Abstract: The data recording device comprises a two-dimensional array of microdots of nanometric dimensions arranged facing a storage medium. The storage medium comprises a sensitive area preferably comprising a flexible membrane and extended at its periphery by a flexible fixing membrane. The sensitive area of the storage medium is thus flexibly fixed to an external frame, allowing movement of the sensitive area in its plane and perpendicularly to its plane. The microdots are preferably formed on a convex front face of a substrate, enabling contact between each of the microdots and the sensitive area to be ensured in all cases. The radius of curvature of the convex surface is preferably comprised between 0.5 m and 5 m.

Abstract: Information storage devices and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A magnetic track of the information storage device includes a magnetic layer in which at least one magnetic domain forming region and at least one magnetic domain wall forming region are alternately disposed in a lengthwise direction. The at least one magnetic domain forming regions has a different magnetic anisotropic energy relative to the at least one magnetic domain wall forming region. An intermediate layer is formed under the magnetic layer. The intermediate layer includes at least one first material region and at least one second material region. Each of the at least one first material regions and the at least one second material regions corresponds to one of the at least one magnetic domain forming regions and the at least one magnetic domain wall forming regions.

Abstract: First, second, and third lead-out conductors connected to the electrodes of two types of laser emission devices of an optical pickup are led out on a lead-out board. First connection areas short-circuit by solder at a portion of opposing parts of any two adjacent lead-out conductors of the first, second, and third lead-out conductors in the width direction crossing the longitudinal direction and open the short circuit, and second connection areas short-circuit by solder at a portion of opposing parts of the other pair of two adjacent lead-out conductors of the first, second, and third lead-out conductors in the width direction crossing the longitudinal direction and open the short circuit. The first connection areas and the second connection areas are arranged in a staggered pattern in the longitudinal direction of the lead-out conductors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data-recording device comprising conductive microtips and to the production method thereof. According to the invention, the microtip comprises one end which is intended to be brought into electrical contact with a recording medium. Moreover, the microtip comprises a longitudinal conducting core having an essentially constant cross-section. In addition, the microtip is surrounded by a sheath of non-conducting material, such that the free ends of the core and the sheath are level at the end of the microtip. The cross-section of the sheath can diminish towards the end of the microtip, e.g. such as to form a truncated-cone-shaped part. The core can comprise a carbon nanotube. Furthermore, a multitude of microtips can be disposed in the form of a network, the ends thereof generating an essentially-flat common surface. The inventive method comprises an abrasion step.

Abstract: An optical scanning device scans an information track which is present on an information carrier. The scanning device includes a radiation source, a lens system with an optical axis for focusing a radiation beam supplied by the radiation source into a scanning spot on the information carrier, and a focusing actuator for displacing the lens system relatively to a basic part of the scanning device in a direction parallel to the optical axis. The actuator includes an electric coil which is arranged around the lens system and provided with a passage for a radiation beam path which extends in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis. The electric coil is provided around the lens system by means of a winding process, the passage being provided in the coil by bending the parts of the coil wires which are present near the radiation beam path, in a direction substantially parallel to the optical axis.

Abstract: A disk for a disk drive uses a circular platter having first and second sides and a circumferential edge. The circumferential edge of the disk has four symmetrically spaced apart shadows and a fifth or additional shadow that gives the disk an asymmetrical shadow signature. The fifth shadow is offset relative to the other shadows, which have congruent arcuate lengths and separation. The fifth shadow has an arcuate length that is about half as long as those of the other shadows, and is closely spaced adjacent to one of the other shadows. The asymmetric shadow signatures of the disk is used to precisely determine both the circumferential position of the platters and their planar orientation (i.e., A-side or B-side). For example, when the disk is mounted on a tool spindle and rotated, an optical detector detects the pattern of the shadows and feeds the data to a computer system. The rotational position of the spindle also is relayed to the computer for coordinating the processing of the rotating disk.

Abstract: A thermal assembly comprising at once a reading-writing-erasing capability. The present invention, accordingly, can realize important advantages of providing dual yet independent capabilities or functionalities for manifesting reading-writing-erasing on the nanometer scale. An illustrative such thermal assembly includes a thermal heater for writing on a media; a temperature sensor capable of monitoring thermal coupling between the sensor and the media; and, a heater element for heating the temperature sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of recording/reproducing information signals at an access speed in the order of &mgr;s, a recording density of 1 to 10 GBs/cm2, and a data transfer rate in the order of Gbit/sec without breakage of the data. The method includes the steps of: making a head device face to a memory medium having a flat recording surface, the head device including a plurality of head elements two-dimensionally arranged each of which has at its leading end a flat portion having an area of 0.1 &mgr;m2 or less; moving the head device relative to the memory medium a distance more than a gap between two adjacent ones of the head elements; and recording an information signal at a specific position of the recording surface at a recording density of 1 Gbit/cm2 or more, or reproducing an information signal previously recorded on the recording surface at a specific position by the head device.

Abstract: An electronic audible novelty device, comprising a body having a planar bottom surface, a top surface in spaced relation to said bottom surface having at least a portion thereof which is resiliently deformable, and a sidewall extending unbroken therebetween to define an interior and exterior, an electronic circuit assembly mounted on the interior surface of said planar surface in said body including an electronic circuit unit which is programmed with at least one sound sequence; said sound sequence programmed to be time delayed, a pressure sensitive adhesive layer deposited upon at least a portion of the exterior surface of said planar surface, sound producing means mounted on said interior surface for receiving said sound sequence from said electronic circuit unit and converting the same into audible sounds, a normally open switch carried within said body and connected to said electronic circuit unit for activating the same; said electronic circuit unit having a pair of conductive ends which are connectable

Abstract: An electrostatic protection network is disclosed that may be employed in a disk drive having a magneto-resistive read element. The network comprises a ground; and an array that block a signal current flow between the read element and the ground while a signal voltage is below a predetermined value and conducts the signal current from the read element to the ground while the signal voltage is above the predetermined value. The array is formed of a N-channel and P-channel junction field effect transistors. Thus, electrostatic discharge events are dissipated through the network to diminish damage to the read element during an ESD event.

Abstract: A cured multi-component epoxy composition made from a high molecular weight diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, a second diglycidyl ether, a high molecular weight polyamide-amine curing agent, and an accelerator, is an excellent damping material and can be used in a cutterhead assembly for the manufacture of high-density information discs.

Abstract: An epoxy composition derived from tetraglycidated methylene dianiline cured with a methylated maleic acid adduct of phthalic anhydride has a high glass-transition temperature and a low curing temperature and when cured has very high bond strength. This epoxy can be used to bond a diamond cutterhead stylus to a piezoelectric element.

Abstract: A moving coil type phono pickup cartridge in which a stylus unit is very accurately positioned in three dimensions with respect to a cartridge body to thereby closely align a moving coil unit in the stylus unit with a corresponding magnetic unit in the cartridge body. The stylus unit is formed with first through third resilient plates which project from a side of the stylus unit. The cartridge body is formed with corresponding first through third polished positioning surfaces having engagement recesses at the base portions thereof in which are engaged engagement projections formed at ends of the resilient plates. A tab formed on the stylus unit abuts an upper polished surface of the cartridge body.

Abstract: A multi-electrode array deposited on a piezoelectric substrate is driven by a traveling-wave voltage generated from a wave delay generating device, such as a tapped coaxial cable. Suitably delayed and phased voltages are fed to each electrode in the array. Surface acoustic waves are excited on the surface of the piezoelectric substrate. The surface acoustic waves travel through the array in proper phase with the exciting signal supplied to the electrodes. The surface acoustic waves pick up energy as they travel along the surface. Such a structure has a number of advantages over the prior art conventional interdigital transducers. For example, they exhibit broad bandwidth characteristics, have high conversion efficiency and are generally free of spurious signals. These advantages make them well suited for application to video disc cutterheads.