Abstract: An apparatus comprises a data storage medium including a magnetic recording element and an optically active material positioned adjacent to the magnetic recording element, an electric field source for applying an electric field to a portion of the data storage medium, a source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating the data storage medium, and a magnetic field source for applying a magnetic field to the portion of the data storage medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a body having a first air bearing surface and defining an opening, and a transducer portion having a second air bearing surface and positioned within the opening and coupled to the body by a plurality of spring members extending from the transducer portion to the body.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable member, first and second rigid members positioned on opposite sides of the movable member, a first suspension assembly connected between a base and the first and second rigid members, a second suspension assembly connected between the first and second rigid members and the movable member, first and second actuators coupled to the first and second rigid members along a first central axis, and third and fourth actuators coupled to the movable member along a second central axis.

Abstract: A method of detecting objects in water, comprises the steps of capturing a plurality of images of a region of interest, extracting voxel data from the images, and processing the voxel data to detect items of interest in the region of interest. An apparatus that performs the method is also included.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of electrodes separated from each other, and a support structure positioned in the gap for supporting some of the electrodes. An apparatus comprising a storage medium, a head substrate, wherein the storage medium and the head substrate are separated by a gap, a plurality of posts positioned in the gap, a layer of low friction material positioned on one end of each of the posts, is also described.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a storage medium, and a transducer positioned adjacent to the storage medium, wherein the transducer includes a first electrode and a second electrode, with the width of the first electrode being less than the width of the second electrode. A method including: applying a first voltage to a transducer to write data to a storage medium, and applying a second voltage to the transducer to read data from the storage medium, wherein the magnitude of the first voltage is greater than the magnitude of the second voltage.

Abstract: An adjustable toilet support designed to be installed under wall mounted toilets in order to increase their load bearing capacities is disclosed. The toilet support comprises a base which rests on the floor below the toilet, a sleeve surrounding an upper portion of the base, and a contact member that contacts the underside of the toilet bowl. The sleeve and swivel ball are height adjustable with respect to the base by means of a support rod connected to the contact member and threaded into a nut contained inside the base. The support rod has an upper ball that fits within a socket under the contact member. The contact member may be in the shape of a swivel ball having a generally spherical side surface that contacts and holds the upper rim of the sleeve. During installation, the toilet support is positioned under the toilet, and the base is rotated while the sleeve, contact member and support rod are held against rotation, which causes the contact member to rise and contact the toilet bowl.

Abstract: A method for recovering a password includes: obtaining a request code from a data storage device, transmitting the request code to an external authority that produces a recovery code from the request code, and using the recovery code to recover a password and an encryption key from a hidden area of the data storage device. An apparatus that can be used to implement the method is also provided.

Abstract: An optical transducer includes an optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave to a focal region and a metallic nano-structure having a longitudinal axis non-parallel to an electric field of the electromagnetic wave. The optical element for directing an electromagnetic wave may comprise one of a solid immersion lens, a solid immersion mirror, or a planar waveguide. The metallic nano-structure may comprise a metallic pin. The metallic nano-structure may be structured and arranged for resonant coupling of energy into a recording medium.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a data storage media and a plurality of heads, the data storage media and heads being structured and arranged for relative movement between the heads and storage media causing the heads to move along a scan path, and an actuator for changing a magnitude of head to media force as the heads move along the scan path. A method for reducing head motion hysteresis is also provided.

Abstract: A helicopter rotor assembly with vertically staggered blades is disclosed. Each blade travels in a rotational path which does not cross the rotational paths of the other blades. This arrangement reduces noise because each blade travels in a path which avoids turbulent or disturbed air from the preceding blades. In one embodiment, the blades are arranged from the lowermost blade to the uppermost blade such that each blade following the lowermost blade will be above the blade in front of it. Since each blade pushes air down to create lift, this vertically staggered arrangement allows the blades to travel through less disturbed air.

Abstract: A method includes: producing a readback signal using a recording head positioned adjacent to a recording medium, amplitude demodulating the readback signal to produce an amplitude demodulated signal, frequency demodulating the readback signal to produce a frequency demodulated signal, and using the amplitude demodulated signal and the frequency demodulated signal to determine contact of the recording head with the recording medium. An apparatus that can be used to implement the method is also provided.

Abstract: A semiconductor light source comprises a substrate, lower and upper claddings, a waveguide region with imbedded active area, and electrical contacts to provide voltage necessary for the wavelength tuning. The active region includes single or several heterojunction periods sandwiched between charge accumulation layers. Each of the active region periods comprises higher and lower affinity semiconductor layers with type-II band alignment. The charge carrier accumulation in the charge accumulation layers results in electric field build-up and leads to the formation of generally triangular electron and hole potential wells in the higher and lower affinity layers. Nonequillibrium carriers can be created in the active region by means of electrical injection or optical pumping. The ground state energy in the triangular wells and the radiation wavelength can be tuned by changing the voltage drop across the active region.

Abstract: An apparatus that provides for non-destructive readback of a ferroelectric material. The apparatus can include a ferroelectric layer with a scannable surface wherein the ferroelectric layer has a compensation charge adjacent the scannable surface. The apparatus also can include an electrode adjacent the scannable surface to sense the compensation charge. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of broadcasting an AM compatible digital audio broadcasting signal includes: producing an analog modulated carrier signal centrally positioned in a radio channel, wherein the analog modulated carrier signal is modulated by an analog signal, producing a plurality of digitally modulated subcarrier signals in the radio channel, wherein the digitally modulated subcarrier signals are modulated using complementary pattern-mapped trellis code modulation (CPTCM) including a code mapped to overlapping partitions including an upper main partition, a lower main partition, an upper backup partition and a lower backup partition, and a non-overlapping tertiary partition, and transmitting the analog modulated carrier signal and the plurality of digitally modulated subcarrier signals. Transmitters that broadcast the signal and receivers that receive the signal, and the reception method are also included.

Abstract: A transducer assembly for a data storage system comprises a first transducer for directing electromagnetic radiation onto a storage medium adjacent to a write pole, and a second transducer for directing electromagnetic radiation onto a storage medium adjacent to a read sensor. A data storage apparatus that includes the transducer assembly is also included.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first ferroelectric storage layer and a second ferroelectric storage layer adjacent the first ferroelectric storage layer. A coupling layer may be between the first ferroelectric storage layer and the second ferroelectric storage layer. The ferroelectric storage layers may be configured as a data storage medium for use in a data storage system. A related method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a magnetic layer, a heat sink layer, and a thermal resistor layer between the magnetic layer and the heat sink layer. The apparatus may be configured as a thin film structure arranged for data storage. The apparatus may also include an interlayer positioned between the magnetic layer and the thermal resistor layer.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a waveguide, an optical transducer for coupling electromagnetic radiation from the waveguide to a point adjacent to an air bearing surface to heat a portion of a storage medium, and a first wire positioned adjacent to the air bearing surface, wherein current in the wire produces a magnetic field in the heated portion of the storage medium.

Abstract: Metal alloy heatsink films for magnetic recording media are disclosed. The metal alloy heatsink films possess both high thermal conductivity and improved mechanical properties such as relatively high hardness. The metal alloy heatsink films also have controlled microstructures which are compatible with subsequently deposited crystalline magnetic recording layers. The films may comprise single phase CuZr or AgPd alloys having a selected crystal structure and orientation. The combination of high thermal conductivity, good mechanical properties and controlled microstructures makes the metal alloy heatsink films suitable for various applications including heat assisted magnetic recording systems.