Abstract: A method of manufacturing a thin film of magnetic material, comprises sputtering magnetic material from a target to a substrate to form a thin film of the magnetic material on the substrate, wherein the ratio of sputtering power in Watt to sputtering pressure in mTorr is greater than one. Thin films of magnetic material made according to the method and magnetic storage media including a thin film of magnetic material made according to the method are also included.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing environmental control, secondary power and emergency power for an aircraft, comprises a cooling turbine coupled to a first electromechanical machine rotor, and including an input for receiving compressed air or ram air, and an output for discharging cooled air or exhaust air; a compressor coupled to a second electromechanical machine rotor, and including an input for receiving engine bleed air or ambient air, and an output for discharging compressed air; means for magnetically coupling the first and second rotors; a power turbine coupled to the compressor; a heat exchanger connected between the compressor output and the cooling turbine input; and a control unit for controlling the magnetic coupling between the first and second rotors.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a phased array antenna and the calibrated phased array antenna are described herein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements includes the steps of: (a) characterizing each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; (b) calculating phase offsets for each column of radiating elements using a nearfield antenna range and the characterized data for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; and (c) using the calculated phase offsets in a calibration table to adjust the tuning voltage of each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to cause the columns of radiating elements to yield a uniform beam.

Abstract: A read head for use with magnetic recording media having a plurality of magnetic tracks includes a read sensor, first and second magnetic lead shields for improving track resolution, and first and second magnetic shields for improving linear resolution. The read sensor is formed on a side wall of one of the first and second magnetic lead shields using a technique such as ion beam deposition for enhanced film growth rate on the side wall. A magnetic disc drive storage system incorporating the read head and a method of making the read head are also included.

Abstract: An impedance matching circuit includes a conductor line having an input port and an output port, a ground conductor, a tunable dielectric material positioned between a first section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, a non-tunable dielectric material positioned between a second section of the conductor line and the ground conductor, and means for applying a DC voltage between the conductor line and the ground conductor. The impedance matching circuit may alternatively include a first planar ground conductor, a second planar ground conductor, a strip conductor having an input port and an output port, and positioned between the first and second planar ground conductors to define first and second gaps, the first gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the first planar ground conductor and the second gap being positioned between the strip conductor and the second planar ground conductor.

Abstract: This invention provides a phased array antenna comprising an input, a feed network electronically coupled to the input, a plurality of radiating elements, a plurality of continuously voltage tunable phase shifters for receiving signals from the feed network and providing phase shifts for the signals prior to transmitting the signals to the radiating elements, and a controller for controlling the phase shift provided by the phase shifters. The phased array antennas can be configured to produce beams that can be scanned in one dimension (one-dimensional) or two dimensions (two-dimensional) by using continuously adjustable phase shifters that are based on low cost, low loss voltage-tunable dielectric materials.

Abstract: This invention provides a phased array antenna comprising an input, a feed network electronically coupled to the input, a plurality of radiating elements, a plurality of continuously voltage tunable phase shifters for receiving signals from the feed network and providing phase shifts for the signals prior to transmitting the signals to the radiating elements, and a controller for controlling the phase shift provided by the phase shifters. The phased array antennas can be configured to produce beams that can be scanned in one dimension (one-dimensional) or two dimensions (two-dimensional) by using continuously adjustable phase shifters that are based on low cost, low loss voltage-tunable dielectric materials.

Abstract: A spin valve read element for use with, for example, magnetic recording media, includes a permanent magnet as one of the multilayers that make up the spin valve. The spin valve may also include a pinned ferromagnetic layer, an antiferromagnetic coupling inducing layer, a reference ferromagnetic layer, an electroconductive layer, and/or a free ferromagnetic layer. Epitaxy breaking layers may also be advantageously positioned within the spin valve. The multilayers of the spin valve may be constructed as a current perpendicular to the plane or a current parallel to the plane type spin valve.

Abstract: A method is provided for transmitting a composite digital audio broadcast signal having an analog portion and a digital portion to mitigate intermittent interruptions in the reception of said digital audio broadcast signal. The method comprises the steps of arranging symbols representative of the digital portion of the digital audio broadcast signal into a plurality of audio frames, producing a plurality of modem frames, each of the modem frames including a group of the audio frames, and adding a frame synchronization signal to each of the modem frames. The modem frames are then transmitted along with the analog portion of the digital audio broadcast signal, with the analog portion being delayed by a time delay corresponding to an integral number of the modem frames. The invention also encompasses radio receivers and transmitters which process signals according to the above methods.

Abstract: A voltage tunable dielectric varactor includes a tunable ferroelectric layer and first and second non-tunable dielectric layers. First and second electrodes positioned adjacent to the tunable ferroelectric layer form a tunable capacitor. A third electrode is positioned adjacent to the first non-tunable dielectric layer such that the third and first electrodes and the first non-tunable dielectric layer form a first blocking capacitor. A fourth electrode is positioned adjacent to the second non-tunable dielectric layer such that the fourth and second electrodes and the second non-tunable dielectric layer form a second blocking capacitor. The first and second electrodes can be positioned on a surface of the tunable ferroelectric layer opposite the generally planar surface of the substrate, with the first and second electrodes being separated to form a gap. The first and second non-tunable dielectric layers can also be positioned on the generally planar surface of the substrate.

Abstract: An electronic device comprises a non-metallic waveguide, a tunable component mounted within the waveguide, and a conductive layer on a surface of the waveguide. The tunable component can comprise a tunable filter. The non-metallic waveguide can comprise a plastic material. Connections for applying a tuning voltage to the tunable component can be provided. A temperature sensor can be connected to the waveguide.

Abstract: A method for transmission of compressed data for a digital audio broadcasting system comprises the steps of producing digital information representative of an audio signal; estimating the number of bits to be allocated to the digital information in a modem frame; encoding the digital information within the estimated number of bits to produce encoded data; removing selected bits from the encoded data; adding bits corresponding to digital messages to the encoded information to form a composite modem frame; formatting the composite modem frame bits to produce formatted composite modem frame bits; and transmitting the formatted composite modem frame bits. The invention also encompasses transmitters that perform the method.

Abstract: An electronic filter includes a first microstrip line hairpin resonator including first and second arms, a first varactor connected between a first end of the first arm and a first end of the second arm of the first microstrip line hairpin resonator, a first capacitor connected between a second end of the first arm and a second end of the second arm of the first microstrip line hairpin resonator, the first and second arms being coupled to provide a first transmission zero, an input coupled to the first microstrip line hairpin resonator, a second microstrip line hairpin resonator including third and fourth arms, a second varactor connected between a first end of the third arm and a first end of the fourth arm of the second microstrip line hairpin resonator, a second capacitor connected between a second end of the third arm and a second end of the fourth arm of the second microstrip line hairpin resonator, the third and fourth arms being coupled to provide a second transmission zero, and an output coupled to th

Abstract: A method for making a magnetic sensor for a disk drive read head, the method comprising the steps of depositing a magnetoresistive stack on a surface of a first layer of material, depositing a resist layer on a first portion of the magnetoresistive stack, removing a second portion of the magnetoresistive stack not covered by the resist layer, depositing a layer of additional material on the magnetoresistive stack, the resist material, and the surface of the first layer, removing the additional material from sidewalls of the resist material, and using a lift-off process to remove the resist material. Magnetic sensors made by the above process are also included.

Abstract: A recording head for use in conjunction with a magnetic storage medium, comprises a waveguide for providing a path for transmitting radiant energy, a near-field coupling structure positioned in the waveguide and including a plurality of arms, each having a planar section and a bent section, wherein the planar sections are substantially parallel to a surface of the magnetic storage medium, and the bent sections extend toward the magnetic storage medium and are separated to form a gap adjacent to an air bearing surface, and applying a magnetic write field to sections of the magnetic recording medium heated by the radiant energy. A disc drive including the recording head and a method of recording data using the recording head are also provided.

Abstract: A navigation system for an unmanned aerial vehicle, the navigation system comprising a first antenna for receiving a global positioning system signal, a first interference suppression unit coupled to the first antenna, the first interference suppression unit suppressing interference in the global positioning system signal using a first interference suppression technique, a first navigation unit for receiving signals from the first interference suppression unit, a second antenna for receiving the global positioning system signal, a second interference suppression unit coupled to the second antenna, the second interference suppression unit suppressing interference in the global positioning system signal using a second interference suppression technique, and a second navigation unit for receiving signals from the second interference suppression unit. A method for controlling the flight of an air vehicle performed by the apparatus is also included.

Abstract: A phase shifter includes a first rat-race ring having four ports, an input coupled to a first one of the ports, an output coupled to a second one of the ports, a first resonant circuit coupled to a third one of the ports, and a second resonant circuit coupled to a fourth one of the ports, each of the first and second resonant circuits including a tunable dielectric varactor. The first rat race ring can be connected to another phase shifting stage including a second rat race ring or a digital switched line phase shifter.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a phased array antenna and the calibrated phased array antenna are described herein. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method for calibrating a phased array antenna containing a plurality of electronically tunable phase shifters each of which is coupled to a column of radiating elements includes the steps of: (a) characterizing, without having any prior phase shift versus tuning voltage data, each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; (b) calculating phase offsets for each column of radiating elements using a farfield antenna range and the characterized data for each of the electronically tunable phase shifters; and (c) using the calculated phase offsets in a calibration table to adjust the tuning voltage of each of the electronically tunable phase shifters to cause the columns of radiating elements to yield a uniform beam.

Abstract: A write head comprises a yoke including a top pole and a bottom pole, the top pole including a layer of insulating material, a layer of a first magnetic material positioned on a surface of the layer of insulating material, the first magnetic material having a first end positioned adjacent to an air bearing surface of the write pole, and a layer of a second magnetic material positioned on the surface of the layer of insulating material, the second magnetic material having a lower magnetic moment than the first magnetic material and being positioned to conduct magnetic flux between the return pole and the layer of first magnetic material. The method of constructing the write head and a disc drive including the write head are also included.

Abstract: A voltage tunable dielectric varactor includes a substrate having a low dielectric constant and having generally planar surface, a tunable ferroelectric layer positioned on the generally planar surface of the substrate, and first and second electrodes positioned on a surface of the tunable ferroelectric layer opposite the generally planar surface of the substrate. The first and second electrodes are separated to form a gap therebetween. The varactor includes an input for receiving a radio frequency signal and an output for delivering the radio frequency signal. A bias voltage applied to the electrodes changes the capacitance of the varactor between the input and output thereof. Phase shifters and filters that include the varactor are also described.