Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for positioning a head based on a control signal and a cancellation signal. In the method and apparatus, a sensor located in the disc drive is capable of generating sensor data samples at a sensor data rate that is different from a servo data rate. A data enlarger inserts additional data samples between the sensor data samples to produce enlarged data that is filtered to produce filtered data, which is decimated to form decimated sensor data at the servo data rate. A cancellation component converts the decimated sensor data into a cancellation signal that may be combined with a control signal to control the actuator. A sensor chip is also provided that includes a sensing element and a sigma-delta circuit that cooperate to generate sensor samples at a sensor data rate and a buffer that stores sensor samples at the sensor data rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus detects and filters pulse asymmetries in a read signal of a data storage device. A value indicative of the difference between the shape of a pulse from its first zero crossing to its peak and the shape of the pulse from its second zero crossing to its peak is determined. This value is minimized by adjusting at least one filter characteristic of a read signal filter.

Abstract: A sensor chip is provided that includes a sensing element and a sigma-delta circuit that cooperate to generate sensor samples at a sensor data rate and a buffer that stores sensor samples at the sensor data rate. Although the buffer stores the samples at the sensor data rate, it is capable of providing the samples to an external circuit at a higher data rate. In one embodiment, the sensor chip is able to provide the stored sensor samples to an off-chip component at a rate set by the off-chip component.

Abstract: An input device capable of being connected to a computing device includes a housing having transducer electronics capable of manipulating an electrical signal to indicate movement of a portion of a user. At least one but fewer than four conductors are connected to the transducer electronics, and are each capable of carrying an electrical signal related to the input device. Each of the conductors is coupled to a connector that is capable of being coupled to the computer.

Abstract: A computer readable medium in a computer system has instructions for storing a first and second data packet destined for the same address. The first and second data packets are appended together to produce a merged data packet that is then compressed to produce a compressed data packet. The compressed data packet is then sent to the common address.

Abstract: A method for determining servo loop gain of a servo loop in a disc drive includes performing a plurality of seek operations, each seek operation moving a head in a disc drive across a plurality of tracks on the disc. Afterwards, the head is settled over a radial position on a track and a signal is injected into the servo loop at the first frequency. At least two values generated by portions of the servo loop are measured to determine a servo loop gain.

Abstract: A pressure transmitter produces signals indicative of a flow in a pipe. The transmitter has a pressure sensor that is fluidly coupled to two ports in the pipe, and the pipe has a substantially constant cross-section between the two ports. Aspects of the invention include a circuit coupled to the pressure sensor that produces a digital value related to the fluid flow as a function of the pressure difference between the two ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for synthesizing speech by modifying the prosody of individual components of a training speech signal and then combining the modified speech segments. The method includes selecting an input speech segment and identifying an output prosody. The prosody of the input speech segment is then changed by independently changing the prosody of a voiced component and an unvoiced component of the input speech signal. These changes produce an output voiced component and an output unvoiced component that are combined to produce an output speech segment. The output speech segment is then combined with other speech segments to form synthesized speech.

Abstract: An input device for a computer system includes a detection circuit with first and second inputs capable of carrying first and second input signals. A user depressible switch adapted to allow a user to interact with the computer system is placed in series with a rectification device between the two inputs. The rectification device being adapted to limit electrical current in a first direction between the first input and the second input.

Abstract: In a method for tracking pitch in a speech signal, first and second window vectors are created from samples taken across first and second windows of the speech signal. The first window is separated from the second window by a test pitch period. The energy of the speech signal in the first window is combined with the correlation between the first window vector and the second window vector to produce a predictable energy factor. The predictable energy factor is then used to determine a pitch score for the test pitch period. Based in part on the pitch score, a portion of the pitch track is identified.