Abstract: A hard disk drive with a disk that has a plurality of data fields. Each data field includes a sync field and a plurality of sync marks. Data is written onto the disk in accordance with a write clock. The write clock is generated and synchronized by the sync field and the sync marks. The sync marks are dispersed throughout the data field so that the write clock is resynchronized as data is written onto the field.

Abstract: A dynamic power supply for N amplifiers includes first and second power boost circuits which temporarily boost the positive or negative power supply rail, respectively. A control circuit monitors amplifier output signal levels and provides power boost control signals to the power boost circuits, which temporarily raise the positive supply voltage above the nominal voltage level in tandem with the highest output signal from the N amplifiers and lower the negative supply voltage below the nominal voltage level in tandem with the lowest output signal level from the N amplifiers. The power boost circuits each may be coupled to a reservoir capacitor from which current is drawn to provide the power boost. When inactive, the reservoir capacitors charge up from the respective power supply rails. The dynamic power supply is well suited for audio amplification systems.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a disk that includes a first group of tracks and a second group of tracks. The second group of tracks are used to write large blocks of data. For example, data in the second group may be video or audio. The second group of tracks has a higher track density than the first group of tracks. The large data block is written sequentially in the second group of tracks so that there is only one adjacent track write within the group. Using only one adjacent track write allows the tracks within the second group to be overlapped to increase track density.

Abstract: An image sensor with a plurality of photodiodes that each is adjacent to a first region constructed from a first type of material and comprises a second region constructed from a second type of material. Located between second regions of adjacent photodiodes is a barrier region. The photodiodes are reverse biased to create depletion regions within the substrate. The barrier region limits the lateral growth of the depletion regions and inhibits depletion merger between adjacent photodiodes.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a disk and a head that is separated from the disk by a flying height. The disk drive also includes a circuit that determines the flying height from an equation that uses a third harmonic of a read signal. The read signal includes a data pattern that is a product of a first data pattern and a second data pattern. The resultant data pattern provides a third harmonic with a relatively high magnitude and improved signal to noise ratio.

Abstract: An image sensor pixel that includes a photoelectric conversion unit supported by a substrate and an insulator adjacent to the substrate. The pixel includes a light guide that is located within an opening of the insulator and extends above the insulator such that a portion of the light guide has an air interface. The air interface improves the internal reflection of the light guide. Additionally, the light guide and an adjacent color filter are constructed with a process that optimizes the upper aperture of the light guide. These characteristics of the light guide eliminate the need for a microlens.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a controller that determines a position error signal gain. The position error signal gain is determined from a total servo loop gain and a function that is defined by a slope of a line of A and B servo bits measured at N off-track positions. The function determines an actual plant gain and thus provides a more accurate position error signal gain.

Abstract: A toy airplane with foldable wings. The wings can be folded before being launched by a launcher. When the toy airplane is launched the wind pressure maintains the wings in the folded position. When the toy airplane reaches a certain reduced speed, springs of the toy plane move the wings back into an unfolded position. Movement of wings into the unfolded position closes a switch and powers a propeller of the toy plane. The propeller can be powered by a battery within the toy plane fuselage. The combination of a motorized propeller, switch and folded wings provides a toy airplane that minimizes drag during launch and allows for extended flight after launch.

Abstract: A robotic system that includes a robot and a remote station. The remote station can generate control commands that are transmitted to the robot through a broadband network. The control commands can be interpreted by the robot to induce action such as robot movement or focusing a robot camera. The robot can generate reporting commands that are transmitted to the remote station through the broadband network. The reporting commands can provide positional feedback or system reports on the robot.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a voice coil motor coupled to a head. The disk drive includes a circuit that provides a drive current with a sinusoidal waveform to the voice coil motor during an unload routine. The back emf of the voice coil motor can be determined during a sample period when the current is essentially zero. There is no need to perform a resistance calibration. This reduces the time needed to unload the head.

Abstract: A system and method for network simulation and enhancement includes an experiment configuration engine that provides various proposed traffic and/or network models, and a simulator responsive to the proposed traffic and/or network models to execute a plurality of simulations for the network using parallel discrete event simulation, to determine an optimal network configuration based upon an objective function for enhancing an aspect of network performance. The traffic and/or network models may be based on monitored data from the network indicating a current network state and current network traffic. Reconfiguration instructions for the new network configuration may be conveyed from the simulator to the network, so as to effectuate ongoing, real-time enhancement of the network. The network model(s) may cover internal operational details of individual network devices (e.g., routers and/or switches) as well as operation of the network as a whole.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that determines a flying height from a ratio of a first harmonic transfer function and a third harmonic transfer function. The transfer functions can be determined from a response to an impulse function. The impulse function (also known as an impulse response) can be a playback waveform de-convolved by channel data sequence. Any change in the ratio of the first and third harmonic transfer functions corresponds to a change in the flying height. The disk drive may utilize the transfer function ratios in a feedback routine to control the flying height.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes one or more monitoring devices, positioned in sewer manholes, storm drains, etc., and a remote monitoring station that communicates wirelessly therewith. The monitoring device may be an integrated unit, including sensors, a two-way telemetry unit, a power supply, a processor, and supporting hardware, all located in an enclosed, waterproof housing. The monitoring device is placed within a manhole cavity to obtain depth (e.g., water level) measurements, images, and other data, and report the measurements back to the remote monitoring station, which analyzes the data and responds to alert messages when a dangerous water level is detected. An additional sensor may monitor the manhole cover for security purposes. A distributed mesh network of wireless nodes may be used to relay communications from the monitoring devices along alternative paths, through bridge nodes that may connect to a public wireless or cellular network.

Abstract: A disk drive that includes a head and a disk. The disk drive also includes a circuit that can detect head/disk contact from a jitter determined from a read signal provided by the head. The jitter may correspond to the time interval between two detected sync marks. Alternatively, the jitter may correspond to a change in frequency of a read clock generated from the read signal. These approaches allow for detection of head movement in a down track direction. Down track is a direction that is essentially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the head.

Abstract: A robot system that includes a mobile robot and a portable control station that communicate through a cellular network. Utilizing a cellular network allows the control station to be a portable device such as a laptop computer or a personal digital assistant.

Abstract: A robot system that includes a robot and a remote station. The robot and remote station contain monitors, cameras, speakers and microphones that allow for two-way videoconferencing between a physician at the remote station and a patient in the vicinity of the robot. The system also includes a patient monitor that displays patient information such as an x-ray. The patient monitor can be seen by the patient, and by the physician through the robot camera. The system allows for a physician to remotely review the medical information with the patient.

Abstract: A system for transferring data from a disk drive to an external source. The disk drive includes a circuit with embedded firmware that associates internal and output definitions with the data. The definitions and data are provided to the external source which parses the definitions and the data. The parsing engine can output the data in pre-defined format. The embedded firmware associates the same definitions for all data. Thus an external programmer does not have to know, or monitor, the file format and output format of the disk drive to write an external software application.

Abstract: A hard disk drive that includes a disk that contains at least one signal and a head that is coupled to the disk. The disk drive also contains a circuit that includes a data sampler that generates a plurality of data samples from the signal, a harmonic sensor coupled to the data sampler and a spectral power accumulator coupled to the harmonic sensor. The harmonic sensor accumulates the data samples. The circuit includes a window generator that determines a window length of the data samples accumulated by the harmonic sensor. The spectral power accumulator accumulates the windows of sample data accumulated by the harmonic sensor. The sample data accumulated by the spectral power accumulator can be accessed by a processor that performs a spectral analysis of the data.

Abstract: A hard disk drive with a disk that contains a target track and an adjacent track. The drive includes a circuit that determines an error in data read from the target track. Data from the adjacent track is stored in memory. The adjacent track is then erased and the target track data is re-read from the target track. Erasing the adjacent track allows the target track data to be read without adjacent track interference. The data from the adjacent track is typically rewritten onto the disk from memory so no data is lost.

Abstract: A system for facilitating diagnosis and maintenance of one or more control networks located on a mobile conveyance comprises one or more wireless ground stations configured to communicate over a wireless communication channel with a control network via a wireless interface. A local area computer network receives and responds to messages to or from the control network via the wireless ground stations. The local area computer network comprises one or more user terminals, a server computer, a database comprising diagnostic information relating to said control network, and, optionally, a replacement parts database and/or job auction database. The local area network further includes a wide area network interface, which allow either additional diagnostic information relating to the control network to be retrieved, or parts to be manually or automatically ordered from remote vendor sites.