Abstract: An electro-optical printed circuit board and a method of making an electro-optical printed circuit board are provided. The method comprises: forming a trench or groove on an outer surface of an electrical printed circuit board; providing optical material in the trench thereby to form an optical waveguide.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making an electro-optical printed circuit board, the method comprising: providing a support layer having thereon surface mounted electric components within a region of the support layer; forming one or more surface mounted optical components on the surface of the electro-optical printed circuit board; and during formation of the one or more surface mounted optical components shielding the region of the electro-optical printed circuit board where the surface mounted electric components are formed.

Abstract: A module receivable within a data storage device enclosure is disclosed. The module comprises a module body and a handle arranged to lever the module into or out of its received position in a said data storage device enclosure. The handle has a plastics portion that can be gripped by a user to operate the handle, and a metal portion by which the handle is attached to the module body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a data switch, comprising: plural input ports each for receiving data cells from a respective link; plural output ports each for providing data cells to a respective link; a switch fabric for selectively enabling a data cell received at one of the plural input ports to be switched to one or more of the plural output ports; and a switch scheduler comprising a cut-through arbiter arranged to schedule the switching of a received data cell before the entirety of the data cell is received.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch and a method of switching for switching data frames. The switch comprises plural input ports and plural output ports; a central switch fabric configurable in any switching cycle to make connections between required pairs of the input ports and output ports; one or more transmit devices configured to receive data from the input ports and transmit data cells across the switch fabric; a controller for controlling the operation of the transmit devices, the plural input ports and output ports and the switch fabric; and multicast storage associated with the or each of the transmit devices for storage of fragmenting multicast cells and onward transmission of the fragmented cells.

Abstract: A method of generating a position error signal for a desired radial position of a read/write head relative to a data track of a disk is disclosed. The track has a plurality of servo bursts defining a plurality of servo nulls for the track, and are positioned such that they are at more than four different radial positions relative to the track, and define a predetermined locus having a known position relationship with the track. The method comprises determining a target null position on the null locus corresponding to the radial position of the head relative to the track; detecting the position of the servo null with the head; determining from the detected servo null position the position error of the head relative to the target null position; and, generating a position error signal.

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: A method and system for detecting performance degradation of a plurality of monitored components in a networked storage system. Performance data is collected from the plurality of monitored components. Component statistics are generated from the collected performance data. Heuristics are applied to the generated component statistics to determine the likelihood of failure or degradation of each of the plurality of monitored components.

Abstract: A method of congestion management within a switch or network of connected switches is provided, wherein the or each of the switches has a plurality of ingress ports and a plurality of egress ports. The method involves, when congestion is detected at a first ingress or egress port, sending a message to an upstream port connected to the first ingress or egress port indicating that congestion has occurred at a particular port and requesting storage at the upstream port of data packets destined for that port; and, in dependence on the amount of data packets destined for the congested port stored at the upstream port, sending from the upstream port to a further upstream port a message informing the further upstream port of the congestion at the congested port, the further upstream port storing at the further upstream port data packets destined for the congested port.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a disk drive during manufacture of the disk drive has a cell having a mounting arrangement to which a disk drive can be mounted and having walls defining a volume in which the disk drive is received when mounted to the mounting arrangement during manufacture of the disk drive. At least one wall of the cell adjacent said volume is heat conductive and is arranged such that a disk drive when received in the volume does not touch said at least one wall. An air-agitating device agitates air between the at least one wall and a disk drive when received in the volume to encourage heat transfer between said at least one wall and a disk drive when inserted into the volume. The air-agitating device is mounted so as to be vibrationally isolated from a said disk drive when mounted in the cell.

Abstract: An enclosure for containing one or more electronic devices is disclosed. The enclosure comprises walls defining a channel; an air movement device in the channel, the channel having an air inlet upstream of the air movement device in communication with a first region of the enclosure; and, a pressure chamber in the channel downstream of the air movement device. The air movement device is arranged so as in use to blow air drawn from the air inlet into the pressure chamber. The pressure chamber has an increased resistance to airflow so as to positively pressurise the air flowing therethrough. The pressure chamber has a first air outlet in communication with a second region of the enclosure and a second air outlet in communication with the exterior of the enclosure.

Abstract: The invention provides an adapter for an optical printed circuit board, the adapter comprising a socket for receiving a daughter card for connecting to a said optical printed circuit board; and a connector for engagement with the optical printed circuit board arranged such that when the connector engages with the optical printed circuit board an optical connection is established between the optical printed circuit board and the adapter.

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 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: The invention provides a temperature control apparatus for a hard disk drive, the apparatus comprising: a thermal chamber for receiving a hard disk drive; and an oscillatory air movement generator for generating air movement within a region between the thermal chamber and a said hard disk drive when received in the thermal chamber, thereby to facilitate heat transfer between the thermal chamber and a said hard disk drive.

Abstract: In one arrangement, apparatus for attaching a disk to a spindle of a spinstand has a spindle adapter. The spindle adapter has a drawbar movably disposed within. The drawbar has a connector end that is reversibly connectable to the cap and has a piston that is connectable to a source of fluid pressure. The drawbar is movable in response to fluid pressure so as to urge together the cap and the spindle adapter when connected. The cap and the spindle adapter are capable of holding a said disk therebetween. In another arrangement, a movable stage movable over a deck of a spinstand has a lift stage arranged to hold a cap with a disk positioned thereon. The lift stage has at least one actuator for raising the lift stage so that the cap can be connected with a spindle adapter of an inverted spindle of a spinstand.

Abstract: Apparatus for receiving and positioning a read/write head to a disk in a test apparatus has a deck and a spindle on the deck and on which a disk can be mounted for rotation of the disk. A gripper is provided for holding a head during testing, the gripper being movable over a surface of the deck. A precisor receives a head and accurately aligns the head, the precisor being movable over a surface of the deck. A pick is operable to pick up and place down a head. The precisor is movable to a position where the pick can pick up a head from the precisor and place down a head on the precisor. The gripper is movable to a position where the pick can pick up a head from the gripper and place down a head on the gripper.

Abstract: Apparatus for loading a read/write head to a spinstand has a load area for receiving at least one head to be tested. The apparatus further has a first station having a coarse precisor arranged to provide a coarse positioning of the head. A first automation device is arranged to pick a head from the load area and to deliver it to the coarse precisor. The apparatus has a deck having a test station at which a head can be tested. The deck has a fine precisor arranged to provide a second, fine positioning of the head. A second automation device is arranged to pick a head from the first station and deliver it to the fine precisor where the head can be subjected to a second, fine precising and to pick a head from the fine precisor and to deliver it to the test station.

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: The present invention provides an optical printed circuit board, comprising at least one optical waveguide for carrying optical signals on the optical printed circuit board; and a trench formed adjacent the at least one optical waveguide, wherein the trench contains a light absorptive material to absorb light that strays from the at least one waveguide.