Abstract: For comparing first optical properties of a first fluid with second optical properties of a second fluid a first transparent grating having a grating constant is made of the first liquid, and a second transparent grating also having the grating constant is made of the second liquid. The second transparent grating is arranged at a lateral offset of less than 45% of the grating constant with regard to the first transparent grating such that grating bars of the first and second transparent gratings are arranged side by side. Coherent light is directed onto the first and second transparent gratings such that light which passed through the grating bars of the first and second transparent gratings forms a diffraction pattern comprising intensity maxima. Two light intensities of two intensity maxima of a same order higher than zero are measured and compared to each other.

Abstract: For comparing first optical properties of a first fluid with second optical properties of a second fluid a first transparent grating having a grating constant is made of the first liquid, and a second transparent grating also having the grating constant is made of the second liquid. The second transparent grating is arranged at a lateral offset of less than 45% of the grating constant with regard to the first transparent grating such that grating bars of the first and second transparent gratings are arranged side by side. Coherent light is directed onto the first and second transparent gratings such that light which passed through the grating bars of the first and second transparent gratings forms a diffraction pattern comprising intensity maxima. Two light intensities of two intensity maxima of a same order higher than zero are measured and compared to each other.

Abstract: A high-resolution magnetic encoder system includes a magnetic resistive sensor, a fixed suspension, and a mechanism. The magnetic resistive sensor is mounted to the fixed suspension above a magnetic medium having at least one magnetic track. The fixed suspension is attached to the mechanism, such as a housing, a substrate, and/or an electronic board. The sensor is adapted to perform a relative movement with respect to and in close contact to the surface of the magnetic medium. The magnetic medium may be protected by an overcoat layer. The magnetic resistive sensor may be Giant Magnetic-Resistive (GMR) sensor and/or a Tunneling Magnetic-Resistive Sensor (TMR).

Abstract: A high-resolution magnetic encoder system includes a magnetic resistive sensor, a fixed suspension, and a mechanism. The magnetic resistive sensor is mounted to the fixed suspension above a magnetic medium having at least one magnetic track. The fixed suspension is attached to the mechanism, such as a housing, a substrate, and/or an electronic board. The sensor is adapted to perform a relative movement with respect to and in close contact to the surface of the magnetic medium. The magnetic medium may be protected by an overcoat layer. The magnetic resistive sensor may be Giant Magnetic-Resistive (GMR) sensor and/or a Tunneling Magnetic-Resistive Sensor (TMR).

Abstract: A high-resolution magnetic encoder system includes a magnetic resistive sensor, a fixed suspension, and a mechanism. The magnetic resistive sensor is mounted to the fixed suspension above a magnetic medium having at least one magnetic track. The fixed suspension is attached to the mechanism, such as a housing, a substrate, and/or an electronic board. The sensor is adapted to perform a relative movement with respect to and in close contact to the surface of the magnetic medium. The magnetic medium may be protected by an overcoat layer. The magnetic resistive sensor may be Giant Magnetic-Resistive (GMR) sensor and/or a Tunneling Magnetic-Resistive Sensor (TMR).

Abstract: A high-resolution magnetic encoder system includes a magnetic resistive sensor, a fixed suspension, and a mechanism. The magnetic resistive sensor is mounted to the fixed suspension above a magnetic medium having at least one magnetic track. The fixed suspension is attached to the mechanism, such as a housing, a substrate, and/or an electronic board. The sensor is adapted to perform a relative movement with respect to and in close contact to the surface of the magnetic medium. The magnetic medium may be protected by an overcoat layer. The magnetic resistive sensor may be Giant Magnetic-Resistive (GMR) sensor and/or a Tunneling Magnetic-Resistive Sensor (TMR).

Abstract: An apparatus for exactly positioning a medium mounted on a spindle is provided, whereby the apparatus comprises a device for continuously changing the angular position of said medium with respect to a predefined reference position by rotating said spindle. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a friction element for braking said spindle at a predetermined position, not allowing a swing back.

Abstract: An apparatus for exactly positioning a medium mounted on a spindle is provided, whereby the apparatus comprises a device for continuously changing the angular position of said medium with respect to a predefined reference position by rotating said spindle. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a friction element for braking said spindle at a predetermined position, not allowing a swing back.

Abstract: A suspension arm (300) of a disk storage device has an elastic portion (310) with thickness d1 and a rigid portion (320) with thickness d2. At the free end of the suspension arm, a slider (325) is mounted on the suspension arm. The bottom surface of the slider has a distance FH to a top surface of a hard disk (329). The suspension arm particularly comprises a heating element (330) disposed on the suspension arm. An electric current Ic flowing through electrical supply wires (350) causes the temperature of the suspension arm locally to rise and therefore its spring constant to decrease. Together with the force Fa resulting from the air cushion effect of the slider a new equilibrium flying height FH is stabilized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recording and storing information on and reproducing information from a storage medium is described, wherein the active storage medium forms part of the write/read signal path.

Abstract: Briefly, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a suspension having a structured surface hardening. This surface hardening may be comprised of thin film stripes of material such as nitrides, carbides, and adamantine carbon. The hardened layer has a thickness in the range of 10-100 nm.

Abstract: A suspension arm (300) of a disk storage device has an elastic portion (310) with thickness d1 and a rigid portion (320) with thickness d2. At the free end of the suspension arm, a slider (325) is mounted on the suspension arm. The bottom surface of the slider has a distance FH to a top surface of a hard disk (329). The suspension arm particularly comprises a heating element (330) disposed on the suspension arm. An electric current Ic flowing through electrical supply wires (350) causes the temperature of the suspension arm locally to rise and therefore its spring constant to decrease. Together with the force Fa resulting from the air cushion effect of the slider a new equilibrium flying height FH is stabilized.

Abstract: A process permits the determination of multi-dimensional distribution of magnetic fields. The process uses a magneto-resistive sensor as a physical measuring device. The measuring device is coupled with a method for algebraic reconstruction so that sectional images of the field distribution are calculated from individual measurements of the magneto-resistive effect using the algebraic reconstruction.

Abstract: A magnetic disk tester which also incorporates a sensor such as an AFM or MFM is described. The device is able directly and quickly to detect and characterize sub-micrometric defects on the surface of magnetic disks. A process for finding and characterizing defects on a magnetic disk according to the invention comprises the steps of rotating the magnetic disk using a spindle motor; writing data on the magnetic disk at selected positions; finding a position on the magnetic disk having a defect which produces an error when reading the data from the magnetic disk; determining coordinates of the defect referenced from an index on the disk; stopping the spindle motor; positioning a sensing device such as an AFM or MFM head over the defect; and sensing characteristics of the defect which aid in determining a cause of the defect.