Abstract: A method of manufacturing a microlens includes: forming on a transparent substrate a first film which has an etching rate higher than the transparent substrate, forming on the first film a mask in which a pit is provided at a position corresponding to a center of the microlens to-be-formed, and wet-etching the first film and the transparent substrate through the mask, to thereby excavate in the transparent substrate a non-spherical recess which defines a curved surface of the microlens.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable apparatus for the vision of images comprising a supporting structure (11) to be applied on a user's head substantially in the form of eyeglasses, a display device (13a, 13b) fitted on said structure having a display surface (51-58) on which spatial distributions of light emissions arc generated and a control unit (30) capable of driving the display device (13a, 13b) in order to generate on the display surface (51-58), positioned before the eye, centered on its optical axis at a distance substantially equal to the focal distance of the cornea-lens system, a spatial distribution of light emissions, substantially corresponding to the Fourier transform of the image to be made visible.

Abstract: A high-efficiency, compact color illuminating system and a projection type image display apparatus using the color illuminating system are provided. The color illuminating system includes a light source, a spiral lens disc that periodically scrolls light by rotational movement, and an optical unit that isolates light beams of different wavelengths from white light emitted from the light source and guides the isolated light beams to enter at least two effective regions of the spiral lens disc. The projection type image display apparatus includes the color illuminating system, an image forming unit that generates images using scrolling light from the spiral lens disc, and a projection lens unit that enlarges and projects the images formed by the image forming unit on a screen.

Abstract: A single plate type optical unit and display device to utilize light with high efficiency in a simple method is configured so a dichroic mirror separates light into a plurality of colors, and the plurality of colors of light reflected by the dichroic mirror are beamed onto a rotating multisurface element, the plurality of colors of light emitted from the rotating multisurface element are each beamed onto different locations on the display element, and by rotating the rotating multisurface element, the plurality of colors of light are moved in one direction along the display element, and a color image is beamed from a projection lens.

Abstract: A micromachined pellicle beam splitter and method of manufacture thereof are disclosed. In one embodiment, the beam splitter includes a silicon frame with a silicon nitride membrane attached to the frame and covering an opening through the frame. Other materials may be utilized, however, the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the membrane should be greater than that of the frame. The beam splitter may be manufactured by coating a silicon substrate with a layer of silicon nitride, patterning an opposite side of the silicon substrate with a photoresist or a metallic layer to define an opening an etching an opening through the substrate to the silicon nitride with either a dry etch or wet etch technique. An improved tunable laser module incorporating the micromachined pellicle beam splitter and a method of tuning a laser diode are also disclosed.

Abstract: A zoom lens system for an microscope comprises, in the following order from the object side, a first lens group having a positive refractive power, a second lens group having a negative refractive power, a third lens group having a positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. Magnification of the zoom lens system is varied by moving the second lens group and the third lens group.

Abstract: A zoom lens capable of correcting camera shake and being reduced in size and weight, comprising five groups of lenses respectively having positive, negative, positive, negative, positive refractive powers, the second lens group (12) varying power, the fifth lens group (15) adjusting focusing. The third lens group (13) is moved in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis when correcting camera shake.

Abstract: An aspherical lens (10, 10′) has an aspherical surface (101, 101′) and an opposite flat surface (102, 102′). A multiple-step grating is defined in the flat surface by a photolithographic method. The aspherical lens has a reduced chromatic aberration effect, and can thus provide a clear image. Furthermore, an effect of the aspherical lens having the grating is equivalent to that of a conventional aspherical lens unit. Thus, when the aspherical lens is used in an optical system, it can reduce a bulk and a weight of the optical system.

Abstract: An optical system includes a front end (1), a rear end image relay (2), an image transfer means (5) adapted to image the aperture stop of the rear end image relay (2) to a position where it forms the entrance pupil of the optical imaging system, and aberration correcting means (6, 7), including a lens (7) having an aspheric surface (7A) at or adjacent the aperture stop of the rear end image relay (2) and a meniscus lens (6A) to correct for both primary and higher order spherical aberration, the aspheric surface (7A) being sufficiently aspherical that chromatic error introduced by lens (7) cancels at least a major part of chromatic error introduced by the meniscus lens (6). The aberration correcting means may further include a multiple component lens (6C) to also cancel chromatic error. The front and rear ends may include one or more mirrors in different configurations.

Abstract: A Fresnel lens comprising a substantially polygonal focusing portion adapted to focus solar radiation to a area having the same geometry as the focusing portion of the lens. Also a solar module comprising the Fresnel collecting lens and a substantially polygonal photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is mounted at distance from the Fresnel collecting lens so that the size of the area substantially matches the size of the photovoltaic cell. Also a solar panel having multiple modules within a glazed building envelope system. The solar panel also includes an actuating mechanism within the glazed window envelope system. The actuating mechanism is operatively connected to the plurality of solar modules and is adapted to move the solar modules to track the sun.

Abstract: There is provided an optical system 8 for a micro analyzing system capable of precisely analyzing a sample. In the optical system 8, after light beams leaving the tip of an optical fiber 14 pass through a condensing part 13, a sample moving in a separation passage 6 due to electrophoresis is irradiated with the light beams. The condensing part 13 includes a first aspherically cylindrical surface 10 being convex toward the optical fiber 14, a second aspherically cylindrical surface 11 being convex on the opposite side to the first aspherically cylindrical surface 10, and a third aspherically cylindrical surface 12 being convex toward the second aspherically cylindrical surface 11. The first through third aspherically cylindrical surfaces 10 through 12 are arranged in that order from the side of the optical fiber 14 toward the separation passage 6.

Abstract: An image forming optical system comprises, in order from an object side, a first positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward an object side, an aperture stop, a second positive meniscus lens having a convex surface directed toward the object side and a negative lens.

Abstract: A plurality of microstructures is provided, with each microstructure having at least a first side and at least a second side terminating at a peak. At least some of the peaks can include an elevated portion to space the peaks away from adjacent optical sheets, surfaces, films, substrates, or other layers to minimize wet-out, Newton's rings, abrasions, moire fringes, or other undesirable optical conditions. In other embodiments, an optical film is also provided that includes a first plurality of microstructures having a base, a first side, and a second side, and a second plurality of microstructures having a base, a first side, and a second side, the first side including a first planar surface, and the second side including a second planar surface and a third planar surface.

Abstract: A scan engine is disclosed for use in a data collection device, as well as a method for producing a scan engine and an image sensor assembly. The scan engine includes a housing with an opening for receiving light from a scanned dataform, an image sensor which is located within the housing to sense light entering an aperture in the image sensor, and a prism located within the housing for receiving light from the opening along a first path and to provide at least a portion of the received light to the aperture along a second path.

Abstract: A sheet light emitting apparatus, incuding a light guiding plate of a translucent material and having light receiving and light emitting surfaces, a light source disposed to face the light receiving surface, and a prism structure provided on the light receiving surface, the prism structure having plural kinds of prisms having different apex angles.

Abstract: A rear view bicycle mirror assembly (10) for attachment to a bicycle frame (3) comprising a mirror (14) and mounting body (12). The mounting body (12) comprising a mounting means for mounting the mirror onto the frame of the bicycle. The mounting means comprises a first mounting foot (18) for abutment and mounting on a first tube (6) of the bicycle frame, and a second mounting foot (24) for abutment and engaging a second tube (4) of the bicycle frame at an angle to said first tube and first mounting foot.

Abstract: In a method for achieving a required mirror surface on an aluminium workpiece (1), four different production steps (A, B, C, D) are used. In a first production step, an initial surface (1a) is produced by the aluminium workpiece undergoing one or more turning processes. During the turning process, the surface is produced with an exceptional turning precision. In a second en production step, the initial surface is hard-anodised in an electrolyte bath (6) to create an intermediate surface. The hard-anodising is carried out in such a way that an oxide layer of Al2O3 is formed on the turned initial surface. In a third production step, the hard-anodised intermediate surface is polished to prescribed polishing precision, and in a fourth production step, the polished surface is surface-coated with a material or substance in order to produce the required mirror surface.

Abstract: In a method for imaging using multiple apertures, the present invention uses a wavefront sensor, a phase sensor, and an image processor to construct a high-resolution image without using complex relay optics. A wavefront sensor collects information that allows the wavefront from each aperture to be reconstructed and a phase sensor collects information regarding the relative phase difference between the apertures. An image processor uses the information collected from the phase sensor to correct the phase differences between the apertures, reconstruct the wavefronts from the wavefront sensor data, then coherently sums the wavefronts from each aperture to form a high-resolution image that corresponds to a synthesized aperture that is larger than any of the individual apertures.

Abstract: A collector for concentrating light rays including a first conical segment having an inner reflective surface joined to or nested within a second conical segment having an inner reflective surface. A first embodiment consists of stacked reflective segments, where the upper conical segment is slightly diverging and the lower conical segment is converging in the direction of an input light ray. A second embodiment comprises an outer conical segment that converges in the direction of an input light ray and a nested inner conical segment that also converges in the direction of a light ray. In either embodiment, the present invention is capable of concentrating more energy when not aimed directly at an energy source than single cone collectors and thus simplifies the source tracking strategy.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an apparatus and the apparatus being configured to convert a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation. The method consists of the steps of generating a two-dimensional representation of at least three active optical surfaces of an optical device including calculating a segment of a first surface based on edge ray sets as a first generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of an entry surface based on the edge ray set as a second generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of a second surface based on the edge ray set as a third generalized Cartesian oval, and successively repeating the steps of calculating the segment of the first surface and calculating the segment of the second surface in a direction towards a source, and rotationally sweeping the two-dimensional representation about a central axis providing a three-dimensional representation of the optical device.

Abstract: The rearview assembly of the present invention may include any one or more of the following: a housing for attaching to the vehicle, the housing may define an interior space that is acoustically separated into at least two chambers; a first speaker that may be located in a first one of the at least two chambers of the interior space of the housing; a first microphone subassembly located on the top surface of the housing; a second microphone subassembly located on the bottom surface of the housing; a display positioned in the housing; an audio/data transceiver for transmitting and receiving audio and data signals to/from a portable device; and a control circuit for determining whether a portable device having a predetermined identification code is within the range of the audio/data transceiver, and for exchanging data with the portable device through the audio/data transceiver.

Abstract: A power telescoping vehicle mirror assembly (10) comprising a bracket (12) mountable to a vehicle, a mirror head (15), telescopically mounted to the bracket (12), a mirror (16) mounted to the head (15), a power telescope motor mechanism (30) for telescopically moving the head (15) with respect to the bracket (12), a position controller for controlling the extent to which the mirror head (15) extends with respect to the vehicle, a switch operable by a driver of the vehicle, the switch providing a signal to the position controller, and an input means for providing the position controller with a set point, wherein upon actuation of the switch, the head (15) telescopically moves with respect to the bracket (12) from a retracted position to a partially extended position determined by the set point. In an other embodiment, a spotter mirror, and a spotter mirror motor mechanism for adjusting the orientation of the spotter mirror with respect to the mirror head is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a beam-shaping element for optical radiation, in particular for UV laser radiation, as well as to a method for producing the beam-shaping element. This beam-shaping element comprises a carrier substrate (1) bearing a thin-layer metallization which is structured for shaping the beam of said optical radiation. The thin-layer metallization is composed of at least two metallic layers (2, 3), which, upon impingement of said optical radiation (4), react with each other accompanied by a permanent change in color as of a certain intensity and/or irradiation period of said optical radiation (4).

Abstract: The present invention adopts a particle dispersed silicon material, comprising silicon carbide as dispersion particles, as a mirror substrate, subjects the mirror substrate to mirror finish polishing to form a mirror body, forms a reflecting film on the mirror body to form a mirror, and uses the mirror to form a large aperture optical system.

Abstract: In the present invention, there is disclosed a reflective mirror whose contrast or resolution performance is equal to that of a surface mirror of a glass mirror for general use and which does not have any problem in reliability of resistance to environment and whose color shift or brightness performance is inhibited from being degraded. For this, in the present invention, a reflective film is formed on a glass substrate by use of silver mirror reaction, and a topcoat is formed of a colorless/transparent resin. At this time, a wavelength of a crest of a ripple indicated by a reflectance characteristic is constituted to substantially agree with that of a green luminescent line. Accordingly, a back projection type video display device which is satisfactory in the contrast or resolution performance can be prepared.

Abstract: A color wheel includes lens structures, which are formed on a surface of a substrate opposite to a surface having filter sectors, and which have curved surfaces formed at their abutting ends and positioned along a boundary between adjacent filter sectors. Light impinging on an area of the substrate corresponding to the boundary is deflected due to one of the curved surfaces so as to be surely guided into one of the adjacent filter sectors and to be duly dispersed into a predetermined color, whereby light can be efficiently utilized.

Abstract: Driver circuit that generates a drive waveform with a static bit swing and a pre-emphasis bit swing. The driver circuit includes an input (IN) node, a complementary input (INB) node, an output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The driver circuit includes a fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) that is coupled to the output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) determines or sets the fundamental swing of the drive waveform by generating a fundamental current. The fundamental swing determination mechanism (FSDM) includes at least one switched resistor circuit. The driver circuit also includes a modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) that is coupled to the output (OUT) node and a complementary output (OUTB) node. The modulation swing determination mechanism (MSDM) determines or sets the modulation swing of the drive waveform by generating a modulation current.

Abstract: A disc drive has transducers supported by an actuator to fly proximate data tracks on surfaces of rotating information storage discs. Each of the discs is partitioned into concentric regions. A control system arranges the deposition of data in write operations to the tracks on the disc surfaces, as data is written to the discs, such that the data is sequentially organized both on the tracks and within each of the regions. The control system writes data from a track adjacent a first region boundary in a first direction to a second region boundary until all tracks in a region are full. The control system executes a head switch between adjacent surfaces of the discs. The write sequence is repeated in each adjacent region until all regions are full. The resulting trapezoidal serpentine pattern of actuator movement and head switches is repeated until all of the write operations are complete.

Abstract: A computer system including a computer main body provided with a hard disk drive (HDD) to retrieve/store data and an HDD driving part to drive the hard disk drive to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed, further including a lower noise mode selection part allowing a user to select one between a normal mode and a lower noise mode; and a controller to control the HDD driving part to drive the hard disk drive to rotate at a maximum speed when the normal mode is selected and at a minimum speed when the lower noise mode is selected. With this configuration, the present invention provides a computer system and a control method thereof, in which a hard disk drive can be set to a lower noise mode by a user.

Abstract: a method for determining and varying the capacity, track per inch and bit per inch values of a hard disk drive. The method includes determining an optimal track per inch value for each head of the drive. The method then determines whether each head does not exceed a threshold BER value. If one or more heads do not exceed the threshold BER value then the BPI (data rates) of the non-performing heads are decreased until an acceptable BER is achieved. The BPI of performing heads may be increased to insure that the capacity of the disk drive still meets a target value. Likewise, if all of the heads are above the threshold value, the BPI of one or more of the performing heads may be decreased to improve the BER of the heads. The reduction in BPI is limited so that the drive always meets the target capacity value. The BPI and TPI values are stored in memory for use during the operation of the drive.

Abstract: Track mis-registration (TMR) correction is conditionally made in a hard disk drive using servo data in a closed loop servo control scheme, along with one or more alternative sensing schemes when an external shock or vibration occurs. The alternative sensing schemes include measurement of spindle motor speed using a frequency of servo markers read from a rotating disk, voice control motor (VCM) back emf, spindle motor speed back emf, and accelerometer readings. The predicted TMR resulting from the signal generated by the alternative sensing scheme(s) is simulated based upon a model of the disk drive system, and corrections are applied only if the expected TMR due to the disturbances is large enough that application of the corrections using the alternative sensing scheme would be likely to reduce the overall TMR.

Abstract: Track mis-registration (TMR) correction is conditionally made in a hard disk drive using servo data in a closed loop servo control scheme, along with one or more alternative sensing schemes when an external shock or vibration occurs. The alternative sensing schemes include measurement of spindle motor speed using a frequency of servo markers read from a rotating disk, voice control motor (VCM) back emf, spindle motor speed back emf, and accelerometer readings. The predicted TMR resulting from the signal generated by the alternative sensing scheme(s) is simulated based upon a model of the disk drive system, and corrections are applied only if the expected TMR due to the disturbances is large enough that application of the corrections using the alternative sensing scheme would be likely to reduce the overall TMR.

Abstract: A system and method for estimating repeatable runout in a servo control system, such as a disc drive servo loop, is provided. The system includes a Kalman filter that is configured to receive position error signals from the servo control system and to estimate the repeatable runout in the position error signals.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head comprises a bottom pole layer, a top pole layer, a recording gap layer, and a thin-film coil. The bottom pole layer has first to seventh layers. The third layer, the fifth layer, and the seventh layer constitute a coupling portion for establishing magnetic coupling between the bottom pole layer and the top pole layer. The thin-film coil has a first layer portion and a second layer portion each of which is a flat conductive layer of three turns. The first layer portion and the second layer portion are disposed around the coupling portion. The coupling portion has an end face facing toward the air bearing surface. The end face includes a curved surface convex toward the medium facing surface.

Abstract: A magnetic head capable of preventing magnetic flux leakage at a write head of the magnetic head and suitably used for achieving high recording density. The write head is characterized in that a lower core had a flare on a side of an air bearing surface and a facet of the lower core is recessed at least from the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A first metal layer formed of the same conductive material as that for first coil pieces is in contact with a lower core layer forming a first magnetic core, and a second metal layer formed of the same conductive material as that for second coil pieces is in contact with an upper core layer forming a second magnetic core. The first metal layer extends parallel with the upper surface of the lower core layer in a height direction, and the second metal layer extends parallel with the upper surface of the upper core layer in the height direction. Since heat generated inside a thin film magnetic head can be appropriately dissipated to the first metal layer or the second metal layer, increase in temperature inside the thin film magnetic head can be suppressed, and as a result, protrusion of the thin film magnetic head can be suppressed which is caused by the thermal expansion thereof.

Abstract: An upper portion of a protrusion has a sidewall part extending outward from a periphery of a base portion to form an extending part, and a coil insulating layer is also present under the extending part. Since the coil insulating layer is present under the extending part of the protrusion, the mechanical strength around the protrusion is improved. Accordingly, cracking is not likely to occur in a protective layer (insulating layer), and corrosion resistance of a conductive connection structure is improved.

Abstract: Disclosed are a low profile head support device having an excellent shock resistance while applying necessary and sufficient biasing forces on a head and a disk drive using the same. A more specifically, the head support device comprises: a head; head suspension 2 to suspend the head; base arm 4 secured to actuator axis 10 pivotally, suspending the head suspension; pivot fulcrum 5 to suspend head suspension 2 movably; and spring member 2e to apply a biasing force to head suspension 2, wherein pivot fulcrum 5 is disposed on base arm 4. The head support device can be for use in various kinds of information devices such as data processing devices, magneto optical disk drives, optical disk drives or the like.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a suspension assembly offering large peel stiffness, small pitch stiffness and small roll stiffness. In one embodiment, the suspension assembly includes a load beam and a flexure 100. The flexure is connected to the load beam at a first fixing point 102a and a second fixing point 102b. The flexure is provided with a first loop spring structure including a pair of supporting arms 108a, 108b and a pair of strip-shaped main arms 104a, 104b. In addition, the flexure is provided with a second loop spring structure including a pair of supporting arms and a pair of strip-shaped auxiliary arms 106a, 106b having a path length longer than that of the main arms. The flexure is further provided with a flexure tongue 112 supported by a pair of tongue supports. The loop spring structure composed of the main arms dominantly gives the flexure tongue stiffness.

Abstract: A wired circuit board that can control characteristic impedance at connection points between the read wire and write wire of a suspension board with circuit and terminal portions of the wired circuit board connected thereto with a simple structure, to improve signal transmission efficiency for fine pitch wiring or for high frequency signal. A conductive board 25 is adhesively bonded to an insulating base layer 18 of the wired circuit board 1 at one side thereof opposite to the other side on which a suspension-board-side connection terminal portion 11 having a first terminal portion 13 to connect with a read wire 6R of a suspension board with circuit 3 and a second terminal portion 14 to connect with a write wire 6W of the suspension board with circuit 3 is formed, in such a relation that an opening 27 can correspond in position to either of the first terminal portion 13 and the second terminal portion 14, and a stiffener board 24 is adhesively bonded to the conductive board 25 via an adhesive layer 28.

Abstract: An actuator assembly has a generally flat sheet metal body with upper and lower surfaces and an actuator bore passing therebetween. The actuator bore is sized to receive the bearing cartridge assembly therethrough. A plurality of tabs project inward from an interior surface of the actuator bore, wherein the tabs extend only partially along a depth of the actuator bore between the upper and lower surfaces. The tabs contact the bearing cartridge assembly and secure it within the actuator bore.

Abstract: A magnetic recording apparatus includes first magnetic recording elements and second magnetic recording elements. The first magnetic recording elements precede the second magnetic recording elements. The second magnetic elements record signals to form second signal tracks between wide signal tracks previously formed by the first magnetic recording elements by recording signals so that the second signal tracks partly overlap the first signal tracks on both sides of the second signal tracks.

Abstract: A thin-film magnetic head includes a first magnetic core, a second magnetic core, a connecting layer which connects the first magnetic core and the second magnetic core, a toroidal coil layer, and a shielding layer. The connecting layer extends in the height direction so as to face the back side in the height direction of the shielding layer. Alternatively, the width in the track width direction of the connecting layer is larger than the width in the track width direction of the toroidal coil layer. Consequently, the volume of the connecting layer is increased, and thereby the heat capacity is increased. Heat generated in the thin-film magnetic head can be properly dissipated via the connecting layer, and an increase in the temperature inside the thin-film magnetic head can be prevented. As a result, protrusion of the thin-film magnetic head due to thermal expansion can be prevented.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a metallic material layer between a lower core layer and an upper shield layer. This metallic material layer extends to the rear of the magnetic head in the height direction to overlap with a first metal layer. The metallic material layer can therefore efficiently dissipate joule heat generated from a write head section to the outside of the magnetic head through the first metal layer. In addition, the metallic material layer can block a fluctuating magnetic field generated from the write head section. Thus, this magnetic head can reduce variations in the magnetic domain structures of upper and lower shield layers to stabilize the read output of a read head section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a magnetoresistive device with a spin valve (1) formed from a stack of layers including at least two magnetic layers (2, 3) for which the relative orientation of their magnetisation directions can vary under the influence of a magnetic field, and comprising means (6a, 6b) of circulating a current in the spin valve transverse to the plane of the layers. The spin valve (1) comprises at least one discontinuous dielectric or semiconducting layer (4) in the stack, with electrically conducting bridges (5) passing through the thickness of the dielectric or semiconducting layer, these bridges (5) being designed to locally concentrate the current that passes transversely through the stack.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive head in which a pinned layer comprises two films, i.e., a ferromagnetic film A and a ferromagnetic B anti-ferromagnetically coupled to each other and a anti-ferromagnetic coupling film for separating the two ferromagnetic films A and B, where the coercivity of the ferromagnetic film alone is 200 (Oe) or more and the coercivity of the ferromagnetic film alone is 20 (Oe) or less. The compositions for the ferromagnetic film A and the ferromagnetic film B, when expressed by Co100-YFeY (at %) are: ferromagnetic film A: 80≧Y≧40, and ferromagnetic film B: 20≧Y≧0, where the material for the film in contact with the ferromagnetic film A is Ru, Ta, NiFeCr, Cu or NiFe.

Abstract: A magnetic read head with reduced side reading characteristics is described. This design combines use of a current channeling layer (CCL) with stabilizing longitudinal bias layers whose magnetization direction is canted relative to that of the free layer easy axis and that of the pinned layer (of the GMR). This provides several advantages: First, the canting of the free layer at the side region results in a reduction of side reading by reducing magnetic sensitivity in that region. Second, the CCL leads to a narrow current flow profile at the side region, therefore producing a narrow track width definition. A process for making this device is described. Said process allows some of the requirements for interface cleaning associated with prior art processes to be relaxed.

Abstract: In a spin valve type element, an interface insertion layer (32, 34) of a material exhibiting large spin-dependent interface scattering is inserted in a location of a magnetically pinned layer (16) or a magnetically free layer (20) closer to a nonmagnetic intermediate layer (18). A nonmagnetic back layer (36) may be additionally inserted as an interface not in contact with the nonmagnetic intermediate layer to increase the output by making use of spin-dependent interface scattering along the interface between the pinned layer and the nonmagnetic back layer or between the free layer and the nonmagnetic back layer.

Abstract: When a control section (39) turns on a switch (31, 33, 35), a capacitor (37) is onnected to a secondary battery (B1) in parallel. Accordingly, voltage between both nds of each capacitor (37, 38) reaches voltage between both polarities of each secondary battery (B1, B2). Thereafter, when the control section (39) turns off the switch (31, 33, 35) and turns on a switch (32, 34, 36), each capacitor (37, 38) is connected to the secondary battery (B2, B3) in parallel. The capacitor (37, 38) is charged/discharged to balance voltage between both polarities of the secondary battery (B1 to B3).

Abstract: A power supply apparatus has a regulator and a regulator protection circuit. On detecting an abnormality, an abnormality detection circuit in the regulator protection circuit turns the regulator off. Based on the output of the abnormality detection circuit, an abnormality detection incidence checking circuit in the regulator protection circuit checks whether or not an abnormality has been detected a predetermined number of times within a predetermined length of time. When the abnormality detection incidence checking circuit recognizes that an abnormality has been detected the predetermined number of times within the predetermined length of time, an abnormality detection level setting circuit in the regulator protection circuit decreases the detection level of the abnormality detection circuit. This helps reduce the incidence of malfunctioning of the load to which the regulator feeds its output due to repeated detection of an abnormality and recovery therefrom.