Abstract: A cantilevered beam assembly with a maximum resonance frequency is adaptable for supporting a transducer for use with a random access flexible disk file. The cantilevered beam assembly includes a first cantilevered member and a second elongated member coupled at one end by a flexible joint to the free end of the first cantilevered member. When used with a flexible disk file system, a magnetic transducer is seated on the second end of the elongated member while said elongated member is restricted to flex in one plane only. A relatively thin, tapered, elongated protective structure having a relatively sharp, elongated leading edge contiguous with a relatively sharp front edge is rigidly connected to the first cantilevered member and surrounds the second elongated member in a plane orthogonal to the plane of flex.

Abstract: The output voltage of a transformer is regulated by controlling the flow of magnetic flux through a shunt core. The transformer includes a main core fabricated from U-I laminations and is arranged to form a substantially rectangular structure. A primary and a secondary coil are seated on the main core. A shunt core with shunt winding having lamination size and structure substantially analogous to that of the main core is positioned in spaced alignment to said main core. A flux interconnecting path, called the bottleneck, connects the main core and the shunt core to form a sturdy unified structure. The shunt winding is activated by control circuitry by which the flux flow through the shunt core is limited and hence the output voltage is regulated.

Abstract: A high voltage/high current circuitry includes a push-pull voltage amplification stage connected in tandem with a parallel connected push-pull current amplification stage. For the voltage amplification stage a pair of bipolar operational amplifiers are connected in parallel and operate in a push-pull manner. A pair of switching means are positioned at the output of each of the bipolar operational amplifiers while the outputs of the amplifiers are connected to the inputs through a current gain regulating means, an isolation means and a voltage divider means.

Abstract: A high performance self threading tape transport apparatus is packaged within a stand alone 19 inch wide frame. The tape transport apparatus includes a removable file reel and a machine reel. The removable file reel and the machine reel are arranged diagonally with a gravity assisted tape threading path. A single capstan is positioned adjacent the tape threading path with a pair of vacuum chambers situated one on each side of the capstan. The vacuum columns are offset relative to each other but incline to the tape threading path. A processing station including a magnetic transducer, is displaced relative to the tape threading path and operates to read magnetic data from the tape or to write magnetic data on the tape.

Abstract: In a flexible magnetic disk file having one or more flexible disks mounted for rotation about a centrally located axis, data on a selected disk is transduced by a magnetic head seated on a fail-safe head arm support. The head arm support is a relatively flat elongated member mounted at one end to a carriage assembly. The head arm support has a smooth contour with relatively sharp edges about its periphery and a spherical enclosure seated on its free end. The head arm support is tapered, at a predetermined angle from the rigidly mounted end towards the free end. The angle of taper allows for automatic ejection of the head arm support from the disk file during inadvertent closure of the disk file. The relatively sharp edges allow the head arm support to open a closed disk file.

Abstract: A magnetic head/arm assembly has a suspension for an air bearing head slider that includes a single piece substantially rectangular flexure with two parallel flexible narrow fingers, a relatively stiff cross leg, and a central finger to which the slider is attached. A combined load beam-spring element is formed from a single piece and is fastened to the flexure so as to engage a load protuberance formed with the central finger. The substantially triangular load beam/spring element has flanges formed along a portion of its length to concentrate the resilient spring action at the opposite end to the flexure while providing a stiffening action along the remaining portion of its length. The stiff cross leg section of the rectangular flexure is crimped to detent the central finger to keep the attached slider parallel while allowing for the load protuberance thickness to the load beam.

Abstract: The output voltage of a flux controlled transformer is regulated by controlling the magnetic flux flow in the main core of the transformer. This regulation is achieved by a magnetic structure which includes a main core with primary and secondary coils thereon; shunt cores symmetrically situated about the main core; and leakage paths symmetrically positioned about the main core so as to interconnect the main and shunt cores. In one configuration the leakage paths include magnetic laminations which are positioned perpendicular to the magnetic laminations which form the main and shunt cores. In another configuration the magnetic laminations are arranged in a trapezoidal configuration.

Abstract: A method for batch fabricating magnetic heads with a desired cant angle in the transducing surface of the magnetic core. The cant angle reduces the "Minor Bit" phenomenon. The two parts of the core which require the cant angle are mounted on a fixture so that a grind wheel is simultaneously in contact with both parts. Materials are simultaneously subtracted (i.e., grind away) from both parts to create mirror images at the surfaces which adjoin the grind wheel. The surfaces are then cleaned and glassed to provide a core bar with intimate fit. The core bar is diced into individual cores and is lapped to size. The individual cores are then fitted into a slider assembly to form the magnetic head.

Abstract: A coarse scanning device produces analog signals that are encoded and compressed to distinguish between and represent the white background and potentially the all black elements of the character by run length codes and at least the edge of the black character by grey level values. The grey level information is decoded to activate a fine print device where the numer of print dots in a matrix is equal to the grey level values. The placement of the print dots are biased according to pattern matrices designed to bias the dots toward the character. The pattern matrices are acquired by determining the sums of the grey level values of various groups of picture elements peripheral to the picture element being decoded.

Abstract: In a disk file, a mechanism places the magnetic transducer into and out of a transducing position by using the air flow generated in the file by the rotating disk. The magnetic head is biased out of contact with the magnetic disk media. As the disk media starts rotating and building up an air flow within the file, a nozzle directs this air against the slider to urge it towards the media. At running speed, the head is positioned at a flying height by negative air pressure generated by the slider flying over the media. The air flow nozzle can be a funnel shape formed in the arm assembly used to position the sliders over a track in the disk media or a knife edge assembly can be used to gather and direct the air flow towards the suspension and slider.

Abstract: A slider element includes a thin film transducer deposited onto a slider along at least one of the rails forming the flying air bearing surface with a magnetic media. A portion of the end tips of the pole pieces and gap of the thin film inductive transducer and a portion of the slider rail adjacent to the transducer is etched by a sputter etching process. A layer of a passivation material such as chromium is sputter deposited into the etched portion such that the leading portion of the rail protects the passivation material from wear. The passivation material over the pole tips of the transducer prevents the corrosion of the iron-nickel alloy comprising the pole tips.

Abstract: Scanned image data is compressed and stored in a central processing unit. An image for display is recalled, decompressed, and then recompressed for refresh storage for a CRT display device. The refresh compressed image is recalled when necessary for display and refresh, and directed through a plurality of parallel operated decompressors and refresh buffers to drive the display unit. An unfilled compressed refresh image store is filled with zeros to complete the display with an all white scan. In an overflow situation, a partition boundary is generated to identify that more data follows. To display the subsequent image, upon request, the overflow increment value which repeats a few scan lines is transmitted and a visual overlap image with subsequent data is compressed for refresh store and display and refreshed as required.

Abstract: A directional biasing method enhances the print quality of coarsely scanned characters. A coarse scanning device produces analog signals that are compressed by encoding common information in a run length coding and encoding at least an edge of the character information according to a grey level indication. The data information is reproduced wherein the grey scale information is decoded to represent a finer print than the picture element scanned. The biasing and placement of the dots is set according to the grey scale of the surrounding picture elements. Eight sums are obtained of various groups of three peripheral picture elements corresponding to eight patterns located symmetrically on both sides of 4 bisecting lines, vertical, horizontal and two 45.degree. lines. A particular matrix of print dot placement is selected according to the largest pattern sum among the eight possible cases. The dots in each matrix are designed to being strongly biased toward the direction of the associated pattern.

Abstract: Resolution or size changing of scanned objects can be accomplished on contour coded data using the information obtained in the boundary following of exterior and interior borders of objects. The compressed boundary following data has its resolution changed by scale factor multiplying after decoding. The rescaled image is placed into a memory store for display. Uncompressed data is resolution changed by boundary following the stored image to obtain the object boundary coordinates. These coordinates are concurrently multiplied by a scale factor, compared to the scaled coordinate of the previous boundary picutre element and either contour encoded to compress the shrunken image or directed to a second memory store for display. The coordinates of each successive point are changed by the multipliers that scale the coordinates by the consolidation ratios. Each coordinate is affected separately. Any rational reduction factor can be achieved.

Abstract: A plurality of parallel abrasive wires are placed into a plurality of grooves machined into a support. The depth and spacing of the grooves form a wire pattern which shapes the air bearing rails of sliders of magnetic head assemblies. Batch fabrication is accomplished by providing relative motion between the wires and a block of material suitable for sliders and cut to size to form a row of sliders. The wires abrade the row to shape the width and spacing of the air bearing rails according to the spacing of the grooves in the support.

Abstract: A magnetic disk member for a memory disk file usable in a data processing system includes an eccentric multi-lobed triangular center locating hole to facilitate concentric mounting of the locating hole centerlines in a multiple disk pack memory. The disks are centered in a disk pack by placing onto a drive hub having ribs to match the lobes of the locating holes.

Abstract: A magnetic recording media is manufactured by depositing a nonmagnetic cobalt base alloy onto a substrate preferably aluminum as a protective layer for the substrate. The cobalt alloy includes chromium, tungsten, and nickel. The clad protective layer can be deposited in several steps with or without a polishing between the deposition steps to provide better corrosion protection for the substrate and covers surface imperfections of the substrate. The cobalt alloy is preferably sputtered onto the prepared substrate.

Abstract: A record carrier for a magnetic thin film metal layer includes a substrate coated with a pigmented epoxy resin as a synthetic substance layer. The pigment includes approximately 20% titanium dioxide and approximately 2% aluminum oxide. A thin getter metal layer is deposited over the synthetic substance layer for absorbing the outgasing from the synthetic substance layer. A relatively thicker metal layer such as chromium is then deposited over the getter layer for enhancing the magnetic properties of the subsequently deposited magnetic layer.

Abstract: A spin coating process produces a constant film thickness across a planar substrate by placing a frame around the substrate boundary to act as an auxiliary surface to allow a continuous film of the fluid to be spin coated. The auxiliary surface is elevated with respect to the plane of the substrate surface.

Abstract: A transducer for servoing on data or separate servo information is fabricated with two adjacent magnetoresistive (MR) elements stagger connected such that each MR element senses one-half of the data magnetic transition track or separate coded servo tracks. Each MR element is magnetostatically biased by a soft magnetic film formed as a portion of its adjacent MR element material.