Abstract: A truck camera and safety system to prevent harm from being done to one or more individuals who accidentally fall into a hopper. The overall system includes a truck having a lift arm mechanism and a hopper. At least one camera and temperature sensor are disposed within the hopper. A control module is operably connected to cameras and a temperature sensor, as well as to one or more vehicle systems, via a vehicle control interface disposed within the driver's cab of the truck. The control module includes a processor, a non-transitory computer readable medium operatively connected to the processor, and a logic stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to detect, via the temperature sensor, the temperature within the hopper. If the temperature detected is above a predetermined threshold temperature, the overall system is deactivated.

Abstract: A garbage truck camera and safety system includes a garbage truck having a lift arm mechanism, a hopper, and a trash compacting device disposed within the hopper. At least one camera and temperature sensor are disposed within the hopper. A control module is operably connected to the cameras and the temperature sensor, as well as to one or more vehicle systems, via a vehicle control interface disposed within the driver's cab. The control module includes a processor, a non-transitory computer readable medium operatively connected to the processor, and a logic stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to detect, via the temperature sensor, the temperature within the hopper; and if the temperature detected is above a predetermined threshold temperature, then deactivating the trash compacting device. The system will prevent harm from being done to individuals who accidentally fall into the hopper.

Abstract: A garbage truck camera and safety system includes a garbage truck having a lift arm mechanism, a hopper, and a trash compacting device disposed within the hopper. At least one camera and temperature sensor are disposed within the hopper. A control module is operably connected to the cameras and the temperature sensor, as well as to one or more vehicle systems, via a vehicle control interface disposed within the driver's cab. The control module includes a processor, a non-transitory computer readable medium operatively connected to the processor, and a logic stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium that, when executed by the processor, causes the system to detect, via the temperature sensor, the temperature within the hopper; and if the temperature detected is above a predetermined threshold temperature, then deactivating the trash compacting device. The system will prevent harm from being done to individuals who accidentally fall into the hopper.

Abstract: A container seal cutting device for removing the seal of a container. The container seal cutting device includes a cap having a top wall, one or more sidewalls, and an open lower end that can receive the mouth of a container therein. The upper surface of the top wall includes a cutting blade pivotally secured thereto. The cutting blade is movable between a stored configuration and an upright configuration. In the stored configuration, the cutting blade rests within a recessed area on the cap so that it remains substantially flush with the upper surface thereof. In the upright configuration, the cutting blade extends substantially perpendicular from the upper surface of the cap so it can be utilized to remove the seal of a container. The device further includes a protrusion disposed on the cutting blade in order to safely move the cutting blade between the stored and upright configuration.

Abstract: A container seal cutting device for removing the seal of a container. The container seal cutting device includes a cap having a top wall, one or more sidewalls, and an open lower end that can receive the mouth of a container therein. The upper surface of the top wall includes a cutting blade pivotally secured thereto. The cutting blade is movable between a stored configuration and an upright configuration. In the stored configuration, the cutting blade rests within a recessed area on the cap so that it remains substantially flush with the upper surface thereof. In the upright configuration, the cutting blade extends substantially perpendicular from the upper surface of the cap so it can be utilized to remove the seal of a container. The device further includes a protrusion disposed on the cutting blade in order to safely move the cutting blade between the stored and upright configuration.

Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.

Abstract: A head using heaters or actuators to control head media spacing is disclosed. In embodiments disclosed the heaters are selectively energized to control a close point of the head for read and/or write operations. As disclosed power is supplied to multiple heaters to generate heat induced protrusion data and the heat induced protrusion data is used to apply power to the multiple heaters for head media spacing control.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive reader having a sensor, current contacts with low parasitic resistance and a top shield with substantially planar topology is fabricated by first defining a stripe height back edge of the sensor. Next, a reader width of the sensor is defined. The current contacts are deposited to a thickness such that a top surface of the current contacts is substantially level with a top surface of the sensor. The top shield is deposited over the sensor and the current contacts. Defining the stripe height back edge prior to the reader width results in current contacts with low parasitic resistance and inhibits the formation of magnetic domains in the top shield.

Abstract: A spin valve head configured to operate in a Current-In-Plane (CIP) mode is provided. The spin valve head has an air bearing surface (ABS) and a top and a bottom shield separated by a central region proximate the ABS. A sensor, positioned in the central region, has a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end forming a portion of the ABS. A permanent magnet is positioned in the central region and proximate the distal end of the sensor. The permanent magnet being separated from the sensor by a gap layer. The top shield, the bottom shield and the permanent magnet are electrically coupled together to allow for electrical testing of the spin valve head.

Abstract: A spin valve head configured to operate in a Current-In-Plane (CIP) mode is provided. The spin valve head has an air bearing surface (ABS) and a top and a bottom shield separated by a central region proximate the ABS. A sensor, positioned in the central region, has a proximal end and a distal end, with the proximal end forming a portion of the ABS. A permanent magnet is positioned in the central region and proximate the distal end of the sensor. The permanent magnet being separated from the sensor by a gap layer. The top shield, the bottom shield and the permanent magnet are electrically coupled together to allow for electrical testing of the spin valve head.

Abstract: A head disc interface having a fine pitch surface roughness including fine pitch projections having a relatively smooth roughness height and a projection pitch <1.0 &mgr;m for optimizing tribological performance.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system. For example, the pads may be used to reduce the stiction or improve flying characteristics. Flying instabilities associated with the pads are addressed by a number of characteristics provided to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system. For example, the pads may be used to reduce the stiction or improve flying characteristics. Flying instabilities associated with the pads are addressed by a number of characteristics provided to the air bearing surface.

Abstract: A recovery system for recovering alignment marks obscured by a deposited obscuring layer. The system includes an imaging system to locate the obscured alignment marks. The located alignment marks are recovered through the obscuring layer to use the alignment marks to align patterned layers of a fabricated structure.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for fabricating a magnetoresistive reader having a sensor, current contacts with low parasitic resistance and a top shield with substantially planar topology. First, a stripe height back edge of the sensor is defined, and second, a reader width of the sensor is defined. The current contacts are deposited to a thickness such that a top surface of the current contacts is substantially level with a top surface of the sensor. The top shield is deposited over the sensor and the current contacts. Defining the stripe height back edge prior to the reader width results in current contacts with low parasitic resistance and inhibits the formation of magnetic domains in the top shield.

Abstract: A disk brake system for original equipment or retrofit installation in a wheelbarrow or hand truck uses a disk rotor and a caliper bracket both mounted to the wheel or axle, so as to provide the disk brake pads of the caliper with a fixed position relative to the disk rotor. The caliper bracket is stabilized by a separate U-shaped mounting bracket, or by one or more mounting arms affixed to the caliper bracket, which are secured to one handle.

Abstract: A disc storage system includes a rotating disc and a transducer. The transducer is carried on a slider which is supported by an armature. The armature is used to move the slider radially across the disc surface whereby information may be read from or written to the disc surface of the transducer. The slider includes an air bearing surface which faces the disc surface. As the disc rotates, the air bearing surface causes the slider to “fly” over the disc surface. Pads are provided on the air bearing surface to improve operational characteristics of the system.

Abstract: A thin-film head has patterned pole tips (68) and a smooth interface topography (70) which eliminates the accumulation of foreign material around the pole tips (68). The patterned pole tips (68) are formed by removing material to obtain a desired pole tip shape. Fill material is added and reduced to produce a smooth surface topography (70).

Abstract: A method of fabricating a contoured surface feature to multiple depths on a surface of a hydrodynamic bearing slider with a single mask includes applying a lithographic resist layer to the slider surface and forming the single mask with a mask pattern which includes a masked area, an unmasked area and an intermediate area between the masked area and the unmasked area. The lithographic resist layer is then exposed through the single mask and removed as a function of exposure to form a patterned resist layer and to thereby uncover portions of the slider surface within the patterned resist layer. The uncovered portions of the slider surface and the patterned resist layer are etched, with the uncovered portions being etched to a first depth below the slider surface.

Abstract: A new wheelbarrow braking system for facilitating braking of a conventional wheelbarrow while transporting heavy loads thereby retaining the desired position of the wheelbarrow on uneven surfaces and reducing velocity when transporting down hill. The inventive device includes at least one brake disc secured to the inside surface of a support member of a conventional wheel barrow near the tire rim, and an ergonomic handle support member of a conventional wheel barrow near the tire rim, and an ergonomic handle connected to a brake cable secured to the opposite end of the support member and mechanically connected to the brake disc.