Abstract: An actuator assembly for a magnetic recording disk file and method of fabricating same. A sleeve surrounds and is axially moveable relative to a stator to control the axial position of a head/arm assembly relative to a magnetic recording disk. The sleeve is separated from said stator by a gas-bearing film. Electronic circuit components are mounted on a canister that surrounds said sleeve and is substantially thermally isolated from said sleeve to dissipate heat generated by said components. The canister is in the form of a hollow rectangle which surrounds the rectangle sleeve with clearance and is secured to the sleeve at a minimum number of points to permit cooling air to flow through the clearance space with minimal obstruction. A flexible flat conductive input/output cable is secured to three sides of the canister, and a flexible flat conductive power cable is secured to the remaining side of the canister.

Abstract: A method and circuitry are described for sensing the clearance between a magnetic transducer and a moving magnetic recording medium in a magnetic disk or tape storage system or alternatively sensing the degree of magnetic instability of a magnetic transducer in such a system. Magnetic transitions prewritten on a preselected area of the medium are read to obtain a readback signal. The width of said signal is sensed at a predetermined amplitude level which is a preselected percentage of its base-to-peak amplitude to provide a voltage corresponding to the width of said signal at said level. The voltage is proportional to the width of the readback signal divided by the time period between successive transitions of identical polarity, so as to provide a measurement of clearance of degree of magnetic instability that is independent of the relative velocity between said transducer and medium.The voltage is digitized and compared to a prestored digital reference value.

Abstract: Direct overwriting of encoded data along a track in a magneto-optic recording medium is described. A laser beam, not modulated by data, is directed at the active side of the medium to locally heat the width of one track for conditioning it for direct overwriting. A magnetic head comprising an inductor and a capacitance in parallel with the inductor is movable in an appropriate manner to a selectable track. While the head is in alignment with the beam, current of a preselected polarity is supplied from a current source to the inductor. The current source is disconnected to reverse the field of the magnetic head by reciprocation of energy between the inductor and capacitance. Once the magnetic field is reversed, current is supplied to the inductor for maintaining the field until the next field reversal, the reversal times being determined by the data to be written.

Abstract: Airborne contaminants within a substantially sealed enclosure are detected and measured, in situ, without interrupting the operation of moving parts within the enclosure. At least one infrared (IR)-transparent attenuated total reflection (ATR) element, such as an optical fiber, optical fiber bundle, or ATR crystal, is disposed in the enclosure to collect or react with contaminants. An IR source is optically coupled to one part of the element, and an IR detector is optically coupled to another part of the element. The source and detector, in combination, respond to changes in intensity at the wavelengths of the IR radiation transmitted by the element to identify the contaminants and quantities thereof that settle on the element or compounds that have formed thereon. The source may be a continuous source (such as a black body) and the detector an IR spectrometer. Or, the source may be a diode laser and the detector an IR radiation detector.