Abstract: A method and system that allows a user to report fraud and submit a request for compensation related to a transaction completed over a network-based transaction facility. For example, a method can include the following operations conducted via the network-based transaction facility: receiving a complaint from a first party, communicating information about the complaint to a second party, enabling an exchange of information regarding the complaint, receiving a request for compensation related to the complaint, and determining whether a criterion required for approval of the request for compensation has been satisfied.

Abstract: A method of displaying consecutively first and second asynchronous video data streams on a display device, where there is a transition from the first video data stream to the second video data stream. The transition includes interrupting updating the display on the video display device during a prolonged vertical blanking interval in response to assertion of a vertical blanking pulse in the first video stream until subsequent de-assertion of a vertical blanking pulse in the second video stream, and displaying the second video data stream starting with a frame following the subsequent de-assertion of the vertical blanking pulse in the second video stream.

Abstract: A device for detecting disk asperities. The device includes an optical glide head. The glide head is not required to physically contact a disk for detection of the disk asperities. The optical glide head includes a waveguide configured to transmit light onto the disk and receive reflected light from the disk.

Abstract: A method and system that allows a user to report fraud and submit a request for compensation related to a transaction completed over a network-based transaction facility. For example, a method can include the following operations conducted via the network-based transaction facility: receiving a complaint from a first party, communicating information about the complaint to a second party, enabling an exchange of information regarding the complaint, receiving a request for compensation related to the complaint, and determining whether a criterion required for approval of the request for compensation has been satisfied.

Abstract: A method and system that allows a user to report fraud and claim insurance related to network-based transactions. A submission of a complaint is facilitated to a network-based facility in which the complaint relates to a network-based transaction. The complaint is associated with an identifier. A resolution of the complaint associated with the identifier is facilitated, and if the complaint is not resolved, an insurance claim is facilitated for the unresolved complaint.

Abstract: Described are methods of translating text strings displayed by a user interface application in a source language into text strings in a target language. A translator application creates a dynamic database file containing a mapping of source language text strings to corresponding target language text strings. When a request to translate a source language text string is received, the translator application retrieves a corresponding target language text string from the dynamic database file and displays the target language text string, while the source language text string is also being displayed by the user interface application.

Abstract: A Universal Serial Bus—Mass Storage Device (USB-MSD) based data logger may store data from sensors onto a Secure Digital (SD) card, these stored files may be analyzed on a personal computer (PC) using standard PC applications, then based on the logged data a new file for tuning may be created and transferred to a microcontroller using a desired standard protocol, e.g., MSD protocol. This file may then be decoded by the microcontroller and appropriate peripherals may be operated based on the file data.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a heat affected zone in at least one thin surface layer of metal of a component suitable for use in an HDD comprises: a radiation device for generating a first beam of pulsed laser radiation; an optical device for transmitting the first beam of pulsed laser radiation to the metal on the surface of the component; a first control system for determining the amount of the pulsed laser radiation required to produce a controlled heat affected zone in at least one thin surface layer of metal of the component; and a second control system for determining the location of the pulsed laser radiation on the surface of the component. The embodied apparatus does not require CW laser radiation in conjunction with the pulsed laser radiation to cause bi-directional angular deflection of a free end of the component.

Abstract: A system and method for patterning a master disk or “stamper” to be used for nanoimprinting magnetic recording disks uses an air-bearing slider that supports an aperture structure within the optical near-field of a resist layer on a rotating master disk substrate. Laser pulses directed to the input side of the aperture are output to the resist layer. The aperture structure includes a metal film reflective to the laser radiation with the aperture formed in it. The aperture has a size less than the wavelength of the incident laser radiation and is maintained by the air-bearing slider near the resist layer to within the radiation wavelength. The timing of the laser pulses is controlled to form a pattern of exposed regions in the resist layer, with this pattern ultimately resulting in the desired pattern of data islands and nondata islands in the magnetic recording disks when they are nanoimprinted by the master disk.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatic operation of a vehicle comprising an engine, a starter motor, an engine clutch, and a plurality of vehicle systems. After detecting that the engine is running, the vehicle systems are checked to ensure an acceptable status for shutting down the engine. A negative torque is applied to the engine to shut it down. Vehicle systems are monitored until they indicate that the engine should be restarted. The engine is restarted, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed. Similarly, there is provided a method for the cold start of a vehicle as above. The starter motor is powered up with an initial torque and vehicle systems are monitored to determine whether the engine should be started. The engine is started from the torque of the starter motor, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: The head of a disk drive has write elements disposed on one protrusion pad that wears away during initial operation to permit reduced tolerances and, thus, reduced spacing between the disk and head, with the read element being disposed on a separate protrusion pad and spaced from the write element pad in the radial dimension. This prevents read element recession during cooling in the absence of write current that could otherwise occur if the read element were located on the same pad as the write head.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatic operation of a vehicle comprising an engine, a starter motor, an engine clutch, and a plurality of vehicle systems. After detecting that the engine is running, the vehicle systems are checked to ensure an acceptable status for shutting down the engine. A negative torque is applied to the engine to shut it down. Vehicle systems are monitored until they indicate that the engine should be restarted. The engine is restarted, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed. Similarly, there is provided a method for the cold start of a vehicle as above. The starter motor is powered up with an initial torque and vehicle systems are monitored to determine whether the engine should be started. The engine is started from the torque of the starter motor, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed.

Abstract: A method for controlling an induction motor using an equivalent circuit model, the equivalent circuit having a real component and an imaginary component, is disclosed. The method instead of measuring a plurality of induction motor parameters, the real and the imaginary component of the induction motor impedance are calculated based on the measured phase currents and voltages. The invention calculates a first control function based on the real component of the induction motor impedance, and a second control function based on the imaginary component of the induction motor impedance, and adjusts the induction motor excitation frequency until the first control function is approximately equal to the second control function. After the excitation frequency is determined, the motor torque is calculated by taking the square of motor voltage in the d-q reference frame.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatic operation of a vehicle comprising an engine, a starter motor, an engine clutch, and a plurality of vehicle systems. After detecting that the engine is running, the vehicle systems are checked to ensure an acceptable status for shutting down the engine. A negative torque is applied to the engine to shut it down. Vehicle systems are monitored until they indicate that the engine should be restarted. The engine is restarted, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed. Similarly, there is provided a method for the cold start of a vehicle as above. The starter motor is powered up with an initial torque and vehicle systems are monitored to determine whether the engine should be started. The engine is started from the torque of the starter motor, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: The present invention provides a non-actuatable, self-limiting wear contact pad slider and method for making the same. A protruding element surrounding the transducer is fabricated using a third etch step so that the protruding element has a height that is greater than or equal to the designed fly height of the aerodynamic lift surface minus the disk roughness.

Abstract: There is provided a method for automatic operation of a vehicle comprising an engine, a starter motor, an engine clutch, and a plurality of vehicle systems. After detecting that the engine is running, the vehicle systems are checked to ensure an acceptable status for shutting down the engine. A negative torque is applied to the engine to shut it down. Vehicle systems are monitored until they indicate that the engine should be restarted. The engine is restarted, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed. Similarly, there is provided a method for the cold start of a vehicle as above. The starter motor is powered up with an initial torque and vehicle systems are monitored to determine whether the engine should be started. The engine is started from the torque of the starter motor, and a successful start of the engine is then confirmed.

Abstract: A method for controlling an induction motor using an equivalent circuit model, the equivalent circuit having a real component and an imaginary component, is disclosed. The method instead of measuring a plurality of induction motor parameters, the real and the imaginary component of the induction motor impedance are calculated based on the measured phase currents and voltages. The invention calculates a first control function based on the real component of the induction motor impedance, and a second control function based on the imaginary component of the induction motor impedance, and adjusts the induction motor excitation frequency until the first control function is approximately equal to the second control function. After the excitation frequency is determined, the motor torque is calculated by taking the square of motor voltage in the d-q reference frame.

Abstract: A system (40) for starting an internal combustion engine (12) of an automotive vehicle (10) has a controller (54) coupled to a starter/alternator (42). The engine (12) has a crankshaft (50) and a turbocharger (24). The controller (54) initiates the starting of the engine (12) by rotating the crankshaft (50). The rotating crankshaft (50) displaces an amount of air from the cylinders (14) of the engine (12) to rotate the rotor shaft of the turbocharger (21). The turbocharger (25) thus draws in air, compresses the air and provides the compressed air to the cylinders (14). When the engine is started the initial power is increased due to the compressed air.