Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method, and a computer program product to disable the power-saving sleep mode of a disk drive if the drive detects an error at spinup that is a result of the read/write head sticking to the disk surface. The power saving sleep mode is avoided to prevent further spinup problems.

Abstract: This invention relates to diamond and more particularly to diamond produced by chemical vapour deposition (hereinafter referred to as CVD). According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a layer of single crystal CVD diamond of high quality having a thickness of at least 2 mm.

Abstract: A method of producing a large area plate of single crystal diamond from CVD diamond grown on a substrate substantially free of surface defects by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). The homoepitaxial CVD grown diamond and the substrate are severed transverse to the surface of the substrate on which diamond growth took place to produce the large area plate of single crystal CVD diamond.

Abstract: A layer of single crystal boron doped diamond produced by CVD and having a total boron concentration which is uniform. The layer is formed from a single growth sector, or has a thickness exceeding 100 &mgr;m, or has a volume exceeding 1 mm3, or a combination of such characteristics.

Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising one or more microchannel plates and an anode arranged to receive electrons emitted from the one or more microchannel plates. The anode preferably has a smaller diameter than the microchannel plates and is preferably arranged at a distance of at least 15 mm from the microchannel plates. One or more focusing lenses may be provided intermediate the microchannel plates and the anode. The anode preferably comprises two portions separated by an electrically insulated layer.

Abstract: A method of producing a single crystal CVD diamond of a desired colour which includes the steps of providing single crystal CVD diamond which is coloured and heat treating the diamond under conditions suitable to produce the desired colour. Colours which may be produced are, for example, in the pink-green range.

Abstract: An ion detector for a mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising one or more microchannel plates and an anode arranged to receive electrons emitted from the one or more microchannel plates.

Abstract: According to a method form of the invention, in a computer system having a processing load distributed among a number of processors in the system, test computations are performed at intervals by floating point logic of a processor responsive to stored test instructions. Responsive to the test computations indicating an erroneous result by one of the processors information is passed by a firmware process and entered into an operating system error log. Responsive to the information, an operating system deconfiguration service is notified of the error log entry, and the service deconfigures the indicated processor, while the system is still running.

Abstract: This invention relates to devices, kits, and methods for eliminating termite colonies.

Abstract: A flexible energy absorbing sheet material in which a dilatant material (6) is impregnated into or supported by a resilient carrier (1). The dilatant material remains soft until it is subjected to an impact when its characteristics change rendering it temporarily rigid, the material returning to its normal flexible state after the impact. The carrier can be a spacer fabric, a foam layer or modules or threads of dilatant material contained between a pair of spaced layers. Methods of manufacturing the energy absorbing sheet are also disclosed.

Abstract: A control system controls a turbo-charged trottled engine. The control system includes a throttle between the compressor and the engine, a wastegate communicated with exhaust upstream and downstream from the turbine, and a control unit for controlling the throttle and the wastegate. The control unit generates a desired air mass value per engine stroke as a function of a desired fuel flow amount and a stored compressor surge characteristic, generates a desired manifold air pressure value as a function of the desired air mass value and sensed engine parameters, and controls the throttle so that actual manifold air pressure matches the desired manifold air pressure. The control unit also generates a desired pressure boost value as a function of the desired manifold pressure value and a stored compressor surge characteristic, and controls the wastegate so that an actual boost pressure matches the desired boost pressure.

Abstract: A system and process for constructing a magnetic storage drive capable of single pass self-servowriting. A plurality of heads are sorted, or “binned,” into classifications based on at least an approximate magnetic width of each head. Only heads from a single classification are installed in a particular disk drive system. A track overlap value is calculated, preferably empirically, for the approximate magnetic widths of typical heads in the single classification. The overlap value is used to determine a track spacing utilized during a self-servowriting process.

Abstract: A method to write information to a designated information storage medium using an allocated data storage device using a specified information recording format, whereby a previously-determined media bit for the designated information storage medium is examined, and a previously-determined device bit for the allocated data storage device is examined, and the write capability of the designated information storage medium using the specified information recording format is determined.

Abstract: A magnetic head is disclosed that utilizes MEMS technology to form microsliders and micromotors to provide fine movement of read, write and/or servo heads. In one exemplary embodiment, the head block includes cavities in which the microsliders are movably disposed. Read, write and/or servo elements are disposed on the microsliders. In other exemplary embodiments, the microsliders are disposed on the body block. Micromotors are mechanically coupled to the microsliders to move the microsliders with respect to the head body. Exemplary control systems include a controller that receives independent fine position data of the microslider and controls the micromotors to move the microsliders into a desired position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in and relating to investment casting. In particular, the invention provides a method of investment casting, comprising the steps of mixing a binder, a refractory material, and a quantity of water-insoluble organic fibres to form a slurry; coating an expendable pattern with a coat of said slurry; and drying said coat or allowing said coat to dry to form a shell. The present invention further provides a refractory slurry for use in the method of the invention, and a kit of ingredients for putting the method of the invention into effect.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing, in an automated data storage system having a plurality of removable data storage devices, independent memory devices associated with and physically attached to respective removable data storage devices for storing volume identification, RAID bundle information where applicable, and other drive specific information about their respective removable data storage devices. The removable data storage devices are typically hard disk drives, and the independent memory devices are preferably serial electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (“EEPROM”) solid state memory devices. The EEPROM operates independently of the operation of its respective removable hard disk drive, does not require that the hard disk drive be powered up, and continues to operate in the presence of a catastrophic failure of the hard disk drive.

Abstract: This invention pertains fasteners which are characterized by easy insertion and extraordinarily difficult separation of items that they attach together. This is achieved by a combination of snapping segments with an elastic body disposed at least under the head of the fastener. The snapping segments may comprise anti-opening and/or anti-sliding portions, which immensely increase the strength with which the fasteners hold the objects together. The elastic body in the vicinity of the bottom section of the fasteners also provides water and gas proof properties, as well as elimination of squeaking noises. Vehicles comprising objects connected together by the fastening devices described and claimed herein are part of the instant invention.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a method for forming polyacrylic acid granules and granules formed therefrom wherein the granules are flowable, have an increased bulk density relative to the as polymerized polyacrylic acids, and a low amount of dust which is generally characterized herein as particles which pass through a 325 mesh screen. The granules formed by the method of the present invention can be used to prepare controlled release tablets, especially controlled release pharmaceutical tablets. The controlled release properties of the tablets formed from granules prepared according to the present invention are unexpectedly better than tablets prepared from granules formed by other known granulation methods.

Abstract: Medical device components and processes are disclosed. For example, tube-shaped catheter components and processes of making tube-shaped catheter components are disclosed. Devices and systems, including medical devices and systems, such as catheters, containing tube-shaped catheter components are also disclosed.

Abstract: An interactive user interface displayed on a monitor as part of a telephone is disclosed. The interactive user interface allows a user to easily use basic and advanced telephony functions, telephony-related services, such as accessing phone directories and voice mail, and non-telephony services. These non-telephony services can include any information deliverable over, for example, TCP/IP or DHCP, and can include information such as stock prices, weather, sports data, and so on, typically from third-party services. It can also include intra-company information such as meeting schedules, conference room bookings, cafeteria menus, and so on. A user can also pull up context-sensitive “help” information on the display at any time to learn more about a particular mode, option, or feature.