Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider including a first air bearing surface formed on the bottom of the slider body at the upstream position so as to extend in the lateral direction of the slider body, and a pair of second air bearing surfaces formed on the bottom of the slider body separately from the first air bearing surface at downstream positions spaced in the lateral direction so as to define an air stream passage therebetween. The second air bearing surfaces serve to generate positive pressures that are spaced apart at downstream positions where a transducer element is embedded in the slider body, so that the slider's stiffness to rolling action can be enhanced. The cooperation of the front and rear rails enables for the creation of a higher negative pressure.

Abstract: A method for assembling a magnetic head assembly with a slider and a magnetic head including forming, on a slider supporting member, a terminal connected to a magnetic head terminal. In addition, the method includes fixing a head slider on the slider supporting member so that the head terminal faces the terminal of the slider supporting member and contacting a conductive ball member to both of the head terminal and the terminal of the slider supporting member. Furthermore, the method includes pressing the ball member to bond the head terminal with the terminal of the slider supporting member so that the ball member connects the terminals electrically and mechanically.

Abstract: A negative pressure air bearing slider including a first air bearing surface formed on the bottom of the slider body at the upstream position so as to extend in the lateral direction of the slider body, and a pair of second air bearing surfaces formed on the bottom of the slider body separately from the first air bearing surface at downstream positions spaced in the lateral direction so as to define an air stream passage therebetween. The second air bearing surfaces serve to generate positive pressures that are spaced apart at downstream positions where a transducer element is embedded in the slider body, so that the slider's stiffness to rolling action can be enhanced. The cooperation of the front and rear rails enables for the creation of a higher negative pressure.

Abstract: A head slider is composed of a substrate having a transducer on its outflow end, a rail plane formed on a surface near both sides of the substrate facing a magnetic disk. The head slider further includes a plurality of projection elements formed on the rail plane. When the slider is floating over the magnetic disk, the distance between the projection elements and the magnetic disk is greater than the distance between the outflow end of the slider and the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A magnetic head supporting mechanism includes a head positioning actuator having an arm, and a load beam connected to the arm. The load beam has a gimbal. The gimbal includes a magnetic head slider fixing portion on which a magnetic head slider having a magnetic head is mounted, a first pair of beams extending from opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion along a traverse direction of the load beam perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second pair of beams respectively connected to the first pair of beams and extending so as to face the opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion.

Abstract: A head slider is composed of a substrate having a transducer on its outflow end, a rail plane formed on a surface near both sides of the substrate facing a magnetic disk, and the first projection arranged on the rail planes near an inflow end of the substrate, and the second and third projections formed on the rail plane near an outflow end of the substrate.

Abstract: A compact and simple lapping apparatus in which, even if projections and depressions are formed in the circumferential direction on the top surface of a lapping plate, a workpiece and a bar are hard to damage and the polished surface of the workpiece is kept in good condition. This apparatus is provided with at least one lapping jig in which a workpiece is placed on the rotating top surface of the lapping plate. Further, a lapping head adapted to be able to rotate only in a direction on the lapping plate is attached to this lapping jig. This lapping head is equipped with a workpiece and at least two dummy work materials (or stock) so that these dummy works compose (as-polished) surfaces, which should be polished, together with the workpiece. Moreover, a device for detecting the remaining part of the workpiece to be lapped is provided on the workpiece.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having magnetic patterns into which servo information are written and a magnetic recording layer into which data are written comprises a nonmagnetic substrate, a magnetic recording layer formed on the substrate, and a hard magnetic layer contacted the magnetic recording layer within servo signal recording regions on the substrate and constituting servo patterns of film thicknesses of which are varied in the track length direction. Thereby, more precise reading of the servo signals by the magnetic head is assured and a surface of the magnetic recording medium can be flatted.

Abstract: A compact card type disk drive includes a housing (21) for accommodating a disk for storing data, a disk drive for rotating the disk, a head assembly for writing and reading data to and from the disk and an electronic circuit including at least an interface circuit (39), the latter three being accommodated in the housing. A connector (42) connected to the electronic circuit is fixed to the outside portion of the housing (21). The electronic circuit preferably contains a read/write circuit (36) and a control circuit (38). The housing (21) preferably includes a lower base (22) and an upper cover (23), and a printed circuit board (14) is disposed along the inner wall of either one, or both, of the base (22) and the cover (23). The outer dimension of the plane of the disk drive is preferably about 85.6 mm.times.54 mm, and typically, the outer thickness is 5 mm. Preferably, one connector (42) is disposed on either one of the minor sides of the housing (21).

Abstract: A compact card type disk a drive includes a housing (21) for accommodating a disk for storing data, a disk drive for rotating the disk, head assembly for writing and reading data to and from the disk and an electronic circuit including at least an interface circuit (39), the latter three being accommodated in the housing. A connector (42) connected to the electronic circuit is fixed to the outside portion of the housing (21). The electronic circuit preferably contains a read/write circuit (36) and a control circuit (38). The housing (21) preferably includes a lower base (22) and an upper cover (23), and a printed circuit board (14) is disposed along the inner wall of either one, or both, of the base (22) and the cover (23). The outer dimension of the plane of the disk drive is preferably about 85.6 mm.times.54 mm, and typically, the outer thickness is 5 mm. Preferably, one connector (42) is disposed on either one of the minor sides of the housing (21).

Abstract: A magnetic head supporting mechanism includes a head positioning actuator having an arm, and a load beam connected to the arm. The load beam has a gimbal. The gimbal includes a magnetic head slider fixing portion on which a magnetic head slider having a magnetic head is mounted, a first pair of beams extending from opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion along a traverse direction of the load beam perpendicular to a longitudinal direction thereof, and a second pair of beams respectively connected to the first pair of beams and extending so as to face the opposite sides of the magnetic head slider fixing portion.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head includes a magnetoresistive element set back from the front end face of the head confronting a record medium for converting changes in a signal magnetic field leaking out from the record track of the record medium into changes in resistance. The magnetoresistive element is connected to a pair of terminals and a sense region is defined between both the terminals. The magnetoresistive element is magnetically coupled to a front flux guide, one end of which is exposed in the front end face of the head, at the other end of the same. The front flux guide is virtually in the form of a rectangle elongated in the direction of the width of the record track of the record medium so as to exceed the sense region of the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive head capable of converting a change in a magnetic field generated by a magnetic recording medium into a change in electric resistivity by utilizing spin valve magnetoresistance effect to read signal information. The magnetoresistive head comprises a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer formed on the first magnetic layer through a first nonmagnetic metal layer and magnetized in one direction, a third magnetic layer formed on the second magnetic layer through a second nonmagnetic metal layer, and an electric current supplying layer for applying a constant current to at least the third magnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic metal layer and the second magnetic layer in one of the same direction as and the opposite direction to the direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic head assembly includes a slider on which a magnetic head is mounted, a spring arm having a gimbal portion on which the slider is mounted, a wiring pattern provided on the spring arm and electrically connected to the magnetic head, and an insulating member provided between the slider and the gimbal portion of the spring arm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetoresistive head capable of converting a change in a magnetic field generated by a magnetic recording medium into a change in electric resistivity by utilizing spin valve magnetoresistance effect to read signal information. The magnetoresistive head comprises a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer formed on the first magnetic layer through a first nonmagnetic metal layer and magnetized in one direction, a third magnetic layer formed on the second magnetic layer through a second nonmagnetic metal layer, and an electric current supplying layer for applying a constant current to at least the third magnetic layer, the second nonmagnetic metal layer and the second magnetic layer in one of the same direction as and the opposite direction to the direction of magnetization of the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive effect type head is provided to suppress the thermal asperity caused by projections or foreign matter found on the recording medium. A step or a protrusion which is closer to the recording medium than the element is provided on the air bearing surface of the head in an area on the leading side of the element with respect to the moving direction of the head.

Abstract: To suppress the thermal asperity in the magneto-resistive effect type head for carrying out the reproduction of signals from the recording medium by the element 2 while moving, in a flying or contact state with the recording medium, in a predetermined direction relative to the recording medium. A step 20 or a protrusion 21 which is closer to the recording medium than the element is provided on the air bearing surface of the head in an area on the leading side of the element with respect to the moving direction of the head.

Abstract: A compact card type disk drive includes a housing (21) for accommodating a disk for storing data, disk drive for rotating the disk, a head assembly for writing and reading data to and from the disk and an electronic circuit including at least an interface circuit (39), the latter three being accommodated in the housing. A connector (42) connected to the electronic circuit is fixed to the outside portion of the housing (21). The electronic circuit preferably contains a read/write circuit (36) and a control circuit (38). The housing (21) preferably includes a lower base (22) and an upper cover (23), and a printed circuit board (14) is disposed along the inner wall of either one, or both, of the base (22) and the cover (23). The outer dimension of the plane of the disk drive is preferably about 85.6 mm.times.54 mm, and typically, the outer thickness is 5 mm. Preferably, one connector (42) is disposed on either one of the minor sides of the housing (21).

Abstract: A spin valve magnetoresistive head comprises a first spin valve device having a first magnetization free layer and a first magnetization pinning layer via a first non-magnetic intermediate layer, a second spin valve device having a second magnetization free layer and a second magnetization pinning layer via a second non-magnetic intermediate layer, whereby the first and second magnetization pinning layers are magnetized in anti-parallel to each other and the first and second magnetization free layers are magnetized rotatably based on an external magnetic field.

Abstract: The head slider has a substrate with a transducer on an outflow end of the substrate and rail planes, facing a disk, formed along sides and a front of the substrate. In addition, projections extend from the rail planes toward the disk. Two projections are near the outflow end of the substrate while one projection is near the inflow end of the substrate.