The present invention generally relates to a magnetic head having a thinner intermixing layer between a barrier layer and a magnetic layer. A collector region of a second conductivity type is formed on the lower surface of the semiconductor substrate, and a collector electrode is formed on the collector region. The older legacy device supplies a polarizing voltage, and anticipates a measured current of between 0 and 100 nA. The method includes receiving a transport stream; parsing the stream; decoding new codec information; comparing the new codec information with existing information; and upgrading the codec based on the new codec information. The separation line has a first line part and a second line part, where the widths of corresponding pole parts of at least one of the adjoining magnetic poles differ.