Abstract: A method of attaching a load beam to a head actuator arm. A number of weld holes are provided in the load beam and the actuator arm. A thermoplastic base plate is aligned over the weld holes in the load beam and the actuator arm. A heating tool having a number of pins is clamped over the base plate such that points of the heating tool pins coincide with the number of weld holes. The heating tool is heated such that peaks of thermoplastic base plate material are extruded through the weld holes. The heating tool causes heat to be applied and focused at the points to cause the thermoplastic base plate to flow and expand into the weld holes in both the load beam and the actuator arm, thereby rigidly connecting the thermoplastic base plate and load beam to the actuator arm.

Abstract: A registration method in a system for calling designated addressable notify devices in response to a 9-1-1 call. When a registration call is received from a new customer, the software proceeds with a voice answerback menu to register numbers to be notified. Two choices are provided. The customer can choose a standard notify service or a reverse notify service. In standard notify service parties designated by the customer are notified of 9-1-1 calls originating at the customers telephone. In reverse notify service if a party designated by the customer calls 9-1-1, the customer is notified of 9-1-1 calls originating at the designated party's telephone. The notify numbers are stored in a list in a database memory maintained by the notify service. If a call is received from a current subscriber, the software proceeds with a voice answerback menu to update the previously registered numbers to be notified.

Abstract: A method of enabling multiple and different remote Internet resident databases to be queried by using search fields in a generic form in a browser by entering field information only once. The multiple searchable remote databases use specific search fields that are maintained in a master meta database of databases. The database includes translations from a uniform field name to an actual name used by a corresponding remote database. The translations are utilized by local browser software to populate a specific HTML search form peculiar to a given remote database. Each specific search form is then associated with unique indicia, a picture or company logo also found in the database. The indicia are then arranged on screen such that multiple database queries from the generic form can be initiated by clicking on the corresponding indicia. Results returned from a query are then displayed on screen in a target window.

Abstract: A base plate comprising a hub, a flange having an outer flange region at an outer periphery of the flange and a clamping region that surrounds and is contiguous with the hub. A strain isolation region of the flange surrounds and is contiguous with the clamping region. The strain isolation region has a stress-reducing configuration that provides alternately patterned continuity areas and discontinuity areas between the modified region and adjacent areas of the outer flange region and the clamping region. The strain isolation region may be either a series of holes in the flange surrounding the clamping region, or a number of arcuate slots cut completely through the flange surrounding the clamping region.

Abstract: A base plate for press fitting into an actuator arm boss hole of a predetermined nominal diameter. The base plate has a flange and a hub extending from a region at which the hub meets the flange to an outer end of the hub. The hub has a number of vertical teeth protruding from the hub extending from the outer end of the hub to the region at which the hub meets the flange. The hub has an outer diameter which is greater than the predetermined nominal diameter of the actuator arm boss hole. A corner relief is provided that circumscribes the region at which the hub meets the flange.

Abstract: A base plate for press fitting into a boss hole of a predetermined nominal diameter. The base plate has a flange and a hub extending from a region at which the hub meets the flange to an outer end of the hub. The hub has a number of vertical slots cut through the hub extending from the outer end of the hub part way or all the way to the region at which the hub meets the flange a space between slots determining boundaries of a prong. The hub has an outer diameter which is greater than the predetermined nominal diameter or alternatively the hub has an outer diameter at the region at which the hub meets the flange which is not greater than the predetermined nominal diameter, in which case each the prong extends outward to a prong outer diameter which is greater than the predetermined nominal diameter. Also the base plate may have a corner relief that circumscribes the region at which the hub meets the flange.

Abstract: A base plate for swage fitting into a boss hole of a predetermined nominal diameter. The base plate has a flange and a hub extending from a region at which the hub meets the flange to an outer end of the hub. The hub has a number of arcuate indentations in the hub extending from the outer end of the hub part way or all the way to the region at which the hub meets the flange. During a swaging operation the indentations amplify the expansion forces from the swage tool to engage the boss hole and can achieve snap-through shape change for permanent locking. For a press-in fit the diameter of the hub is greater than the nominal diameter. During a press-in operation a tool is inserted between the actuator arms and in alignment with the base plates. The tool is then activated a reach sufficient to urge each base plate hub into a corresponding boss hole for a press fit.

Abstract: Wind or water currents turn a power generator rotor. A torque-dividing gearbox is coupled to an input shaft driven by the rotor. The torque-dividing gearbox has a plurality of output shafts located around a perimeter of the input shaft. A number of torque-reducing gearboxes are each coupled to a respective one of the output shafts, each one of the torque-reducing gearboxes driving a generator. In one design the torque-reducing gearboxes and generators are held stationary and the torque-dividing gearbox includes a bull gear turned by the input shaft. Each one of the output shafts is connected to a gear that engages the bull gear teeth. Alternatively, the torque-reducing gearboxes and generators rotate with the input shaft. The torque-dividing gearbox includes a stationary ring gear having ring gear teeth around an inner circumference. Each of the output shafts is connected to a gear that engages the ring gear teeth.

Abstract: A base plate for a suspension assembly in a hard disk drive wherein the base plate has a hardened flange and soft hub. The base plate is stamped in a progressive die in a sequence of forging and coining operations. The base plate is subsequently fully annealed to allow the material to yield at a low stress level so that the hub will create a press fit against the inner wall of an actuator arm boss hole. The base plate is passed through a secondary coining operation following the annealing step to work-harden the flange portion only. The result is a base plate with a flange portion that is hardened and a hub portion that is softer than the flange portion. The advantage is that the hardened flange is more resistant to deformation of a load beam welded thereto and the hub is more disposed to plastically deform and harden during swaging which is desirable for maintaining a press fit.

Abstract: An optimized low profile swage mount or press-in fitted base plate for attachment of a suspension assembly to an actuator arm in a hard disk drive. The base plate has a base plate thickness, TBP, overall height, HH, hub inner diameter, DID, hub outer diameter, DOD, hub inner surface depth, HIS, hub radial width, WH, which is one half the hub outer diameter minus the hub inner diameter (DOD-DID)/2, and a counter bore depth Hcb.

Abstract: An arm assembly movable about a pivot includes means for holding a recording head slider on the arm assembly. The arm assembly includes an actuator arm supported at one end at the pivot, and a load beam connected to an end opposite to the one end of the actuator arm and extending to the slider. The load beam includes a load beam boss hole of a given diameter and the actuator arm Includes an actuator arm boss hole. The boss holes are superposed at a connection of the load beam and the actuator arm. The hub includes a fold of material into an outside surface of the hub. The hub extends through the boss holes to maintain the actuator arm and the load beam together. The hub is swaged (expanded) to fix the actuator arm to the load beam such that the fold in the outside surface of the boss grips the actuator arm boss hole.

Abstract: A system for calling designated addressable notify devices in response to a query to a local telephone company's ALI database system. An advertisement of the 9-1-1-call notification service directs the new subscriber to contact their local telephone provider to register with the new service. The local telephone provider supplies the new system with the registered subscriber's telephone number (ANI) and password. The new subscriber them calls the new service provider directly to register their addressable communication devices to be notified pending a positive reaction to an ALI database system query and the service providers subscriber database. When a registration call is received from a new subscriber, the software proceeds with a voice answerback menu to register numbers to be notified. The notify numbers are stored in a list in a database memory maintained by the notify service.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for assembling a disk drive. The method comprises steps of clamping a number of head suspension assemblies in an actuator body such that base plate hubs in the suspensions are in alignment with corresponding boss holes in actuator arms extending from the actuator body, inserting closed jaws between the actuator arms and in alignment with the base plates, and opening the jaws a reach sufficient to urge each base plate hub into a corresponding boss hole. The jaws are opened by any suitable mechanism, for example by driving a wedge in between the closed jaws. A novel apparatus is employed for joining base plate hubs to actuator arms extending from an actuator body. The apparatus includes an actuator body clamp adapted to hold a number of suspensions in the actuator body, with hubs of the suspensions in alignment with boss holes in the actuator arms.

Abstract: A method is described of controlling a tethered, underwater, water current-driven turbine, power-generating device. A predetermined maximum depth and a predetermined minimum depth are set. In response to sensing depth of the device, an ascend protocol or a descend protocol are selectively invoked. These protocols maintain an operating depth of the device that is midway between the predetermined maximum depth and the predetermined minimum depth. The turbine includes variable-pitch rotor blades. A maximum allowable drag force load on the turbine rotors is selected. The pitch of the variable-pitch rotor blades on the turbine is adjusted such that the drag force loading of the device does not exceed a maximum design level.

Abstract: An arm assembly movable about a pivot includes means for holding a recording head slider on the arm assembly. The arm assembly includes an actuator arm supported at one end at the pivot, and a load beam connected to an end opposite to the one end of the actuator arm and extending to the slider. The load beam includes a load beam boss hole of a given diameter and the actuator arm includes an actuator arm boss hole. The boss holes are superposed at a connection of the load beam and the actuator arm. The hub includes a fold of material into an outside surface of the hub. The hub extends through the boss holes to maintain the actuator arm and the load beam together. The hub is swaged (expanded) to fix the actuator arm to the load beam such that the fold in the outside surface of the boss grips the actuator arm boss hole.

Abstract: A base plate with a hub and a flange having a clamping region in a horizontal plane and an extended flange portion. The clamping region surrounds and is contiguous with the hub. The extended flange portion has a tip region at a distal end thereof. The extended flange portion is contiguous with the clamping region and has a concentrated strain region between the clamping region and the tip region. The concentrated strain region is capable of being distorted for gram-load adjustment. The tip region may be inclined at an angle of not more than 10 degrees from the horizontal plane. For assembly in a head suspension, the tip region is welded to a load beam. The gram-load on the load beam is measured with reference to a standard and the concentrated strain region is distorted for gram-load adjustment to the standard.

Abstract: A base plate having a hub, a flange having an outer flange region at an outer periphery of the flange and a clamping region at an inner periphery of the flange that is contiguous with the hub. The flange has a modified region that at least partially surrounds and is contiguous with the clamping region, the modified region having a stress reducing configuration such that the clamping region is thicker than the outer flange region. The modified region may be a circular or linear step, and can be on either side of the flange. The step fits the contour of a load beam and the flange is welded to the load beam. The load beam thickness is the same as or less than the thickness of the step.

Abstract: A base plate wherein the inner barrel of the base plate hub is comprised of two distinct zones. The first zone is an inner diameter sized for use with standard tooling pins in an assembly process as a metric for size control. The second zone is a taper for distributing tension swage force and plastic strain toward the rear part of the hub by making the hub stiffer as the swage ball proceeds downward through the barrel, and for distributing compression swage force and plastic strain toward the rear of the hub by relieving stiffness as the swage ball proceeds upward. A back side slope is provided to prevent washed metal from creating added swage force and plastic strain during swaging in the compression direction. The base plate has a minimal counter bore, a lead-in chamfer which is shallower than typical, a second lead-in chamfer which is very steep and upon which the ball begins to swage, a small inner diameter region to allow for tooling during assembly, and a tapered backside to reduce unneeded material.

Abstract: A quantum well infrared detector comprised of a quantum well semiconductor structure having two adjacent quantum states. The structure is electrically tunable by photon induced resonant tunneling between the quantum wells. An infrared tunable detector device having a large responsivity, sharp line width and wide tunability is defined by the following characteristics: a transmission matrix element in the range of 1.1.times.10.sup.17 /nm to 1.5.times.10.sup.17 /nm; and a tuning distance in the range of 20 .ANG. to of 70 .ANG..

Abstract: A disk head suspension assembly in which a swage ring (a cylindrical hub) is used for attaching a load beam to a head actuator arm. The swage ring is used instead of a typical base plate. A head suspension assembly includes a cylindrical hub having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and a load beam having a load beam hole therein. The load beam hole has a diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the swage ring and greater than the inner diameter of the swage ring. The swage ring is placed concentric with the load beam hole and a series of welds around a periphery of the load beam hole are made so that the welds affix the swage ring to the load beam. The swage ring is inserted into an actuator arm boss hole and the swage ring is swaged outward to create a press fit upon the actuator boss hole.