Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic write head for magnetic data recording. The method includes forming a depositing a magnetic write pole material and forming a mask structure over the write pole material that includes a polymer mask under-layer, a dielectric hard mask formed over the polymer mask under-layer and a photoresist mask formed over the dielectric hard mask. The image of the photoresist mask is transferred onto the underlying dielectric hard mask and then a reactive ion etching is performed to transfer the image of the dielectric hard mask onto the polymer mask under-layer. This reactive ion etching is performed in an atmosphere chemistry that includes both an oxygen containing gas and a nitrogen containing gas.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a bit patterned magnetic media for magnetic data recording. The method includes patterning a topography that includes an array of raised regions separated by a recessed portion. The array can be patterned by micro-printing using a stamp that has raised islands. The raised regions can have a height of 1 to 5 nm as measured from the recessed region. A magnetic alloy and a non-magnetic segregant are then co-sputtered. The magnetic alloy preferentially grows over the raised portions and the non-magnetic segregant grow preferentially over the recessed region between the raised portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a breaking device for a chain (5) of a screen, comprising a housing formed by first and a second housing parts (10, 20), that are attachable to each other by a detachable coupling. In operational position, first and a second toothed wheel (11, 21) are in engagement with each other and the chain engages onto a sprocket (12) connected to the first toothed wheel (11). The detachable coupling is arranged to release when a pulling force on the chain reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The first toothed wheel (11) and the second toothed wheel (21) are mutually positioned such that the chain (5) has an engagement side (5A) and a non-engagement side (5B), such that the pulling force (Fup) on the engagement side (5A) can be larger than the pulling force (Fdown) on the non-engagement side (5B).

Abstract: A method for forming a variably sized wall panel by supplying a face panel of a first material, the face panel having a front face and a back face, the back face having a plurality of crosspieces extending therefrom. The face panel is placed in a mold such that the front face of the face panel abuts a bottom of the mold and the back face of the face panel faces away from the bottom of the mold. A flowable second material is layered on top of the face panel and the flowable second material is allowed to harden such that the back face of the face panel and the crosspieces are frictionally bound to the hardened second material.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for entering a secret into a security token using an embedded tactile sensing user interface with the purpose of verifying the secret against a stored representation of the same secret. In particular, an embodiment of the security token according to the invention comprises a tactile sensing user interface being arranged to receive a user-encoded secret, a decoding unit being arranged to generate a decoded secret by decoding the user-encoded secret, a comparison unit being arranged to compare the decoded secret with a copy of the secret stored in the token in order to verify the authenticity of a user. Thereby, the security token provides on-card matching functionality.

Abstract: A metrology apparatus is arranged to illuminate a plurality of targets with an off-axis illumination mode. Images of the targets are obtained using only one first order diffracted beam. Where the target is a composite grating, overlay measurements can be obtained from the intensities of the images of the different gratings. Overlay measurements can be corrected for errors caused by variations in the position of the gratings in an image field.

Abstract: It is presented a method for authenticating a candidate individual, comprising the steps of: obtaining candidate biometric data related to the candidate individual; obtaining a first data item related to first reference biometric data from a data carrier, wherein any significant part of the first reference biometric data is not readily available from the first data item; obtaining a second data item related to the first reference biometric data from digital storage, wherein any significant part of the first reference biometric data is not readily available from the second data item; working out a second reference biometric data using the first data item and the second data item; and authenticating the candidate individual (101?) when the candidate biometric data is determined to correspond to the first reference biometric data using the second reference biometric data and the candidate biometric data. Corresponding authentication apparatus, data carrier issuing apparatus and ticket are also presented.

Abstract: Needleless access port valves are generally discussed herein with particular discussions extended to needleless access port valves incorporating a piston comprising slit along an upper piston section for accommodating fluid flow. The slit is closed by the relative geometry of the piston and the valve housing, which acts to terminate fluid flow from between the inlet and outlet of the valve assembly.

Abstract: A power supply circuit and a method for operating the power supply circuit are described. In one embodiment, a power supply circuit includes multiple power elements configured to convert an input voltage to an output voltage, a driver circuit coupled to the power elements and configured to drive the power elements, a regulator controller coupled to the power elements and configured to control the power elements for the conversion of the input voltage to the output voltage, and at least one bypass switch coupled to the power elements. The at least one bypass switch is used to bypass at least one of the power elements. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of compensating the output of an ADC for non-linearity in the response of the ADC. The method comprises converting an analog input signal to uncorrected digital ADC output samples, applying a vector of correction variables to each of a block of uncorrected ADC output samples to provide a block of corrected ADC samples, and iteratively minimizing a measure of the spectral flatness of the block of corrected ADC samples with response to the vector of correction variables.

Abstract: A system and associated methods are described for preparing a magnetic disk for installation within a disk drive system. For example, a polyfunctional lubricant may be mixed with a chemical agent to esterify the polyfunctional lubricant and cap hydroxyl groups of the polyfunctional lubricant. The magnetic disk may then be dip coated with the polyfunctional lubricant and chemical agent mixture. A polishing system then polishes the magnetic disk via an abrasive polishing tape after dip coating the magnetic disk. A portion of the chemical agent is then removed from the magnetic disk to bond a portion of the lubricant to the magnetic disk to prevent the lubricant from interfering with a read/write head when installed within a disk drive system.

Abstract: A substrate handler is provided. The substrate handler includes a support surface configured to carry a substrate and a pre-conditioning unit configured to pre-condition the substrate. The substrate handler is configured to move the substrate relative to a substrate table.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a movable first object, and a heat exchanger including a heat exchanging body, the heat exchanging body including a material with electro-caloric or magneto-caloric properties and configured to affect the temperature of the first object by exchanging heat with the movable first object, and a generator configured to supply an electromagnetic field to the heat exchanging body to change the temperature of the heat exchanging body in order to cool or heat the first object.

Abstract: A garment for a part of the body, and in particular a sport pant, includes an elasticity element, or a number of such elements, disposed on a portion of the garment, while another portion of the garment is free of elasticity elements. As a result, the garment can store energy by elastic elongation under a movement of, for example, a leg. This energy can then be released under a second movement of the leg in the opposite direction, resulting in the garment supporting the second movement of the leg.

Abstract: Disclosed is a photosensitive system including a gated photodiode having at least one field plate and a cathode and an output buffer having an input coupled to the gated photodiode for reducing the impedance of the photodiode signal and having an output for providing the reduced impedance signal. The output is electrically connected to the at least one field plate. A device including such a photosensitive system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A hand-operated stamp (1) includes an at least partially open-pored printing plate (27) which can be displaced counter to a spring force, from a resting position in which it is retracted into a housing (2), into a printing position by an actuation element (3). The printing plate rests against an ink storage body (25) in order to receive stamping ink therefrom, the ink storage body being mounted in a holder (24) which at least partially encloses it. The holder (24) is trough-shaped and is directly locked with a connecting part (6) which is locked with the actuation unit and which comprises at least one refill support (40, 41) which is oriented towards an ink refill opening (42, 43) in the base wall of the holder (24).

Abstract: A highchair comprising a base arranged to rest on a floor, a carrier mounted on said base and adjustable in a substantially vertical direction with respect to said base, and a seat comprising a substantially horizontally extending seat surface connected to said carrier, wherein said carrier extends substantially downward from the front edge of said seat surface.

Abstract: An integrated circuit comprises a plurality of clock domains (10, 12). Test data is shifted into the integrated circuit through a scan chain (100, 14, 104). In a test mode a connection is interrupted between a functional output of a first clock domain (10) and a functional input of a second clock domain (12). Test data is applied from the scan chain (100, 14, 104) to the functional input and a test response is captured into from the functional output. A delay circuit (24, 28) is used to delay transfer of the test result from the scan cell (21) to the functional input when the test result is captured in the scan cell (21), to ensure that timing differences between the clock domains do not affect the test. Subsequently the test result is shifted through the scan chain.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a data storage system includes a magnetic head having a main magnetic pole and a wrap around shield positioned around the main magnetic pole at an ABS thereof, a magnetic medium, a drive mechanism for passing the magnetic medium over the magnetic head, and a controlling mechanism electrically coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head that initiates rewriting of information of a recording track of the magnetic medium if a recording magnetic field applied to the recording track exceeds a threshold. In another embodiment, a method includes writing data to a first track of a magnetic medium using a magnetic head, determining characteristics consistent with data degradation from tracks adjacent to the first track and far tracks away from the first track using a controlling mechanism, and rewriting data in tracks determined to be degraded due to ATI and/or FTI.

Abstract: An apparatus, suited, for example, for extreme ultraviolet lithography, includes a radiation source and a processing organ for processing the radiation from the radiation source. Between the radiation source and the processing organ a filter is placed which, in the radial direction from the radiation source, comprises a plurality of foils or plates.