Abstract: A magnetic head slider with at least one thin-film magnetic head element on a suspension is mounted. This mounting includes electrically connecting the magnetic head slider with the suspension with ball bonding connections. Electrical property of the thin-film magnetic head element is inspected, and then the ball bonding connections are separated when it is judged that the thin-film magnetic head element has defective electrical property. Then, the magnetic head slider is detached from the suspension, and thereafter a new magnetic head slider with at least one thin-film magnetic head element is mounted on the suspension from which the magnetic head slider was detached.

Abstract: A base plate is used to attach the head/gimbal assembly of a disc drive to an actuator arm. The base plate has a boss which fits into an opening in the actuator arm. In one embodiment, the boss includes a plurality of raised portions defining a cylinder having a relaxed outer diameter greater than the inner diameter of the opening in the actuator arm. The outer surfaces of the plurality of portions engage the inner surface of the actuator arm to elastically deform and conform to and bias against the inner surface of the actuator arm, thereby providing a connection with superior holding friction, and retention torque.

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 dimple magnetic recording head in a transducer assembly for linear tape drives haviang a flat transducing surface extending laterally a partial width of the magnetic recording tape is mass produced by lapping a row of transducers on a substrate to form a flat transducing surface. The row of substrate elements is then diced into separate substrate elements. Two parallel, spaced apart tape support surfaces are provided extending laterally the full width of the tape, and one of the diced substrate elements is mounted intermediate the tape support surfaces with the flat transducing surface exposed for forming a tape facing surface.

Abstract: In order to improve reliability of an MR head including a substrate, an MR element formed on the substrate, a reinforcing body, and a sliding surface with respect to a magnetic recording medium, in which the substrate and the MR element are exposed to the sliding surface, the substrate and the reinforcing body are bonded to each other by using a non-organic film, for example, a multi-layered film including metal layers. Alternatively, the substrate and the reinforcing body are bonded to each other via an adhesive film not exposed to the sliding surface.

Abstract: In detecting a boundary line between areas different in light reflectance, it has so far been impossible to specify the boundary line at a distance shorter than the arrangement pitch of photodetectors (pixels) arranged in the camera. In the present invention, luminance variations near the boundary line between areas different in light reflectance are derivated. Further, in unit blocks G corresponding to pixels and arranged in a direction (Y direction) in which the boundary line extends, derivated values of luminance for each row of unit blocks are added and then a variation curve of the added values of derivated luminance values in unit block rows is drawn to specify a peak position thereof and also specify the position of the boundary line X0. Thus, it is possible to specify the position of the boundary line with a high accuracy at a distance shorter than the unit block pitch.

Abstract: A single piece head gimbal assembly comprised of a load beam, a pair of flexure arms, a slider support member and a plurality of electrical lines. The head gimbal assembly is formed from a laminated material comprised of a support layer, a dielectric layer and a high strength electrically conductive layer. The electrical lines are formed in the high strength electrically conductive layer and extend along the backside of the load beam. The backside surface of a slider is accessible through an aperture formed between the flexure arms and the electrical lines are terminated to the backside of the slider. Alternatively, the electrical lines extend along the backside or frontside of the load beam and are terminated to the trailing edge of the slider.

Abstract: A core slider mount apparatus and method wherein: a core slider picked up from a core slider container is positioned while clamped in X- and Y-axis directions by first positioning catches of a core slider positioner and second positioning catches of a core mount chuck; a positioning error between an adhering portion of a work and the core slider is corrected based on position information of the work set on a work table; and the core slider is thereafter mounted on the adhering portion of the work.

Abstract: A test fixture for assembling and electrical testing of magnetic head includes a fixed baseplate, a cage, and an X-Y positioner that is adjustably mounted on the baseplate. The cage is formed of a flat, thin, elongated arm and is secured at its rear end to the X-Y positioner. The forward end of the cage extends into a notched section that surrounds part of the slider. A stationary mounting block supports and retains the suspension in a fixed position relative to the slider. In another embodiment, the rear end of the cage is secured to the stationary mounting block and the X-Y positioner supports the suspension.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing the front surface shape of plural magnetic heads precisely in batch in a desired dimension After fixing plural magnetic heads 1, 2 and preliminarily processing curved surfaces along the sliding direction S on a rotary member 4, the curved surfaces Ts along the thickness direction T orthogonal to the sliding direction S of the magnetic heads 1, 2 are formed in batch by finish polishing process by means of abrasive tape or the like.

Abstract: A very-small-signal amplifier is capable of amplifying very small signals with high sensitivity up to high frequencies while simplifying the circuit, and a magnetic disk storage apparatus realizes a reading operation over a wide band up to high frequencies with high sensitivity. The signal amplifier is a modified differential circuit including a first transistor of a first conductivity type and a second transistor of a second conductivity type each having a control terminal, a terminal of the input side and a terminal of the output side. The terminals on the input side are connected in common, and a current corresponding to the voltage difference across the control terminals is allowed to flow. A very small voltage signal generated by an input signal source is applied to the control terminal of said first transistor. A bias voltage is applied to the control terminal of the second transistor.

Abstract: Problems aligning a slider with a dimple in manufacture of head gimbal assemblies for disk drive suspensions are obviated by defining a series of optically readable indicia on or about the dimple that serve as a reference for positioning apparatus rather than the dimple.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head suspension assembly includes a step of forming a plurality of flexure pieces coupled with each other and kept substantially flat, each of the flexure pieces being provided with conductive connection pattern, a step of mounting head IC chips on the respective substantially flat flexure pieces, the mounting being executed before fixing of said flexure pieces to load beams, and a step of separating said flexure pieces with the head IC chips into individual pieces.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic head apparatus includes a step of forming a plurality of flexure pieces coupled with each other and kept in substantially flat, each of the flexure pieces being provided with conductive connection pattern, a step of mounting sliders with magnetic head elements on the respective flexure pieces, or mounting head IC chips on the respective flexure pieces and after that mounting sliders with magnetic head elements on the respective flexure pieces, and a step of separating the flexure pieces with the sliders into individual pieces.