Abstract: The present invention provides data storage devices, systems and methods. An example device includes: a storage medium for storing data in the form of marks; and at least one probe. The probe(s) and storage medium are operable to move relative to each other, with each probe comprising a tip facing the storage medium and having a force creating unit associated thereto. The force creating units are operable to create a force acting between the tip and said storage medium. The data storage device is operable to erase an indentation mark in the storage medium by way of controlling the force creating unit for creating at least one erase force pulse with a force rise time being less than or equal to the order of 1 microsecond.

Abstract: A storage device is provided, comprising of a storage surface having perturbations representative of information stored in the storage device; a lever having at least one tip facing the storage surface and movable substantially parallel thereto; and a variable capacitor having a first plate and a second plate, the first plate being integral to the storage surface and the second plate being integral to the lever, wherein movement of the lever relative to the surface produces variation in the capacitance of the variable capacitor in response to the tip scanning across the perturbations of the surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmentation of a digital picture consisting of a multiplicity of single picture elements comprising determining if one of one and several features relating to contiguous picture objects comprising picture elements and picture segments are conforming or not conforming based on a specific homogeneity criterion by means of referencing a predetermined tolerance for each feature as a termination criterion, within which feature values relating to the contiguous picture objects in question may differ; if one of one feature and several features relating to the contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming then merging the conforming picture objects; and repeating the resulting segmentation until the resulting segmentation converges in a stable or approximately stable condition in which no further contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for extracting information from input data comprising mapping of the input data into a data object network. The method uses a semantic cognition network comprised of the data object network, a class object network and a processing object network. The semantic cognition network uses a set of algorithms to process the semantic units. The semantic cognition network defines a processing object in the processing object network by selecting a data domain in the data object network, a class domain in the class object network and an algorithm from the set of algorithms. The processing object comprises the data domain, the class domain and the algorithm. The processing object is used in the processing object network to process the semantic units.

Abstract: A head suspension for maintaining a gap between a read-write head and a data storage disk comprises a heater for heating gas in the gap; and a sensor for generating an output indicative of the thickness of the gap. The sensor generates the output in dependence on thermal conductance across the gap. The apparatus can be used to control the thickness of the gap.

Abstract: A method for fractal-darwinian object generation consists of the steps of: preparing a fractal object library including predetermined objects and associated rules of property and context, forming objects and comparing the formed objects with the objects in the fractal object library. By using the property rules, a local classification likelihood is allocated to each formed object. Thereupon, by using the context rules for each object, a respective fractal classification likelihood is formed. For optimisation of the fractal classification likelihood, alteration rules are applied to the objects. The above method is carried out iteratively, whereby a process of gradual optimisation takes place.

Abstract: A fractal network for handling complex structures is disclosed, which is comprised of a multiplicity of units. The fractal network contains both semantic units each possessing informational contents and linking units describing a relational content. The relational content links two respective semantic units in such a manner that the mutual relation of the two linked semantic units is determined by the relational content.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for signaling local traffic disturbances wherein a decentralized communication between vehicles is performed by exchanging their respective vehicle data. Through repeated evaluation of these individual vehicle data, each reference vehicle may determine a group of vehicles having relevance for itself from within a maximum group of vehicles and compare the group behavior of the relevant group with its own behavior. The results of this comparison are indicated in the reference vehicle, whereby a homogeneous flow of traffic may be generated, and the occurrence of accidents is reduced.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for signalling local traffic disturbances wherein a decentralised communication between vehicles is performed by exchanging their respective vehicle data. Through repeated evaluation of these individual vehicle data, each reference vehicle may determine a group of vehicles having relevance for itself from within a maximum group of vehicles and compare the group behavior of the relevant group with its own behavior. The results of this comparison are indicated in the reference vehicle, whereby a homogeneous flow of traffic may be generated, and the occurrence of accidents is reduced.

Abstract: A head suspension for maintaining a gap between a read-write head and a data storage disk comprises a heater for heating gas in the gap; and a sensor for generating an output indicative of the thickness of the gap. The sensor generates the output in dependence on thermal conductance across the gap. The apparatus can be used to control the thickness of the gap.

Abstract: Disclosed is a computer-implemented method for characterizing a complex system, wherein said complex system consists of a plurality of objects and wherein relations are present between said objects, said method comprising the steps of (a) forming a hierarchical structure having a plurality of hierarchical levels, wherein superordinate objects of a respective higher hierarchical level of the hierarchical structure are combinations of objects of a respective lower hierarchical level of the hierarchical structure, wherein a characteristic and a boundary condition is assigned to each of said objects within the hierarchical structure; (b) forming groups of objects which belong to the same superordinate object of a respective higher hierarchical level; determining relations between objects in each respective group by taking into account the respective boundary conditions of the objects within the respective group; (d) determining at least one characteristic for each group based on the determined relations between o

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for segmentation of a digital picture consisting of a multiplicity of single picture elements comprising determining if one of one and several features relating to contiguous picture objects comprising picture elements and picture segments are conforming or not conforming based on a specific homogeneity criterion by means of referencing a predetermined tolerance for each feature as a termination criterion, within which feature values relating to the contiguous picture objects in question may differ; if one of one feature and several features relating to the contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming then merging the conforming picture objects; and repeating the resulting segmentation until the resulting segmentation converges in a stable or approximately stable condition in which no further contiguous picture objects are determined to be conforming.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning apparatus, providing for an excursion of a tool (12) with respect to a sample or medium to be interacted with. The positioning apparatus comprises apparatus for applying a driving force (F.sub.D) which causes the excursion of the tool (12). Counteracting apparatus is provided which exerts a counteracting force (F.sub.C) to the driving force (F.sub.D). The counteracting apparatus comprises a deformable substance (25) which is mechanically coupled to the tool (12) and effects the counteracting force (F.sub.C) and further comprises adjustment means (28) allowing to adjust the deformability of the deformable substance (25).

Abstract: The vibration filter comprises an inner ring (27) on which vibration-sensitive equipment may be installed, the ring (27) being suspended from a plurality of springs (24, 25, 26) elastically supported by posts (18, 19, 20) in turn mounted on an outer ring (1) which is spring-suspended the same as the inner ring (27) from a rigid bench (8). The springs (12, 13, 14; 24, 25, 26) and other elastic members (9, 10, 11; 15, 16, 17; 21, 22, 23; 28, 29, 30) have differing resonant frequencies.Between the bench (8) and the outer ring (1), and between the outer and inner rings (1, 27) there may be provided eddy current brakes consisting of strong permanent magnets (46, 48) arranged opposite individual copper or aluminum blocks (5, 47).

Abstract: The travelling support (1) comprises a piezo-electric plate (2) resting on three legs (6) whose bottom surface is insulated from the bench (8) on which the support is to travel, by a dielectric (7). The piezo-electric plate (2) can be caused to contract by means of an actuating voltage applied via sliders (9, 10) to top and bottom electrodes on the plate (2). By applying a voltage to the legs (6), these may be clamped selectively by electrostatic forces effective across the dielectric (7). Appropriate control of the actuating and clamping voltages causes the support (1) to either move in a linear or rotary fashion. The displacements the support can perform per step are in the nanometer range.

Abstract: The vacuum tunnel effect is utilized to form a scanning tunneling microscope. In an ultra-high vacuum at cryogenic temperature, a fine tip is raster scanned across the surface of a conducting sample at a distance of a few Angstroms. The vertical separation between the tip and sample surface is automatically controlled so as to maintain constant a measured variable which is proportional to the tunnel resistance, such as tunneling current. The position of the tip with respect to the surface is controlled preferably by piezo electric drive means acting in three coordinate directions. The spatial coordinates of the scanning tip are graphically displayed. This is conveniently done by displaying the drive currents or voltages of piezo electric drives.