Abstract: In a magnetoresistive effect head comprising a ferromagnetic magnetoresistive effect layer, an inverse ferromagnetic layer (3) for generating a longitudinal bias magnetic field by an exchange force with respect to the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive effect layer (4), a ground layer (2) having a face-centered cubic structure is provided on only a portion of the anti-ferromagnetic layer. In the magnetoresistive effect head further comprising a soft magnetic bias-assistant layer (12) for a transversal bias magnetic field in the ferromagnetic magnetoresistive effect layer (15), the soft magnetic bias-assistant layer (12) has a crystal structure other than a face-centered cubic structure, the ground layer (13) having a face-centered cubic structure is provided on only a portion of the anti-ferromagnetic layer (14).

Abstract: The microhardness of a specimen is determined by measuring (1) the penetration depth of an indenter which is forced into the specimen, and (2) the load applied to the indenter. The load which is applied to the indenter is preferably measured by an electrobalance. In order to detect the penetration depth of the indenter into the specimen, an optical detector is integrally connected to cooperate with the indenter. A light beam is directed toward a predetermined position where a mirror reflects the light beam in a manner which varies in response to the penetration depth of the indenter.

Abstract: A small-size copying machine has an image sensor and a print head for printing image information or visible data on copying paper. The copying machine is moved over an original document to read the visible data with the image sensor, and the visible data read by the image sensor is printed by the print head on the copying paper. The reading of the visible data with the image sensor is synchronized with the printing of the visible data onto the copying paper with the print head by fixing an end of the copying paper discharged from the copying machine and moving the copying machine with respect to the original document. The distance from the position where the visible data of the original document is read to an outlet slit for discharging the copying paper therethrough is equal to the distance from the position where the visible data is printed by the print head on the copying machine to the outlet slit, so that the data printed on the copying paper and the image of the original document will be overlapped.