Abstract: Sliders that include a slider body having an outer side edge, an inner side edge, a trailing edge and a leading edge, and a base; a trailing edge set of features positioned towards the trailing edge of the slider body, the trailing edge set of features having air bearing surfaces, the air bearing surfaces being above the base of the slider body; a leading edge set of features positioned towards the leading edge of the slider body; a gap positioned between the trailing edge set of features and the leading edge set of features, the gap having a gap surface, the gap surface substantially coplanar with the base of the slider body; and a first gap feature and a second gap feature distributed evenly within the gap from the inner side edge to the outer side edge, the first and second gap features each having upper surfaces, the upper surfaces of the first and second gap features being above the base of the slider body but below the air bearing surface of the trailing edge features.

Abstract: At least a portion of a first servo mark is read using a first read head during a rotation of a disk, the rotation comprising no more than 360 degrees. At least a portion of a second servo mark is read using a second read head during the rotation of the disk. Tracking positions of the first read head and the second read head are determined during the rotation based on reading the first servo mark and the second servo mark.

Abstract: A tape head, configured to contact a magnetic tape, at the level of a contact plane, for writing to the tape, in operation is provided. The tape head includes a transducer, the latter being a write element, configured to write to the magnetic tape, in operation. The transducer includes a layered write pole, the latter comprising a set of two or more superimposed layers of distinct materials, the layers superimposed in a direction perpendicular to the contact plane. A saturation magnetization of each of two material layers of the set is between 1.0 to 2.3 Tesla. A contrast between the saturation magnetizations of the two material layers of the set is between 32% and 130%, the contrast defined as 100×(Bs,max/Bs,min?1), where Bs,max and Bs,min respectively denote a largest one and the smallest one of the saturation magnetizations of the two material layers of the set.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistance effect element includes a first shield, a second shield, a stacked unit, and a hard bias unit. The stacked unit includes a first magnetic layer provided between the first shield and the second shield, a second magnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second shield, and an intermediate layer provided between the and second magnetic layers. The hard bias unit is provided between the first shield and the second shield to be arranged with the stacked unit. A crystal orientation plane of the first magnetic layer in a film surface perpendicular direction is a cubic (110) plane. The first magnetic layer includes a first stacked body including a first Fe layer and a first Co layer stacked along the first direction, and a first Heusler alloy layer stacked with the first stacked body along the first direction.

Abstract: A flexible member is coupled between an actuator arm and a slider. The flexible member facilitates relative motion in a tangential direction of a rotating medium. The relative motion is detected via a displacement sensor, and a friction between the slider and the rotating medium is determined based on the sensed relative motion.

Abstract: An assembly sheet includes a plurality of suspension boards and a frame member that integrally supports the suspension boards. On a surface of the frame member, a plurality of identification marks for identifying respective positions of the suspension boards in automatic optical inspection are provided corresponding to the suspension boards.

Abstract: A head suspension with a connecting structure for a plate material comprises a base plate attached to a carriage that rotates the base plate around an axis, a load beam including a rigid part and a resilient part, a base end of the load beam fixed to the base plate at a plurality of first welded points, a flexure including a read/write head and a wiring and fixed to the load beam at a plurality of second welded points, and a resin seat interposed between the load beam and the flexure so that the resin seat prevents the load beam and the flexure from hitting each other due to vibration of at least one of the load beam and the flexure.

Abstract: A suspension circuit board 1 comprises a metal support board 12, a first insulation layer 11 disposed on the metal support board 12, a conductive layer 10 disposed on the first insulation layer 11, the conductive layer 11 forming a wire; and a second insulation layer 13 disposed on the first insulation layer 11 and the conductive layer 10. The suspension circuit board 1 is configured that, upon applying a load in a thickness direction to the conductive layer at a position corresponding to the first insulation opening, F1<F2, when a stress generated in the conductive layer at a position corresponding to a periphery of the first insulation opening is represented as a first stress F1 and a stress generated in the conductive layer at a position corresponding to a periphery of a metal support board opening is represented as a second stress F2.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetoresistive element includes a layered structure and a pair of electrodes, the layered structure including a cap layer, a magnetization pinned layer, a magnetization free layer, a spacer layer and a functional layer provided in the magnetization pinned layer, between the magnetization pinned layer and the spacer layer, between the spacer layer and the magnetization free layer, in the magnetization free layer, or between the magnetization free layer and the cap layer and including an oxide, the method including forming a film including a base material of the functional layer, performing an oxidation treatment on the film using a gas containing oxygen in a form of at least one selected from the group consisting of molecule, ion, plasma and radical, and performing a reduction treatment using a reducing gas on the film after the oxidation treatment.

Abstract: A perpendicular magnetic write head having improved Bit Error Rate (BER), Adjacent Track Interference (ATI) and Far Track Interference (FTI). The write head includes a write pole and a trailing wrap-around magnetic shield. A permanent magnetic is located at either outer side of the shield. These magnets are magnetized to have magnetizations that are oriented in the same direction, in a direction that is perpendicular to the track direction and parallel with the air bearing surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a reproducing section. The reproducing section includes a first magnetic shield, a second magnetic shield, a magnetoresistive effect film, and a third magnetic shield. The magnetoresistive effect film is provided between the first magnetic shield and the second magnetic shield and includes a first magnetization free layer changing a magnetization direction in response to an external magnetic field. The third magnetic shield is provided between the magnetoresistive effect film and the first magnetic shield and has a higher saturation magnetic flux density than the first magnetic shield.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, a nonmagnetic layer, a first metal layer, a second metal layer, a first electrode, and a second electrode. The nonmagnetic layer is provided between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The first metal layer includes Au and is provided so that the first ferromagnetic layer is sandwiched between the nonmagnetic layer and the first metal layer. The second metal layer includes a CuNi alloy, and is provided so that the first metal layer is sandwiched between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second metal layer. In addition, magnetization of either one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer is fixed in a direction. Magnetization of the other is variable in response to an external field. At least one of the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer includes a half metal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a magneto-resistance effect element is disclosed. The element has first and second magnetic layers, and an intermediate layer provided between the first and second magnetic layers. The intermediate layer has an insulating layer and a conductive portion penetrating through the insulating layer. The method can include forming a structure body having the insulating layer and the conductive portion, performing a first treatment including irradiating the structure body with at least one of ion including at least one selected from the group consisting of argon, xenon, helium, neon and krypton and a plasma including at least one selected from the group, and performing a second treatment including at least one of exposure to gas containing oxygen or nitrogen, irradiation of ion beam containing oxygen or nitrogen, irradiation of plasma containing oxygen or nitrogen, to the structure body submitted to the first treatment.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a substrate separated from the storage medium by a gap, and a plurality of spacers defining a distance between the storage medium and the substrate, wherein the spacers include a curved end.

Abstract: In one implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches an apparatus with a head attached to an end of a baseplate. The baseplate includes a tilted section that causes a torsion axis of the baseplate to pass near the head. In another implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches an apparatus with a load beam attached to a baseplate. The apparatus also includes a head attached to an opposite end of the load beam from the baseplate. The baseplate includes a mass-shifted section that causes a torsion axis of the apparatus to pass through the head. In yet another implementation, the presently disclosed technology teaches a method for reducing baseplate resonance amplitude. The method includes shifting a baseplate mass on a suspension toward an adjacent disc surface to move a baseplate torsion axis to pass near a head.

Abstract: Multi-layer ground plane structures and methods of manufacture for integrated lead suspension flexures. A flexure in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes an insulating layer, a plurality of traces on the insulating layer and a stainless steel base layer on the side of the insulating layer opposite the traces. The stainless steel base layer includes one or more void portions with voids in the base layer opposite the insulating layer from the traces and one or more backed portions with the base layer backing the traces. A plurality of first conductive ground planes are located between the stainless steel base layer and the insulating layer opposite the insulating layer from the traces at the backed portions of the stainless steel base layer. A continuous second conductive ground plane is located opposite the insulating layer from the traces at the void portions and backed portions of the stainless steel base layer.

Abstract: A disk drive configured with micro-actuator interconnect conditioning. The disk drive includes a disk, a head, an actuator, a piezoelectric element, a hardened conductive adhesive, a voltage-supply circuit, and a controller. The head is configured to access the disk. The actuator includes a suspension supporting the head, and an arm supporting the suspension. The piezoelectric element is disposed on the suspension, is electrically connected to a first drive line and a second drive line, and is configured to change the position of the head. The hardened conductive adhesive is electrically connected to at least one connecting part of the piezoelectric element and the first drive line. The voltage-supply circuit is configured to supply a voltage to the piezoelectric element. The controller is configured to control a voltage-control circuit each time a designated process is executed, and to apply a voltage to the piezoelectric element with a prescribed maximum absolute value.

Abstract: A head suspension 11 includes a load beam 17 having a base plate 13, a hinge part 15 resiliently supported by the base plate, and a rigid part 14 joined with the hinge part, a reinforcing plate 25 joined with the rigid part at a portion proximal to the hinge part, and a bend 17c on the load beam formed by bending the load beam toward the reinforcing plate along an edge 25a of the reinforcing plate. Only by accurately joining the reinforcing plate with the load beam in a sway direction (a widthwise direction of the head suspension), the load beam is easily and properly bent without torsion to form the bend 17c along the edge of the reinforcing plate that defines a bending strength boundary.

Abstract: A head suspension has a load beam and a piezoelectric actuator. The piezoelectric actuator has an actuator base connected to a base part of the load beam and a piezoelectric element attached to an opening formed in the actuator base. The piezoelectric actuator displaces a front end of the load beam in a sway direction according to deformation of the piezoelectric element that occurs in response to a voltage applied thereto. The head suspension includes a nonconductive adhesive filled between the piezoelectric element and the opening, to fix the piezoelectric element to the opening and a trap formed on the actuator base outside the opening, to hold the nonconductive adhesive oozing out of the opening and prevent the oozed adhesive from spreading. The trap prevents the oozed adhesive from contaminating the periphery of the opening.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head suspension unit includes: a head suspension; a thin plate body of a flexure attached to a surface of the head suspension and holding an insulating layer on the surface thereof; a wiring pattern formed on a surface of the insulating layer and forming a hollow conductor defining a hollow space extending along the surface of the insulating layer; and an insulating material filling the hollow space.

Abstract: In a magnetic head suspension according to the present invention, each of paired right and left connecting beams that are positioned on both sides of an open section, with which paired piezoelectric elements are at least partially overlapped in a plan view, in a suspension width direction and connect a proximal end section that is directly or indirectly connected to a main actuator and a distal end section to which the load bending part is connected includes proximal-side and distal-side beams. The distal-side beam is inclined with respect to the proximal-side beam in a plan view such that a connection point between the proximal-side and distal-side beams is located closer to a suspension longitudinal center line relative to a virtual line connecting the proximal end of the proximal-side beam and the distal end of the distal-side beam.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a head suspension assembly includes: a metal thin plate held by a head suspension; a fixed plate formed in the metal thin plate and joined to the head suspension; a supporting plate formed in the metal thin plate on the front side of the fixed plate and supporting a head slider on a surface thereof and held on a rear surface thereof by a protrusion formed on the head suspension; an arm formed in the metal thin plate and extending from the fixed plate to the supporting plate and allowing a change in a posture of the supporting plate; an insulating layer extending from the fixed plate to the supporting plate and supported by the arm; a wiring pattern formed on the insulating layer; and a visco-elastic body arranged on a flat surface formed on the arm, the insulating layer, or the wiring pattern.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a board main body portion, an auxiliary portion folded back with respect to the board main body portion, a slider disposed close to the board main body portion, and mounting thereon a magnetic head, and a light emitting element disposed close to the auxiliary portion. The conductive pattern includes a first conductive pattern including a first terminal, and a second terminal connected to the magnetic head, and a second conductive pattern including a third terminal and a fourth terminal connected to the light emitting element. The first, second and third terminals are disposed on the board main body portion. The fourth terminal is disposed on the auxiliary portion. The back surface of the board main body portion is formed with a main-body-side interfitting portion. A back surface of the auxiliary portion is formed with an auxiliary-portion-side interfitting portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a head stack assembly and a manufacturing method thereof in which manufacturing costs as a multi-disc magnetic device are reduced by increasing the yield and reducing inventory of magnetic heads which can be assembled to the head stack assembly. According to one embodiment, a head stack assembly and a manufacturing method thereof includes plural actuator arms to which magnetic heads are assembled through suspensions. The tolerance of the core width or the write element width of the magnetic heads assembled to inside actuator arms of the plural actuator arms is set to be narrower than the tolerance of the core width or the write element width of the magnetic heads assembled to the outside actuator arms.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a substrate separated from the storage medium by a gap, and a plurality of spacers defining a distance between the storage medium and the substrate, wherein the spacers include a curved end.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing a suspension gram load to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, a gram load of the suspension is reduced to minimize the friction force during contact of the TE with the disk such that when the TE portion of the slider contacts the disk the bouncing motion of the TE with respect to the disk is reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing an off-center gimbal to increase head to disk interface reliability for contact recording systems. The method provides a suspension for reaching over a disk. A slider having a read/write head element on a trailing edge (TE) portion is also provided, the slider coupled with the suspension. In addition, an off-center gimbal device is coupled with the slider and the suspension away from the center of the slider and closer to the TE portion of the slider such that when the TE portion of the slider contacts a disk a bouncing motion of the TE with respect to the disk is reduced.

Abstract: A suspension including a supporting layer, a conductive layer, and a dielectric layer. The conductive layer is formed as a plurality of traces. The supporting layer is formed of a rigid material to support the conductive layer. The dielectric layer is formed between the supporting layer and the conductive layer and is formed of a dielectric material with a permittivity of 1.0 to 3.0 F/m. Thus, a loss of a high frequency signal during the transmission of electrical signals can be prevented and the writing/reading performance of a hard disk drive apparatus can be improved.

Abstract: An information storage apparatus includes a storage media including a plurality of information tracks. Each storage medium has a head assembly having a substantially planar surface and a plurality of read/write heads positioned in registry with the information tracks. The read/write heads are arranged substantially in the plane of the planar surface. The information storage medium and the head assembly are arranged in mutually sliding abutment such that the heads are substantially in sliding contact with the outer surface of the information storage medium. In another aspect an information storage and retrieval apparatus includes an information storage medium including an information storage area, and an array of information read/write heads. The information storage medium and array of heads are arranged to be oscillated with respect to each other in use such that each region of the information storage area is aligned with at least one of the heads during oscillation.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk drive achieves continuous contact recording with a head-suspension assembly that compensates for the moment generated from an adhesive force between the head carrier or slider and the disk. The slider pivot point, which is the point where the load force is applied to the flexure that supports the slider, is located closer to the front end of the slider than the net force applied by the air-bearing surface of the slider when the disk is rotating at its operational speed. This assures that the net air-bearing force generates a moment about the pivot point to partially counteract the flexure moment and the moment generated from the adhesive force between the disk and the slider's contact pad.

Abstract: A magnetic recording disk drive achieves continuous contact recording with a head-suspension assembly that compensates for the moment generated from an adhesive force between the head carrier or slider and the disk. The slider pivot point, which is the point where the load force is applied to the flexure that supports the slider, is located closer to the front end of the slider than the net force applied by the air-bearing surface of the slider when the disk is rotating at its operational speed. This assures that the net air-bearing force generates a moment about the pivot point to partially counteract the flexure moment and the moment generated from the adhesive force between the disk and the slider's contact pad.

Abstract: A transducer for a hard disk drive system has a planar magnetic core and a pair of poletips that project transversely from the core for sliding contact with the disk during reading and writing. The transducer is formed entirely of thin films in the shape of a low profile table having three legs that slide on the disk, the poletips being exposed at a bottom of one of the legs for high resolution communication with the disk, the throat height of the poletips affording sufficient tolerance to allow for wear. The legs elevate the transducer from the disk sufficiently to minimize lifting by a thin air layer that moves with the spinning disk which, in combination with the small size of the thin film head allows a low load and a flexible beam and gimbal to hold the transducer to the disk.

Abstract: A disk drive system for contact recording has a flexure beam holding a transducer at one end, the flexure beam being oriented substantially along the direction that the transducer slides on a rigid magnetic disk. The transducer has a protrusion which contacts the disk and separates the rest of the transducer from the moving air film that adjoins the spinning disk, the protrusion containing a magnetic pole structure that communicates with the disk during sliding. A preferred embodiment employs a gimbal structure which allows limited movement of the transducer relative to the flexure beam and three disk-contacting pads extending down from the transducer to make contact with the magnetic disk, at least one of the pads containing a magnetic pole structure and two of the pads trailing the third pad. An adapter provides a connection between a rotary actuator and the beam that allows the beam to approach the disk at a predictable oblique angle.

Abstract: The height of the lower head is equal to that of the upper heads. A mounting plate is provided between the lower head and a carriage to provide penetration arrangement. The lower head is fixed on the carriage through the mounting plate with adhesive. The mounting plate has a rough area having small holes to provide surely adhering with accuracy. The thickness of the mounting plate is accurate because of punching (cutting) processing and is greater than that of the shutter. The width of the mounting plate is greater than that of the lower head but smaller than the shutter opening of the floppy cartridge to avoid influence to the motion of access of the magnetic head to the floppy disk. The gimbal plate for the lower magnetic head is omitted, so that the orientation of said lower magnetic head is fixed.

Abstract: A magnetic read/write head apparatus which may be used in a floppy disk drive for personal computers. The head apparatus is designed to have an improved structure working to eliminate noise components contained in output signals. The structure has magnetic head cores and dummy magnetic head cores. The dummy magnetic head cores work to produce outputs 180° out of phase with outputs of the magnetic head cores, thereby canceling noises contained in the outputs of the magnetic head cores.

Abstract: When loading an upper head, it is brought into contact with a disc, with a lower head being in contact with the disc. In this process, the entire surface of the upper head which slides on the disc and in which gaps are provided is brought into contact with the disc at a position off the data zone. Further, the upper head is provided with a supported member, and a support member supporting the supported member, whereby the upper head is supported before coming into contact with the disc, and the upper head is gradually brought close to the disc to effect contact.

Abstract: A disk drive system for contact recording has a flexure beam holding a transducer at one end, the flexure beam being oriented substantially along the direction that the transducer slides on a rigid magnetic disk. The transducer has a protrusion which contacts the disk and separates the rest of the transducer from the moving air film that adjoins the spinning disk, the protrusion containing a magnetic pole structure that communicates with the disk during sliding. A preferred embodiment employs a gimbal structure which allows limited movement of the transducer relative to the flexure beam and three disk-contacting pads extending down from the transducer to make contact with the magnetic disk, at least one of the pads containing a magnetic pole structure and two of the pads trailing the third pad.

Abstract: Head load pressure generation means 36 is provided that flexibly supports an upper read/write head 25, via a leaf spring 27 attached to a main body 22, that moves forward and backward along the tracks on a magnetic data recording medium 3, and that adjusts the head load pressure applied to the upper read/write head 25 in accordance with whether a high-density or a low-density magnetic data recording medium is employed. Using this means, the head load pressure and the revolutions of a chucking motor are adjusted in accordance with whether a high-density or a low-density magnetic data recording medium is employed.

Abstract: A slider portion is provided with protrusion portions having a spherical surface, contacting a recording medium. A center of a magnetic pole is arranged on the line C1 connecting the vertices of the protrusion portions. Line C1 is more or less aligned with the gliding direction of the protrusion portions. Thereby, positional variations between the magnetic pole and the surface of the recording medium can be minimized even when the head slider is tilted with respect to the surface of the recording medium. Thus, a gliding converter support structure is provided whose conversion efficiency does not decrease when it is tilted with respect to the surface of the recording medium, which is easy to manufacture, has little gliding resistance, and does not easily accumulate dust.

Abstract: The height of the lower head is equal to that of the upper heads. A mounting plate is provided between the lower head and a carriage to provide penetration arrangement. The lower head is fixed on the carriage through the mounting plate with adhesive. The mounting plate has a rough area having small holes to provide surely adhering with accuracy. The thickness of the mounting plate is accurate because of punching (cutting) processing and is greater than that of the shutter. The width of the mounting plate is greater than that of the lower head but smaller than the shutter opening of the floppy cartridge to avoid influence to the motion of access of the magnetic head to the floppy disk. The gimbal plate for the lower magnetic head is omitted, so that the orientation of said lower magnetic head is fixed.

Abstract: A contact magnetic disk apparatus includes a magnetic disk, a magnetic head, a contact pad, a suspension, an arm, an actuator, and a control section. The control section has a lubricant uniforming function of increasing a speed with which the magnetic head is moved toward an outer periphery of the magnetic disk to be higher than a speed with which the magnetic head is moved toward an inner periphery of the magnetic disk.

Abstract: A disc-type recording medium arranged to be recorded/reproduced by a recording/reproducing head mounted on a head slider has a predetermined projection and pit pattern on the surface thereof and/or the head slider. In a state where the recording/reproducing head mounted on the head slider and the disc-type recording medium are in contact with each other, recording/reproducing is performed. As a result, abrasion between the recording/reproducing head and the disc-type recording medium can be prevented and an excellent recording/reproducing characteristic can be obtained.

Abstract: A magnetic disk drive has a magnetic disk and a magnetic head assembly mounted on an arm. The assembly is utilized in the recording and reproducing of data on and from a recording/reproducing surface of a magnetic disk. The magnetic head assembly includes a support body for connecting the magnetic head assembly to the arm and a head chip attached to the support body. The head chip is configured and arranged for making substantially continuous sliding contact with the recording/reproducing surface of the magnetic disk during recording/reproducing. The head chip includes a wafer base, a read/write element for recording/reproducing data from the recording/reproducing surface of the magnetic disk. The read/write element is formed from a plurality of thin film layers superposed upon the wafer base and the head is elongated in a direction generally perpendicular to a plane generally defined by the recording/reproducing surface.

Abstract: An information storage system having a ring head in such close proximity to a rigid magnetic storage disk that the magnetic field felt by the media layer or layers of the disk has a larger perpendicular than longitudinal component so that data is stored in a perpendicular mode. Reading of data is accomplished with a magnetoresistive sensor which may be coupled to the magnetically permeable core of the ring head far from the poletips, which may contact the disk. The media preferably has a high perpendicular anisotropy, and may be formed in a plurality of films with crystalline structures traversing the films.

Abstract: A hard disk drive head operates in close proximity and dynamic contact with a rapidly spinning rigid disk surface, the head including a transducer with a magnetically permeable path between a poletip disposed adjacent to the disk surface and a magnetoresistive (MR) sensor situated outside the range of thermal noise generated by the surface contact. The magnetically permeable path is the same as that used to write data to the disk, eliminating errors that occur in conventional transducers having MR sensors at a separate location from the writing poletips. Moreover, the magnetically permeable path is preferably formed in a low profile, highly efficient “planar” loop that allows for manufacturing tolerances in throat height and wear of the terminal poletips from disk contact without poletip saturation or poletip smearing. The MR layer is formed in one of the first manufacturing steps atop the substrate, so that the MR layer has a relatively uniform planar template that is free from contaminants.