Abstract: The configuration of the present invention includes a winged shield that has a cylindrical shield tube and wings linked to a front end side of the shield tube, a hub that is inserted into an inner bore of the shield tube so as to be movable in an axial direction, and a cannula that is mounted to a front end portion of the hub. By engaging a protrusion with a third annular groove, the hub is held with the winged shield in a state where the cannula protrudes for a predetermined length from a front end of the shield tube. In a state where an inward annular protrusion of the shield tube is engaged with a first holding portion, a tip of the cannula can be stored in the shield tube. By engaging the protrusion of a holding mechanism with a first annular groove, the hub is held with the shield tube so as not to be moved within the shield tube.

Abstract: A data switch 1 includes a switching engine 7, and input/output interfaces 5 which each connect the switching engine 7 to one of a number of channels. The input/output interfaces 5 and the switching engine 7 are each made up of a number of modules (PHY, MAC_RX, RX, MAC_TX, TX, PBM, ARL, QM). Some or all of the modules have a logic circuit for turning them on when they are required to process data packets passing through the circuit, and a logic circuit is provided for turning them off when they are no longer required. In this way the power requirements of the switch 1 are reduced.

Abstract: The configuration of the present invention includes a winged shield that has a cylindrical shield tube and wings linked to a front end side of the shield tube, a hub that is inserted into an inner bore of the shield tube so as to be movable in an axial direction, and a cannula that is mounted to a front end portion of the hub. By engaging a protrusion with a third annular groove, the hub is held with the winged shield in a state where the cannula protrudes for a predetermined length from a front end of the shield tube. In a state where an inward annular protrusion of the shield tube is engaged with a first holding portion, a tip of the cannula can be stored in the shield tube. By engaging the protrusion of a holding mechanism with a first annular groove, the hub is held with the shield tube so as not to be moved within the shield tube.

Abstract: The configuration of the present invention includes a winged shield that has a cylindrical shield tube and wings linked to a front end side of the shield tube, a hub that is inserted into an inner bore of the shield tube so as to be movable in an axial direction, and a cannula that is mounted to a front end portion of the hub. By engaging a protrusion with a third annular groove, the hub is held with the winged shield in a state where the cannula protrudes for a predetermined length from a front end of the shield tube. In a state where an inward annular protrusion of the shield tube is engaged with a first holding portion, a tip of the cannula can be stored in the shield tube. By engaging the protrusion of a holding mechanism with a first annular groove, the hub is held with the shield tube so as not to be moved within the shield tube.

Abstract: A media tray including a first tray portion that has a base, an outer wall that is fixed to the base, and a locking mechanism is disclosed. The locking mechanism is substantially fixed in position relative to the outer wall. The locking mechanism is biased to a locked position and actuatable, along an axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outer wall, for moving the locking mechanism to an unlocked position.

Abstract: A pinch control apparatus in a printer for controlling a pinch force exerted on a medium which is being fed into a printing zone is provided. The pinch control apparatus includes a camshaft rotatably mounted across a width of the medium, at least one cam attached to the camshaft, a plunger and a biasing rod. The cam has a predefined profile and is able to rotate with the camshaft. The plunger abuts the predefined profile of the at least one cam. The biasing rod extends from a pinch plate to the plunger to bias the pinch plate to a linefeed roller for exerting the pinch force on the medium therebetween. The pinch force exerted on the medium is controllable by the rotation of the camshaft.

Abstract: A mailbox (5) is proposed for transferring data between two processors (1, 3). The mailbox (5) includes a main memory (7) and an ancillary memory (13, 15). The mailbox stores received data packets in the main memory (7), and stores in the ancillary memory (13, 15) those data packets which are to be read out soonest. In response to a read signal, the mailbox (5) transmits data from the ancillary memory (13, 15) and replenishes the ancillary memory (7) by transferring data to it from the main memory (7). This means that the mailbox (5) can transmit data on the clock cycle following reception of the read signal.

Abstract: A method and random number generator are provided for generating random numbers. Under the method, a filter coefficient value that is used by a filter to filter an input signal is set and then compared to a default value for the filter coefficient. At least one bit of the random number is then set based on the comparison between the filter coefficient value and the default value.

Abstract: An LED array arrangement that reduces the number of control inputs needed to operate it is described. The reduction in the number of control pins is achieved through the use of logical ‘AND’ decoding and multiplexing of the control input signals.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive element measurement circuit configured for measuring resistance of a magnetoresistive element biased by a current source is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the measurement circuit includes the magnetoresistive element, a current source providing a fixed current to the magnetoresistive element, at least one current bypass switch controllingly engaging a measurement resistor in an electrical parallel configuration with the biased magnetoresistive element, and an analogue voltage detector measuring voltage first across the biased magnetoresistive element and then across the biased magnetoresistive element in electrical parallel communication with the measurement resistor. The measured voltages are factored with the measurement resistor to determine the resistance of the magnetoresistive element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing link latency caused by logic in a network interface. A media access controller having a converter, modification logic, a FIFO and a controller reduces the link latency caused when the logic modifies a data packet. The converter receives frame data from a transmit buffer and converts the frame data into a data packet having a prescribed format for transmission onto a network. The logic modifies the data packet. The FIFO buffers the data packet using a plurality of flip-flops. The controller controls the flow of the data packet and determines when to transmit the data packet onto a network via a media access controller.

Abstract: A guardband portion is written on a disc surface in a disc drive. A predetermined data pattern is written on at least one data track adjacent to the guardband portion. A predetermined guardband pattern is written at a plurality of different guardband frequencies in the guardband portion. For each guardband frequency, at least one performance criterion is measured for the data track. A desired guardband pattern is written on the guardband portion of the disc surface at a guardband frequency chosen based on the measured performance criterion.

Abstract: A lanyard support for a portable telecommunications device (1) comprises an integrated headset and device suspension system with neck lanyard (5) havings a microphone (8), an earbud speakerphone (7) and a tensionable attachment member (10) securable to a lanyard bail (3) on the device (1). The portable telecommunications device (1) is located in a pouch (2) with extension cords (16,17) extending between the lower part of the pouch and a respective side of the neck lanyard. The portable telecommunications device (1) is suspended from the neck of a wearer to permit handsfree operation while an antenna (9) of the device (1) is inclined outwardly away form an upright axis of a wearer's torso to improve antenna sensitivity.

Abstract: A data switch 1 includes a switching engine 7, and input/output interfaces 5 which each connect the switching engine 7 to one of a number of channels. The input/output interfaces 5 and the switching engine 7 are each made up of a number of modules (PHY, MAC_RX, RX, MAC_TX, TX, PBM, ARL, QM). Some or all of the modules have a logic circuit for turning them on when they are required to process data packets passing through the circuit, and a logic circuit is provided for turning them off when they are no longer required. In this way the power requirements of the switch 1 are reduced.

Abstract: A disc drive with on-the-fly verification of an enabled condition of the write element, comprising a rotatable disc having a magnetic recording surface, and a data reading and writing assembly. The data reading and writing assembly comprises a read/write head comprising a write element and a read element, both adjacent the recording surface; a preamplifier comprising a write driver applying a series of write currents for writing data to the recording surface and a read amplifier for reading stored data from the recording surface; and an interconnect joining the write driver to the write element so as to generate time-varying magnetic fields selectively magnetizing the recording surface in response to the write currents, and joining the read amplifier to the read element so as to transduce magnetization vectors on the recording surface associated with stored data.

Abstract: A method for the adaptive dampening of a peak amplitude of a thermal asperity signal in a disc drive to minimize loss of read data integrity, including the steps of determining a peak-to-peak preamble signal amplitude for identifying an amplitude signal range of the peak amplitude of the thermal asperity signal; measuring the peak amplitude of the thermal asperity signal; separating the peak-to-peak preamble signal amplitude into substantially even portions for use in calculating a value of the amplitude signal range of the peak amplitude of the thermal asperity signal; calculating the value of the amplitude signal range of the peak amplitude of the thermal asperity signal for use in determining a dampening resistance used by a dampening circuit to adaptively dampen the peak amplitude of the thermal asperity signal; and activating the dampening circuit to dampen the peak amplitude of the thermal asperity signal.