Abstract: A method for reducing particulates within a disk drive may comprise providing a first component of a disk drive that is to be coupled to a second component of the disk drive by a fastener. The first component may define an aperture extending, along a central axis, through the first component. The aperture may comprise a channel, angularly-disposed relative to the central axis, that extends through the first component and has a greater cross-sectional dimension than the greatest cross-sectional dimension of the fastener. The first component may then be secured to the second component by advancing the fastener through the aperture and into the second component. Air may be drawn from within the aperture and/or from between the first and second components through the channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for correcting errors in a bearing cartridge used in a portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) is provided. The method includes providing a cartridge having a first bearing and a second bearing arranged in a fixed relationship to define an axis, the cartridge further including an angle measurement device configured to measure a rotation of a portion of the cartridge about the axis. A plurality of angles is measured with the angle measurement device. A first plurality of displacements is determined at a first position along the axis, each of the first plurality of displacements being associated with one of the plurality of angles. Compensation values are determined based at least in part on the plurality of angles and the first plurality of displacements.

Abstract: Methods and systems for searching over large (i.e., Internet scale) data to discover relevant information artifacts based on similar content and/or relationships are disclosed. Improvements over simple keyword and phrase based searching over internet scale data are shown. Search engines providing accurate and contextually relevant search results are disclosed. Users are enabled to identify related documents and information artifacts and quickly, ascertain, via visualization, which of these documents are original, which are derived (or copied) from a source document or information artifact, and which subset is independently generated (i.e., an original document or information artifact).

Abstract: An ion implantation system is provided having an ion implantation apparatus configured to provide a spot ion beam having a beam density to a workpiece, wherein the workpiece has a crystalline structure associated therewith. A scanning system iteratively scans one or more of the spot ion beam and workpiece with respect to one another along one or more axes. A controller is also provided and configured to establish a predetermined localized temperature of the workpiece as a predetermined location on the workpiece is exposed to the spot ion beam. A predetermined localized disorder of the crystalline structure of the workpiece is thereby achieved at the predetermined location, wherein the controller is configured to control one or more of the beam density of the spot ion beam and a duty cycle associated with the scanning system to establish the localized temperature of the workpiece at the predetermined location on the workpiece.

Abstract: Systems and computer-implemented methods are provided for automatically picking up items or products in a materials handling facility. In one embodiment, a system includes a first sensor; a conveyor; a robotic hand including multiple digits, each digit having one or more suction cups attached thereto; a memory; and one or more processors, which are all coupled together. The memory includes program instructions executable by the one or more processors to implement a pick process component configured to: (i) receive sensed information of an item or product delivered on the conveyor from the first sensor; (ii) generate a pick plan comprising processor-executable instructions to control the robotic hand to pick up the item or product; and (iii) control the robotic hand to pick up the item or product from the conveyor by executing the generated pick plan, while selectively activating the one or more suction cups.

Abstract: A method for playing an original playlist and for substituting alternate versions of the songs during playback is disclosed. The user can set the extent to which the number and type of alternate versions are substituted into the original playlist.

Abstract: A magnetic head includes a main pole, a write shield and a gap section. The write shield includes a leading shield having a top surface opposed to a bottom end of the main pole. The gap section includes a leading gap section for separating the leading shield from the bottom end of the main pole. The leading gap section is formed using a first nonmagnetic layer and a second nonmagnetic layer. The first nonmagnetic layer has a first front end located closest to but at a distance from the medium facing surface. The second nonmagnetic layer has a second front end located in the medium facing surface.

Abstract: A routing module identifies POIs that can be reached from a route with a cost less than distance m. A routing engine performs a reverse exploration on nodes in the planned route to locate POIs from which the route can be reached with a cost of less than a second cost n. POIs identified as being reachable from the route with a cost of less than m, and from which the route is reachable with a cost less than n are then further filtered to identify a subset of the POIs for which the sum of the time or distance from the route to the POI and the time or distance from the POI back to the route is less than a threshold time or distance, t.

Abstract: An industrial-enabled mobile electronic device, such as a personal mobile phone or tablet computer, allows a user to wirelessly interact with industrial devices for a variety of purposes. The mobile electronic device can communicate with an industrial device to read and write configuration settings, read and view log data, send commands to the industrial device, and other such functions. The mobile electronic device can perform various types of analysis on images and video of the industrial device captured by the mobile electronic device, including identifying and translating a model or device number printed on the device, or translating error codes displayed by the industrial device. The mobile electronic device can also retrieve additional information about the industrial device or the device's stored data via interaction with a remote technical support service, and can be used to facilitate dialog with a remote technical support person.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for filtering noise from a pulsed input signal comprising cyclically producing a change in an output signal only if changes in an input signal occur at least a desired time after a respective immediately previous change in the input signal, and otherwise rejecting the changes in the input signal; and counting the rejected changes in the input signal. More than one duration or frequency may be used for the filtering, enabling classification of noise by frequency. Resulting counts may be used to determine rates of occurrence of noise for evaluation of performance of equipment, installation of the equipment, and changes in performance over time.

Abstract: An imaging device formed as an active pixel array combining a CMOS fabrication process and a nanowire fabrication process. The pixels in the array may include a single or multiple photogates surrounding the nanowire. The photogates control the potential profile in the nanowire, allowing accumulation of photo-generated charges in the nanowire and transfer of the charges for signal readout. Each pixel may include a readout circuit which may include a reset transistor, charge transfer switch transistor, source follower amplifier, and pixel select transistor. A nanowire is generally structured as a vertical rod on the bulk semiconductor substrate to receive light energy impinging onto the tip of the nanowire. The nanowire may be configured to function as either a photodetector or a waveguide configured to guild the light to the substrate. Light of different wavelengths can be detected using the imaging device.

Abstract: A signal processing evaluator and methods that compare a digital waveform of a cardiac signal to a first processed signal generated by a test system such as an EP recorder or an EP mapping system and generates a first finding evaluating how well the test system filters non-cardiac signals or simulated body impedance. A simulator and methods that send cardiac signals including non-cardiac signals or simulated body impedance to a test system and to a signal processing evaluator for evaluation of the test system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a customizable ear insert for fitting within a user's outer ear or ear canal or both and methods therefor. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a customizable ear insert having: a body formed of photocurable polymer, the body having a first shape configured for insertion into the outer ear canal of a user; a light source, the light source positioned adjacent the body, and wherein the body can be cured into a second shape by application of light generated by the light source, the second shape snugly conforming to the interior surface of the user's outer ear or ear canal or both.

Abstract: Various means for improvement in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for a magnetic field sensor are disclosed for low power and high resolution magnetic sensing. The improvements may be done by reducing parasitic effects, increasing sense element packing density, interleaving a Z-axis layout to reduce a subtractive effect, and optimizing an alignment between a Z-axis sense element and a flux guide, etc.

Abstract: A method of laser processing a heat processed transparent material is disclosed wherein the heat processed transparent material includes a top compressive layer, a bottom compressive layer, and a tensile layer between the top compressive layer and the bottom compressive layer. A laser beam includes a burst of laser pulses or a single laser pulse which is externally focussed relative to the heat processed transparent material to form a beam waist at a first location external to the heat processed transparent material avoiding formation of a plasma channel external to the heat processed transparent material. The laser pulses or pulse are focused such that a sufficient energy density is maintained within the bottom compressive layer of the heat processed transparent material to form continuous laser filaments in the top and bottom compressive layers therein without causing optical breakdown. The laser filaments do not extend into the tensile layer.

Abstract: A compound, composition, and method for the protection of skin from the harmful effects of radiation, and particularly the harmful effects of high energy visible (HEV) radiation, are disclosed. The compound is a melanin derivative that can be formulated into compositions containing the melanin derivative and a suitable carrier. The composition is topically applied to the skin to reduce the risk of photoaging and improve skin repair due to damage from radiation.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensor is disclosed with built-in self-test coils in a configuration to provide magnetic field stimulation along three axes, with a high field factor, and thus, reduce a power budget of the sensor and physical size of the self-test coils. The magnetic field sensor comprises a first bridge circuit including a plurality of sense elements configured to sense a magnetic field. The magnetic field sensor further comprises re-configurable self-test current lines coupled to a self-test source to perform high field, high power wafer and die level testing and trim, as well as low power in-situ characterization and calibration of the sensor. The self-test current lines may be routed to form a coil with multiple turns around the TMR elements.

Abstract: A system, device, and method are disclosed for a tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) magnetic sensor to effectively increase magnetic field measurement linearity and minimize cross-axis interference. The TMR magnetic sensor comprises a plurality of transducer legs, each having multiple sense elements. The TMR magnetic sensor comprises a plurality of built-in current lines located adjacent to each sense element. The current lines are routed such that two or more sense elements have magnetic responses that have opposing contributions from the cross-axis effect for a given field direction in each transducer leg within the TMR magnetic sensor. Therefore, the overall field response from each transducer leg is internally compensated and the TMR magnetic sensor has an output with minimal cross-axis interference.