Abstract: A disk drive housing that can attenuate noise. The housing may include a first layer that is attached to a second layer, and a gap located between the first and second layers. The layers and gap may be configured to attenuate acoustic energy within a relatively broad frequency range.

Abstract: A method to test an instability of a magneto-resistive (MR) head. The instability is tested by first writing a signal onto a track. The junctions of the MR head are aligned with various track edges and the head characteristics are then measured. The characteristics may include determining a maximum amplitude covarian and a maximum base line popping noise.

Abstract: Method and system for command and control among a plurality of devices via a network by: connecting a first device to the network; connecting a second device to the network, where the second device stores application interface description data in a structured format for commanding and controlling the second device by other network devices; providing the application interface description data to the first device over the network; and sending control and command data from the first device to the second device over the network utilizing the application interface description data to control the operation of the second device.

Abstract: An environmental chamber that can be used to test a device under test such as a hard disk drive. The environmental chamber may include an electronically controlled shutter that controls the flow of controlled particles from a second chamber to a first chamber. The controlled particles flow to a device under the test located within the first chamber. The shutter can be closed when a predetermined threshold of contaminants is detected by the environmental chamber. This two-chamber method provides a stable and uniform density of particle environment around the drive.

Abstract: A method for detecting an asperity in a non-data parking zone of a disk in a hard disk drive. The method includes the steps of moving the heads of the disk drive adjacent to the parking zones of the disks, and then detecting asperities in the parking zones with a thermal asperity detection circuit.

Abstract: A rotational vibration testing device, including a rotating table, for testing both rotary shock and rotary vibration when used in conjunction with a pivoting shaker. The rotating table is mounted on a hub rotationally supported between two compression rings via tapered annular roller bearings preloaded in opposition. A motion arm connects to a radial arm on the side of the hub. The other end of the motion arm mounts to a height adjuster, which bolts to an electrodynamic shaker or other force generator. When the motion arm moves fore and aft, the linear acceleration is converted to rotational acceleration based on the radius from the stinger to the center of rotation. A nylon or equivalent median between the motion arm and the hub allows for sufficient flex without fore and aft play. The large tapered roller bearings preloaded in opposition eliminate z-axis acceleration and allow for greater payload testing.

Abstract: A hard disk drive which moves a transducer across a disk surface so that the transducer has an essentially sinusoidal acceleration trajectory. The transducer may be integrated into a slider that is incorporated into a head gimbal assembly. The head gimbal assembly may be mounted to an actuator arm which can move the transducer across the disk surface. The movement of the actuator arm and the transducer may be controlled by a controller. The controller may move the transducer from a first track to a new track in accordance with a seek routine and a servo control routine. During the seek routine the controller may move the transducer in accordance with a sinusoidal acceleration trajectory. The sinusoidal trajectory may reduce the high harmonics found in square waveforms of the prior art, and thus minimize the acoustic noise of the head gimbal assembly and reduce the settling time of the transducer for reducing the duration of the seek routine.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating servo information used in positioning the read head of a hard disk drive. The apparatus comprises a disk having a plurality of tracks, at least one of which has a data field which includes a plurality of servo bits, each of said servo bits being radially offset from an adjacent servo bit by a predetermined amount. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount is 5% of a width of the track. A servo signal based on the plurality of servo bits is generated and used to position the head relative to a track of the disk.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface provided on a TV screen includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels carried by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. Up and down scroll bars, that allow the user to scan through the entire list of TV channels, extend beyond a safe area on the screen provided to accomodate a picture to overscan conditions. A direct access bar is arranged so as to cause the channel boxes to display numbers and logos of a selected group of channels when the user directs the pointing device at the area of the direct access bar that represents the selected group of channels.

Abstract: A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices is provided. A first home device capable of displaying user interface data is connected to a home network. A second home device stores user interface data that defines a user interface for commanding and controlling the second home device, also connected to the home network. The first device receives the user interface data from the second device over the network. The first device then displays the user interface as defined by the data. The user interacts with the user interface displayed on the first device by a control device. User input is accepted from the user responsive to the interaction. Control and command information is sent from the first home device to the second home device in order to control the second device according to the user input.

Abstract: A camera tracking system that continuously tracks sound emitting objects is provided. A sound activation feature of the system enables a video camera to track speakers in a manner similar to the natural transition that occurs when people turn their eyes toward different sounds. The invented system is well suited for video-phone applications. The invented tracking system comprises a video camera for transmitting an image from its remote location, a screen for receiving images, and microphones for directing the camera. The camera may be coupled to the microphones via an interface for processing information transmitted from the microphones for directing the camera. The system may utilize the translucent properties of LCD screens by disposing a video camera behind such a screen and enabling persons at each remote location to look directly into the screen and at the camera. The interface enables intelligent framing of a speaker without mechanically repositioning the camera.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for converting a high definition image to a relatively lower definition image is provided. Image data encoded with a discrete cosine transform (DCT) is decoded using an inverse wavelet transform (IDWT). A fast inverse discrete wavelet transform (FIDWT) is also provided that reduces the number of multiplication operations relative to the IDWT. Image data is also encoded using a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and then decoded using an (IDWT).

Abstract: A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices connected to a home network is provided. According to the method, sequences of commands which are used to control a home device are stored as a macro to control the home device. A sequence of commands, used to control a plurality of home devices in tandem, is stored as a macro. The invention provides the user a capability of operating a single button to implement a sequence of control commands from within a HTML page contained on the respective home devices being controlled.

Abstract: A method and system for commanding and controlling diverse home devices on a home network to perform a service is provided. According to the method, a client device that is capable of displaying a user interface is connected to a home network. A software agent is executed on the client device to cause a user interface to be displayed on the client device. First and second home devices connected to the home network are selected from the user interface, and control and command data are sent from the client device to the first and second home devices to cause these devices to communicate with each other to perform the service.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface provided on a TV screen includes a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels provided by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch a TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. Up and down scroll bars, that allow the user to scan through the entire list of TV channels, dynamically alter their size in accordance with the position of the TV channel being currently scanned to provide the user with visual feedback. A relative position indicator is arranged between the up and down scroll bars.

Abstract: A graphical user interface (GUI) for a TV receiver combines a graphical channel changer with an electronic program guide to enable a user to quickly and seamlessly go from a TV channel selection mode to a TV program selection mode. The graphical channel changer includes a vertical bar composed of channel boxes that contain number and logos of available TV channels. The user may tune the TV system to any one of the TV channels by directing a remote pointing device at the channel box that represents that TV channel. When the user switches to the program selection mode, the GUI transfers to the electronic program guide for displaying vertical program bars arranged in alignment with the channel boxes to show information on TV programs for the TV channels represented by the corresponding channel boxes.

Abstract: A set-top electronics and network interface unit arrangement is connected to an internal digital network interconnecting devices in the home. The digital network operates on a single, nomodulated, baseband channel. Entertainment services are introduced into the network through network interface units that are coupled to an external network and to the internal network. The network interface units perform the necessary interfacing between the external and internal networks, and make the entertainment services available to all terminals connected to the internal network. Set-top electronics that are separate from the network interface units connect to the internal network and convert the information in the digital data stream for display, by a television, for example.

Abstract: A method and system for generating a program guide for a home network having at least one multi-media device connected thereto is provided. According to the method, multi-media material associated with a first home device is identified. An HTML page is generated, based on the identified multi-media material associated with the first home device. The HTML page is stored in an accessible area on the first home device. A second home device, which is browser based, may be connected to the home network to receive the HTML page and to render the HTML page, for display to a user.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface is provided with a graphical channel changer for enabling a user to select a required TV channel among about 1000 channels offered by a satellite TV system. The graphical channel changer contains a vertical channel bar composed of channel boxes that display numbers and logos of selected TV channels. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user directs the pointing device at the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. A program guide that contains a list of TV programs may be provided based on the channel changer. Vertical program bars that display TV programs are aligned with the channel boxes indicating TV channels that carry the corresponding TV programs. An arrange guide mode is provided to enable the user to arrange the program guide in order of TV channel numbers, or in alphabetical order according to names of TV channels or TV programs.

Abstract: A TV graphical user interface (GUI) in a satellite TV system enables users to create customized lists of TV channels. Everyday, favorite and theme lists may be generated to respectively combine TV channels being watched regularly, favorite TV channels and channels relating to particular subjects. An oval list name object is arranged on a screen to indicate the name of the currently selected list of TV channels. The users may click on the list name object to make their selection among various TV channel lists available in the TV system. In a channel changer mode, the TV GUI displays a graphical channel changer composed of channel boxes that show numbers and logos of TV channels in the currently selected list. To switch the TV set to a required TV channel, the user clicks on the graphical channel box that indicates the required channel. In a program guide mode, a list of TV programs may be provided based on the channel changer.