Abstract: A magnetic recording disk drive head carrier or slider has a contact pad that protects the disk drive's write pole during touchdown of the slider with the disk. The contact pad is located in a window region of the slider's disk-facing surface that includes the write pole end. The contact pad includes a layer of silicon that surrounds the write pole end but does not cover it. The silicon does not cover the write pole end because it has diffused into the ferromagnetic material of the write pole end. This removes the silicon over the write pole end. The contact pad includes a protective overcoat on the silicon-containing write pole end and surrounding silicon layer. The protective overcoat thus has a recess over the write pole due to the absence of silicon, so that the protective overcoat surrounding the recess provides protection to the recessed write pole end during touchdown.

Abstract: A heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) head has a protective multilayer confined to a window of the disk-facing surface of the slider that surrounds the near-field transducer (NFT) end and write pole end. The protective multilayer is made up of alternating films of a metal and diamond-like carbon (DLC). All of the metal films are formed of the same metal selected from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo and W, with the preferred metal being zirconium (Zr). A slider protective overcoat may be formed over the entire disk-facing surface in both the window region and the non-window region, with the protective multilayer formed on the slider overcoat in the window region. The overcoat may be absent in the window region, in which case an adhesion film is on the NFT and write pole ends in the window region, with the protective multilayer being formed on the adhesion film.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having trailing magnetic shield and a trailing magnetic return pole that are recessed from the media facing surface. The magnetic write head includes a write pole, a trailing shield that is separated from the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer and a trailing magnetic return pole that is connected with the trailing magnetic shield. The trailing magnetic return pole and at least a portion of the trailing magnetic shield have surfaces that face the media facing surface. The surface of the trailing magnetic return pole and at least a portion of the surface of the trailing magnetic shield taper away from the media facing surface. This recess prevents far track interference by preventing stray magnetic fields from the trailing magnetic shield and trailing magnetic return pole from inadvertently affecting the magnetic media.

Abstract: A magnetic write head having trailing magnetic shield and a trailing magnetic return pole that are recessed from the media facing surface. The magnetic write head includes a write pole, a trailing shield that is separated from the write pole by a non-magnetic trailing gap layer and a trailing magnetic return pole that is connected with the trailing magnetic shield. The trailing magnetic return pole and at least a portion of the trailing magnetic shield have surfaces that face the media facing surface. The surface of the trailing magnetic return pole and at least a portion of the surface of the trailing magnetic shield taper away from the media facing surface. This recess prevents far track interference by preventing stray magnetic fields from the trailing magnetic shield and trailing magnetic return pole from inadvertently affecting the magnetic media.

Abstract: A modified carburetor spacer for providing greater efficiency in the operation of internal combustion engine having an attached carburetor (or “carburetor engine assembly”) comprising a conventional carburetor spacer body and a five-blade fan disposed at least one open section of said carburetor spacer body. The modified carburetor spacer can be attached underneath the carburetor of a carburetor engine assembly by means typical to the carburetor spacer installation, including through the use of two metal rods with accompanying nuts and bolts. When a carburetor engine assembly having an installed modified carburetor spacer is used, the vacuum created by the operation of the motor causes the fan blades in the modified carburetor space to spin.

Abstract: A system according to one embodiment comprises a head having a perpendicular writer, the writer comprising: a first pole structure having a pole tip positioned towards an air bearing surface of the head, the first pole structure having a portion that is recessed from an extent of the pole tip closest the air bearing surface; a return pole having an end positioned towards the air bearing surface of the head; and a gap between the first pole structure and the return pole, wherein the recessed portion is recessed less than about 1.25 microns relative to the extent of the pole tip closest the air bearing surface. Additional embodiments as well as methods are presented.

Abstract: A switching arrangement and method allow signals received by a communications platform to be directed to an appropriate interface depending on the type of signal received by an input signal line. A switch element having a switch is responsive to a logic control system that is itself responsive to signals that the input signal line receives. The logic control system may be responsive to any detectable identification, property or quality of the received signal. When the input signal line receives an analog signal, the logic control system detects that the signal is analog and causes the switch element to connect the input signal line to the analog interface with the switch. When the input signal line receives a digital signal, the logic control system detects that the signal is digital and causes the switch element to connect the input signal line to the digital interface with the switch.

Abstract: An improved second stage regulator has a conservation chamber for conserving air exhaled by a diver from anatomic dead space. The conservation chamber is divided into two parts by a flexible diaphragm, which allows the conservation chamber to fill upon a diver's exhalation and recycles this air upon the diver's inhalation.

Abstract: An image capturing mechanism for capturing an image of a target includes a support platform, a camera platform suspended from the support platform by a support cable, a camera mounted to the camera platform and a stabilization mechanism associated with the camera. A first end of the support cable is mounted to the support platform and a second end of the support cable is mounted to the camera platform. The stabilization mechanism stabilizes the captured image of the camera. Methods for capturing images utilizing the image capturing mechanism and advertising that may be associated with the device are also disclosed. An advertising medium is mounted to the support platform or the camera platforms to provide noticeable advertising space in a venue where the image capturing mechanism is utilized.

Abstract: A lead routing module for interconnecting two devices in a suspension assembly. The suspension assembly including at least a suspension, a slider/head assembly, and a lead routing module. The suspension assembly may also include a microactuator. The lead routing module routes electrical signals between at least two devices in the suspension assembly such that the termination leads and/or pads of each device may be conveniently located. The suspension assembly may be used in a disk drive system, or alternatively, in a disk test system used for testing disks.

Abstract: A method of forming a read sensor that has a very narrow track width is disclosed. The method involves forming a thin lift-off mask over a central region of a sensor layer, which is subsequently ion-milled and deposited with hard bias and lead layers. The thin lift-off mask is made by forming a release layer over the sensor layer; forming a hardmask layer over the release layer; forming a photoresist layer over the hardmask layer; imaging and developing the photoresist layer such that end portions of the photoresist layer are removed and a central portion of the photoresist layer remains; reactive ion etching (RIE) the hardmask layer such that end portions of the hardmask layer are removed and a central portion of the hardmask layer remains; stripping the central portion of the photoresist layer; and etching the release layer such that end portions of the release layer are removed and a central portion of the release layer remains.

Abstract: A switching arrangement and method allow signals received by a communications platform to be directed to an appropriate interface depending on the type of signal received by an input signal line. A switch element having a switch is responsive to a logic control system that is itself responsive to signals that the input signal line receives. The logic control system may be responsive to any detectable identification, property or quality of the received signal.

Abstract: A system comprised of basically a cellular phone and computer with design features that creates an interface between cellular phone and computer for data networking cthrough the phone for computer, example Internet use.

Abstract: A method of forming a read sensor that has a very narrow track width is disclosed. The method involves forming a thin lift-off mask over a central region of a sensor layer, which is subsequently ion-milled and deposited with hard bias and lead layers. The thin lift-off mask is made by forming a release layer over the sensor layer; forming a hardmask layer over the release layer; forming a photoresist layer over the hardmask layer; imaging and developing the photoresist layer such that end portions of the photoresist layer are removed and a central portion of the photoresist layer remains; reactive ion etching (RIE) the hardmask layer such that end portions of the hardmask layer are removed and a central portion of the hardmask layer remains; stripping the central portion of the photoresist layer; and etching the release layer such that end portions of the release layer are removed and a central portion of the release layer remains.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a laminate of three materials in a variety of configurations having from three to five layers. The materials are stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Each layer is essentially homogeneous, but may be formed with one or more holes or voids prior to the formation of the laminate. The voids can be used to eliminate the need for double-sided etching or to make small features which would otherwise be unavailable with conventional manufacturing processes.

Abstract: An intelligent feeding and separating device for consistently separating an outermost sheet of media from a stack and feeding it to an imaging rendering apparatus, includes: a) a sheet transport mechanism; b) a feed device for feeding sheets to the sheet transport mechanism; c) a separation mechanism adjacent to the feed mechanism; d) at least one drive mechanism in operable association with the feed or separation mechanisms, and comprising a feed or separation roller reversal mechanism; e) a plurality of different types of sensor devices adjacent to the feed mechanism for measuring characteristics of the sheets being fed; and f) a microprocessor in communication with the sensor devices and the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism; wherein, depending upon input from the sensor devices, the microprocessor outputs to the feed or separation roller direction reversal mechanism to address feed-related problems encountered during operation.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a five layer laminate of stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Prior to lamination, the steel layer has preformed voids which may have various configurations. The voids are provided for intentionally weakening high strain flexure areas in the suspension so that strain energy can be dissipated more effectively.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a laminate of three materials in a variety of configurations having from three to five layers. The materials are stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Each layer is essentially homogeneous, but may be formed with one or more holes or voids prior to the formation of the laminate. The voids allow dielectric material to be removed from the area beneath the conductors to simplify processing and reduce the cost of the suspensions. The voids can also form a window through which conductors can be shorted to other conductive layers to form an electrostatic discharge shunt. Alternatively, the shorting of conductors can be used as a cross-over for various conductors.

Abstract: An integrated lead suspension is formed from a laminate of three materials in a variety of configurations having from three to five layers. The materials are stainless steel, polyimide and copper. Each layer is essentially homogeneous, but may be formed with one or more holes or voids prior to the formation of the laminate. After the copper layer is etched to form a tab which overhangs the steel layer, the suspension is welded to a load beam. The load beam prevents the downward motion of the suspension. The tab acts as a flexure motion limiter for upward motion of the suspension. The voids allow a precise amount of polyimide undercut between the steel and copper layers which otherwise could not be achieved.

Abstract: A silicon coating on an air bearing surface for magnetic thin film heads. A thick silicon layer is provided to replace metallic layers such as TiW as an overcoat for thin film heads. The silicon layer will provide a durable head-disk interface and act as a reflective surface for fly height measurement. The silicon layer can be planarized with the pole tips to avoid any magnetic spacing loss. The thickness of the silicon coating is preferably between 125 and 6500 angstroms thick. The slider body may be fabricated from silicon such that the silicon coating is substantially identical to the silicon slider body, thereby preventing thermal mismatch therebetween. The silicon coating is preferably applied using a magnetron sputtering technique which provides a high rate of deposition of silicon to form a dense, low stress silicon layer.