Abstract: A smartcard includes contact pads for electrical connection to an external power source for provision of power to the smartcard in a contact mode of the smartcard, a contactless power harvesting system for provision of power to the smartcard in a contactless mode of the smartcard, and a main circuit on-board the smartcard for receiving and managing the power provided from the contact pads or from the contactless power harvesting system, where the main circuit includes components requiring power in order to provide the smartcard with required functionality, and where the main circuit is connected to the contact pads via a current limiting circuit for controlling the levels of current drawn via the contact pads, the current limiting circuit having an integrator.

Abstract: A smartcard (102) comprises contact pads for electrical connection to an external power source for provision of power to the smartcard in a contact mode of the smartcard; a contactless power harvesting system (108, 126) for provision of power to the smartcard in a contactless mode of the smartcard; and a main circuit on-board the smartcard for receiving and managing the power provided from the contact pads or from the contactless power harvesting system wherein the main circuit includes components requiring power in order to provide the smartcard with required functionality; and wherein the main circuit is connected to the contact pads via a current limiting circuit (C) for controlling the levels of current drawn via the contact pads, the current limiting circuit comprising an integrator.

Abstract: A fingerprint authorisable smartcard 102 comprises an active capacitance fingerprint sensor 130 and an array of electrodes 34, 36, 38 positioned on a bezel 30 surrounding a scan area of the fingerprint sensor 130. The smartcard 102 is configured to supply a driving voltage signal for the fingerprint sensor 130 via driving electrodes 38, and to supply a plurality of time-varying property measurement voltage signals via emitting electrodes 34. The smartcard 102 is further configured to detect the property measurement voltage signals, via respective detection electrodes 36, after transmission through the finger. The smartcard 102 verifies the identity of the bearer of the finger using the fingerprint sensor 102, and validates physical properties of the finger using the detected property measurement voltage signals.

Abstract: Implementations disclosed herein provide a method of determining a quantity of an electrochemically convertible substance in a fluid sample, the method comprising introducing the fluid sample into an electrochemical sensor, wherein at least a portion of the fluid sample is electrochemically converted to produce an electrical output from the electrochemical sensor, measuring the electrical output from the electrochemical sensor on a periodic basis to produce sensor measurements, inputting a first subset of the sensor measurements into a first computation to yield first computation analysis results, inputting a second subset of the sensor measurements and the first computation analysis results into a second computation to yield second computation analysis results, and calculating the quantity of the electrochemically convertible substance in the fluid sample by applying a third computation to the first computation analysis results and the second computation analysis results.

Abstract: A peripheral device includes a data operation controller (40) which manages a serverless network data storage operation for either writing data (e.g., backing up data) or reading data (e.g., restoring backed-up data). In an example embodiment, the peripheral device is an I/O drive (26), such as a magnetic tape drive, situated at a peripheral node of a storage area network (20). In the network data storage operation, data is obtained (under the direction of the peripheral device-resident data operation controller) from a source drive storage medium at a source drive, transmitted through the peripheral device's interface with the storage network, and then recorded (under the direction of the peripheral device-resident data operation controller) by a destination drive on a destination drive storage medium.

Abstract: For primary use in a storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system, a robotic transfer system acts to transfer selected electronic magnetic storage cartridges between their storage and transducing positions, typically between vertically stacked concentric tape storage holders and a selected tape drive. The robotic transfer system for handling tape cartridges includes two hands, each mounted on a separate vertical axis disposed at opposite ends of a balanced rotating horizontal axis, such that no tape cartridge is ever more than 90.degree. away from the nearest hand. The use of two hands also provides a redundant data retrieval capability without concentrating the weight of two hands at a single end of a revolving horizontal arm, thus reducing the moments generated by angular movement and providing for faster tape access time and greater long-term system reliability.

Abstract: A linear actuator for reciprocating a read/write head mechanism relative to a magnetic disk storage system, including a second, supplemental solenoid coil and associated magnet pole in addition to the usual arrangement, by way of improving linearity and efficiency. A low reluctance end cap connects the magnet poles to a central coke.

Abstract: An improved linear actuator for reciprocating a read/write head mechanism relative to magnetic disk storage system is disclosed, including a second, supplemental solenoid coil and associated magnet means in addition to the usual arrangement, and by way of improving linearity and efficiency.

Abstract: An improved linear actuator for reciprocating a read/write head mechanism relative to magnetic disk storage system is disclosed, including a second, supplemental solenoid coil and associated magnet means in addition to the usual arrangement, and by way of improving linearity and efficiency.

Abstract: An improved disk file is disclosed including multiple independent transducer/actuator arrays disposed about a common disk (stack) and adapted to afford a plurality of alternate "Data-paths" whereby (virtually any) track on any disk may be accessed for data-in/data-out using a selectible one of several "data paths".In one type embodiment, this is implemented by switching-over between electronic-control stages when one such stage fails.In another type embodiment, it is afforded by providing overlapping track coverage by multiple head-units. Here, for any given (pair of) disk faces, each of several actuator arrays is assigned a respective set of tracks to cover as its "primary responsibility", also being assigned another adjacent set of tracks as its "secondary" (back-up) responsibility.Such arrangements can provide such benefits as "multiple paths to data", and can convert "Hard" failure to "Soft" failure.

Abstract: An improved disk file is disclosed including a number of like transducer/actuator arrays disposed about a common disk (stack) and adapted, on the one hand, to allocate track coverage while, on the other hand, also providing (optional) a "back up" track coverage capability--whereby each actuator array is assigned a different track set (set of adjacent tracks in the file) as its "primary responsibility", also being assigned a back-up coverage responsibility over another adjacent track set as its "secondary" responsibility--this overall arrangement resulting in such benefits as "multiple paths to data".

Abstract: In combination with disk drive apparatus, a multi-gap flat-coil linear actuator is disclosed, being arranged to carry N like transducer means and to reciprocate these, together, into associated gaps between a respective stacked disks, the actuator being comprised of flat-coil turns on a planar substrate which is arranged to be driven vertically, up and down the stack; accessing different gap-sets, being driven between opposing magnet pole pieces, whereby when the coil turns are energized, the substrate may be caused to vertically position the multiple transducer arms.

Abstract: In combination with disk drive apparatus, an array of flat-coil actuator's is disclosed, with each actuator adapted to translate and position transducer means between a respective pair of stacked disk recording surfaces; each actuator comprising a number of flat-coil turns on at least one side of a planar substrate, this substrate being arranged to run between opposing magnet pole pieces along a path defined by a pair of opposed runways, with these coils being disposed in "overlapping" relation relative to one another and to respective pole pieces --thus when selected coil turns are energized the substrate may be controllably translated and positioned.