetermined distance therebetween, and a giant magnetoresistive element (GMR) including pinned and free magnetic layers disposed between the upper and lower shield layers with a nonmagnetic layer interposed between the pinned and free magnetic layers. A current flows perpendicularly to the film plane of the GMR. The magnetoresistive head further includes an antiferromagnetic layer (an insulating AF of Ni—O or ?-Fe2O3) provided in the rear of the GMR in a height direction to make contact with the upper or lower surface of a rear portion of the pinned magnetic layer which extends in the height direction, and an exchange coupling magnetic field is produced at the interface with the upper or lower surface, so that the magnetization direction of the pinned magnetic layer is pinned by the exchange coupling magnetic field in the height direction.

Abstract: A magnetic sensing element including a laminate and a bias layer is provided. A first reactive-ion-etching (RIE) stop layer is disposed on a free magnetic layer. Second RIE stop layers are disposed on bias layers. The first and second RIE stop layers function as stop layers when layers on the first and second RIE stop layers are removed by reactive ion etching in a production process. Reactive ion etching is completed when the first RIE stop layer and the second RIE stop layers are exposed, the first and second RIE stop layers being disposed at almost the same height. Also provided is a process for producing the magnetic sensing element.

Abstract: There is provided a magnetic detecting element and a method of manufacturing the same. An intermediate layer and a corrosion preventing layer are laminated on a free magnetic layer. The corrosion preventing layer prevents the free magnetic layer from corroding due to reactive ion etching. Therefore, a laminator can be correspondingly formed in a predetermined shape, and the free magnetic layer can be prevented from corroding. As a result, it is possible to manufacture a magnetic detecting element having excellent reproduction output.

Abstract: A CPP giant magnetoresistive head includes a lower shield layer; an upper shield layer; and a giant magnetoresistive element (GMR) between the lower shield layer and the upper shield layer. The GMR includes a nonmagnetic material layer; a pinned magnetic layer; and a free magnetic layer. The pinned layer and the free layer are laminated with the nonmagnetic layer provided therebetween. A current flows perpendicularly to a film plane of the GMR, the pinned magnetic layer extends in the height direction longer than in a track-width direction and includes a first portion in the GMR. The first portion is disposed above or below the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer. A second portion is behind the nonmagnetic layer and the free layer in the height direction. The first and second portions are in the same plane. The width of the pinned layer in the track-width direction in the first portion is greater than that in the second portion.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a gap layer which may be made of a SiON film to increase Young's modulus E to about 123.3 (GPa) or more. As a result, the gap layer is less pushed from a surface facing a recording medium in the height direction during lapping of the surface facing the recording medium, thereby decreasing the amount of protrusion of the gap layer from the facing surface as compared with a conventional magnetic head.