Abstract: A method for carrying out seeks of a transducer between tracks of a disc drive to limit acoustic noise arising from changes in the acceleration of the actuator which supports the transducer.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for resetting a disc drive during a disc drive reset sequence comprising a sequential three-stage reset using power valid, clocks valid and delay criteria. Input voltage provided to the disc drive is monitored to detect the presence of input voltage at a nominally acceptable voltage level, after which a system clock generator initiates generation of a system clock signal. A lock detector circuit employing a PLL circuit monitors the system clock signal and indicates when the system clock signal has achieved frequency stability by way of an output signal, which enables a counter circuit to initiate a timed delay by counting a predetermined number of the system clock signals. During the timed delay, a disc drive system microprocessor is initialized to a known, desired state and the counter provides a reset signal to the system microprocessor at the completion of the timed delay, indicating completion of the reset sequence.

Abstract: A standing seam roof assembly in which adjacent roof panels are supported by underlying support structure in overlapping edge relationship to form a standing seam between adjacent roof panels is disclosed. A two piece hold down clip having a hook shaped section and a clip base secures the standing seam to the underlying support structure. The hook shaped section includes a slidable radiused portion, a substantially vertically extending portion and a hook portion which hooks over and is compressively secured to a corresponding radiused portion of the male sidelap portion. The slidable radiused portion slidably engages a c-shaped beam portion of the clip base, allowing the hook shaped section to move relative to the clip base as the panels expand and contract as a result of environmental conditions, while still resisting the unfurling and unzipping of the standing seam as a result of uplift forces on the panels.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for the early detection of faults in a head-disc assembly (HDA) from a disc drive manufacturing process. Parametrics are obtained from an HDA at a parametric station and provided to a pattern recognition system for estimating an error rate category from the measured HDA parametrics. The estimated error rate category and the parametrics are provided to a fuzzy inferencing system, which uses linguistic rules to classify the HDA as GOOD, MARGINAL or BAD, based upon the parametrics and the estimated error rate category. HDAs classified as GOOD or MARGINAL continue processing through dynamic burn-in (DBI), while HDAs classified as BAD are subjected to rework. The pattern recognition system includes a reference database containing historical parametric and associated error rate data, which is updated over time by the subsequent inclusion of selected parametrics and measured error rates for HDAs subjected to DBI.

Abstract: A pin straightening tool for aligning a pin in a multi-pin connector. The pin straightening tool includes an electrically conductive handle having a beveled end and a hollow recess extending longitudinally into the beveled end. An alignment tip is connected to the end of the handle and used to align the pin. The alignment tip includes a shaft which is inserted into the recess of the beveled end of the handle and a tube which extends longitudinally from the shaft and away from the handle. The tube has a hollow recess having an inner diameter sized for receipt of the pin and the outer diameter of the tube is sized for placement of the tube between adjacent pins in the multi-pin connector. Engagement means is provided between the alignment tip and the handle so that the alignment tip can be engaged and subsequently removed from the handle. A pocket clip is attached to the handle for clipping the pin straightening tool when the pin straightening tool is not in use.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an improved insulating wire guide for a disc drive actuator assembly. The insulating wire guide is integrally formed with an actuator arm and comprises a rigid, non-conductive material formed onto the actuator arm, the wire guide having a base portion on which head wires rest and tabs extending from the base portion to form a channel through which the head wires are routed. The wire guide and actuator arm are formed from an extrusion having a cross-sectional shape substantially that of the actuator arm, the extrusion including dams forming a channel along one side of the extrusion. The non-conductive material is applied to the extrusion, substantially filling the channel, and, after the non-conductive material is cured, the extrusion and the cured non-conductive material is machined to provide the desired configuration of the actuator arm and the wire guide.

Abstract: A process and diluent injection burner apparatus is provided which is capable of reducing the nitrogen oxide content in a combustion effluent, the diluent injection burner assembly provided with a burner head having an air flow passage extending therethrough and primary and secondary fuel dispensing nozzles supported within the airflow passageway and adapted to inject fuel into a peripheral downstream end portion of the burner head. A diluent manifold assembly is supported by the burner head such that upon combustion of the fuel diluent is tangentially injected into the peripheral downstream end portion of the burner head relative to a flame envelope produced by ignition of the primary and secondary fuel so that a diluent shroud is formed about a base portion of the flame envelope.

Abstract: An improved spindle motor connector for a disc drive. The spindle motor connector includes a central housing having socket connectors for mating engagement with connector pins of the spindle motor. Electrical leads are connected to the socket connectors and extend radially from the central housing, and spoke arms are connected to the central housing and extend radially from the central housing adjacent the electrical leads. Spacer arms are connected to the spoke arms and maintain the desired spacing between the spindle motor connector pins and a disc drive printed wiring assembly, which is mounted below the spindle motor. The connector pins of the spindle motor are located at an end of and within the axial extent of a spindle motor stator shaft, so that the central housing extends into the end of the stator shaft. The end of the stator shaft extends through a hole in the disc drive printed wiring assembly.

Abstract: A panel support assembly apparatus for supporting panel members used in a new roof assembly is disclosed. The panel support assembly provides the ability to support a new roof assembly over underlying support structure, which may be a preexisting roof assembly such as a built up roof. An adjustable support spacer supports a new roof assembly over underlying support structure and has base support members disposed in a first direction over the underlying support structure. A support spacer is disposed in a second direction substantially normal to the direction of the base support members. Further, web spacer means support the support spacer and include attachment means for connecting the web spacer means to the base support members and top support means for connecting the web spacer means to the support spacer, thereby rigidly securing the support spacer in the first and the second directions.

Abstract: A standing seam roof assembly in which adjacent roof panels are supported by underlying support structure in overlapping edge relationship to form a standing seam between adjacent roof panels is disclosed. A plurality of fasteners secures medial portions of the roof panels to underlying support structure so that the standing seam is prevented from unfurling during uplift of the roof panels. The fasteners rigidly attach the roof panels to the underlying support structure, or alternatively, secure adjacent roof panels relative to one another. Additionally, the use of a floating underlying structure allows the panels to expand and contract as a result of environmental conditions without damaging the panels or underlying structural connections. The fasteners may be located adjacent to structural corrugation crowns located in the medial portions of the panels as well as adjacent to the standing seam.

Abstract: A method for carrying out seeks of a transducer between tracks of a disc drive to limit acoustic noise arising from changes in the acceleration of the actuator which supports the transducer.

Abstract: A latch assembly used for latching an actuator in a disc drive. The latch assembly comprises a coil assembly for selectively generating magnetic fields of alternating polarity in a pair of magnetically permeable plates. The plates are separated by a vertical gap which includes a coil, so that the passage of electrical current through the coil establishes magnetic polarities within the plates. Adjacent the coil assembly is a rocker assembly which is pivotable about a horizontal axis and comprises a latch arm and a coil arm, both of which extend in opposite directions from a central hinge portion. The distal end of the coil arm includes a permanent magnet which alternately detents between positions proximate to the plates of the coil assembly.

Abstract: A standing seam roof assembly in which adjacent roof panels are supported by underlying support structure in overlapping edge relationship to form a standing seam between adjacent roof panels is disclosed. A first roof panel having a female sidelap portion forms a male insertion cavity and a second roof panel having a male sidelap portion is inserted into the male insertion cavity to form the standing seam assembly. The standing seam assembly prevents unfurling of the first and second roof panels by forming force couples that resist forces due to uplift of the first and second panels. A mastic material is compressed between portions of the female and male sidelap portions, thereby forming a weathertight seal.

Abstract: A method for settling a transducer (18) of a hard disc drive (10) on a target track (30) on a rotating disc (12) of the disc drive at the end of a seek to the target track in a determined time period. The time period is divided into two deadbeat intervals(58, 60), each of which is divided into a plurality of time intervals in each of which the location of the transducer with respect to the target track is measured (80) and an accepted value of transducer velocity is measured (82) or determined from successive locations of the transducer. In the first time interval of the each deadbeat interval, a deadbeat value of a control signal is determined (88) on the basis of ideal deadbeat settle of the transducer to the target track and outputted to a power amplifier (36) that drives the actuator (40) on which the transducer is mounted for radial movement of the transducer across the disc.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the write current used by a disc drive read/write transducer to write data to data tracks on a disc. The method optimizes the write current by selecting write currents that minimize the occurrence of repeatable, hard read errors. The method comprises writing a predetermined pattern of information to selected data tracks using each of a plurality of write current values and subsequently reading the data on the selected data track while recording the number of hard read errors for each of the write current values. The optimum write current value is selected at the write current value having the minimum number of hard read errors. An optimum write current value is determined for each of a plurality of locations on the disc and these write current values are stored in the disc drive. During subsequent disc drive write operations, these values are used to determine the optimum write current value for a selected data track through interpolation techniques.

Abstract: A standing seam roof assembly with a four corner sealing assembly having an upper pair of interlocking standing seam joint panels and a lower pair of interlocking standing seam joint panels which meet in a lapped four corner juncture area, the upper ends of the lower panel pair are overlapped by the lower ends of the upper panel pair at the juncture area, one panel of each of the upper panel pair and the lower panel pair having an upstanding male side lap portion forming a male apex. The other panel of each of the upper panels and the lower panels have an upstanding female sidelap portion overlapping the respective male sidelap portions, each of the female sidelap portions having a longitudinally disposed sealant cavity and a sidelap sealant strip that is predeterminedly disposed within the sealant cavity with the sealant strip veering at the juncture area. The upstanding leg portions of the male sidelap portions are received within the insertion cavity of one of the female sidelap portions.

Abstract: A process for minimizing the formation of nitrogen oxides in the disposal of industrial waste streams containing chemically bound nitrogen, the process comprising the steps of passing a combustion gas stream at about 1200.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F. to a combustion chamber; mixing an industrial waste stream with a selected mixing ingredient to provide a waste stream mixture having a composition such that adiabatic combustion of the waste stream mixture would yield combustion products having a combustion temperature of about 1500.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F.; injecting the waste stream mixture into the combustion chamber and contacting same with the combustion gas stream to combust the nitrogen containing compounds to form a composite combustion gas stream having a temperature of from about 1500.degree. F. to about 2000.degree. F. The composite combustion gas stream can be vented to the atmosphere after, preferably, passing same through heat recovery equipment.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, which is characterized by a vigorous, upright growth habit, leathery leaves which emerge crimson and quickly change to medium green, few seed heads, moderate seed head production, inflorescences which are eight to fourteen inches tall and six to ten inches wide, flower buds that are crimson before opening, and cherry red flower petals with occasional slight white variegation.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of crape myrtly, Lagerstroemia indica, which is characterized by a dense, upright, and pyramidal growth habit, leathery leaves which emerge crimson and slowly change to medium green, few seed heads, late flowering season, inflorescences which are six to twelve inches tall and four to eight inches wide, and flower petals that range from cardinal red bordered irregularly by white on hot summer days to pink with more white on cooler or cloudy days.

Abstract: A new and distinct variety of crape myrtle, Lagerstroemia indica, which is characterized by a dense shrub form that may reach eight to ten feet in height, leathery leaves which emerge ruby red and slowly change to purplish green, early and long flowering season that continues after seed head production, inflorescences which are six to twelve inches tall and four to eight inches wide, and flower petals that range from bright red-purple on hot summer days to less intense color on cooler or cloudy days.