Abstract: A low-profile radial access mechanism for controlling the radial position of a read/write head relative to a rotating data storage disk (e.g. optical, magneto-optical and magnetic disks). Such mechanism has a carriage (10) which supports a plurality of bearings (11) on its opposing sides. The bearings engage a pair of space parallel rods (21, 31) to guide the carriage along a rectilinear path. Each rod is made of a ferromagnetic material and forms part of the flux-carrying structure of one of a pair of separate electromagnetic linear motors (20, 30). One of the two flux-carrying structures is movable relative to the other to preload the bearings against the guide rods. According to a preferred embodiment, the pair of linear motors share the windings of a single coil (22) carried by the carriage, such windings being physically distributed as to accommodate an exact constraint arrangement provided by the bearings.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a process for preparing magnetic particles of barium or strontium hexaferrites exhibiting a good dispersibility and improved magnetic properties. The process involves coprecipitating an iron salt with a barium or strontium salt, filtering and neutralizing the resulting coprecipitate, and washing it with a solution of a barium or strontium salt having a concentration in the range of 2.times.10.sup.-3 0.2 M.

Abstract: The apparatus for measuring the parameters of an axle gear includes an attachment mechanism for providing a surface parallel to the gear axis and positioned at a distance equal to the base circle radius from the gear axis. A displacement measuring device is positioned with the flat lower surface in contact with the attachment mechanism surface. Extending from the side of displacement measuring device is a probe, the probe positioned to be in the same plane as the flat lower surface and extending parallel to the axis of the gear. The probe of the displacement measuring device is placed in contact with a surface of a gear tooth and the displacement device is rotated without slipping on the attachment mechanism surface. When the displacement measuring device is rotated, the probe will be displaced only within preselected limits when in contact with a gear tooth surface between the top of the tooth and the root of the tooth for an acceptable gear.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making an optical device which is adapted to diffract an incident beam of radiation to form a plurality of discrete diffracted beams of different orders. The optical device comprises two diffraction gratings which are supported on a substrate and are separated from each other by a thin film. In order to obtain the advantages of a doubly-periodic structure, the thickness of the thin film between the two gratings is very accurately controlled to be on the order of the wavelength of the incident beam of radiation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for heat and mass transfer are described using a moving gas, such as air at a constant and atmospheric pressure, to provide a continual change in a vapor-liquid equilibrium between proximate but continually changing gas and liquid temperatures within energy transferring chambers. Chamber wetting, implemented segmentedly, allows mass transfer into and from a first substance in a first chamber and a second substance in a second chamber. A forced temperature differential in each chamber causes heat transfer between chambers by means of thermally conductive petitions and by means of a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger provides for heat transfer between the first and the second substances of corresponding sectors of the first and second chambers. This heat transfer can allow condensation causing further evaporation in the corresponding chamber sector resulting in recycling of energy.

Abstract: In a data processing system in which each of the data processing units is implemented using pipeline techniques and has a cache memory unit employing a store through strategy, the time required to prepare a write instruction operand address can be substantially shorter than the time required by the execution unit to prepare the associated write instruction operand. In order to utilize the time difference, apparatus is included in the execution cache unit for storing the write instruction operand address during the preparation of the associated write instruction operand. After storing the write instruction operand address, a next address is entered in an input register of the execution cache unit. When the newly entered address is associated with a read instruction, does not conflict with the write instruction operand address, and produces a "hit" signal when applied to the execution cache unit tag directory, the read instruction is processed by the execution unit.

Abstract: The present method operates upon an optical disk type servo-system of the type having an optical tracking servo for maintaining a lens centered over a track on a disk and a tracking position servo for moving an optical head's lens to a desired position. Included within such a system is an eccentricity sub-system for providing a compensating sine wave signal for reducing errors in tracking due to disk decentering. The present method automatically adjusts the gain in one of the servos to match the gain appearing in the other servo so as to improve the smoothness of control when switching between the servos.

Abstract: Track jumping in the present system is accomplished by using a two step track jump method which accelerates the tracking actuator toward the desired track at maximum acceleration and then decelerates the tracking actuator at a maximum deceleration so that the desired track is reached in a minimum amount of time without the actuator ringing. A matrix containing the times for each jump pulse from track X to track Y is recorded. The matrix table is updated after each jump to compensate for variance factors. The table is stored in memory which allows the system to become more accurate with each jump. If the actuator falls short of the desired position, the jump pulse next applied is lengthened slightly. If the jump pulse causes the actuator to overshoot, the desired position the jump pulse is shortened for the next jump.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing integrated test circuits for a smoke detector is disclosed. The smoke detector operates such that products of combustion such as smoke and carbon monoxide cause the resistance across a sensor element to be lowered. The lowered resistance of the sensor element, in normal operation, causes a change in an associated voltage level. When the change in the associated voltage level is sufficiently large, the change is detected resulting in the generation of an alarm signal. In the present invention, a switch or button causes a circuit variation that results in a voltage level change similar to that attained when the voltage across the sensor changes as a result of the introduction of the products of combustion. Activation of the switch or button results in a generation of the alarm signal and tests the operational status of the smoke detector. A multiplicity of embodiments of the present invention are illustrated.

Abstract: Focus and tracking error optical servo detector apparatus is shown employing a single four element detector array. Focus error detection based on spot size sensing is described in which focus error offset caused by beam transition between track and non-track areas is substantially reduced by shaping the detector element areas so as to derive servo signals from substantially only the overlap lobes between the zeroth order diffraction beam and the plus and minus first order diffraction beams in the optical readout beam from the recording element. The readout beam incident on the detector is anamorphically shaped to retain high focus error signal gain while reducing sensitivity in the tracking direction to movement of the beam caused by factors such as thermally induced beam misalignment, vibration and the like.

Abstract: In order to increase energy efficiency by reducing the drag experienced by tractor-trailers, vans, or similar motor vehicles, structure is incorporated in the rear surface or panel of the motor vehicle. The structure is implemented with a multiplicity of cavities or a multiplicity of protruding regions. The cavities or protruding regions each comprise only a small portion of the total area of the rear surface and the depth or extension dimension, relative to the rear surface or panel, is small. The rear surface structure permits convenient access to the interior of the vehicle and can be incorporated in either a rear door assembly or in a sliding rear panel assembly.

Abstract: A focus actuator for controlling the focal position of an objective lens used in an optical recording system to maintain a write/read laser beam in focus on a moving optical recording element. In a preferred embodiment, such actuator comprises a pair of juxtaposed coils which concentrically surround a ferromagnetic cylindrical member of low coercivity (e.g. soft iron). The cylindrical member, in turn, is concentrically arranged with respect to the objective lens and is rigidly coupled thereto. When current is applied to one coil or the other, the cylindrical member (and its coupled lens) move along the optical axis of the lens, in one direction or the other, depending on which of the coils is receiving current. Preferably, the cylindrical member is supported for movenent within the coils by a pair of flexure blades. A particularly important advantage over similar devices of the prior art is that the focus actuator of the invention requires no permanent magnet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for regenerating aqueous desiccants used in liquid desiccant air conditioners is disclosed. The method and apparatus utilizes a desiccant boiler and a desiccant evaporator/steam condenser in combination with heat exchangers. The evaporator/condenser receives steam produced by the boiler to provide a reuse of heat for regeneration. The boiler and the evaporator/condenser each can provide substantially complete regeneration of a portion of the liquid desiccant.

Abstract: A high performance, laminating, coverlay, and bond ply adhesive material includes one or more epoxy components which inter-react with a high molecular weight polyester component through a two-stage reaction sequence. The first stage of the reaction sequence includes a reaction between a aziridine cure component and a polyester component. The second stage of the sequence involves a reaction between the aziridine/polyester component and the epoxy component(s). The resulting adhesive material provides a flexible, fully cross linked adhesive material with good Z-axis stability and without the evolution of volatile by-products. This resulting adhesive material can be used in bonding polyimide films to etched circuit patterns to provide a high temperature resistant, solvent resistant, moisture resistant, insulating material with good flow properties under normal electronic circuit processing and environmental conditions.

Abstract: An electronics box includes a cover and a bottomwall spaced from the cover by opposed sidewalls of the box. A motherboard having circuit card connectors thereon is mounted in the electronics box adjacent the cover. The box further includes in-line connectors mounted adjacent the motherboard with the in-line connectors interconnected with the connectors in the motherboard. The bottomwall and sidewalls include circuit card edge guides formed therein for retaining circuit cards connected to the motherboard.The arrangement of the in-line connectors adjacent to the motherboard provides for relatively direct and short runs for the interconnecting harness cable, thereby minimizing the amount of space within the box devoted to internal interconnect cables.The in-line connectors provide for straight-line connection or disconnection, making possible direct mounting with a simple jackscrew arrangement.

Abstract: In order to provide thermal coupling of a package, particularly a package containing electronic components, and a heat sink, a thermal transfer assembly includes a first assembly having a group of generally parallel cooling fins coupled to the package. Coupled to the heat sink, such as cooling plate, is a second assembly also including a plurality of generally parallel cooling fins. The second set of cooling fins is positioned on the heat sink so that when the heat sink is in a predetermined position with respect to the package, the cooling fins overlap. The overlapping cooling fins permit efficient transfer of heat thus permitting heat generated in the package to be conveyed to the heat sink. The overlapping fins also permit convenient disassembly and reassembly for test and maintenance procedures. Techniques for fabrication of the thermal transfer assembly are described along with procedures for improving the operation of the heat transfer assembly.

Abstract: In a data processing system in which the execution unit is implemented to process aligned double word operands, apparatus and an associated method provide for the alingment of a double word operand that is stored across a double work boundary. The two double words each storing a word of the unaligned double word operand are identified and the attributes are compared with the ring number of the associated program. When the comparisons indicate that the two words of the non-aligned double word operand are available to the program, the two double word operands containing the non-aligned words of the double word operand, and the two non-aligned words are stored in a register in an aligned orientation for processing by the execution unit.

Abstract: An electronic color filter system for controlling a picture element color signal includes three filter regions which selectively control spectral components of light transmitted sequentially therethrough. Each filter region has a liquid crystal host material and a dye guest component. The orientation of the liquid crystal host, determined by an electric field applied to the filter material, determines the absorption coefficient of the dye guest component to polarized light. By appropriate selection of the guest dye component and control of the electric fields applied to the host liquid crystal, the transmitted light can have a selected radiation spectrum. The transmitted light of a multiplicity of picture elements can be used to provide a full-color visual image display.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for determining and recording a calculated impact point of one or more projectiles discharged from a firearm include a sighting mechanism with a field of view display unit, sensor elements, a recording unit, and a trajectory calculating microprocessor unit, the microprocessor unit for storing parameter data and for responding to sensor and/or manual data input signals and modifying the image presented by the field of view display unit. The trajectory calculating microprocessor unit, in response to the sensor data and parameter data, determines the trajectory of a projectile. The calculated impact point of the projectile is used to superimpose an indicia, namely an impact point-reticle on the image of the field of view of the display unit relative to the zero-range reticle or standard cross-hair setting.

Abstract: In a data processing system having a plurality of non-homogeneous central processing units, apparatus is disclosed that permits a central processing unit not having mechanisms for protection of the allocation of resources to be coupled to the data processing system while preserving a peer relationship among the central processing units. The protection apparatus is interposed between the coupled central processing unit and the system bus and reviews each access to data processing system resources to insure that the accessed system resource is available to the associated data processing system. In addition, the apparatus permits initialization procedures without interprocessor conflict, provides status information from the coupled central processing unit to a requesting central processing unit and permits selected control signals to be applied to the coupled central processing unit.