Abstract: An analog, adaptive generalized transversal equalizer for use in the filtering system of a disc drive PRML read channel, the transversal equalizer employing the use of non-ideal delay elements. The filtering system comprises the equalizer connected in series with an adaptive, analog prefilter. The prefilter is comprised of a plurality of serially connected, adaptive, analog filter stages having variable transfer functions determined by adaptive parameter signals received by the filter stages. The generalized transversal equalizer comprises a plurality of serially connected, adaptive, analog low pass filters, having taps on either side of each low pass filter, a plurality of multipliers that receive signals at the tap locations of the delay circuit, and a summing circuit that receives the outputs of the multipliers.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the demand velocities in a disc drive velocity profile using both time and vibro-acoustic constraints. An accurate, high-order dynamic model of the disc drive is formulated which describes the vibro-acoustic output of the drive in response to actuator coil current input, taking into account the disc drive actuator structure and the electrical response of the disc drive servo circuit. From this dynamic model, the shortest possible seek time is determined for a selected seek length which can achieve a vibro-acoustic output below a selected, maximum limit, as well as settling within a specified tolerance of the target track. Once the shortest possible seek time is determined, the demand velocity values in the velocity profile are selected so as to minimize the maximum position error during the seek settle. The demand velocity values are subsequently provided in a look up table for use during a seek by the disc drive servo circuit.

Abstract: A laminated base deck for a disc drive comprising a base portion and side walls extending from the base portion. The side walls mate with a top cover to provide a sealed environment for the disc drive and the base portion supports a disc drive spindle motor and actuator assembly. The base portion and side walls comprise a laminate including an interior structural layer, an exterior structural layer and a core layer disposed between the interior and exterior structural layers, wherein the structural layers provide mechanical support for the disc drive and the core layer provides improved damping of vibrations generated by the operation of the spindle motor and the actuator assembly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing for mechanical defects in a disc drive during manufacturing test is disclosed. The disc drive performs a special test seek to a destination track involving maximum acceleration and deceleration current to induce resonant frequencies in an actuator servo position error (SPE) signal. During track following on the destination track, the SPE is filtered by a sample and accumulate operation, resulting in the detection and characterization of the resonant frequency. The characteristics of the detected and characterized resonant frequency are compared to predetermined maximum acceptable threshold values, and when the characteristics exceed the threshold values an error flag is set, indicating a failure condition for the disc drive, enabling the disc drive to be removed from test for subsequent remedial actions.

Abstract: A method for reducing noise during track seeking in a disc drive wherein transducers proximate the surfaces of discs of the drive are accelerated away from an initial track in a first sequence of successive time interval and subsequently decelerated toward a destination track in a second sequence of successive time intervals in proportion to the difference between the actual velocity of the transducers and a demand velocity for each of the intervals. The demand velocity in each time interval is the sum of the demand velocity for the previous interval and a velocity demand fraction of the difference between an adjusted profile velocity and the demand velocity for the previous time interval. The adjusted profile velocity is the difference between a stored profile velocity and an anticipator that is maintained at a selected value during acceleration of the transducers and decremented to zero during initial time intervals in which the transducers are decelerated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for testing for mechanical defects in a disc drive during manufacturing test is disclosed. Resonances in the disc drive are excited by injecting a sinusoidal test signal of known magnitude and frequency into an incoming servo position error (SPE) signal in the servo loop to provide a modified SPE. While the test signal is injected, the modified SPE is sampled and filtered to characterize the test frequency in the modified SPE which is compared to a resultant frequency characterized in the incoming SPE. The presence of resonances in the disc drive structure will result in an increase in the gain of the loop as indicated by the characterized resonant frequencies from the incoming and modified SPE. When the gain exceeds predetermined criteria, an error flag is set indicative of a failure condition for the disc drive, enabling the disc drive to be removed from test for subsequent remedial actions.

Abstract: A cleaning apparatus for a paint roller assembly having a roller applicator, the apparatus having a housing assembly forming a cleaning cavity and forming a longitudinal input slot, support apparatus removably supporting the paint roller assembly to dispose the roller applicator within the cleaning cavity for free rotation about the center axis thereof, and a nozzle and sealing assembly supported on the housing assembly having a nozzle having fluid communication with the cleaning cavity through the input slot and closure assembly which movably supports the nozzle for travel along the length of the input slot, the nozzle attachable to a high pressure supply of cleaning fluid, the nozzle supported to direct cleaning fluid against the roller applicator to impart rotation thereof during cleaning.

Abstract: An improved low NO.sub.x burner for firing fuels such as fuel oil, fuel gas and the like having an improved register which includes primary and secondary registers. The primary and secondary registers each have an annular perforated shield covering primary and secondary air inlets. The annular perforated shields form primary and secondary air equalizers which provide a more uniform distribution of combustion air about the register as the combustion air enters the register through primary and secondary air inlets, increasing regulation of combustion air and reducing flame impingement. Annular primary and secondary dampers adjustably cover the primary and secondary air equalizers to slidably adjust the ratio of primary to secondary air entering the primary and secondary registers through the primary and secondary air inlets.

Abstract: Apparatus for performing time and frequency-domain filtering in a sampled communication channel for the transmission of binary information. A received signal is provided to a double-domain, analog transversal equalizer comprising a plurality of serially connected, active, analog filter sections with associated tap locations, each filter section having a programmable frequency response and adaptively controlled one-bit delay. The filter sections provide sequential, cumulative frequency domain filtering as the received signal propagates through the equalizer. The transfer function of each filter section has a linear phase polynomial denominator and a real (at s=j.omega.) polynomial numerator, facilitating independent control of the delay and frequency response of each filter section.

Abstract: An improved toilet seat usable by either a human or a pet animal, the toilet seat having a rim member with a central aperture and a shelf assembly mounted to the rim member which adjusts the size of the central aperture in a protracted position to support the weight of the pet animal user. A support assembly supports the rim member above a floor surface for training a pet animal user, the support assembly having a leg assembly connected to the rim member by hinges and extendible therefrom for supporting the rim member during animal pet training. A training tray is supportable by the rim member for selectively providing a litter holder cavity below the central aperture.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for adaptively compensating for variations in rotational speed of a back emf commutated spindle motor in a hard disc drive. After the motor achieves nominal operating speed, the hard disc drive enters a learn mode during which systematic variations in operational speed of the spindle motor are characterized over a plurality of rotations, including characterization of the average timing of zero crossing signals with respect to reference frequency periods and characterization of the average time between successive zero crossing signals. The hard disc drive next enters a compensation mode, during which modified speed control timing signals and modified commutation timing signals are outputted in response to the average timing characterized during the learn mode.

Abstract: A shower mounted hygiene dispenser for discharging a stream of water or a mixture of water and hygienic fluid for oral irrigation, the dispenser having a conduit housing connectable to a domestic water source. A dispenser assembly contains a collapsible bag of hygienic fluid which selectively discharges the hygienic fluid into the conduit housing in response to differential pressure exerted upon the bag to provide a mixture of water and hygienic fluid. An applicator assembly comprising a hose and a nozzle assembly delivers either pressurized water or a mixture of water and hygienic fluid for personal hygiene usage, such as for oral irrigation. A pressure regulating valve regulates the water pressure through the conduit housing.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting up to two errors in a sequence of data elements read front a data track of a disc drive and detecting the occurrence of more than two errors. A syndrome generator determines a syndrome, having five components, from the data elements and the components are transmitted to a syndrome weight generator that provides an indication of a syndrome having a zero Hamming weight and to a detector that generates an indication of whether a selected component is zero. These indications are transmitted to a decoder. A determinant generator generates determinants that are combinations of selected components and a determinant weight generator determines a code indicating the Hamming weight of selected determinants. Such code is transmitted to the decoder. Discriminator and trace detectors generate additional signals determined from the components and determinants that are transmitted to the decoder.

Abstract: A toilet seat device and associated training method for pet animals that permit dual purpose use of a household toilet by both humans and pets, the toilet seat device comprising a toilet seat supported by a commode and having a plurality of shelf segments. The shelf segments are extendible to a protracted position to reduce the size of the central aperture of the toilet seat by a handle member operably connected to a cable and roller assembly which interconnects the shelf segments, and are automatically retractable in response to the weight of a human occupant on the toilet seat, or by manual manipulation of the handle member.

Abstract: A system for controlling the feed rate of a feed stock to processing equipment by monitoring and controlling the length of the feed stock in an accumulator assembly. The control system regulates the feed rate of the feed stock by initially forming a line of the feed stock in the accumulator assembly, detecting the extent of the length of the line with respect to preselected set points, controlling the length of the line in the accumulator assembly by adjusting the feed rate of the feed stock from a base feed rate in response to preselected minimum and maximum values for the length of the feed stock line, and adjusting the base feed rate with each excursion of the line from the preselected minimum and maximums.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a ribbon cable plug to a 3-in-1 printed circuit board connector. The ribbon cable plug mates with a signals section of the connector and an address section of the printed circuit board connector, adjacent the signal section, includes a plurality of pins that extend from the connector parallel to a line along which the ribbon cable plug is moved to mate the ribbon cable plug with the signals section of the connector. The pins, which have square cross sections, are received in circular sockets formed in one end to a body member of a retaining plug constructed of glass filled polyester. The sockets are sized so that the pins will deform portions of the retaining plug body member about the sockets and thereby clamp the retaining plug to the printed circuit board connector.

Abstract: Disposal of land filled-produced leachate, gas and condensate, comprising combusting a first portion of a land filled-produced gas to produce hot flue gas, contacting the landfill-produced leachate and condensate with a portion of the hot flue gas to vaporize all of the leachate and condensate liquids to form a composite gas stream, and combusting the composite gas stream to convert any noxious components remaining therein to non-polluting compounds. Further, solids entrained in the composite gas stream can be separated from the composite gas stream. Following combustion of the composite gas stream, only non-polluting compounds are discharged to the atmosphere.

Abstract: Cooking tong apparatus for handling food items on a grill, the cooking tong apparatus having first and second jaws disposed in opposing gripping engagement, wherein the jaws open and close in a vertical direction and each jaw has a plurality of tines that are properly spaced apart and sized to fit between standard cross-members of a grill. The cooking tong apparatus has first and second handles which lie in a substantially horizontal plane, allowing a user to operate the cooking tong apparatus in a manner which is most comfortable for the user's hand and wrist.

Abstract: A stirrup swivel attachment which includes a stop for stopping the pivotation of the stirrup so that the stirrup pivots freely only within a limited range. The stirrup swivel attachment includes a first horizontal web portion having a midpoint and a longitudinal axis; a horizontal u-shaped member having a second horizontal web portion with a midpoint, a longitudinal axis and two ends, and having flange portions that extend vertically upward from the ends of the second horizontal web portion; a pin for pivotally connecting the first and second horizontal web portions at the midpoints thereof; and a stop disposed on the first horizontal web portion at a point removed from the midpoint thereof for stopping the second horizontal web portion when the first horizontal web portion is pivoted about the pin so that the longitudinal axes of the first and second horizontal web portions cannot become vertically aligned.