Abstract: An electronics apparatus comprises an electronic device having at least first and second ports in communication with respective first and second communication paths by each of which communications can be made with the electronic device. The electronics apparatus comprises a management device arranged to collect information concerning the performance of the first and second ports and to apply a decision threshold to said information to decide whether or not each port has failed. If said decision is that the first port has failed, the management device is arranged to disable communication over the first communication path and to adjust the decision threshold for the second port.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical mux/demux for an optical printed circuit board. The mux/demux comprises: a first waveguide formed on a support layer for carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; a separator/combiner for separating the wavelength division multiplexed signal into component signals of corresponding wavelengths or for combining component signals into the said wavelength division multiplexed signal; and plural second waveguides, each for receiving or providing one or more of the said component signals, wherein the separator/combiner is at a predetermined location relative to the waveguides.

Abstract: A method of controlling the position of a read/write head relative to a disk in a test apparatus is disclosed. The test apparatus has a positioner for positioning the head. The positioner has a sensor to measure the actual position achieved by the positioner. The method includes generating a sensor signal measuring the actual position achieved by the positioner; generating a position error signal of the head relative to the disk detected at the head; high pass filtering the head position error signal and low pass filtering the sensor signal so that there is substantially no overlap in frequency between them; and, deriving a low frequency head error signal from the head position error signal corresponding to any drift of the head.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including a rack; a component mounted to the rack and a cable connected at one end to the component. A cable management assembly for managing the cable has a first end fixed relative to the component and a second end fixed relative to the rack. The cable management assembly includes a first support member having a cable attachment portion that supports the cable along a first length; and, a second support member having a cable attachment portion that supports the cable along a second length. The support members are arranged to pivot with respect to each other about a pivot axis as the component moves between received and withdrawn positions in the rack. The first and second lengths of cable are offset from each other in the direction of the pivot axis.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical mux/demux for an optical printed circuit board. The mux/demux comprises: a first waveguide formed on a support layer for carrying a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal; a separator/combiner for separating the wavelength division multiplexed signal into component signals of corresponding wavelengths or for combining component signals into the said wavelength division multiplexed signal; and plural second waveguides, each for receiving or providing one or more of the said component signals, wherein the separator/combiner is at a predetermined location relative to the waveguides.

Abstract: A data storage device enclosure for housing one or more data storage devices is disclosed. The enclosure has housed therein a plurality of modules, at least one of the modules being a power supply module and at least one of the modules being an electronics module. Each module has a first dimension of substantially n*w and a second dimension of substantially m*h, where n and m are integers that may be different for each module, wherein w=(the width of the enclosure WE/an integer between 1 and 6 inclusive) and h=(the height of the enclosure HE/an integer), w, h, WE and HE each being measured in the same plane. The first dimension of said electronics module is twice the first dimension of said power supply module.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method of transforming a block of data elements, the order of the data elements is transformed. The data elements are stored in an initial order in respective ones of first and second memory elements, each first memory element corresponding to a respective second memory element. The contents of all respective pairs of the first and second memory elements are compared. The data elements in the second memory elements are shifted to different ones of the second memory elements after each comparison while maintaining the initial order of the data elements. The shifts and comparisons are repeated until every data element has been compared with every other data element. The results of the comparisons are combined after each comparison to provide a result that can be used to order the data elements to a final order.

Abstract: A method of writing a servo pattern to a disk, wherein a servo pattern is generated in a processor. The generated servo pattern is then written to a disk. The servo pattern for a servo sector is preferably generated in a single routine.

Abstract: Apparatus for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand includes a spindle having a fluid pressure port therethrough for delivery of fluid pressure. A spindle adapter is adapted to be attached to the spindle and for holding a disk. The spindle adapter has a piston movable therein to clamp a disk between the piston and an opposing surface in response to fluid pressure applied through the spindle fluid pressure port. A disk can be attached to the spindle by offering the disk up to the spindle adapter, and applying fluid pressure to the spindle fluid pressure port to cause the piston to clamp the disk against the opposing surface. The disk can then be spun up on the spindle.

Abstract: A disk drive test apparatus has a plurality of bays each for receiving a respective disk drive to be tested. A plurality of card slots are provided each for receiving a test card via which a disk drive can be tested. Each of the test cards is either an environment test card or an interface test card. The card slots and the test cards are arranged such that each card slot (6) can selectively receive an environment test card or an interface test card. Other arrangements for disk drive test apparatus or disk drive mounting apparatus are disclosed.

Abstract: A mounting for a disk drive unit includes a carrier for carrying a disk drive unit during required movement of the disk drive unit. The carrier defines a space into which the disk drive unit can be inserted, and the carrier is adapted to be inserted with the disk drive unit into a receiving frame for operational use. At lease two resilient devices are mounted on the carrier for securing the disk drive unit in the receiving frame when the carrier is inserted into the frame, at least one resilient device being mounted on each side of the carrier. Each resilient device is movably mounted on the carrier to allow movement of the device as a whole relative to the carrier, and the resilient device is arranged to secure the disk drive unit in the receiving frame by acting between disk drive unit and the receiving frame. A method of handling the disk drive unit comprises placing the disk drive unit into the carrier engaging a robotic device with a coupling structure projecting from the front of the carrier.

Abstract: A system for and method of providing a flexible means of using and storing file configuration metadata in a RAID network, so that the memory system does not restrict the metadata to exact format or location in memory. A RAID controller is operable to power-up a memory device, to determine whether the memory device is new and, if so, to build and configure a file system on the memory device. Configuration data is communicated to the RAID controller. If a configuration update is needed, the RAID controller updates the configuration file of the memory device.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program for allocating physical memory from a group of N memory devices to logical volumes. A group of N memory devices are partitioned into a plurality of bands, each of the group of N memory devices sharing a portion of each of the plurality of bands. A cluster map for each of the plurality of bands is generated. The cluster maps indicate the physical address for each of a plurality of clusters. Each of the plurality of clusters are distributed equally over two or more of the N memory devices to ensure a specified level of redundancy for each of the plurality of bands. Each of the N memory devices share an approximately equal number of clusters. Available bands are determined and are allocated to a logical volume.

Abstract: A scatterometer-interferometer and method for detecting and distinguishing characteristics of surface artifacts provides improved artifact detection and increased scanning speed in interferometric measurement systems. A scatterometer and interferometer are combined in a single measurement head and may have overlapping, concentric or separate measurement spots. Interferometric sampling of a surface under measurement may be initiated in response to detection of a surface artifact by the scatterometer, so that continuous scanning of the surface under measurement can be performed until further information about the size and/or height of the artifact is needed.

Abstract: A method of powering up a disk drive storage enclosure is disclosed, the storage enclosure having at least one power supply and at least one module having a keyed readable interface corresponding to its power rating. The method includes: receiving a power-on signal; determining the power supplying capability of the storage enclosure; determining the power requirement of the storage enclosure including reading the keyed readable interface to determine the power rating of the at least one keyed module; determining the power mode attainable by the system in accordance with the power supplying capability and the power requirement, the modes including at least power on and power off; and, powering up or not powering up the storage enclosure in accordance with the power mode.

Abstract: A method of generating a clock signal from a moving medium includes detecting movement of at least one mark that moves synchronously with the medium. A generally sinusoidal output signal corresponding to movement of the mark is produced. The generally sinusoidal output signal is interpolated to provide a clock signal having a higher frequency than said generally sinusoidal output signal. The interpolation dynamically adjusts the phase of the interpolated output clock signal to correct for errors in the phase of said output signal. In one embodiment, servo tracks are written to a magnetic disk using a servo pattern signal, the phase of the servo pattern signal being adjusted relative to a clock signal. In another aspect, timing errors in a servo track writer are characterised.

Abstract: A method of controlling the position of a read/write head relative to a disk in a test apparatus is disclosed. The test apparatus has a positioner for positioning the head. The positioner has a sensor to measure the actual position achieved by the positioner. The method includes generating a sensor signal measuring the actual position achieved by the positioner; generating a position error signal of the head relative to the disk detected at the head; high pass filtering the head position error signal and low pass filtering the sensor signal so that there is substantially no overlap in frequency between them; and, deriving a low frequency head error signal from the head position error signal corresponding to any drift of the head.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical connector for connecting a user circuit to an optical backplane, in use the connector being adapted for mounting on a user circuit. The connector comprises an active or passive photonic interface through which optical signals may be transmitted and received between a user circuit and a said optical backplane. The connector further is comprised of a primary aligner for engagement with a corresponding aligner on a backplane to ensure alignment of the optical interface with the backplane, and a support for supporting the aligner and/or the optical interface on the connector. The support is selected to enable relative movement between a user circuit to which the connector is connected in use and the aligner and/or the optical interface. The support is preferably a flexible printed circuit board.

Abstract: A dongle for connecting a disk drive assembly to the backplane of a storage enclosure is disclosed. The dongle includes: a housing having a disk drive connector portion having a plurality of contact pins for connecting to a disk drive assembly and having a PCB holding portion having walls that define a recess; and, a PCB located within the recess, the PCB having a plurality of contact fingers on at least one surface at an edge of the PCB to form a backplane connector for connecting to the backplane. At least some of the disk drive connector contact pins are in electrical connection with at least some of the contact fingers of the backplane connector.

Abstract: The invention provides a temperature control device for a disk drive unit, the temperature control device includes a housing for connection to a carrier for a disk drive unit; an air flow generator arranged in the housing for providing a flow of air to a disk drive unit in a connected carrier; and, an air flow control device arranged at the side of the air flow generator and selectively configurable to control the air flow path whereby the temperature of air flowing to the disk drive unit can be controlled.