Abstract: A cable having an electrostatic discharge (ESD) dissipative coating according to one embodiment includes an elongate lead; and an ESD dissipative coating functioning as an electrical insulator for the lead, wherein no other insulator excluding an optional adhesive is present on the cable. A cable having an ESD dissipative coating according to another embodiment includes at least 16 leads, and an ESD dissipative coating operatively coupled to the leads. A cable having an ESD dissipative coating according to yet another embodiment includes an elongate lead having a length defined therealong between distal ends thereof; and an ESD dissipative coating operatively coupled to the lead and extending along a majority of the length of the lead, wherein the ESD dissipative coating has an ESD dissipative surface resistance of from about 1×106 to about 1×108 ohm/sq.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for measuring magnetoresistive head assembly resistance. A measurement module measures a reference voltage across a reference resistance while applying a reference current to the reference resistance. In addition, the measurement module measures a test voltage across a first biasing resistor, a MR head assembly, and a second biasing resistor connected in series while applying the reference current to the first biasing resistor, the MR head assembly, and the second biasing resistor. A computation module calculates the MR head assembly resistance from the reference voltage, the test voltage, the reference resistance, and the resistances of the first and second biasing resistors.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for testing an analog to digital converter with a known analog signal applied. A first register module stores a first digitized instance of an analog signal. A second register module stores a second digitized instance of the analog signal. A difference module calculates the absolute difference between the first and second digitized instances. A bad code module identifies an erroneous digitized instance wherein the absolute difference is greater than a limit value. In one embodiment, a counter module counts the erroneous digitized instance. A test system may identify a failed analog to digital converter if the erroneous digitized instance count is greater than a specified target value.

Abstract: A cable having an electrostatic discharge (ESD) dissipative coating. The cable includes a lead and an ESD dissipative coating operatively coupled to the lead. Other layers such as adhesives and insulating layers can be provided. The ESD dissipative coating can also function as the insulator for the lead.

Abstract: In a magnetic tape system, during lateral repositioning of a tape head between servo bands, the servo head is not on a servo band and is unable to provide servo position information. Hence, information about the lateral position may be lost. A control system selectively senses data read transducers of the tape head; and, upon detecting a servo signal of a servo band from a sensed data read transducer, determines the lateral position of the tape head with respect to the detected servo band based upon the position of the data read transducer that sensed the detected servo signal.