Abstract: A transistor includes a semiconductor channel disposed nearby a gate and in an electrical path between a source and a drain, wherein the channel and at least one of the source or the drain are separated by an interface layer so as to form a channel-interface layer-source/drain junction in which a Fermi level of the semiconductor channel is depinned in a region near the junction and the junction has a specific contact resistance of less than approximately 1000 ?-?m2. The interface layer may include a passivating material such as a nitride, a fluoride, an oxide, an oxynitride, a hydride and/or an arsenide of the semiconductor of the channel. In some cases, the interface layer consists essentially of a monolayer configured to depin the Fermi level of the semiconductor of the channel, or an amount of passivation material sufficient to terminate all or a sufficient number of dangling bonds of the semiconductor channel to achieve chemical stability of the surface.

Abstract: An electrical device in which an interface layer is disposed between and in contact with a metal and a Si-based semiconductor, the interface layer being of a thickness effective to depin of the Fermi level of the semiconductor while still permitting current to flow between the metal and the semiconductor. The interface layer may include a layer of a passivating material (e.g., made from nitrogen, oxygen, oxynitride, arsenic, hydrogen and/or fluorine) and sometimes also includes a separation layer. In some cases, the interface layer may be a monolayer of a semiconductor passivating material. The interface layer thickness corresponds to a minimum specific contact resistance of less than or equal to 10 ?-?m2 or even less than or equal to 1 ?-?m2 for the electrical device.

Abstract: An electrical switching device includes a semiconductor having a channel therein which is proximate to at least on channel tap in an extension region and also to a gate. A conductor (e.g., a metal) is disposed proximate to the extension region but is electrically isolated from both the extension region and the gate (e.g., through the use of one or more insulators). The conductor has a workfunction outside of the bandgap of a semiconductor in the extension region and therefore includes a layer of charge in the extension region. The magnitude and polarity of this layer of charge is controlled through selection of the metal, the semiconductor, and the insulator.

Abstract: A transistor includes a semiconductor channel disposed nearby a gate and in an electrical path between a source and a drain, wherein the channel and at least one of the source or the drain are separated by an interface layer so as to form a channel-interface layer-source/drain junction in which a Fermi level of the semiconductor channel is depinned in a region near the junction and the junction has a specific contact resistance of less than approximately 1000 &OHgr;-&mgr;m2. The interface layer may include a passivating material such as a nitride, a fluoride, an oxide, an oxynitride, a hydride and/or an arsenide of the semiconductor of the channel. In some cases, the interface layer consists essentially of a monolayer configured to depin the Fermi level of the semiconductor of the channel, or an amount of passivation material sufficient to terminate all or a sufficient number of dangling bonds of the semiconductor channel to achieve chemical stability of the surface.

Abstract: A servo control system and method controls systems at least partially on the basis of an observable variable that has an absolute value functional relationship with the controlled variable and does not change sign for positive and negative variations from a nominal value. The control system and method find particularly advantageous application in magnetic storage hard disk drive systems because the system allows such hard disk drives to perform servo operations such as track following on the basis of the data signals being read from the track. A particularly useful source of the absolute value observable variable is a read channel chip that performs decoding of data recovered from the disk. Error measures are developed as the data signals from the disk are processed and decoded, including error measures from the slicer used in an adaptive equalization process and from the data decoder, which may be a Viterbi decoder.

Abstract: Analysis of a linear time-invariant system's sampled output data can identify the unknown continuous-time transfer function of the system. The method excites the system with two orthogonal sinusoids and constructs a linear complex equation that relates the sampled output points to the unknown values of the transfer function. This method can identify the continuous-time dynamics of a hard disk drive system in which the number of servo bursts and the spinning speed of the disk fix the sampling frequency of the output. In the hard disk case the input excitation signal is passed through a specially designed pre-filter and the sampled output data are modified to account for the control input and external disturbances. The method can also be used to reconstruct the output of the system even in the presence of aliasing provided the input excitation can be approximated by a sum of sinusoids with known frequencies.

Abstract: A servo control apparatus and method controls systems at least partially on the basis of an observable variable that has an absolute value functional relationship with the controlled variable and does not change sign for positive and negative variations from a nominal value. When applied to the positional control of an object, the control system observes a value of a position error signal and maps that signal to two different potentially correct displacement values. Two estimators within the control system are initiated, one using the positive displacement and the other using the negative displacement, and the two estimators each predict the future position of the object and the corresponding position error signal for each estimated position. A new position error signal is detected and compared to the two estimated position error signals.

Abstract: Apparatus using information about the extent of errors in sensed data for performing as a control function at least one of adjusting the position of a magnetic head to improve alignment relative to a track and selecting from two or more data signals a data signal having the least amount of errors is shown. The apparatus uses information about the extent of errors to perform a control function for reproducing the data stored in predetermined storage locations in a storage media. The apparatus positions a transducer for sensing from predetermined storage locations stored data containing at least one constraint. The transducer generates a first signal representative of the data containing at least one constraint stored in the sensed data and any errors introduced into the sensed data during the sensing.

Abstract: A device using information about the extent of errors in a signal is shown. The device includes an input signal containing at least one constraint and any errors introduced into the input signal during transmission and/or sensing. A detector receives and is responsive to the input signal for generating an error signal containing information about the extent of error and for extracting an information signal from the input signal as an output signal. A control device is operatively coupled to the detector for receiving and responding to the error signal containing information about the extent of errors for generating a control signal used to reduce the extent of errors in the input signal based on information about the extent of errors contained in the error signal. A method for using information about the extent of errors is shown.

Abstract: Apparatus using information about the extent of errors in sensed data for performing as a control function at least one of adjusting the position of a magnetic head to improve alignment relative to a track and selecting from two or more data signals a data signal having the least amount of errors is shown. The apparatus uses information about the extent of errors to perform a control function for reproducing the data stored in predetermined storage locations in a storage media. The apparatus positions a transducer for sensing from predetermined storage locations stored data containing at least one constraint. The transducer generates a first signal representative of the data containing at least one constraint stored in the sensed data and any errors introduced into the sensed data during the sensing.

Abstract: Apparatus using information about the extent of errors in sensed data for performing as a control function at least one of adjusting the position of a magnetic head to improve alignment relative to a track and selecting from two or more data signals a data signal having the least amount of errors is shown. The apparatus uses information about the extent of errors to perform a control function for reproducing the data stored in predetermined storage locations in a storage media. The apparatus positions a transducer for sensing from predetermined storage locations stored data containing at least one constraint. The transducer generates a first signal representative of the data containing at least one constraint stored in the sensed data and any errors introduced into the sensed data during the sensing.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for (1) enhancing the transmission of information in a particular direction or (2) enhancing the reception of information from a particular direction by an array of transducers, a transducer being any device for transforming radiated power into electrical power and vice versa. A transducer signal is associated with each transducer in an array, the plurality of transducer signals being the vehicle for transmitting or receiving information. Each transducer signal is the sum of a first product and a second product. The first product is the product of a first signal and a cosine function of an argument. The second product is the product of a second signal and a sine function of the same argument. An argument is the sum of a phase and a product of an angular frequency and time.

Abstract: A transistor operated by changing the electrostatic potential of an island disposed between two tunnel junctions. The transistor has an island of material which has a band gap (e.g. semiconductor material). Source and drain contacts are provided. The transistor has a first tunnel junction barrier disposed between island and source, and a second tunnel junction barrier disposed between island and drain. The island is Ohmically isolated from other parts of the transistor as well as a substrate. A gate electrode is capacitively coupled to the island so that a voltage applied to the gate can change the potential of the island. The transistor has n- and p-type embodiments. In operation, applying a gate voltage lowers (e.g., for positive gate bias) or raises (e.g., for negative gate bias) the conduction band and valence band of the island. When the conduction band or valence band aligns with the Fermi energy of the source and drain, tunneling current can pass between the source, island and drain.

Abstract: A method and system for providing access to resources at a host computer to a remote user, without requiring the remote user to have detailed knowledge of the host computer. The system includes a host virtual operating system, resident on a host computer and having a set of resources including process control, a file system, interprocess communications, and a set of device interfaces, overlaid on and distinguished from the host computer's actual resources. The virtual host is capable of executing programs in a standardized programming language, to provide the ability to run programs that are host-independent. The virtual host is capable of limiting access to the host computer's actual resources. The system also includes a front-end invoked by the remote user. A server program at the host computer receives requests from a client program run by the remote user, and provides the virtual host operating system at the host computer.

Abstract: A tamper-evident, reclosable, integral rigid plastic lid for use on a container having an upper circular wall provides a double seal for the container contents until opened by a user and a single seal thereafter. The lid has a circular base, with a recess therein and a rupturable planar member extending across the recess, and a hinged closure member secured to a platform which completely covers the recess. The platform is in the shape of a segment of the circle formed by the circular base with a downwardly extending face provided along a chord of the circle which, with an arcuate raised rim about the circular base forms the bounds of the recess.

Abstract: An integrally molded, generally rectangular, tamper-evident, reclosable lid for a container is formed from a rigid thermoplastic and has a peripheral wall section that defines a recess, with a rupturable planar member extending across the recess, and has an integral closure member hingedly connected to the peripheral wall section. The planar member and closure member provide a double seal prior to opening by a user, and after removal of the rupturable portion of the planar member, the integral hinged closure member provides a seal for the contents of the container. The lid is formed from a rigid plastic having a tensile modulus and flexural modulus in excess of 100.times.10.sup.3 p.s.i. and a melting point in excess of 140.degree. C. to provide a lid resistant to removal from a container as well as other properties desired.

Abstract: A unitary plastic container and integrally molded, tamper-evident, reclosable lid, which lid has a recessed planar member, with a rupturable portion, and an integral closure member hingedly secured thereto. The planar member and closure member provide an initial double seal for the contents of the container while the closure member provides a single seal for the contents after removal of the planar member. The container and integral lid are preferably formed from a rigid plastic material such as polypropylene.