Abstract: When writing to a hard disk drive, an effective track skew is used which differs from the track skew used when reading from the disk. During reads from the disk, the disk controller uses a traditional logical track layout and logical block address (LBA) numbering having a track skew value related to read settle time. A different effective track skew value, optimized for write settle time, is used, however, when writing to the disk. Logical blocks are written to the disk out-of-sequence in order to accommodate this different effective track skew value.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory array having a substrate, a first plurality of electrically conductive traces formed on the substrate, a second plurality of electrically conductive traces formed on the substrate and overlapping first plurality of traces at a plurality of intersection regions, and a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell is located at an intersection region between one of the first plurality of traces and one of the second plurality of traces. At least one memory cell includes a non-linear magnetic tunnel junction storage element. The non-linear magnetic tunnel junction storage element has at least a first ferromagnetic layer, a barrier layer and a second ferromagnetic layer. The non-linear magnetic tunnel junction storage element has a non-linearity that is defined by a current having a first magnitude flowing through the non-linear magnetic tunnel junction storage element for a bias across the non-linear magnetic tunnel junction storage element of about 0.

Abstract: A disk controller system includes a microprocessor, a hard disk controller, a disk channel path, a host communications path, and an interface coupled to each of the microprocessor, hard disk controller, disk channel path and host communications path. A unified non-volatile memory is coupled to the interface that has a plurality of memory spaces. A memory space is allocated for each of the microprocessor, hard disk controller, disk channel path and host communications path. Each memory space is separated from another memory space by a programmable memory space boundary. The microprocessor, hard disk controller and the unified memory are all fabricated on a single substrate.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory array includes first and second pluralities of electrically conductive traces formed on a substrate. The second plurality of electrically conductive traces overlap first plurality of traces at a plurality of intersection regions. Each of a plurality of memory cells is located at an intersection region between one of the first plurality of traces and one of the second plurality of traces. At least one of the memory cells includes a non-linear selection element in series with a magnetic tunnel junction storage element. The non-linear selection element includes at least a first metallic electrode layer, a barrier layer and a second metallic electrode layer metal.

Abstract: A scanning-aperture electron microscope system and method in which a radiation source generates a radiation beam that is incident upon a surface of a sample material causing electrons to be ejected from the surface. When magnetic imaging is being performed, a polarization rotator polarization-modulates the radiation beam. A scanning-aperture probe having an aperture is positioned in proxiity to the surface of the sample material so that photoelectrons ejected from the surface of the sample material pass through the aperture. A detector detects the electrons passing through the aperture. The electron detector outputs a signal in response to the detected electrons that is used for imaging magnetic and/or spectroscopic features of the surface of the sample material. The resolution of the imaged features is about equal to a size of the aperture.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory array includes a plurality of memory cells. Each memory cell includes a magnetic tunnel junction device having a first free ferromagnetic layer, a second free ferromagnetic layer and a highly conductive layer. The first ferromagnetic layer of each magnetic tunnel junction device extends in a direction that is substantially parallel to the second ferromagnetic layer of the magnetic tunnel junction device. The highly conductive layer of each magnetic tunnel junction device is formed between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer of the magnetic tunnel junction device. A write current through each selected memory cell flows into the highly conductive layer and along at least a portion of the highly conductive layer. A self-field associated with the write current changes a first predetermined magnetization of the first and second ferromagnetic layers to a second predetermined magnetization.

Abstract: A bistable micromechanical switch that includes a substrate, at least two anchor points formed on the substrate, and a beam structure that includes a two-material beam attached to at least two anchor points. The two-material beam has a first portion, a second portion and a center portion. The first portion of the two-material beam is formed from a first layer of a first material and a second layer of a second material such that the first layer of the first portion is proximate to the surface of the substrate and the second layer of the first portion is remote from the surface of the substrate. The first material has a first coefficient of thermal expansion and the second material has a second coefficient of thermal expansion such that the second coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: An optical storage system that includes a spatial light modulator, a plurality of hologram storage volumes and a correlation-plane detector. The spatial light modulator, such as a liquid crystal modulator or a micromechanical reflection modulator, spatially modulates at least one first beam of light with information of an image to-be-stored. The plurality of hologram storage volumes receive the first beam of light and a second beam of light that is coherent with the first beam of light. Each hologram storage volume is formed from an optical storage medium, such as a photopolymer or a photorefractive crystal, and has at least one storage location for an image. Each first beam of light is directed to at least one selected storage location in at least one hologram storage volume. The second beam of light is directed to at least one selected storage location in at least one of the plurality of hologram storage volumes and passes through each hologram storage volume.

Abstract: An interferometer device includes a first prism portion and a second prism portion. The first prism portion has a semi-transparent surface, a beam incident surface and a beam emerging surface. The beam incident surface receives an incident light beam at a wavelength of &lgr; and at an angle of incidence &thgr; with respect to a normal to the beam incident surface. The second prism portion has a surface that corresponds to the semi-transparent surface of the first prism portion and a beam emerging surface that corresponds to the beam emerging surface of the first prism portion. The first and second prism portions are attached to each other at the semi-transparent surface of the first prism portion and the surface of the second prism portion corresponding to the semi-transparent surface.

Abstract: A content-addressable optical storage system in which a first beam of light is modulated an image to-be-stored and directed to a storage location in an optical storage medium. The image to-be-stored has a plurality of pixels representing at least one field of digital data that are selectively organized along a selected data track as a pattern of ON and OFF pixels representing a data value by a position of a block of pixels of a predetermined size on the data track. A second beam of light, which is coherent with the first beam of light, is modulated with a predetermined modulation pattern and directed to the storage location. The second beam of light passes through the optical storage medium and is focussed at a plurality of localized portions of a correlation plane in the predetermined modulation pattern. The image to-be-stored in the storage medium is recorded at the storage location medium based on an intersection of the first beam and the second beam in the optical storage medium.