Abstract: A suspension for use in a magnetic disk drive comprised of a flexible load beam and a slider. The flexible load beam is comprised of a two-layer laminate and air bearing structure is formed in one of the layers. Part of the flexible load beam rests on a data storage disk when the disk is not rotating. When the disk begins rotating, the air bearing structure causes the load beam to fly above the surface of the disk at a first flying height. Similarly, when the disk begins rotating, the air bearing surface of the slider causes the slider to fly above the surface of the disk at a second flying height. Typically, the first flying height is about ten times greater than the second flying height.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming on-site tinted and coated optical elements from a mold having a polymer release layer; an optical coating, such as an anti-reflective coating; a coupling agent layer to bind to the optical coating and having unreacted chemical groups; and a hard coat layer having unreacted chemical groups. The hard coat may be tinted with dyes that are standard in the art. The mold can be shipped to a lab that prepares optical elements, such as ophthalmic lenses, after the coupling agent layer is added or after the hard coat layer, optionally tinted, is added. When using the mold with a lens resin having unreacted chemical groups, the coupling agent layer, hard coat layer, optionally tinted, and optical element all crosslink as the optical element is cured to form, on-site, a durable and stable lens with chemically bound optical coatings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically adjusting the gram load, static attitude and the flying height of the slider in a head suspension assembly comprising one or more lasers, a fiber optic switch, a measurement apparatus and a computer control device. The fiber optic switch includes a plurality of fiber optic lines which direct the output of the laser to well-defined regions on the suspensions in a disk drive. Irradiation of the suspension by the laser causes a load change which alters the flying height, and/or a static attitude change in the slider. In the method of the present invention, the initial gram load, flying height or static attitude of the slider is measured by the measurement apparatus and the control means calculates how much energy is required to cause the change needed to achieve the desired condition. Other information, such as the type of laser to be used is also specified by the control device.

Abstract: A CMOS regulated complementary charge pump circuit uses imbalanced current regulation and symmetrical capacitive loading of input signals to provide a proportional response and high sensitivity at small phase differences. The charge pump is suitable for operation at very high frequencies, and therefore finds applications in delay-locked and phase-locked loops used to regenerate system clock signals within VLSI circuits. The use of current limiting devices in the switch pass gates permits a balancing of the capacitive loads presented to the input signals. Adjustable capacitors permit the elimination of a static phase offset at a zero operating point.

Abstract: A sequential phase-frequency detector circuit using precharged logic and a minimum number of transistors is suitable for use in a delay locked loop because of insensitivity to a stuck delay line output signal. The detector receives standard REFERENCE and LOCAL input signals and provides UP and DOWN output signals for control of a charge pump. In one embodiment, the detector includes a pulse generator for isolating the reset of the UP output signal from a stuck delay line output. This feature permits the UP output to be turned ON while the LOCAL input is stuck at a high level. The circuit exhibits improved gain at phase differences of less than 20 pico-seconds, resulting in reduced phase jitter. The isolating feature minimizes frequency acquisition time in applications in which the frequency of the REFERENCE signal is sometimes substantially reduced, such as during an Energy-Star.TM. power-conserving or Slow modes, which typically causes the delay line output to become stuck.

Abstract: A device for carrying a cellular phone on the torso includes a receptacle for holding the phone. In one embodiment, a side strap assembly attaches to a pair of suspenders while supporting the receptacle. The position of the receptacle is moveable along the side strap assembly from the upper chest to the side or back of the wearer. In another embodiment, a shoulder strap assembly supports the receptacle under the arm of a wearer. The elements of the device are visible and not meant to be concealed as are a gun, money, checkbook, credit card or other type of carrying cases. The receptacle is formed from a flexible material. The back of the receptacle includes two vertically spaced horizontal slots and an optional loop for easily mounting the receptacle to a pair of suspenders and the optional strap assemblies. The back of the receptacle also includes a mechanism for removably securing the receptacle to the suspenders and strap assemblies.

Abstract: A low maintenance, electrically controlled automatic spray bath employs a spray system to wash animals and subsequently deliver treatment and prevention products at a continuous, consistent dosage rate. The automatic spray bath comprises at least one component. Each component comprises four rails defining an enclosure through which animals are walked in one direction, one after the other. Each rail of each component has a plurality of nozzles. When one component is employed the nozzles are divided into sets. Each set of nozzles sprays either a cleaning fluid or a treatment fluid. When more than one component is employed, the nozzles of each component spray either a cleaning fluid or a treatment fluid. The components are modular and portable. As animals are led between a set of nozzles, an electric eye beam is broken, causing a check valve to allow liquid to flow from a remote reservoir.

Abstract: A modular transducer system includes a small, hand held adapter which remains permanently attached to an ultrasound system console and permits the rapid connection and disconnection of individual, sterilizable ultrasound transducers. In a preferred embodiment, the hand held adapter is connected to the system by a retractable cable. In another preferred embodiment, the individual transducers are identifiable by the system using transducer generated binary codes. The individual transducers are submersible in a wide variety of liquids including cleaning solutions and disinfectants. The small transducers are easily stored at the site of the ultrasound examination. Bulky, awkward, time consuming cables and connectors are eliminated.

Abstract: Methods for forming X-ray images having 0.25 .mu.m minimum line widths on X-ray sensitive material are presented. A holgraphic image of a desired circuit pattern is projected onto a wafer or other image-receiving substrate to allow recording of the desired image in photoresist material. In one embodiment, the method uses on-axis transmission and provides a high flux X-ray source having modest monochromaticity and coherence requirements. A layer of light-sensitive photoresist material on a wafer with a selected surface is provided to receive the image(s). The hologram has variable optical thickness and variable associated optical phase angle and amplitude attenuation for transmission of the X-rays. A second embodiment uses off-axis holography. The wafer receives the holographic image by grazing incidence reflection from a hologram printed on a flat metal or other highly reflecting surface or substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a portable computer docking station having a base with an electrical connector and a rotatable member. The base houses various electrical devices such as a battery power supply and memory storage devices. The rotatable member folds between a first extended position and a second extended position about an axis parallel to the base, for respectively receiving and locking the base with a portable computer. When the base locks with the portable computer, the electrical connector of the base connects with the portable computer for interconnecting the electrical devices housed in the base with the portable computer. The rotatable member includes a pair of audio speakers.

Abstract: A neurological pin includes a shaft with a sharp end and a blunt end. The sharp end is surrounded by an element defining an annular surface traversing the axis of the shaft. The blunt end is normally defined by a spherical body and typically, the diameter of the sphere will be substantially equal to that of the annular surface. The element defining the annular surface is frustro-conical, tapering towards the blunt end. The provision of the annular surface at the sharp end of the shaft substantially eliminates the risk of piercing a patient's skin during normal use, while facilitating the application of consistent pressure on the skin.

Abstract: An atherectomy catheter having ultrasound imaging capability provided by an acoustic transducer disposed within a catheter housing which includes a circular cutting edge for removal of stenotic tissue. Risk of induced emboli is reduced by arrangements of transducer and cutter maneuvering members which permit the cutting edge to remain shielded by the housing during catheter positioning and scanning. Both single and array transducers are employed in a variety of configurations.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a catheter apparatus which supports high resolution imaging of the interior of a biological conduit. The apparatus includes an imaging atherectomy catheter of the type having a cutter housing attached to the distal end of a catheter. A tissue cutting member and an ultrasonic imaging transducer are disposed within the housing and are secured to the distal end of a rotatable torque cable. An elongated aperture formed along one side of the housing allows ultrasonic imaging and the intrusion of stenotic material which is removed by axially rotating and translating the cutting member. A miniature rotary encoder is slidably coupled to the end of the torque cable within the housing for precisely determining the rotational orientation of the ultrasonic imaging transducer with respect to the elongated aperture. The rotary encoder is read optically via a fiber optical cable which extends through the catheter.

Abstract: A sport shoe is disclosed which provides a highly flexible, yet supportive shoe which enhances both wearer comfort and shoe performance, and virtually eliminates shoe break-in time. The shoe includes a two piece sole system, each sole having a plurality of flex areas which provide optimum flexibility in the metatarsal and phalanges regions of the wearer's foot during walking or running activities. The shoe further includes a three-point support system about (i) an adjustable heel counter, (ii) the arch region of the wearer's foot, and (iii) the lace region of the shoe, providing balanced support about the wearer's foot.