Abstract: Tribocharging-reducing conformal coating are provided for a flexible circuit, which reduce tribocharge voltage of a coated flexible circuit to less than about 15V, preferably less than about 10 V. Coating formulations include at least about 1% of a polypyrrole. Flexible circuits having a tribocharge voltage of less than about 15V, preferably less than about a 10V comprise at least one polymeric dielectric substrate, and a conductive layer formed thereon including at least one conductive element such as a trace, bond pad and/or a lead device, and a layer of a conformal coating wherein the conformal coating comprising at least about 1% of a polypyrrole compound.

Abstract: A flex suspension assembly is attachable to an actuator arm in a disk drive and includes a suspension assembly adapted to resiliently support a transducer head in the disk drive, and a flex cable having a flexible sleeve and conductors disposed in top of the flexible sleeve adapted to provide a path for electrical signals transmitted to and from the transducer head. A dampening adhesive is applied between the flex cable and the suspension assembly in a dampening adhesive area defined by dampening adhesive control features that bound continuous contact between the flex cable and the suspension assembly. The dampening adhesive has a low modulus of elasticity to provide structural dampening to the flex suspension assembly. In one embodiment, the dampening adhesive provides structural dampening to the flex suspension assembly to significantly reduce first torsion and second torsion vibration mode gains of the flex suspension assembly.

Abstract: A three axis control for a machine tool which maintains a plane surface being ground or machined by a tool at a desired orientation. A base supports an intermediate plate on flexures, and the position of the intermediate plate in a plane parallel to the base is controlled by a pair of actuators that are spaced apart along a line that is parallel to the direction of movement of the intermediate plate and a workpiece past the tool. Sensors move along a planar reference surface as the intermediate plate moves and sense deviations of the intermediate plate from a straight line and control the actuators to maintain the intermediate plate in its desired path through closed loop control. The workpiece to be worked on is preferably mounted on a tooling plate that in turn is mounted on the intermediate plate about an axis parallel to the line of movement.

Abstract: A tool dullness indicator and method comprising the measurement of eddy currents at a known, controlled frequency directly in the tool by measuring the phase angle shift in a coil when a sample is put into or next to the coil. The phase angle change caused by presence of a workpiece is measured when the tool is sharp to provide a reference reading taking into account the surface hardness and other bulk properties of the workpiece, and arriving at a parameter that is dependent on eddy current changes, such as phase angle shift or other measurable changes related to eddy currents in the part, and then analyzing the workpiece, either while working, or at a set programmed check time to determine when the tool is dull as a function of the change in eddy current characteristics caused by work hardening.

Abstract: A self-zeroing differential pressure signal generator. A strain gauge separates two areas of potentially differing fluid pressure and generates an electrical signal which varies as the fluid pressure difference varies. The strain gauge electrical signal is applied to the noninverting input terminal of noninverting amplifier, which develops a zeroed output signal. The noninverting amplifier includes a feedback loop which sums a feedback signal from the noninverting amplifier output with a zeroing compensation signal at the inverting input terminal of the amplifier. The zeroing compensation signal is developed by periodically eliminating the zeroing compensation signal and simultaneously exposing the strain gauge to a zero pressure difference. The output signal of the noninverting amplifier is compared to a reference output and a zeroing compensation signal is generated which, when summed with the feedback signal, brings the value of the output terminal to the value of the reference output.

Abstract: A passive jaw exerciser is provided for application of an anatomically applied jaw moving force for pivoting of the jaw at its tempero-mandibular joint or to provide a motion to the jaw which is beneficial in facial orthopedics. A body structure is provided having guide tracks which guide movement of a carriage according to the character of movement that is desired. The carriage is movable by a lever operated push rod to thereby cause corresponding movement of a mandibular jaw piece supported by a carriage relative to a maxillary jaw piece supported by the exerciser body. The position of engagement between the lever and the push rod is adjustable through selection of any one of a number of spaced slots that are formed in parallel webs of the lever structure.

Abstract: A device for treatment of ferromagnetic materials comprising means for developing a magnetic field of a selected intensity, duration, and cycle, which field is passed through materials to be processed, such as cutting tools and drill bits that have been sharpened or resharpened and other parts that have internal stresses. The magnetic field through the material provides stress relief of the stresses from welding, forming, heating cooling or sharpening or loading. The treatment increases surface wear resistance, decreases the coefficient of friction on the surfaces that are so treated, and increases the strength and modulus of elasticity. In certain types of materials, an increase in the surface concentration of such alloying metals such as wolfram, molybdenum, and tungsten, as well as oxygen and carbon is achieved. The structure comprises a coil and a controlled source of electrical power that generates a magnetic field for achieving the desired results.

Abstract: A method for determining wear or dullness of a cutting tool used to machine a surface of a workpiece. Cutting tool dullness is determined as a function of a plurality of work-hardening values of the machined surface. Each work-hardening value is computed as a function of different and separately measured parameters. The workpiece is characterized as being excessively worn if all of the separately computed work-hardening values are greater than a threshold value.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a multiwire lead assembly for a flexible connector between thin film elements and other electronic circuitry during manufacturing thin film heads for computer disc drives includes the process of supporting the multiple wires in spaced locations on retainers, such as terminal boards, and fixing the wires to such terminal boards. The terminal boards are spaced apart a desired distance for making the lead assembly. The wires are separated from the source reel and then the two terminal boards are a supported assembly and the center portions of the multiple wires are twisted together while the end portions are held separated and oriented by the terminal boards. The twisted wire portion of the wires then can be insulated at desired locations, including for example the full length of the twisted portion. The ends of the wires are stipped of their normal insulating coating utilizing a laser stripper in a known manner.

Abstract: A mechanically driven linkage causes a magnetic field acting on the object to be pulsed by alternately permitting and preventing a magnetic field from acting on the object during selected periods of time to relieve stress in the object or otherwise treat the object. Connections for applying a current through the object being treated are provided so that at the same the magnetic field is acting on the object a current added to affect the intermolecular structure of the object for various beneficial effects in treating. The current intensity and time cycle can be varied as desired and can be synchronized with the application of the magnetic field. Simple mechanical drives are used to selectively move the object or the magnetic field source, or to place a magnetic shield to block the field for selected periods of time, while permitting the magnetic field to act upon the object at other periods of time.