Abstract: A network system which facilitates the task of replacing switches pertaining to a detected link failure. A server network is formed from a plurality of switches and links. The link state of each port on the switches is being monitored by a link-down detector, and a switch port that has entered a link-down state from a link-up state is identified as an inoperative port. Upon detection of such a link-down event, a function disabler disables link functions of specified ports of other switches in the switch group to which the switch having the inoperative port belongs, so that the servers on the network will change their setups all at once and continue the communication through new paths.

Abstract: Provided is a magnetoresistive device capable of stably maintaining sufficient output characteristics even under a higher temperature environment while responding to a demand for a higher recording density. The magnetoresistive device comprises an MR film including a fixing layer made of IrMn, an outer pinned layer of which the magnetization direction is fixed in a +Y direction by the fixing layer, and an inner pinned layer of which the magnetization direction is fixed in a ?Y direction by the fixing layer, a pair of conductive lead layers and a constant current circuit which flows a sense current in a +X direction so as to generate a current magnetic field toward a ?Y direction in the inner pinned layer, and in the magnetoresistive device, a conditional expression (1) is satisfied.

Abstract: An MR element includes a free layer. Hard magnetic layers are placed on both sides of the MR element and apply a bias magnetic field to the free layer. A pair of electrode layers are placed as spaced from each other, and supplies a sense current to the free layer. Layer structures are placed between portions overlapping with the respective electrode layers in the ambilateral regions of the free layer, and the electrode layers. Each layer structure includes a nonmagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic layer. A direction of magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer is fixed by the antiferromagnetic layer, and a magnetic thickness of the ferromagnetic layer is set greater than that of the free layer.

Abstract: In a structure in which an anti-ferromagnetic layer, a first ferromagnetic layer, a non-magnetic layer and a free layer are sequentially adjacent to each other, the first ferromagnetic layer is set so that a saturation magnetostriction is not greater than (+3)×10?5 and an exchange coupling magnetic field Hex between itself and the anti-ferromagnetic layer is not less than 48 (kA/m).

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a dual spin-valve magneto-resistive element. The dual spin-valve magneto-resistive element has a dual spin-valve magneto-resistive effect multilayer film composed of a first antiferromagnetic layer, a first fixed magnetic layer being a synthetic ferrimagnetic fixed layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, a soft magnetic layer, a second nonmagnetic layer, and a second fixed magnetic layer being a synthetic ferrimagnetic fixed layer. A stacked film thickness relationship of the first fixed magnetic layer, a stacked film thickness relationship of the second fixed magnetic layer, and a magnetostrictive constant are determined, and it is configured such that a static magnetic field produced from the first fixed magnetic layer and a current magnetic field generated by a sense current act to assist magnetization of the second fixed magnetic layer.

Abstract: An information processing system includes a management apparatus having a transmission preventing part preventing transmission of a predetermined usage allowing signal allowing usage of a predetermined device, in response to receiving a predetermined usage preventing instruction for the predetermined device.

Abstract: A file classifying apparatus for classifying files and directories in a hierarchical tree structure includes a receiving unit, a storing unit, and a writing controlling unit. The receiving unit receives a characteristic value as an index for classifying the files or directories. The storing unit stores management data of the files or the directories for forming a hierarchical tree structure. The writing controlling unit controls and writes the characteristic value received by the receiving unit in the management data.

Abstract: There is disclosed a vacuum cleaner including a dust separation section which separates air and dust flowing toward an intake port of a motor blower through a connection port of a cleaner main body. The dust separation section includes an air path forming member which performs a separation function. The forming member includes an introductory port, a derivative port, and an opening disposed between these. In the separation function, while dust-containing air flows toward the derivative port from the introductory port, a part of the air is sucked by the motor blower through the opening. Accordingly, the air is separated from the dust which goes straight in the air path forming member with inertia.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic transducer having good thermal stability, a thin film magnetic head, a method of manufacturing a magnetic transducer and a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head. A stack of an MR element has a stacked structure comprising an underlayer, a first soft magnetic layer, a second soft magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic layer, an antiferromagnetic layer and a capping layer, which are stacked in this order on the underlayer. The ferromagnetic layer is divided into a bottom layer and a top layer in the direction of stack. A ferromagnetic interlayer having magnetism and having higher electrical resistance than the electrical resistance of the ferromagnetic layer is formed between the bottom layer and the top layer. The ferromagnetic interlayer magnetically integrates the bottom layer with the top layer and limits a path for electrons moving through the stack, thereby improving the rate of resistance change.

Abstract: A dust separation section 60 is provided at a suction air passage leading from a suction opening (connection opening 43 or suction opening 52, suction opening 100) of a vacuum cleaner main body 20 to an intake opening (33A, 107A) of a motor fan (33, 107) to separate a dust sucked from the suction opening (connection opening 43 or suction opening 52, suction opening 100) with an air and a dust collection section (dust collection room section 55, dust collection room 104) provided at the suction air passage for collecting the dust separated from the air from the dust separation section 60.

Abstract: A lower shield layer is formed (S101). Subsequently, an MR device is formed (S103), and pinning/annealing is carried out (S105). The pinning/annealing provides exchange coupling between an antiferromagnetic layer and a pinned layer. Then, a domain control layer and electrode layers are formed (S107), and an upper shield layer is formed (S109). Thereafter, the domain control layer is magnetized in a direction yielding a longitudinal bias magnetic field (S111). Next, a recording head part is formed (S113). Then, a support in which a plurality of thin-film magnetic heads are formed so as to be arranged in a matrix is cut into a plurality of bars each comprising a plurality of thin-film magnetic heads arranged integrally (S115).

Abstract: A longitudinal bias magnetic field control layer is provided for applying to a soft magnetic layer a counter bias magnetic field that is antiparallel (in opposite direction) to a longitudinal bias magnetic field. A magnitude of the counter bias magnetic field applied to the soft magnetic layer by the longitudinal bias magnetic field control layer is set smaller than that of the longitudinal bias magnetic field at a track center portion of the soft magnetic layer applied by a pair of bias magnetic field applying layers. Through subtraction between the longitudinal bias magnetic field and the counter bias magnetic field, a substantial longitudinal bias magnetic field is substantially applied to the soft magnetic layer in the same direction as that of the longitudinal bias magnetic field, and a magnitude of the substantial longitudinal bias magnetic field is maximum at both end portions of the soft magnetic layer and is weakened at the center portion of the soft magnetic layer.

Abstract: An exchange-coupled film has a ferromagnetic layer sandwich comprising a first ferromagnetic layer containing a ferromagnetic material of the body-centered cubic structure and a pair of second ferromagnetic layers containing a ferromagnetic material of the face-centered cubic structure and formed on respective sides of the first ferromagnetic layer; and an antiferromagnetic layer containing a disordered alloy and formed on one of the second ferromagnetic layers. It yields sufficient exchange coupling energy even in smaller thickness of the antiferromagnetic layer than before, whereby it becomes feasible to decrease the thickness of the exchange-coupled film.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic transducer capable of increasing a resistance change and obtaining an appropriate coercive force, a thin film magnetic head, a method of manufacturing a magnetic transducer and a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head.

Abstract: A file management system is capable of storing the data with a higher usability (reliability) and a higher performance by structuring files for arranging in redundancy the data on a plurality of disk devices, and utilizing characteristics of a file management program (file system) recognizing a mutual relationship between sets of data stored in the plurality of disk devices. The file management system includes a plurality of disk devices 51, 52, 53 and 54, managed in the form of a disk pool, of which at least two disk devices are dynamically selected from the disk pool, for constituting a plurality of files for storing in redundancy any one set of data of user data and meta data for managing how the user data are used, and a file system 1, constituting a part of an operating system 3 of a host computer 2, for managing the plurality of disk devices as the disk pool and managing en bloc the files, based on the meta data.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic transducer capable of increasing a resistance change and obtaining an appropriate coercive force, a thin film magnetic head, a method of manufacturing a magnetic transducer and a method of manufacturing a thin film magnetic head. A stack, a spin valve film has a stacked structure comprising a first soft magnetic layer, a second soft magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic metal layer, a ferromagnetic layer, an antiferromagnetic layer and a protective layer which are stacked in sequence on an underlying layer. Electrical resistance is changed in accordance with a relative angle between the orientation of magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer and the orientation of magnetization of the first and second soft magnetic layers. A soft magnetic interlayer having magnetism and the electrical resistance higher than the electrical resistance of the first soft magnetic layer is formed in the first soft magnetic layer.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic transducer having a higher rate of resistance change and a larger magnitude of resistance change and having better stability of properties, and a thin film magnetic head. A stack of an MR element has a stacked structure comprising an underlayer, an antiferromagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, a first soft magnetic layer, a second soft magnetic layer, a second nonmagnetic layer and a high-resistance layer, which are stacked in sequence on the underlayer. The orientation of magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer is fixed by exchange coupling between the ferromagnetic layer and the antiferromagnetic layer. The orientations of magnetizations of the first soft magnetic layer and the second soft magnetic layer change according to an external magnetic field.

Abstract: An MR element includes a free layer. Hard magnetic layers are placed on both sides of the MR element and apply a bias magnetic field to the free layer. A pair of electrode layers are placed as spaced from each other, and supplies a sense current to the free layer. Layer structures are placed between portions overlapping with the respective electrode layers in the ambilateral regions of the free layer, and the electrode layers. Each layer structure includes a nonmagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic layer, and an antiferromagnetic layer. A direction of magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer is fixed by the antiferromagnetic layer, and a magnetic thickness of the ferromagnetic layer is set greater than that of the free layer.

Abstract: Provided are a magnetic transducer and a thin film magnetic head having good thermal stability and capable of obtaining a high exchange coupling magnetic field, a method of manufacturing a magnetic transducer and a method of a manufacturing a thin film magnetic head. An MR element has a stack having a stacked structure comprising an underlayer, a crystal-growth inhibitor layer, a first soft magnetic layer, a second soft magnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a ferromagnetic layer, an antiferromagnetic layer and a cap layer, which are stacked in sequence. The ferromagnetic layer has an inner ferromagnetic layer, a coupling layer and an outer ferromagnetic layer, which are stacked in this order on the nonmagnetic layer.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a magnetic transducer and a thin film magnetic head having resistance properties adaptable to ultra-high-density recording. An MR element, the magnetic transducer, has a stack including a plurality of magnetic layers stacked alternately with a plurality of nonmagnetic layers. The stack has a first region and a second region into which the stack is divided in the direction of stacking thereof. The first and second regions of the stack differ from each other in the material or composition of the magnetic layers. The MR element has the above-described structure, thereby being capable of obtaining high resistance and a high rate of resistance change.