Abstract: A duct detector housing includes a housing cover and a housing body having a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas inlet is in fluid communication with a gas conveying duct. The housing body is adapted to have a detector therein and being complementary to the cover to form an interface therebetween. A binary mode securement mechanism for securing the cover to the housing body in either only an open or closed position is provided to overcome the uncertainty with conventional housings as to the integrity of the closure. A process for ensuring a cover is closed against a housing body of a duct detector housing includes placing the cover in complementary contact with a surface of the housing body and engaging the binary mode securement mechanism to provide only binary either positive or completely an open or closed position for the cover relative to the housing body.

Abstract: A duct detector housing includes a housing cover and a housing body defining a midline between the center of a detector and a printed circuit board within said body. Gas inlet and outlets are off axis of the midline to allow water that collects in conventional housing to drain from the housing. A maintenance mode button associated with a duct detector housing cover that is secured to a housing body of the housing provides a preselected time period during which removal of the cover is independent of a cover removal alarm. A printed circuit board within the housing has dedicated terminal blocks providing grouped connections with each of the groups segregated from another. An improved duct detector terminal has a hole in the terminal adapted to receive a test meter probe therethrough to provide an electrical contact between the wire.

Abstract: An illumination device for illuminating an interior space of a refrigerator includes a panel and an illuminator for introducing light into the panel. The illuminator introduces light into the panel along an edge of the panel. A surface of the panel includes a plurality of lines for diverting introduced light to a region that is outside of the panel. The plurality of lines form a grid.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for defrosting an evaporator in a cooling system are provided. The cooling system includes a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a refrigerant that is circulated in sequence from the compressor to the condenser, to the evaporator and back to the compressor during routine operation of the cooling system. The method and apparatus comprise shutting off the flow of the refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator through the condenser while continuing to operate the compressor so as to apply suction to the refrigerant in the evaporator and thereafter directing compressed refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator while bypassing the condenser and continuing to shut off the flow of the refrigerant from the compressor to the evaporator through the condenser.

Abstract: The invention concerns a storage unit that is adapted to be located in a refrigeration appliance. The storage unit includes a holding compartment for holding articles the temperature of which is to be controlled. The holding compartment is adapted to be placed in air flow communication with a source of cold air whereby the cold air may be delivered to the holding compartment. An air-flow passageway for recirculating air discharged from the holding compartment back to the holding compartment is provided along with a mixing area where the cold air and the recirculated air may be mixed in selected quantities. A user interface providing for the selection of a temperature-control procedure from a group of available temperature-control procedures for application to the interior of the holding compartment is included. The storage unit can include a controller for controlling the implementation of the temperature-control procedure selected by the user.

Abstract: An information storage system has structure with a head that can effect information transfers with respect to a storage medium. According to one feature, a control portion monitors a characteristic of information read from the storage medium, and can take action to reduce the likelihood of non-recoverable errors based on the characteristic. According to a different feature, the control portion moves the head to a position adjacent a portion of a surface on the storage medium, waits while moving the head relative to the surface, and then moves the head to another position adjacent a different portion of the surface. According to another feature, the control portion calculates a distance of the head from the surface based on information read from the surface, and determines based on this distance whether the head or the storage medium may fail to satisfy a criteria.

Abstract: A duct coupled air sampling detector housing includes a box to contain the detector. The box has a slotted sleeve adapted to receive tubular conduit having a protruding conduit tab. The conduit upon passing the protruding conduit tab through the sleeve slot is rotated such that the tab rests against a notch in the sleeve end that prevents the conduit from disengaging from the box. A conduit retainer overlies the inner end of the sleeve. A cover seals against the front face of the box to enclose the box volume containing the detector.

Abstract: A head stack assembly is provided for interfacing with a flexible medium of a disk. The head stack assembly includes a first head and a second head located substantially adjacent to the first head wherein the flexible medium may be disposed between the first head and the second head. The first head and the second head are substantially parallel to each other and disposed at a static roll angle ?a and a static roll angle ?b, respectively, from the flexible medium to impart a curvature to the flexible medium of a disk. The curvature reduces out-of-plane vibrations of the flexible medium and thereby enhances the electrical communicative signal between the flexible medium and the first and the second heads.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are storage device sliders incorporatig thin-film sensors and wear resistant extensions. Also disclosed herein are data storage devices and assemblies utilizing those sliders. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A duct coupled air sampling detector housing includes a box to contain the detector. The box has a slotted sleeve adapted to receive tubular conduit having a protruding conduit tab. The conduit upon passing the protruding conduit tab through the sleeve slot is rotated such that the tab rests against a notch in the sleeve end that prevents the conduit from disengaging from the box. A conduit retainer overlies the inner end of the sleeve. A cover seals against the front face of the box to enclose the box volume containing the detector.

Abstract: An information storage system has structure with a head that can effect information transfers with respect to a storage medium. According to one feature, a control portion monitors a characteristic of information read from the storage medium, and can take action to reduce the likelihood of non-recoverable errors based on the characteristic. According to a different feature, the control portion moves the head to a position adjacent a portion of a surface on the storage medium, waits while moving the head relative to the surface, and then moves the head to another position adjacent a different portion of the surface. According to another feature, the control portion calculates a distance of the head from the surface based on information read from the surface, and determines based on this distance whether the head or the storage medium may fail to satisfy a criteria.

Abstract: Low nanosized combusted products are obtained by introducing at least one volatile metal compound into the flame of a non-premixed, multi-element diffusion flame burner which exhibits a one-dimensional temperature profile. The combustion process generates a stable environment favoring formation of very small particles of uniform composition. Adjusting burner stoichiometry enables production of zero valent metal powders and metal compounds of low or intermediate oxidation states as well as the usual more highly oxidized species.

Abstract: An improved head assembly having air bearing features for contaminant control in flexible media high contact-pressure zone. The head assembly having one or more air bearing features for improving the performance of the heads by controlling a flow of contaminants away from the head sensor and the high contact-pressure zone. The improved head assembly having air bearing features allows the head to keep contaminants out of the high contact-pressure zone proximate the head disk interface where the sensor communicates (e.g., contacts) the flexible media. The head assembly of the present invention includes a shaped slot air bearing feature formed in the rail having the sensor that directs the flow of contaminants away from the high contact-pressure zone and therefore, away from the sensor. This helps to prevent problems associated with head spacing and also damage to the head, the disk, and/or both.

Abstract: An improved head assembly having a leading edge step scheme for tuned air entrainment for improved head performance in higher capacity disk drives. The head assembly having a tuned leading edge step scheme improves the performance of the heads by controlling the entrainment of air thereby forming a desired air bearing between a disk surface and the longitudinal rails of each slider of the head assembly thereby forcing the storage media to comply in an advantageous way (e.g., conform) to cause intimacy at the sensor. The improved head assembly having a leading edge step scheme allows the flying characteristics of the head to be controlled by providing a first rail including a sensor for interfacing with the disk media and having a bleed leading edge step that does not entrain air well and a second rail not having a sensor and having a structured leading edge step that entrains air better than the bleed leading edge step of the first rail.

Abstract: An optical head has a head gimbal assembly on which a light emitting laser is mounted. A tab extends from the assembly and a photo-detector is mounted on the tab. The tab extends from the load beam of the head gimbal assembly. Alternatively, the tab extends from a flexure of the head disk assembly.

Abstract: A labyrinth seal arrangement for preventing contaminants from entering an interior of the removable cartridge. The labyrinth seal includes a sealing disk disposed external to the cartridge housing proximate the hub opening that acts to pump air away from the hub opening to prevent a flow of air and airborne contaminants, including dust, dirt, smoke, and the like, from being introduced into the removable cartridge through the area around the hub opening during operation of the cartridge. The sealing disk can be part of the removable cartridge or the disk drive. The cartridge can include a clamping mechanism for selectively moving the sealing disk between a static contact position over the hub opening during a non-operating condition and a dynamic spaced apart relation with the cartridge housing during an operating condition.

Abstract: A head stack assembly is provided for interfacing with a flexible medium of a disk. The head stack assembly includes a first head and a second head located substantially adjacent to the first head wherein the flexible medium may be disposed between the first head and the second head. The first head and the second head are substantially parallel to each other and disposed at a static roll angle &thgr;a and a static roll angle &thgr;b, respectively, from the flexible medium to impart a curvature to the flexible medium of a disk. The curvature reduces out-of-plane vibrations of the flexible medium and thereby enhances the electrical communicative signal between the flexible medium and the first and the second heads.

Abstract: An improved head assembly having a leading edge step scheme for tuned air entrainment for improved head performance in higher capacity disk drives. The head assembly having a tuned leading edge step scheme improves the performance of the heads by controlling the entrainment of air thereby forming a desired air bearing between a disk surface and the longitudinal rails of each slider of the head assembly thereby forcing the storage media to comply in an advantageous way (e.g., conform) to cause intimacy at the sensor. The improved head assembly having a leading edge step scheme allows the flying characteristics of the head to be controlled by providing a first rail including a sensor for interfacing with the disk media and having a bleed leading edge step that does not entrain air well and a second rail not having a sensor and having a structured leading edge step that entrains air better than the bleed leading edge step of the first rail.

Abstract: A data-storage cartridge comprises an outer shell having an inner surface. The data-storage cartridge also comprises a data-storage medium having an outer peripheral edge and a centrally-disposed hub. The data-storage medium is rotatably disposed within the outer shell so that the data-storage medium faces the inner surface of the outer shell. A recess is formed in the inner surface. The recess preferably extends from a first position proximate the outer peripheral edge of the data-storage medium to a second position proximate the hub. A liner is attached to the inner surface of the outer shell so that the liner covers a portion of the recess between the first and the second ends of the recess. The liner and the recess thereby form a passage for circulating air between the outer peripheral edge and the hub of the data-storage medium.

Abstract: A method of producing magnetic recording disks includes positioning the disks between flat plates and increasing the temperature and pressure on the disks. Servo tracks are embossed on the disks by an embossing pattern on the flat plate. Servo tracks may be applied by a printing pattern on the flat plates. The flat plates are rotated during the process to relieve directional differences in the modulus of elasticity of the disk.